Pruning confuzzlement
green fingered finch
Posts: 278
in Plants
Hi all, I've realised I have forgotten to prune a few of the early flowering shrubs... is it too late to prune a physocarpus dart's gold (See pic)? It needs a bit if rejuvenation as there is some dead wood in it this year. Also the rather leggy and neglected rhododendron (small one, pale pink flowers, no idea of type, see pic) is on borrowed time so I'd quite like to hard prune it if possible to see if I can encourage lower down growth. Is it too late for that? Is it even possible?
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For the physocarpus, I would take out all the dead wood now and cut back all the stems to a height or width that suits your needs and then take a third out back to a lower set of leaves. This way you can rejuvenate your shrub.
I don't grow rhodos as I have alkaline soil but a good gardening friend does and he takes the view that they will come back well if cut back hard, given a good drink of rain or soft water and then given a good mulching of ericaceous compost. Do it soon though so new growth has time to harden before the frosts.
Reminds me I need to cut our Physocarpus Diablo. One of my favourite plants. We also have a dwarf variety, Physocarpus Little Devil.
Pronuned my physocarpus this afternoon.
Like the dwarf variety Keenon Green.
You've done what Joyce???? I'd get down to the doctor if I was you!!!!!
pp - I have filled two garden bins with prunings today
. Bins get emptied tomorrow and I took advantage of the glorious weather today.
Well done Joyce.
PP - this thread is called pruning confuzzlement - obviously catching!
First time I read it as pronouned! Didn't sound quite so painful!
Depends how personal it was!
I pruned my physocarpus in early spring this year and it's now back to the size it was last year. So I reckon you'll be fine to prune it now.