Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) is a Viburnum species valued for its winter flowering and evergreen foliage. It forms a bush with a dense, ramified habit reaching 2 to 3 m in height if not pruned. It retains glossy foliage that will screen prying eyes during the cold season. Of all Viburnum, laurustinus is probably the least demanding. It is an easy-care bush, resistant to pollution and sea spray, tolerating poor, dry soils and competition from roots of old trees. It is indispensable in free-form hedges, at the back of borders, or even in a container on the terrace for smaller varieties. While pruning is not obligatory, it does help preserve a harmonious shape and contain growth.
Discover when and how to prune laurustinus easily with our illustrated tutorial!
Why prune laurustinus?
Laurustinus can do without pruning. However, pruning allows you to control its growth if it becomes too large when planted in a hedge or in a pot, for example. It is a versatile bush that fits equally well in a free-form hedge or a neatly clipped one and tolerates severe pruning well. It may also need pruning to maintain a pleasing, dense habit, balance the branching, optimise flowering and prevent it from becoming bare at the base.
When to prune laurustinus?
You can prune in spring, in March–April after flowering. You can prune a second time in June if needed. Annual pruning is not necessary. You can simply cut back to the stump every 2 to 3 years to restore vigour. We recommend pruning only when necessary, especially if you want to enjoy its decorative fruiting in autumn.
How to prune laurustinus?
Tools needed :
Our advice: always use sharp pruning tools to make clean cuts and disinfect them with methylated spirits to avoid spreading disease between plants.
Maintenance pruning
- Always cut just above a branching point
- With pruning shear, start by removing all old wood, diseased branches and shoots that unbalance the silhouette or become bare at the base
- Reduce by half the shoots that have flowered to favour branching: leave some to enjoy the fruit!
- For severe pruning: using loppers, cut back old branches to the stump.
Pruning laurustinus trained as a standard
Laurustinus tolerates repeated pruning perfectly; it can be used in topiary and given structure. It is possible to prune as a standard to give an elegant habit. It is preferable to choose a variety of laurustinus that will not exceed 2 m in height and that will offer a very ramified crown at maturity.
- From planting, with pruning shear, remove lateral shoots from the entire lower third of the bush and any suckers arising from the trunk
- Prune just above an eye
- Each year, cut transverse branches so as to keep a single stem
- Remove dead wood each year and cut back all stems of the top growth by half to maintain a nice, regular shape for your laurustinus
- Prunings should be regular. Each spring, rebalance the crown.
Further reading
→ Also discover our advice sheet: Growing a viburnum in a pot
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