How to Prune Rosemary – When and How to Cut Back Rosemary Plants
Rosemary is one of the easiest herbs to grow, but without occasional pruning, it can become woody, leggy, and overgrown. Knowing how to prune rosemary, when to do this, and how much to cut back, helps keep plants compact, vibrant, and producing fresh growth.
Whether you are shaping a mature rosemary bush, trimming a container plant, or determining if an older plant can withstand more rigorous pruning, the right approach makes all the difference.
This guide explains when to prune rosemary, how to trim it safely, and when hard pruning may be beneficial for reviving an overgrown plant.
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When to prune rosemary
The best time to prune rosemary is in early spring to early summer, right after the plant flowers.
- Avoid heavy pruning before cold weather since new growth could be damaged by frost.
- Avoid pruning new plants until they are established in your garden.
- A general rule is to prune no later than about 4-6 weeks before the first frost.
How to prune rosemary plants
The only tools you will need are clean, sharp pruning shears or garden scissors for most rosemary plants, or a pair of ratcheting pruners and garden gloves for older woody stems.
Regular pruning of rosemary
- Clip off any faded flowers.
- Identify fresh growth vs woody growth.
- Regularly trim the fresh growth of the plant throughout the growing season.
- Snip the stems at an angle just above a cluster of leaves.
- Take care not to prune too far into the old wood.
- To make the plant busier, remove about 1 – 2 inches from all of the branches.
Hard pruning of rosemary
Photo credit Flickr
Rosemary is a perennial herb, and if it grows freely in the garden, it can reach 6-8 feet. The growth of older, mature plants can get very woody and will require hard pruning.
- A good rule of thumb is not to cut back more than ⅓ of the plant at one time.
- Make cuts just above the new, green leaves.
- Avoid cutting into old, bare wood, as this rarely regrows.
- Thin out the center of overgrown plants by cutting inward-facing stems back to a healthy side shoot.
Protip: If your rosemary plant appears to be all thick wood, don’t chop it all down at once. Prune one or two of the old branches all the way to the ground. Then wait a few months until new growth appears and repeat the process on another woody branch.
How to prune rosemary plants in containers
Rosemary grown in containers is pruned much the same way as garden rosemary plants, but the goal is usually to maintain size and encourage fresh growth rather than reduce an overgrown shrub.
- Remove dead or weak stems and trim back soft green growth to maintain a compact shape.
- Avoid cutting deeply into thick woody stems unless the plant is very overgrown.
- Container rosemary often benefits from lighter, more frequent pruning rather than one heavy trim.
- Regular harvesting and shaping throughout the growing season can help keep plants bushy and prevent long, leggy stems.
Protip: If your rosemary seems crowded, dries out quickly, or stops putting on new growth, the issue may not be pruning at all. A larger container or fresh potting mix may help restore its vigor.
Do you need to prune rosemary every year?
Rosemary should be pruned at least once a year to keep a compact shape and to encourage fresh growth.
Pruning prevents the plant from becoming overgrown and woody, and it promotes the lush, bushy foliage that is needed for a healthy harvest.
What to do with rosemary clippings
Don’t throw those rosemary cuttings away. Put them to use in these ways:
- Rosemary can be preserved by drying, freezing, and made into butter and infused oil.
- Use the cuttings to propagate into new plants.
- Rosemary makes a great Thanksgiving herb for turkey.
- Add the woody rosemary clippings to your compost pile.
- Rosemary is also used in craft projects, from decorations on tablescapes to additions to gift-wrapped packages.
Related posts
Looking for more tips for pruning your plants? Check out these pruning and tools care guides.
- Pruning Shrubs – How and when to trim bushes
- Pruning Tips – How to prune plants like a pro
- How To Winterize Garden Tools – Keep your tools clean and sharp
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Admin note: This article on how to prune rosemary first appeared on the blog in September 2017. This post has been updated with new photos, a printable project card, and a slideshow video about growing rosemary.
Pruning Rosemary – How and When to Trim Rosemary Plants
Learn how to prune rosemary correctly to keep it compact and productive. You'll find the best time to trim rosemary, how much to remove, and when hard pruning is appropriate.
Materials
- I overgrown or woody rosemary plant
Tools
- Pruning shears
- Garden gloves
- Ratcheting pruners
Instructions
For general pruning:
- Prune in late spring or early summer after the plant flowers.
- Clean your shears with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Remove any faded flowers.
- Regularly trim the tips of the stems throughout the growing season.
- Cut the stems on an angle just above a cluster of leaves.
- Be careful not to cut too far into the woody area of the stem, since this rarely regrows.
- Container rosemary plants benefit from lighter, more frequent pruning rather than one heavy trim.
For hard pruning
- Don't cut back more than ⅓ of the plant at one time.
- Make cuts just above the new, green leaves.
- Thin out the center of overgrown plants by cutting inward-facing stems back to a healthy side shoot.
- For very woody growth, concentrate on one section at a time.
- Cut it back to the base of the plant.
- Wait a few weeks for new growth to appear.
- Repeat on the other sections.
- Avoid heavy pruning too late in the year to keep frost from damaging new growth.
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Thanks for this very informative article. It tells me just what I need to know about pruning my rosemary bushes. This is the best one I’ve found as far as clarity and detail.
Hi Mary. Thanks for the nice comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the article and found it useful. Carol
I started Rosemary from seed in my indoor greenhouse. Live in Canada, so brrr… Anyway I’m wondering if I should prune the one sprout that has come up. It’s about four inches high and there is about an inch or more between the lower leaves and upper set of leaves, of which there might be a total of five or six pairs over the four inches. Can I clip it in the middle where there is more stem than leaves, just above the last two leaves and at the beginning of the larger stem? Clear as mud? 🙂
Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi Paul. I normally don’t prune plants that are small and quite new unless they start to get too leggy. Cutting the main stem will make it branch out but will also make for a more compact plant. I usually prune once the plant is close to the height I want to keep it that size.
A great article! I have three rosemary plants that are outdoors now for going on 3 years. I live in Boise, Idaho and wonder how these plants have survived our winters here. After reading your pruning advice, I have decided to leave the plants as they are and simply ‘harvest’ when rosemary is called for in the kitchen. Again, many thanks for an informative review.
Our renter chopped my rosemary plant down, there is only one branch left the rest is Woody with no growth. Any suggestions on helping it get back to it’s full growth?
With only woody growth, it’s probably not going to do very well without severe renovation pruning. You can cut through the woody stems and get growth, since there are still roots. Just prune it hard, keep the watering up and watch for new growth. If all fails, a new plant is in order, but you may be surprised to see it grow after heavy pruning.
Tell your renter if he does it again, he’ll be evicted. Immediately.
I have a beautiful row of rosemary plants growing next to a path. About 6 weeks ago my Gardner butchered it….just cut it all back to be even with the path. Now its Nothing but a bunch of woody ugly plants (with some growth on top). I’m horrified. Does he know something that I don’t….or should I keep him away from my garden? I used it regularly for cooking. Thanks!
Pruning rosemary right down to the ground is not something that one normally does. When a rosemary plant is woody and not sprouting much in the center (where it doesn’t get as much light) it is sometimes cut right back there to rejuvenate it, but not normally the whole plant.
That being said, I have hard pruned rosemary in a big way and did get some new growth. Personally, when mine gets too woody, I start over with fresh soil and new plants to get the lush younger growth. Mine are in pots though, not in the ground.
I’ve heard of people losing their plants from too much pruning and also of others who get new growth from doing this.
my rosemary’s branches are laying down with stems growing sideways in a 360 circle. from the top it looks like a center of woody stems with healthy green all around it (like a wreath). tried to stake it with poor result. i am in central georgia, am thinking of hard pruning. will new growth adjust and grow straight? is now proper time for hard prune or should i wait? thank u for advice
Older rosemary plants will get very woody, just as you describe and definitely need the woody sections cut away. It will just continue growing the way it is if not pruned. (Any old perennials will do this.
It may be to the state where it needs to be taken out of the pot, then cut away the old grown the repot the smaller remaining sections with new soil.
This is great advice – thank you. I have a large Woody rosemary bush in my flower garden and need to hard prune. Where on the Woody stem do you make the cut?
Just cut the wood back to about 6 inches from the ground. The woody growth will just get more and more woody if not removed.
7/14/20
Plant is up on tier two, and flowing down into tier one, interfering. How to cut it back to control it, and match size and bushiness of entire plant. Thank you.
It is hard to describe the in a comment. Basically, trim the plant to the size of the pot, cutting overflowing branches off.
Hi Carol, my rosemary plant which is about 6 years old,is about 5 feet around and 4-5 ft. tall is full and pretty but way bigger then I like it. It is taking up more area in my garden then I’d like. I’m thinking of cutting the back half off at root area and sharing it. Is that an OK idea or what do you suggest ?
I can’t give advice on pruning specific plants without seeing them in person.
My rosemary always has some yellow and some speckled leaves….what would cause that?
I don’t diagnose any specific plant problems without seeing the plant in person.
Hi. I bought a rosemary plant and placed it in a terra cotta pot.it was doing great from spring until January when I became ill for 6 weeks. Oopsey no one watered any of my indoor plants. Now ut is brown, needles falling off like a pine tree at rhe end of the holidays. There are some spots that look like white cotton got stuck on it. Should I try to continuing watering or toss it and try to find a new plant?
It sounds like you have a mealy bug infestation. This can infect other plants easily. I would replace it.
I have a couple of rosemary plants in my garden and they are growing well and quite fragrant. However, both constantly have pests on them and the whole plant is a light green with many tiny yellow spots from the pest taking a “taste.” My two questions are, if I soak the clippings for a few minutes is it safe to eat? My second question is, can I cut 2/3 off to promote new stems and try again next year fighting these pests?
Ok…one more question, not a fan of been oil since I want to use the rosemary in cooking and the berm oil is sticky, is there something else I can try. FYI, I’m in zone 8b.
It is impossible to diagnose a specific plant problem without seeing the plant in person. Generally, though, I would not personally eat diseased herbs. Pruning will help any plant that is diseased.
I have an overgrown rosemary bush that is in desperate need of pruning, or cutting down altogether. Lots of old dried branches, but still producing some new growth. Can I cut it back to a manageable size? If so, when is the best time of year to do this. I live in the Southeast where we have warm weather well into the fall.
Yes, you can prune it down to a smaller plant. The best time is late spring.