- Cut southernwood into shape in spring
- Cut back in autumn
- Cut southernwood before moving to winter quarters
- Harvest southernwood as a spice and medicinal herb
Southernwood can grow up to 1.50 meters high. The low-maintenance herb becomes very bushy and constrains other plants. Regular pruning is therefore advisable. Pruning is done either in spring or in autumn. How to cut southernwood.
Southernwood should be brought into shape in spring
Cut southernwood into shape in spring
- Topiary in spring
- pruning of the plant
- Cut back in autumn
- Cut herb
- Cut cuttings for propagation
In spring, southernwood is shaped by pruning it back. Cut off shoots that protrude far outwards so that the plant does not become too wide. You can thin them out a bit on the inside too.
Due to the pruning, southernwood does not grow quite as much in the following months. It then no longer needs to be cut in the fall.
Before you repot the southernwood in the tub in the spring, cut back more. This makes transplanting easier.
Cut back in autumn
Pruning back in the fall only makes sense if you didn't prune them back in the spring. Pruning before winter protects against frost. The shoots can then not freeze and damage the roots.
Cut the southernwood branches down to the ground. In cool locations, lay garden fleece over the leftovers.
Pile a thick layer of fall foliage on top to protect the roots from frost.
Cut southernwood before moving to winter quarters
Southernwoods are conditionally hardy. However, this does not apply to the attitude in the bucket. As a pot plant, southernwood should be overwintered frost-free.
Prune the plant beforehand so that it doesn't take up too much space in a cool conservatory, greenhouse or in a bright spot in the basement.
Harvest southernwood as a spice and medicinal herb
Southernwood is cut as a spice and medicinal herb from summer. The main harvest time is in autumn.
Only cut off the tips of the leaves, as older leaves often taste quite bitter.
tips
Since the southernwood often does not bloom in our latitudes and therefore does not set seeds, you can propagate it by cuttings. Take the cuttings in spring or summer and simply stick them into prepared garden soil or a pot.