Pruning/cutting back plants .... advise needed please

Being new to gardening, last year I randomly brought plants I liked the look of, or a few that were just reduced at garden centres !

Some of the plants are looking a little overgrown now and Im not sure when I should be cutting them back, or how to cut them back ... or by how much :confused:

The ones I was wondering about at the moment is Solanum Crispum Glasnevin a.k.a potato tree & broom.

I will post picture to give you an idea on how they look at the moment, then any advise would be greatly appreciated

 

Broom

 

Solanum Crispum Glasnevin a.k.a potato tree

�£1.99 from wilko's last year :eek:

 

ahhhh how you know it was that site ?

Obviously not the only one to reply to their own posts then lol.

Thanks for your reply

 

Totally agree good move coming here though :D

Although Im still tempted to tell the other lot what a bunch of ignorant so and so's they are

 

With broom do not cut back into the old wood. We used to have several on the front bit between ours and the neighbours. Their helpful elderly father cut them right down. Sure enough it killed them stone dead. After flowering just cut the recent growth. They are not very long lived shrubs, so don't be surprised if one year they just curl up their toes.

 

I have read a few things on the internet about both plants ... both say only prune in the spring.

How much to people stick to these rules?

 

Hi Sam and welcome

I love the Solanum Crispum Glasnevin a.k.a potato tree .That is on my shopping list for sure.

 

Hi Sam and welcome. I had a solanum which I pruned back every March. I cut out dead and weak shoots them cut back the branches to about 6-12". They soon grew back and always flowered beautifully.

 

Hi Sam. A second vote for the Spring pruning of the potato vine. I've got mine trained along a fence. I'm really vicious with it and cut it back to the basic framework. (Some vertical and some horizontal) I prune it at the same time as the buddleais and the Leysetrias(- end of February) it always comes back O.K. Tough little plant. All the best

 

Hiya,

I have solanum growing up as a climber probably completely different type to yours but i have managed not to kill it. It is a quick grower and has the mid purple flowers with yellow centres.

But don't mind me as I live up to my name :D