How to Prune Wolfberry

Prune wolfberry plants to control growth.

The wolfberry plant is another name for the goji berry plant. Wolfberry is a deciduous shrub that retains its leaves year round. The plant produces tiny red berries in the fall that are edible and are extremely high in antioxidants. Wolfberry plants are hardy plants that are fairly cold-tolerant. Although berries are slow to develop on young plants, they otherwise have quick growth patterns and often crowd out other plants and shrubs. Pruning wolfberry plants should be done regularly to control the growth of the plant.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Wait until the wolfberry plant grows to be between 8 and 10 feet tall, or when the branches measure 12 feet from the center of the plant.

2. Identify the longest branches of the wolfberry plant. Since the plant has a weeping appearance, these branches are usually touching the ground.

3. Cut these long branches off as close to the trunk of the tree as possible, using sharp pruning shears.

4. Examine the plant for any dead or yellowing branches, which indicate the presence of disease. Cut these branches off near the base of the trunk using the pruning shears.

5. Prune any additional branches that are growing into other plants or trees to prevent the wolfberry plant from crowding them out.

References

• Oregon Live: Wolfberries pack nutrition, but shrubs are invasive
• Victorian Nursery: Goji Berry Plant