Proper Technique for Trimming Rosemary Plants

Timing

• Shape rosemary lightly after the spring flowers fade. For warmer zones in coastal areas or in the low deserts of the Southwest, rosemary may bloom in late winter, so plan accordingly. To make matters a bit trickier, rosemary's hardiness varies wildly from cultivar to cultivar, and winter damage is common -- when new spring growth begins, watch for and remove dead twigs or branches.

Technique

• Rosemary in general is a neat, well-mannered plant that doesn't require much shaping to keep it in top form, so use a light hand and simply trim away the wilted flowers with a sharp pair of pruning shears. Rosemary produces its needle-like foliage on new wood. If you cut too deeply, you risk permanently denuding the branch. Don't use an electric string trimmer or hedge trimmer unless you feel confident of your skills, as one mistake may ruin a rosemary plant's form.

Topiaries

• Rosemary's evergreen, feathery needles lend themselves well to indoor topiaries, especially near Christmas when you need a touch of fragrant green to cheer up the midwinter doldrums. To keep your indoor rosemary plant tidy, use kitchen shears to snip any wayward leaves whenever the plant looks a bit frazzled. Use the cuttings in your favorite dish or simply enjoy the fragrance.

Cutting Back

• Unlike many woody shrubs, rosemary will not grow back from severe pruning. Likewise, a harsh winter may kill a rosemary plant that milder winters left unscathed. If the worst happens and your rosemary dies back to the ground, cutting the shrub back will not encourage new growth. Instead, remove the plant and replace it.