Goji berry plants, also known as wolfberries, are one of the easiest and most nutritious berries to grow at home. These hardy shrubs produce small, bright-red berries packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and flavor. Like most fruiting plants, they thrive with regular maintenance — and that starts with knowing how to fall prune goji berry plants.

In this guide, you’ll learn why fall is the best time to prune goji berry bushes, the exact steps to follow, and where to buy premium goji berry plants online from Ty Ty Nursery, America’s trusted plant supplier since 1978.

🌱 Why Prune Goji Berry Plants?

Goji berry bushes can grow quickly, often reaching 8 to 10 feet tall if left unpruned. Without yearly trimming, they become tangled and woody, which reduces air circulation and fruit production. Regular pruning helps your plant focus its energy on strong, fruit-bearing branches rather than excessive leafy growth.

Pruning offers several key benefits:

• Encourages new growth for next year’s berries
• Improves air flow and sunlight exposure
• Prevents disease and pest buildup
• Controls size and shape for easier harvesting
• Increases berry yield and sweetness

🍂 Why Fall Is the Best Time to Prune Goji Berries

While goji berries can be lightly trimmed throughout the growing season, fall pruning offers unique advantages. Once the growing season ends and the leaves begin to drop, the plant enters dormancy — making this the ideal time to prune without stressing the plant.

• Plants are resting: Energy is stored in the roots, not the leaves, so pruning won’t shock the plant.
• Better visibility: With fewer leaves, it’s easier to see the plant’s structure and identify which branches to remove.
• Disease prevention: Removing dead or diseased canes before winter keeps fungi and insects from overwintering.
• Prepares for new growth: Clean pruning allows the plant to push out strong, healthy shoots when spring returns.

In short, fall pruning helps your goji berries rest well through winter and bounce back stronger next year.

✂️ Step-by-Step: How to Fall Prune Goji Berry Plants

Pruning goji berries isn’t complicated — just a few precise cuts each fall can make a huge difference. Follow these steps to keep your plants healthy and productive:

1. Gather Your Tools

Use sharp pruning shears for small stems and loppers for thicker branches. Keep rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution nearby to disinfect your tools between plants to avoid spreading disease.

2. Identify Dead or Diseased Wood

Begin by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Dead wood is usually brittle and gray, while healthy wood has a green layer beneath the bark when lightly scratched.

3. Cut Back Overgrown Branches

Trim long, leggy branches to shape the plant and keep it between 4–6 feet tall. This encourages a bushier habit and makes harvesting much easier next season.

4. Thin Out Interior Growth

Goji plants tend to grow densely. Remove crossing or crowded stems in the center to improve airflow and sunlight penetration, reducing fungal risk and improving berry size.

5. Shorten Lateral Branches

Cut lateral shoots (side branches) back to 3–5 buds. These buds will produce new fruit-bearing stems in spring.

6. Remove Ground Shoots and Suckers

Eliminate any new shoots growing from the base or roots — they drain energy from the main plant and can cause crowding.

7. Clean the Ground Area

Rake up fallen leaves and debris around the base of the plant. This removes overwintering pests and diseases that could harm next year’s crop.

8. Mulch and Water

After pruning, apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base to insulate the roots. Water deeply once before winter sets in to keep the root system hydrated.

🌞 After-Pruning Care

• Do not fertilize until early spring — late feeding may stimulate growth before frost.
• In colder climates, cover young plants with burlap or frost cloth for added protection.
• Inspect occasionally through winter for signs of rodents or root disturbance.

🚫 Common Goji Berry Pruning Mistakes

• Pruning too early before the plant is dormant
• Removing too many fruiting branches
• Failing to sanitize pruning tools
• Leaving stubs or torn cuts that invite disease
• Neglecting to thin overcrowded stems

Benefits of Fall Pruning Goji Berry Plants

Consistent fall pruning offers both immediate and long-term benefits:

• Healthier, more productive plants
• Improved fruit size, flavor, and sweetness
• Reduced risk of fungal infections and pests
• More balanced, attractive plant shape
• Stronger new growth every spring

By pruning each fall, you’ll set your goji berry patch up for decades of productivity and beauty.

🌳 Where to Buy Goji Berry Plants Online

Ready to start or expand your goji berry garden? The best place to buy healthy, true-to-name goji plants is Ty Ty Nursery. Since 1978, Ty Ty Nursery has shipped premium berry and fruit plants nationwide — backed by unbeatable guarantees:

• Free 1-Year Plantsurance™ Guarantee — store credit if your plant doesn’t survive
• Lifetime True-to-Name Guarantee — refund, replacement, or credit if the variety is incorrect
• Fastest shipping in the industry — most orders ship the next business day
• USDA Zone Finder Tool — helps you choose the perfect varieties for your region

Ty Ty Nursery carries both Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense varieties of goji berry plants — all shipped fresh and ready to grow. Visit www.TyTyGa.com to order today.

🌾 Final Thoughts

Fall pruning keeps goji berry plants healthy, compact, and full of life. By removing old wood and shaping the plant during dormancy, you’ll encourage vigorous new growth, better airflow, and a heavier harvest next year.

When you’re ready to grow or refresh your goji berry garden, trust Ty Ty Nursery — where quality plants, fair prices, and customer success have been growing strong since 1978. Zero Stress. All Success.™