Weigela

I have a weigela bush which produces lots of green foliage but very few flowers. Presumably I am pruning incorrectly/at wrong time? Any ideas/help much appreciated.

Hugh

 

As a general rule allways prune shrubs straight after flowering if you do it later you prune off the wood that's going to bear the following years blossom.

 

Its a long time since I had a wiegelia but aren't the shoots for next years flowers already present as new shoots so if you prune straight after flowering you cut off next year's flowers as well?
I think I remember having to carefully pick out old shoots with the dead flowers. Its not just a simple straightforward job, a bit of careful judgement is required.

 

Geoff H I have learnt something today, thanks. What about new shrubs? I have a Philadelphus which is flowering beautifully in its' second year, but growth is a bit leggy.
From the RHS site:
Deciduous shrubs with flowers on strong young growth, which in succeding years become increasingly congested, woody and less free flowering.
Examples: Flowering currant (Ribes), Forsythia, Philadelphus, Weigela.
Pruning: Cut back flowered growth to strong young shoots lower down. Each year cut out up to 20% of ageing stems to near the base.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0800/pruning_early.asp

 

Aw gawd! I've just cut our 9feet high and wide philadelphus down by half as it was too big for its spot. It's now just masses of naked sticks with just a few green shoots here and there. I guess that's the end of that then.

 

Don't worry Kryssy it will come back I've seen some severe pruning jobs but most plants are resilient and will bounce back,I have two large camellias in my front garden usually laden with flowers in spring needed to replace front window cut them down by half expected no flowers this year but was surprised when they produced probably half their usual quota, they are a nice shape now should be good next year.

 

I don't know much about camellias but agree with walnut, you will probably just have fewer flowers next year.

 

Guess what guys? I've seen a few little buds breaking on the odd stick. There is hope - whooppeeee!!

 

Camellias will take pretty severe pruning. My mother did one of her subtle prunings - reduced it to stumps from over 8 foot high and they came back OK. I have also seen similar drastic pruning/butchery used on very old camellias at Bodnant Gardens.

 

There was a professional rose grower on telly a few weeks ago selling roses, someone asked him how they went on pruning all the rose stock they had, he said they use a hedge trimmer just run along and slice them all off.Makes sense to me we pinch growing tips on plants to make them bushy a tree is no different cut the leader and it grows multiple leads hence bushes up, for those who can remember it's called the "Percy Thrower school of gardening" he used to severley prune everything, new what he was on about.

 

Thanks for the help. Of course, weigela bushes (should) flower twice a year but I suppose I should prune after the main flowering in spring? Then again, I seem to remember doing that and someone told me that this would prevent any flowering in autumn!

 

If you follow Geoffs' advice about partial pruning there should be some shoots to flower later.

 

Following Geoff's comment about pruning roses with a hedge-trimmer - yes it will do what you say, but the snag is that you will get lots more crossing stems, and more growth towards the inside of the plant than is desirable, so I'd avoid it myself. If I had thousands upon thousands of roses to look after, I might change my mind though! :rolleyes: :D

 

Dendy Geoff is innocent of the hedge trimmer comments it was on my reply you must pay attention.

 

I harshly cut back two huge Philadelphus about 5 years ago and they have been terrible ever since. They just haven't come back like most other shrubs do when given this treatment. I think it is time to say goodbye to mine.