"Elizabeth" wrote in message
...
When is the best time to prune to keep heathers in
check------------now just after flowering?
Elizabeth in Scotland.
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Elizabeth,

This is a summary from Pocket Guide, Heather Gardening, Presented by the
The Heather Society.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/heather/ My guide is about twenty years
old.

"Remove dead flower spikes and any long straggly growths, as this allows
the plant to develop its own natural habit.

The danger of severe pruning is that the cutting back to older wood will
hinder the production of new growths, leaving a bare patch in the middle
of your plant.

In natural surroundings heathers are grazed by sheep and wildlife on the
moors, but they only take the new growths which is the equivalent of
very light pruning".

Regards,
Emrys Davies.