PRUNING HEBES
- March is a good time to prune a hebe because new buds will be visible.
- Never prune back into old dead wood, always prune back so that at least a couple of buds are still present on each stem.
- With shorter and more compact varieties only prune to maintain a good shape.
When should you cut hebes back?
Cut back back dead flowers and up to a third of foliage in late summer, after flowering, to encourage strong new growth and a good bushy shape. Annual pruning will extend the life of your hebe, too. Hard pruning (pictured) can rejuvenate an old hebe plant and give it an extra lease of life.
How do you prune leggy hebes?
Prune hebes as soon as the flowers have faded. This leaves plenty of time for the new growth to mature before cold weather hits. Using secateurs, remove the dead flower heads and cut the foliage back by up to a third. If your plant has become 'leggy' and tired, you can often rejuvenate it by cutting it back hard.
