When and How to Prune Grevilleas

Pruning is one of the most important parts of Grevillea care. Without it, plants become woody, lose their compact shape, and flower less each year.

Benefits of Pruning

Encourages More Flowers: Regular pruning stimulates new growth, where flower spikes form.
Keeps Plants Compact: Prevents legginess and maintains a neat garden shape.
Improves Health: Removes dead or diseased wood, reducing pest risks.
Extends Plant Life: Prevents Grevilleas from becoming woody and declining too early.

Well-pruned Grevilleas not only look better, but they also live longer and produce significantly more nectar-rich blooms for birds and pollinators.

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When to Prune Grevilleas

Light Pruning: After each flowering flush (often spring and late summer), lightly trim spent flower spikes to encourage new blooms.
Major Pruning: Best done in late spring or early autumn when weather is mild. Avoid pruning in the middle of winter or during extreme summer heat.
Regional Variation: In warm climates, Grevilleas can be pruned almost year-round. In cooler areas, avoid heavy cuts close to frost.

How to Prune Grevilleas

Use sharp, clean secateurs to avoid tearing stems.
Cut back flowering stems by one-third to just above a node or side branch.
Remove any dead, crossing, or woody stems.
Avoid cutting into old, bare wood—Grevilleas rarely regrow from this.
Shape the plant gradually over multiple seasons instead of one severe cut.

For groundcover and prostrate Grevilleas, trim lightly across the top to maintain dense coverage. For larger tree-type Grevilleas, prune only to manage shape and size.

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Aftercare, Fertiliser & FAQ

Aftercare Tips

Water plants deeply after major pruning to reduce stress.
Apply a light layer of mulch to protect roots and conserve moisture.
Feed with a low-phosphorus fertiliser to encourage quick regrowth.

Fertiliser After Pruning

Immediately after pruning, apply a diluted liquid fertiliser such as CompleteGrow NPK 20-20-20 to stimulate new shoots.
Two to three weeks later, switch to CompleteGrow 4-18-38 + CaMg to strengthen growth and prepare for the next flush of flowers.
Repeat light feeding every 4–6 weeks during the growing season.

FAQ

Q: Can I prune Grevilleas in summer?
A: Yes, but avoid during extreme heatwaves. Light pruning after summer flowering is ideal.
Q: Can I prune Grevilleas in winter?
A: Light shaping is fine, but avoid heavy cuts before frost, as new growth may be damaged.
Q: How often should I prune?
A: Light trims several times a year are better than one heavy prune.
Q: Do Grevilleas recover from hard pruning?
A: Some small to medium varieties do, but avoid cutting into old bare wood, as regrowth is limited.

Final Recommendation: Prune Grevilleas lightly and often, focusing on removing spent flowers and shaping. Follow up with CompleteGrow fertilisers to ensure rapid recovery and abundant flowering in the next cycle.