Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Variegated weigela

ladyjane23ladyjane23 Posts: 45
in Problem solving
My Weigela is approx 2m tall but due to this summers heat the leaves are all crispy and brown but new growth is appearing on top of the branches.
should I prune it down now or leave it alone to gain its strength again.
thank you

Posts

  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Photo would help. The yellow bit of variegated leaves is more prone to scorch than the green. Would not hurt to prune now, cutting the older branches down to about six inches, though you will be removing next year's flowers. Did you prune it after flowering?
  • ladyjane23ladyjane23 Posts: 45
    Thank
    you Arthur1. You can just see the new growth as well.
  • ladyjane23ladyjane23 Posts: 45
    sorry Arthur1. Yes I did prune after flowering. 
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Looks quite 'twiggy'. Doesn't look as though it has put on vigorous extension growth after pruning. I would expect to see some new growths of 4 to 6 foot long. Personally I would prune again to encourage more vigour. Make cuts close to ground level. Remove about a third of the growth.
    (I am assuming that there are no problems regarding soil type, aspect, nutrition etc). 
  • ladyjane23ladyjane23 Posts: 45
    The soil is ok it’s clay so not the best but has thrived up until now.
    thank you again I will prune out the old branches and see what happens next spring.
    Thank you
    Jane
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Probably better to see what returns next year and then to prune after flowering.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • ladyjane23ladyjane23 Posts: 45
    Thank you punk doc now I am in a pickle. Two different suggestions. I will have a think and decide over a cuppa. Thank you again. Jane
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There's a lot of other planting around it, so there's a good chance it's been very dry, if you're in one of the areas that's had long periods of drought during this year - and previous years. They don't appreciate dry soil.
    I'd also wait until next year, and see how it's doing, rather than pruning now, especially as it's a decent size. If you give it too big a haircut now, and get some severe cold weather, it won't do it any favours.

    As is regularly the case, your location and local climate are the most important factors  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ladyjane23ladyjane23 Posts: 45
    Thank you Fairygirl that does make sense.
Sign In or Register to comment.