How to Trim Wolfberry Plants

Wolfberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow. They are not fussy about soil or light, are hardy in zones 5 to 9, are drought resistant and do not need to be fertilized. Wolfberries, also known as Goji berries, are a Chinese herb renowned for high levels of antioxidants and vitamins. Goji berries are believed to reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease, as well as boost the immune system. Wolfberries also provide habitat and food for nectar insects, birds and small mammals.

Things You'll Need

• Wolfberry plant
• Pruning shears
• String trimmer

Instructions

Pruning wolfberry plants

1. For tidier, bushier plants, trim back lateral branches by 1/3 to 1/2. Ideally you want to do this in spring, before the plant flowers, but you can prune anytime during the growing season.

2. For wolfberry plants in an out-of-the-way spot, use a string trimmer to shape and reduce the size. You can reduce the size of wolfberry plants by 1/3 each growing season.

3. For the best fruit production, cut all woody growth back to the stem. This stimulates the plant to produce more fruit-bearing branches. Remove all dead and broken branches at this time. This should be done in spring.

4. Wolfberry branches will root anywhere they touch the ground. To keep your wolfberry plant in check, remove branches that have started to root by digging up the rooted part and cutting it free of the mother plant. You can do this year round, but if you remove rooted branches in late spring, you can give away the new wolfberry plant or replant in another location.

Tips & Warnings

• Wolfberries can be invasive, so plant in containers as you would blueberries to keep them in check. Or use them for erosion control and plant them on slopes and grades.

• Do all pruning in the spring, before the plant blooms, to ensure a supply of berries.

References

• Pruning Wolfberries

Resources

• Wolfberries