How to Prune a Red Currant

Currants are medium-sized bushes that produce edible berries. The bushes are available in red, black, pink and white varieties, each with a matching fruit color. Unlike other types of berry bushes that require pruning only to control height, currant bushes require pruning to increase fruit production. However, do not over-prune, since this removes the next year's buds and reduces berry production.

Loppers or pruning shears

Spray paint (optional)

Select the thickest and most healthy of the vertical stems, during the first winter after planting the red currant bush. Cut off all remaining stems at ground level using loppers or pruning shears.

Wait one year and locate the tallest six to seven stems. These include the original stems plus another three to four that grew over the previous year. Cut off all of the stems at the base of the ground except for these three or four, the oldest ones.

Repeat the pruning process until the red currant bush is 4 years old. Then, remove the three to four oldest stems that are now 4 years old. Cut these off near the base of the ground with the loppers. In addition, select the healthiest three to four of the youngest stems to keep, and prune off the other young stems.

Continue this pruning process each year, pruning off the oldest three or four stems as well as all but three to four of the newest stems.

If you have trouble identifying the oldest stems, spray paint a small dot on the stems each year. Use a different color for each year so that you can keep track of the age of the stems.

Prune off dead or diseased red currant stems any time of the year near the base of the ground.