Brent Wilson · Gardenality Administrator · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Pruning
Japanese Cleyera responds very well to pruning. During the active growth season, you can prune cleyera lightly to shape it. This means pruning some of the longer stems back to a point just above the dense part of the the plant. Cease pruning about two months prior to the first frost date to avoid encouraging new growth that could be damaged by a frost.
If your cleyera has grown too large for the space it is growing, you can also perform rejuvenation pruning to get it down to a smaller size again. This means cutting the plants back to within 6 to 12 inches of ground level. The best time to do this type of severe pruning is in late winter, while the plant is still dormant and before new growth begins to emerge in spring. Pruning in late fall or midwinter may encourage new growth which can be injured by cold. Renewal pruning results in abundant new growth by midsummer. Once the new shoots are about 6 to 12 inches long, prune the tips to encourage lateral branching and a more compact shrub.