Pruning Skimmia

Skimmia japonica requires very little pruning and is best left to develop its naturally rounded, compact shape. Unlike many shrubs, it does not respond well to hard cutting back, and over-enthusiastic pruning can spoil its form and reduce the display of berries (on female plants) or flower buds. The main pruning window is March or April, just after the spring flowering period has finished but before new growth begins in earnest. Your primary task is to remove any dead, damaged, or diseased wood using clean, sharp secateurs. Cut back to healthy tissue or to the point where the branch meets a main stem. If any stems have become frosted or browned over winter, trim these back to just above a healthy bud or side shoot. You can also lightly trim any wayward or crossing branches that spoil the symmetry of the plant, but keep cuts minimal—take out no more than one-fifth of the overall growth in any one year. If your skimmia has grown leggy or bare at the base, resist the temptation to prune it hard; instead, improve growing conditions by mulching and feeding, which will encourage bushier growth naturally. Deadheading spent flower clusters is not necessary and, on female plants, will remove the developing berries that provide autumn and winter interest. Male plants, which produce the showy, fragrant flower panicles, can have old flower heads snipped off if they look untidy, but this is purely cosmetic. Always wear gloves when pruning, as skimmia sap can irritate sensitive skin.