help please !!

sammyboy2

My Amelanchier Ballerina is an absolute picture at the moment, with masses of creamy white blossom. However, it is growing rather haphazardly, and I would like to prune it to a more compact shape. Does anyone know when the best time of year would be for me to do this ?  Thank you.

Ladybird4

Hi sammy. Amelanchier should be pruned between November and February.

Lyn

Prune straight after flowering or you will lose next year's flowers, they bloom on old wood.

sammyboy2

Oh gosh, now I have two different pruning times, and I'm still confused!!

Ladybird4

It rather depends on which Amelanchier you have but the winter/spring pruning should only be light pruning to keep shape. This is the RHS recommendation.

Lyn

If you need a hard prune, then do it in the winter but you won't get any flowers that Spring. If you prune straight after flowering, the new growth it makes in that year will flower next year.

Sometine it's best to go by people's experiences, there's a lot of conflicting info to be had on net.

did you find yours bloomed after a winter pruning Ladybird, cos mine didn't. ? 

I don't like Copy/paste, but here's a bit of info........

General pruning can be carried out in late Winter - but only for diseased, untidy and crossing branches. Any major surgery at this time of year will cut off the flowering growths for the incoming Spring.

If your Amelanchier needs corrective pruning to re-shape or bring to an acceptable size, then this should be carried out immediately after flowering in order to allow the shrub to start into growth and provide flowering branches for the next year. Any pruning of Amelanchier later in the year will probably prevent flowering in the following year. However, late pruning normally brings better autumn foliage colour with the newer leaves. (Taken form a web site) 

so you can take your choice and do what you think best sammy, the foliage is striking and the blossom doesn't last for long. So it's choices really. 

Joyce Goldenlily

There is always more than one way to skin a cat as the saying goes.

maggieransom

My amelanchier is about 12 feet tall and the flowering branches don't start until about 7 feet. If I prune down to 6 feet, would it recover?

Fairygirl

Yes is the short answer.
Without a photo, and more info though, it's hard to be specific.
What you can also do is to prune back a few stems/branches hard. You can then gradually [over several years] reduce the height. It would depend on the shape it is, the condition it's in, and what you want to achieve too.