Forum home Tools and techniques
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Terrified to prune philadelphus

24

Posts

  • pansyface said:
    Imagine that the bulk of the plant is beyond the left hand side of this photo.

    Outward facing buds face outwards, away from the centre of the plant.


    Omg that’s amazing!! Thank you!! 🙂❤️
  • Thank you so much everyone! I feel like I can do this!! 💪🏻
  • 1634 Racine1634 Racine Posts: 568


    Is yours about the same size as this @theluciblack

    Mine only seems to have one solitary flower at the moment.  You can just see it in the photo.  To add insult to injury it is tucked away where you can hardly see it!

    i did lightly prune last year right after flowering.  Personally I wonder whether it might be better to leave unpruned for a few years when they are this size.

    Sorry, didn’t mean to sow any new seeds of doubt 😁

  • Not at all Racine! No mine is bigger I think. 5 flowers, all on one tiny branch at the bottom 🙄
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147


    Is yours about the same size as this @theluciblack

    Mine only seems to have one solitary flower at the moment.  You can just see it in the photo.  To add insult to injury it is tucked away where you can hardly see it!

    i did lightly prune last year right after flowering.  Personally I wonder whether it might be better to leave unpruned for a few years when they are this size.

    Sorry, didn’t mean to sow any new seeds of doubt 😁

    Your instinct is right 👍  ... leave this unpruned and allow it to grow for a few years ... shrubs don’t have to be pruned.

    In a few years when your shrub is much bigger you may want to remove some shoots right from the base of the plant to thin it out a bit and stop it getting congested ... but for now I’d just let it grow. 😊 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949
    Sorry to bob in, but may I ask, if my Philadelphus (approx 15 years old) is very 'lollypoppy' (all leafy on top) with nothing happening lower down, should I cut it right down after flowering (which it doesn't do a lot of?) t i a   
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @Meomye could you post a photo of your philadelphus then we can suggest options 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think racine's is a different variety. It looks like it could be Manteau d'hermine, which is a much smaller, bushier variety with small double flowers,and brighter foliage. I just tip back the flowering stems a little after flowering, and cut back ones which are in the wrong place.
    Lovely when they get going  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043

    I wouldn't prune a 2 yr old Philadelphus @theluciblack, let it grow a bit.

    @Meomye I would cut out the oldest stems down to the ground which should encourage new ones to grow then give it a feed.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949
    @Meomye could you post a photo of your philadelphus then we can suggest options 😊
    Pic1, this stands approx six and a half feet tall. The tips of the leaves seem very light in colour (which is slightly clearer in pic3). Pic 2 show the only 'flowers' at present and the leaves look slightly mottled. In the past I have used the technique of reducing old stems but this specimen has never 'put on a show'. Hope this makes things a little clearer. I would be interested to know what variety this is. Thank you 




Sign In or Register to comment.