How to Prune Cocoplum

The cocoplum is a evergreen hedge found most commonly in southern Florida. The cocoplum is very popular because it grows extremely quickly, remains a vibrant green year-round and presents stunning red leaves with new growth. Birds and wildlife like to eat the cocoplum berry, and local Floridians have even been known to make jelly out of the fruit.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pruning hedges or scissors
• 2 wood stakes
• Roll of twine
• Level

1. Decide what pruning implement you will need to use for your cocoplum. If you have a long hedge, you may want to consider purchasing a hedge clipper; if you have one or two plants, hedging scissors will be sufficient.

2. Make sure the tools are sharp. If the tools you use to prune your cocoplum plants are not sharp, you will damage your plants and stunt new growth where trimmed.

3. Start trimming the cocoplum hedge to your desired length or height if you have only a couple of cocoplum plants. Unlike some plants, the cocoplum is very hardy and not particular where you prune the branch.

4. Make sure the pruning is even by tying twine to two different wood stakes and use a level to ensure the hedge line is even from the ground up. Tie an end of the twine to each of the stakes and then drive the stakes on each end of the hedge.

5. Make sure the twine between the stakes is tight. Use your level to ensure the twine is level.

6. Commence pruning your cocoplum to the desire height using your level twine line as a guide. Remove stakes after pruning.

Tips & Warnings

• If your cocoplum becomes to leggy, you can prune a cocoplum very hard. Pruning a shrub hard means cutting it back all the way back to the branches.
• Do not prune newly planted cocoplum plants. They need a season of growing before they can be pruned.