Pruning ornamental shrubs!

Although it is still cool and it may even snow, spring can suddenly arrive from one week to the next, bringing countless tasks to do in the garden. Not only our fruit trees, but our ornamental shrubs also need pruning from time to time.

Maintenance pruning of spring-flowering shrubs Since they bloom in early spring, pruning them beforehand would only remove the flowering shoots, so shrubs belonging to this group should only be pruned after flowering but before the leaves emerge. Remove older, drooping, over-aged and weakly flowering parts down to the base, and cut back the long shoots by one third. There is no need to pinch back the remaining shoots. This rejuvenation pruning is necessary every 2–3 years.

Spring-flowering ornamental shrubs:

Dwarf almond (Amygdalus nana)

Double flowering almond (Amygdalus triloba)

Deutzia (Deutzia)

Forsythia (Forsythia)

Sea buckthorn (Hippophoe rhamnoides)

Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius)

Weigela (Weigela florida)

Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

Summer-flowering shrubs

Since they produce their flowers at the tips of the current year's shoots and on their lateral shoots, it is worth pruning them in early spring to encourage strong shoot growth and consequently abundant flowering. Start pruning in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Cut the stronger shoots back to 4–6 buds and the weaker ones to 2–3 buds. Cornelian cherry, Kerria, privet and elder do not need such intensive pruning; in their case, simply remove the aged branches down to the base.

Summer-flowering ornamental shrubs:

Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)

Bluebeard (Caryopteris vulgaris)

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

St. John's wort (Hypericum)

Russian sage (Perovsika atriplicifolia)

Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)

Japanese spirea (Spirea bumalda)

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos)

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-cactus)

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