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Is this a Wiegela? Time to prune?

GraysGrays Posts: 172
in Plants
Hi all,
I think this is a Wiegela? (may of asked before) as you can see from the photos it is very overgrown with some flowers trailing on the lawn.
Could someone advise me when to prune this back, and is it possible to give it a good prune back without damaging it?
Thanks .

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited June 2020
    Yes - a mature weigela. Shrubs are mainly pruned after flowering, but if you want - you can certainly take branches off just now. It'll do no harm. They're tough plants  :)
    You can give it a good prune when dormant, by taking some branches right back to re shape it too.
    You can do that just now too, as it will give it a chance to produce new growth. They flower on older wood, so it depends on the look you want and how much you want to rejuvenate it. Usually it's best to take branches out in a three year cycle, so that you're not taking too much away at one time. A third of stems each year, right back to a good joint  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
    Fairygirl said:
    Yes - a mature weigela. Shrubs are mainly pruned after flowering, but if you want - you can certainly take branches off just now. It'll do no harm. They're tough plants  :)
    You can give it a good prune when dormant, by taking some branches right back to re shape it too.
    You can do that just now too, as it will give it a chance to produce new growth. They flower on older wood, so it depends on the look you want and how much you want to rejuvenate it. Usually it's best to take branches out in a three year cycle, so that you're not taking too much away at one time. A third of stems each year, right back to a good joint  :)
    Many thanks for the reply.
    So when it has finished flowering I can give it a good prune back?
    When you say "dormant" would that mean Autumn/winter time when it is not growing?
    So I can reshape it straight after flowering?

    Thanks again.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - when dormant in autumn, it's often easier to see the shape, but the process is the same. You take around a third of stems/branches out. That means the plant has enough to sustain it. The following year, you take another third out and so on. That will rejuvenate the whole shrub.  :)
    If you feel confident about pruning and shaping after flowering, you can certainly do that though. It may look odd for a while, but over the three year period, the whole plant will be rejuvenated, and will benefit from it. 
    However, you can simply take some branches out after flowering - the ones hanging over the grass for instance. You could just take those back a little - to a good joint. That will simply give it a wee tidy up  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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