How to Prune Your Hypericum Moserianum

Hypericum moserianum, also known as St. John's wort, requires less pruning than other flowering plants. However, although the plant may look self-sufficient, it does need periodic pruning to encourage it to grow to its potential. Regular maintenance will help your hypericum moserianum grow more fully and flower more readily. The best tool for the job is a pair of sharp, disinfected bypass pruning shears. The bypass cutting action minimizes the damage to the stems and reduces the likelihood of disease.

Things You'll Need

• Bypass pruning shears

Instructions

1. Clean your hypericum moserianum. Prune any stems that are dead, broken, soft and mushy or moldy back to their point of origin. Prune old stems that no longer produce blossoms down to ground level. Do this any time of the year.

2. Shear the hypericum moserianum as soon as possible after it has finished blooming. Use your pruning shears to cut the plant back by roughly 1/3 all the way around. Since the plant will flower on next season's growth, this will not affect next seasons blooms. This shearing can be done annually and should be done at least once every three years.

3. Prune winter dieback in the spring. If the temperatures get cold enough in your area, your hypericum moserianum will die back to the ground. Prune off all of the dead foliage. This will stimulate spring growth and get rid of the unattractive dead foliage.

Tips & Warnings

• Sterilize your pruning shears with alcohol before each use.

References

• University of California: Hypericum Moserianum
• Kemper Center for Home Gardening: Hypericum X moserianum "Tricolor"
• University of Arkansas: St. John's Wort
• University of Missori Extension: Pruning Ornamental Shrubs