Golden Euonymus is a humble yet vigorous plant despite its grand name. Gardeners rarely have any trouble growing it, as the shrub adapts very well to any environment, soil type, and care.
You may have noticed your plant looking out of form or shape lately, but don’t know if you should trim it. The question is, ‘when and how to prune Golden Euonymus?’
When Should You Prune Golden Euonymus?
All plants can benefit from a bit of pruning here and there to maintain their shape and general health, but the euonymus is an exception to the rule.
A yearly pruning with Golden Euonymus is not recommended since it’s very well-behaved and tends to be inherently bushy. The only time you will need to do so is when you want it to assume a shape or when you’re cleaning up dead stems and leaves.
That said, the best time to prune golden euonymus is in early spring. Once the last date of frost passes you can go and inspect your plant to see if it needs a snip. This encourages it to produce new growth and to follow the shape you want it to have.
Pruning Golden Euonymus can still be done in the summer season at the latest. You shouldn’t make any changes in winter as it may affect your plant’s health.
How to Prune Golden Euonymus
One of the best things about caring for the Golden Euonymus is how you don’t really need to prune it. However, if you want your plant to have an aesthetically-pleasing and bushy form then all you need are hand shears and about 10 to 15 minutes of your time.
You can prune it once during its first year of growth after 6 months to encourage side shoots to form. You can use a pair of scissors or garden shears to cut out a third off the top, then leave it alone and wait for next year. You’ll find that it will grow by itself obediently and assume a somewhat rounded form.
Also, Golden Euonymus can survive a hard pruning (even when you don’t need to) as long as it’s done mid-spring or summer. You can cut it down to the size you want at this time and not worry about the plant not surviving.
To effectively prune golden euonymus you’ll need to determine the reason for the cut. Thinning is more of a maintenance process as it involves removing dead leaves and removing stems that do not produce any leaves. Tip pruning is where you remove the end tips of the stems (starting at the top) to give your plant a reason to grow side shoots.
Thinning can be done anytime during the year except in winter. It’s just a matter of removing the unwanted elements, such as dead or decaying leaves and stems that are weak, old, or unattractive so the existing ones thrive. If this is the case, you’ll want to cut back to a lateral branch so it grows thicker.
Tip pruning is usually done in springtime and when you want to make your golden euonymus bushier. You start by cutting the edges inch by inch and per branch to improve its density and growth. At this point, you can also remove unwanted leaves, such as ones that do not have variegation to keep the plant looking good.
For mid-sized bushes and hedges, you can prune to have your golden euonymus assume a beautiful shape. The best equipment to use is a sharp pair of hedge shears and by starting the cuts at the tallest branches. Slowly work your way down until your plant is at the desired height.
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