How to prune rosemary

Immediately after flowering, typically late spring to early summer. Trim the top one-third of each stem back to healthy leafy growth with clean shears. Never cut into bare wood below the lowest leaves — it will not regenerate from there.

Once a year (post-flowering), plus light tip harvesting throughout the growing season. Rosemary needs light annual pruning to stay bushy and prevent a woody, bare base. Cut back stems by up to one-third immediately after flowering in spring or early summer — never cut into bare old wood, as rosemary regenerates poorly from leafless stems. Light harvesting of fresh shoot tips throughout the season doubles as pruning.

Trim the top one-third of each stem back to healthy leafy growth with clean shears. Never cut into bare wood below the lowest leaves — it will not regenerate from there.