Alpine Currant will occasionally set small currant-like fruit, but not consistently enough to consider it an asset. Last Updated: July 13, 2019 Prune right back into the bush. Very little pruning is needed after this for the first four years except for removal of broken and dead wood. Currant stems naturally grow from the ground and form a low growing bush. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Thanks.". The saxifrage and sea thrift could possibly do with some heavy pruning. If you trimmed off a dead or diseased stem, then you need to clean the shears after each cut that you make. Pruning currant bushes is an annual process that should be done when the bush is dormant. Cuts are made ¼ inch before the growth point to preserve the bud. Red and white currants will fruit at the base of shoots, known as ‘laterals’, that grow out from the main branches. As pictured, this plant makes for an excellent hedge, either trimmed or untrimmed. Prune out wood in the centre – for light and airflow. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 21,208 times. How to prune alpines. The question of how to prune a currant bush can be answered with just a few steps. Remove one-half of that new growth. The leaves and narrow branches allow alpine currant can be used nice background plant or as a hedge plant that requires little shearing. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. Extremely winter hardy, Ribes alpinum (Alpine Currant) is a compact, mound-forming, deciduous shrub with bright green, trilobed leaves in spring. Alpine currants appreciate regular pruning to keep the plant healthy and shapely. The next growing point can be identified by the slight swelling in the wood, and in early spring, it may even show a bit of green peeking out. Tolerates some drought. There are inconspicuous yellow flowers in June. Contact utility companies or city maintenance workers to handle it. Remove any buds or shoots sprouting from the first 10cm (4in) above the soil to maintain the leg. Fruit production in the home requires that the gardener learn how to trim currant bushes. Prune branches that obscure vision at intersections. Once the stem hits 4 years though, it won’t produce many berries, if at all. Currant pruning requires the removal of the oldest wood annually in very early spring. Before growth starts the next spring, identify new growth since your pruning. Currants are tiny berries in the genus Ribes. The practice forces the canes to form more canes with healthy buds. For security purposes, prune shrubs or tree branches that obscure the entry to your home. Removing them means that your plant will get more water and nutrients. Previous Next. One of its best qualities is its small, rich green leaves. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Flowering currant can be pruned after flowering in April or May. You can use these methods to prune white currants and gooseberries as well. The right tools make pruning easier and help you do a good job. It gets a little fuller when it leafs out in spring. Between winter and summer, the bush will grow a lot, so you will need to prune it again. Renewal pruning involves removing one to five of the largest branches of the shrub down to the ground each spring to help … Pruning currant bushes is necessary to keep the form of the plant, remove any diseased material and, most of all, to keep the plant’s interior open. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Never prune a red current bush when in leaf. You can prune the hedge again in mid-summer if needed. Wait until after the leaves have fallen in autumn, or until the early spring before the leaves come out. Emerging early, the foliage changes to dark green in summer with an attractive gloss on the leaf uppersides, before warming up to yellow in the fall. Blackcurrants and redcurrants can both be pruned in winter, but they need a slightly different pruning method to keep them healthy and fruiting. Sign up for our newsletter. Prune currant bushes. Do not plant currants in low spots where frost can settle. wikiHow's. How much do you recommend I prune this winter? The reason for this is you want the energy of the shrub go into the roots and not into the foliage. Alpine currant is one tough cookie. Tolerates full shade. Watch this expert RHS video on pruning soft fruits including redcurrants, white currants and gooseberries when growing in a restricted space They key thing is to keep the soil moist, especially when the fruits are forming. As the plant matures, more heavy pruning is required to help increase the longevity of the shrub. Do this as blooms wind down in late winter, after Valentine's Day has passed. With minimum effort you’ll have a reliable and abundant crop, and just one or two bushes will provide pounds of juicy fruits for puddings, jellies and sauces. Prune at any time of year (flowers are insignificant) or simply allow plant to grow naturally. Plant currants in slightly acidic soil to neutral soil; a soil pH of 6.5 to 7.0 is optimal. The bare areas should fill in eventually, but maybe not in one season. Cut new shoots and stems down to 5 leaves in mid-summer. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If you planted the bush in fall, however, you should definitely wait until spring before pruning. In this case, 98% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Extremely winter hardy. Since berries like to grow on older stems, focus on pruning off the newer ones instead. Broken and dead wood are removed annually and some thinning needs to take place to enhance air and light penetration. Prune away any crossing shoots or branches. Currant pruning requires the removal of the oldest wood annually in very early spring. Unlike blackcurrants, redcurrants grow best on older stems. Apart from deseased, dead and touching branches? How to prune gooseberry bushes and currant bushes. Fruits are produced on three-year-old wood, which needs to be preserved. If you don't do this, you risk transferring the infection. You may want to rejuvenate the bush. "Good article, easy to follow, and plenty of pruning help. Pruning fruit bushes can seem complicated but is, in fact, very simple. How to Prune Currants to Train Them Ribes alpinum, commonly called alpine currant, is a compact, mound-forming shrub which grows 3-6' tall. They need fairly severe pruning to cause the plant to form evenly spaced branches that allow air and sunlight in but are nice and strong for fruit production. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Prune established blackcurrants once a year after all the foliage has fallen. % of people told us that this article helped them. A well-rotted manure will do just fine. Another reason you don't want the stems to hang too close to the ground is because they might get tangled up in weeds. Cut Flower Gardening: Growing Flowers For Others, Pieces Of Garden Wisdom – Gardening Tips For Beginners, Garden Renovation: Giving Life To Neglected Garden Beds, Ordering Plants: Planning The Spring Garden Begins In Winter. Head back one-year-old shoots to the next growing point to force branching. As you can see form the photos they are looking a bit tatty now. You might also try to prune out some of the older branches that don't have much growth on them. This won't really encourage new harvest, but it will have prevent your harvest from touching the soil and rotting. Prune your alpine currant hedge in early spring, before new growth begins. In most cases, pruning in late winter will be just fine. Accordingly, do you cut back currant bushes? It forms a thick shrub with branches all the way to ground level. Use the right tools for pruning. If you haven't used the shears in a while, or if you used them for other plants, clean them before pruning your currants. At planting, cut all the canes back to four or six buds. Tolerates some drought. After cutting the stem off, take a look at the exposed wood. Add aged compost or commercial organic planting mix to planting beds; currants grow best in well-drained soil. What is an alpine currant? This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. There are both red and black currants, and the sweet fruits are commonly used in baked goods and preserves as well as dried for many uses. September 2015 in Plants. The answer is to prune them and the time to do the job is right now. DickieLeysh Posts: 27. Alpine currant shrubs typically grow to heights between two and six feet (half a meter to about two meters) and have thick, abundant foliage. Native to Europe, alpine currant, Ribes alpinum, is a low growing, low maintenance plant with bright green foliage present throughout the summer. The third year, prune for shape. Pruning will do this. Fruits are produced on three-year-old wood, which needs to be preserved. You may have to remove it entirely in extreme cases. Shorten all the branches by a quarter, cutting to an outward-facing bud. This is done by selecting one third of the branches, divided evenly over the bush, and cutting these back to a height of about 50 cm. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. The pale green leaves are palmate, meaning that they have small, individual leaflets originating from the base of each leaf, an arrangement that loosely resembles the palm of a human hand with its fingers outstretched. Tolerates full shade. Alpine Currant, Mountain Currant. Learn more... Redcurrants are a type of shrub that produce beautiful, red berries. Very low maintenance with no ornamental appeal than its dense green foliage. What is an Alpine Currant? Older stems are darker and thicker, while younger ones are thinner and paler. DO NOT attempt to prune near electrical and utility wires. You cannot prune them the same way you'd prune blackcurrants, however. The 5 Things You NEED to be Doing to Get a Job, Faster. If you can’t burn the stems, treat with an fungicide or pesticide that’s intended for the disease. Cut the new plants back to about half their height. Cut away all dead, diseased, crossing and intersectional branches first. Prune in winter to leave between eight and ten healthy, strong main branches each year. After planting, water the new plantings Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! These shrubs need little winter care but should be occasionally checked for rabbit or other damage. For classic hedges, cut the top flat or gently … Ribes alpinum, commonly called alpine currant, is a compact, mound-forming shrub which grows 3-6' tall. 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