Can I cut my Montana yet?

melanie 568

 Evening all. 

I have a huge Montana archway and really need to cut it back so i can get into the garden without stooping. The flowers are almost over so can i go for it now? 

Lyn

Perfect time, any later and you could cut off the new growth that gives you next years flowers. 

MuddyFork

I did mine last and the regrowth has already stRted

MuddyFork

That should read last week

melanie 568

Great! I shall get on with tackling that! 🤤

Fairygirl

They're all still flowering here as our season is a bit later, but it looks perfect timing for you to do it. 
As Lyn says - it can be tricky to get the timing right because the new growth carries the future flowers. Sometimes though, you have to sacrifice a few or you'd never get it done at all.
It looks like a very impressive arch Melanie! 

melanie 568

@Fairygirl I can't take any credit as it was here when I moved in and this is my first year looking after it. The flowers were immense though!

melanie 568

Villaverde123

I have a couple of these.  Any recommendations for pruning - just an overall trim back or right down to the main stem about 12 inches high?  

Fairygirl

Looks great Melanie 
Villaverde - I just used to tidy mine generally, and hack back a bit more if they were heading to a place I didn't want them going! I always tried to tie in along fences or supports horizontally when first planted, and throughout the first year or two, so that I had a basic framework to trim back to, but, as in Melanie's case, if it's got a bit out of hand, you can be a wee bit brutal to get it all where you want it. Some people do hack them right back to the ankles, but I've never done it.
 
After any prune, a good tidy up round the base, a feed, a good watering, and a mulch will help to get them growing away well again. 

MuddyFork

Feed and watering is very important as you will take away the leaves that create food to feed the plant