How to Care for Golden Currant

Plant the golden currant shrubs in an area located in full to partial shade. The best site has direct morning sun with afternoon shade. Mix plenty of organic material into the soil before planting in good-draining soil. It is not necessary to offer wind protection unless the wind is carrying salt from the ocean.

Keep the soil moist throughout the growing season to encourage the development of fruit. Provide at least an inch of water each week if it does not rain. Golden currant plants have shallow roots that dry out quickly. Reduce watering once the fruit ripens since the bush does not grow any more after that.

Scatter 1/2 to 1 cup of slow-release 10-10-10 fertilizer around each plant in the early spring just as new growth appears. Scratch the granules into the soil with a rake and water the fertilizer right away.

Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the base of each plant, extending it out past the branch tips. This keeps the soil moist and cool and reduces weed growth. Use organic mulch like straw, lawn clippings, well-rotted manure and compost. Replenish the mulch layer each year in the fall.

Remove dead stems with pruning shears in the late winter while the shrub is still dormant. This bush naturally forms a weeping shape and does not need much pruning to produce berries. Cut back the suckers springing from the roots or this plant will form a dense colony.

Dig up and burn any plants infested with gall mites, which kill the flowers buds and stems. Do not compost infested plants. Keep a lookout for anthracnose and leaf spot, which appear during wet, humid weather. It is also a sign that the air circulation around the golden currant is not good and the plant needs transplanting to an area with better air circulation.