Prune all heathers immediately after flowering has finished, to retain shape and encourage new growth and flowers. Use sharp shears and trim back to the base of the dead flowers but not into old wood. Cut out and burn any brown or damaged shoots. from Speyside Heather Centre

Why would you want to remove them, anyway? I want to make a heather garden of my own complete with mountain thyme, like the song. Cheesy? I don't care.

Pruning, a mulch of peat moss or pine needles, and an acidic fertilzer in spring before flowering (don't fertilize after July) and they should keep their shape. Don't disturb the soil around their roots though, they're a "hands off" kind of plant. No one weeds them in the moors or the glens, they'll be fine.

Are yours heaths or heathers, do you know? I'm still trying to learn the difference between them.

Anhata
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