Learn How Pruning Affects Flowering Shrubs

Home » Blog » Learn How Pruning Affects Flowering Shrubs

Robert Pavlis

My two Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ are coming into bloom, but one shrub was several weeks ahead of the other with respect to flowering. I was wondering why, until I remembered that one was pruned in spring and the other was not.

It was the perfect opportunity to make a short video about how pruning affects flowering and provide 8 tips for pruning shrubs to get better flowers. Enjoy the video.

YouTube video

Subscribe

If the above video does not play, use this link: https://youtu.be/pPlWLPR6wOU

I plan to develop a whole course on pruning and make it available on YouTube – stay tuned.

 

If you like this post, please share .......

Robert Pavlis

I have been gardening my whole life and have a science background. Besides writing and speaking about gardening, I own and operate a 6 acre private garden called Aspen Grove Gardens which now has over 3,000 perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees. Yes--I am a plantaholic!

5 thoughts on “Learn How Pruning Affects Flowering Shrubs”

  1. I have a limelight about 15 years old. I pruned one side of it back fall 2017 because it was covering up other plants. It is probably about 8 + feet tall and wide. The 2018 summer the branches were all mostly flopping to the ground instead of the normal upright in the past. Do you have any suggestions. I live in the Niagara Peninsula area.

    Reply
    • I am going to guess that you also had a lot of branches growing. Cut most of them out when they are small. The remaining ones will grow stronger.

      Now that you have weak stems, but them back, and cut most of them out.

      Reply
  2. Thank you, Robert. That was quite informative.

    I’m suddenly seeing what I’ve been told are perennial hibiscus. Are they really? If so, are there any special tricks with them?
    Also, I’ve been offered some Siberian Spurge and was wondering how aggressive it is.

    Thanks again for your very informative video.

    Katie

    Reply
    • Perennial hibiscus are perennial in zone 5 – don’t know about colder zones. They don’t need anything special. They do start very late in spring, so don’t think they are dead. Some cultivars flower early than others – try to pick an early flowering one or an early fall frost might damage the flowers.

      I have not grown Euphorbia seguieriana

      Reply

Leave a Comment