When do you prune rosemary?

Because rosemary is an evergreen and never goes completely dormant, it is safe to prune any time of the year. Pruning in winter allows the plant to develop flowers in the early spring. This additional splash of color may be enough to make winter the pruning time of choice.

When pruning rosemary, remove new growth up to 5 inches at a time. Cutting old growth may kill the plant. To maintain the shape, prune on a consistent basis, snipping off shoots from the stem. In addition to pruning, maintain potted rosemary by repotting it if the plant becomes root-bound.