How to prune a rosemary

How to prune a rosemary

1. 01

   Choose what to remove

   Routine maintenance targets flowering tips and the soft leafy ends of branches. Old, woody stems are not the normal cut target.

   Clipping keeps rosemary compact and bushy, prevents a bare, straggly base, and keeps the herb usable in a garden or container.

2. 02

   Prune at the right time

   Trim rosemary lightly every year after flowering in early summer. There is no separate season for a hard cut.

3. 03

   Make one clean cut

   Use light clipping or tip pinching for shape, and keep every cut in green, leafy growth. Do not cut back into old wood.

4. 04

   When pruning will not help

   Rosemary does not reliably reshoot from old woody stems. Old woody plants are better replaced, and routine shaping should avoid cutting into woody parts.