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Missed pruning

Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516
in Problem solving

Hello

I managed not to prune two young shrubs after flowering last summer, a weigela and a spirea. They were both planted about this time last year as bare root shrubs.

Should I nip off the flowered stalks to a good bud now or just leave them and prune after this years flowers fade?

Thanks

No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,647

    Leave them and prune after this year's flowers or you'll risk losing them.

    On a day when no frost is forecast for a few days you can trim off any obvious dead ends or broken stems and any that are crossing and rubbing another stem but leave major re-shaping till after flowering.  When the soil isn't frozen you could also give a feed or a mulch to help them along as young plants will still be getting their roots established and seeking nutrients.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,125

    I agree with Obelixx image

    And don't worry ... it's not compulsory to prune shrubs every year, particularly young ones. image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Stephanie newish gardenerStephanie newish gardener Posts: 516

    Thanks both. I'm at that annual point where the weather is trying to look better and the days are a bit longer and I'm realising again what a huge garden we have and what a mammoth task it all is.

    I'm also feeling a bit sorry for myself as I've been ill this last week and consequently have no energy for the things that need doing. I have managed to prune most of the roses and cut back an invasive something or other that comes back every year and doesn't mind wayward secateurs, so that's probably my limit for this weekend.

    Time now to belatedly get the potatoes on the windowsill and maybe order some tomato seeds. Don't need energy and vigour for that!

    No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.  B) 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,125

    I sympathise ... I had a year of accident/injury last year and so many things got neglected ... and as we've got the Beast from the East arriving any minute the only gardening I've done is to help OH fleece the fig and make sure there's room under the table on the terrace for the pots of spring bulbs that are flowering at the moment in case we get heavy snow ........  I bought some seeds yesterday and filled up the bird feeders and the rest can just wait image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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