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Pruning weigela
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Posted by joandaugh Z5 Chicago (My Page) on Fri, Mar 3, 06 at 14:16
| I have a weigela that is completely out of control, taking over other things near it and not in any pleasant shape or form (I inherited it two years ago). I have been doing some reading and it seems like I should give it a rejuvenation by pruning all the way down practically, and now would be the right time of year. Does anybody have any advice--should I wait a while longer or is it safe to prune it now? Should I prune all of the branches or try the more gentle 1/3 of the branches approach? I'm afraid I don't know exactly what kind of weigela it is specifically, just that it is beautiful but a little overbearing. I don't want to damage its blooming potential for this year, but it sounds to me like they are hardy enough.
Has anybody done this recently?
Thanks,
Joan |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pruning weigela
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| I would prune only 1/3 of the branches to the ground. Next year you can do another 1/3 of the old ones leaving the new growth alone and do the same thing the 3rd year. If you are impatient, you can do 1/2 of the branches now by chosing every other branch to prune. I have a variegated one. I prune them in summer. LOL. I use the pruned branches in flower arrangements. By then, I can see which branches are old, which are new. |
RE: Pruning weigela
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Hi Joan,
I have about 5 varieties in my beds. I really like to prune them after they flower. If yours is unruly then I would go for the 1/2 to the ground to thin out. Wait till it flowers then trim it to waist high or lower. It will pop back and flower again in the fall. It takes pruning very well. |
RE: Pruning weigela
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- Posted by zuni 5a (My Page) on
Thu, Mar 27, 08 at 14:07
| Wait until after blooming to do any pruning. I have not had much patience with pruning out 1/3 because weigela is so woody. If it doesn't work for you, just cut the whole plant back to about half height... after blooming. |
RE: Pruning weigela
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| Well, I think I tried the 1/3 & 1/3 again plan. It seems to be a real monster--in a nice way. The main problem seems to be that the original planter didn't give it enough room to grow. I'll just have to try to remember to prune after flowering every year to tame it just a little. If it's too unruly, I might try cutting it back to half this time. I have been getting two blooms a year off it. The flowers are so nice & bright magenta, I can't complain--dying to see anything growing right now! |
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