pruning amelanchier - The service berry or juneberry

Alelanchier laevis; Amelanchier lamarkii; Amelanchier grandiflorus and Amelanchier stolonifera.

The Amelanchier group of shrubs or small trees do not require pruning normally - other than for shaping or controlling of size.

Amelanchiers are also known by their common names of

Serviceberry
Juneberry
Snowy Mespilus
Shadbush

Amelanchier Laevis - not much pruning required Amelanchier laevis, showing the flowers that are normally present early spring - just before or at same time of foliage.

General pruning can be carried out in late Winter - but only for diseased, untidy and crossing branches. Any major surgery at this time of year will cut off the flowering growths for the incoming Spring.

If your Amelanchier needs corrective pruning to re-shape or bring to an acceptable size, then this should be carried out immediately after flowering in order to allow the shrub to start into growth and provide flowering branches for the next year. Any pruning of Amelanchier later in the year will probably prevent flowering in the following year. However, late pruning normally brings better autumn foliage colour with the newer leaves.

All in all, it is best not to prune Amelanchier unless absolutely necessary. This would normally require that you plant it in the right place in the first instance!

Cutting Amelanchier Back Hard

Older bush type Amelanchiers can be rejuvenated by cutting back hard at the start of the growing season. This is not advisable for single stem small tree types.

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