Tolerates full shade. It responds well to heavy pruning or shearing. Finally put some mulch (e.g., wood chips, leaves) around the new plantings. Noteworthy Characteristics. Having had more than 20 years of experience with growing alpine currants in Northern Minnesota, I have planted them around this time of the year (late September). Pruning currant bushes is necessary to keep the form of the plant, remove any diseased material and, most of all, to keep the plant’s interior open. Sambucus canadensis – American Elder . Tolerates some drought. Do your rejuvenation pruning early next spring (late March, early April assuming the snow is not too deep) before any foliage emerges. native to Europe; hardy to zone 2; Habit and Form. Extremely winter hardy. However, do this as soon as possible. Between winter and summer, the bush will grow a lot, so you will need to prune it again. Ribes alpinum, commonly called alpine currant, is a compact, mound-forming shrub which grows 3-6' tall. Trim no shorter than 2 feet. They can be pruned any time of the year and tolerate even a heavy pruning. Use secateurs to prune off a 15-30cm (6-12in) long shoot of recent growth. Plan a second pruning for midsummer, after bright green spring foliage matures to dark green. Alpine currants are very adaptable and tolerate drought as well as a variety of soil conditions and sun exposures. The new plantings may not completely fill in the gaps during 2019 but they certainly should by 2020. 10-10-10 would be a good choice. Plants are tolerant of full sun to full shade. This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. Cut new shoots and stems down to 5 leaves in mid-summer. This shrub is excellent in mass or foundation planting in the landscape. Prune alpine currants when young, tender new growth reaches 6 to 8 inches long. After you do this pruning, apply some fertilizer to the entire hedge. Prune at any time of year (flowers are insignificant) or simply allow plant to grow naturally. Ribes alpinum: alpine currant ... Prune to maintain neat, balanced head of foliage Pruning Shrubs Produced on a Standard Non-grafted standards: train leading shoot from early age on clear stem, needs staking, due in stages It looks like it has gotten out of hand as in many places the main branches grow vertical for 6-12 inches and then horizontal for 3 or more feet. Adaptable to pruning Alpine Currant (Ribes alpinum) is the shrub you need when you want a super-hardy, totally dependable, tough-as-nails, doesn't care about the soil or light or air kind of shrub. Alpine currant (Ribes alpinum) is a hardy, low mounded shrub commonly used as a hedge.Plants are tolerant of full sun to full shade. Beautiful grouped or massed in a shrub border. Alpine currant is a compact, multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded shape. Alpine Currant Saxifragaceae. This plant has some cultivated varieties. Prune at any time of year (flowers are insignificant) or simply allow plant to grow naturally. Pruning - After Planting. A more compact grower than most, excellent as a hedge or in a mixed shrub border in native landscaping Rosa carefree – Carefree roses . You may not want to do such pruning on any of the new plantings that you are making this fall. Thank You. During the first three years of growth, allow four or five canes to develop per year. You may not want to do such pruning on … Habitat. Clay soil. Alpine Currant is known as a common formal or informal hedge, with bright green Spring foliage and stout, stiff stems, usually pruned to about 3' tall as a linear hedge, and also found in low-maintenance group plantings where coverage without ornamental appeal (basically no flowers, fruits, fall color, or Winter interest) is desired or accepted. The hedge is overgrown and I'd like to do a major pruning to rejuvenate it. 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