Pruning guide
How to prune alpine totara
Best time
Spring
How often
Rarely; light corrective trimming every few years
Technique
Trim stray or dead shoots back to healthy lateral growth with clean hand pruners. Avoid cutting deeply into old wood as regeneration from bare stems is unreliable.
More alpine totara care
Pruning alpine totara — FAQ
When should I prune alpine totara?
Spring. Trim stray or dead shoots back to healthy lateral growth with clean hand pruners. Avoid cutting deeply into old wood as regeneration from bare stems is unreliable.
How often does alpine totara need pruning?
Rarely; light corrective trimming every few years. Alpine Totara (Podocarpus nivalis) is a slow-growing, low-mounding conifer that needs very little pruning. Its spreading, compact habit is naturally ornamental. Remove dead or damaged shoots in spring. It can be lightly trimmed to tighten its shape, but heavy cutting is unnecessary and recovery is slow.
How do you prune alpine totara?
Trim stray or dead shoots back to healthy lateral growth with clean hand pruners. Avoid cutting deeply into old wood as regeneration from bare stems is unreliable.