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Spindly Philadelphus

Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155
in Problem solving

I have a philadelphus about three or four years old which has quite tall strong thick branches with only a handful of flowers at the top and not much in the way of greenery at the bottom.  I'm wondering if this would be a good time to give it a good chop down (though there won't be much left in the way of greenery!) in the hope that it might thicken up by next year.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906

    Hi Poly-anthus. Wait until it has finished flowering and prune it hard back then. Take all the shoots that have flowered back by at least a half.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155

    Thanks very much Ladybird and Chloe.  Had a good examination of it today and the only flowers (can count them on one hand, lol) are at the very top.  I think if I could get it out, I would ditch it, but don't think that's an option as everything round about it would be disturbed.  Think I'll follow your advice Chloe and will chop most it down, leaving just one main branch.  Fingers crossed, it might look a bit better by next year.

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