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Wondering by how much I should prune this Hypericum Hidcote?

Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
in Problem solving
I have this Hypericum Hidcote, and 2 years ago at this time of year, I cut it down to a small ball about 30cm round, as I heard this was a good way to rejuvenate them.  This was because it had grown way too big over a number of years. It grew back very fast over some weeks.

It's now rather large again, and I am going to prune it next week. I am wondering how much I should prune it this time? Online it just says prune back annually to stop it getting too large, but I have no idea how much is a good amount to take off. I hope I am doing it at the right time of year as well.

Any advice very much appreciated.



Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    They cope with any amount of pruning you choose to give them, you can be really brutal and they come back fine.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Wow so really I just choose my size of bush?
    Makes no difference in terms of getting nice flowers?
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Totally agree with punkdoc ; sheer brutality can be very rewarding in the case of Hypericum spp. .
    This variety flowers on the current years growth , so that particular attribute is unaffected .
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I've got one of these, if I just let it go what's the eventual size please?


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I just used to trim the one at my old house, it grew slightly taller than me. I'm 5'3".
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    We have a very old one which is on its last legs - not very tall, maybe 5ft, but around 10feet wide.  I just cut out the dead bits (which is going to be all of it rather soon, I'm afraid).
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    We have one (no idea which one as it was here when we bought in 1978!). It was getting larger and larger so last year cut back to bear wood. It has already sent up new growths. Whether it will flower this year...we wait and see.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited March 2023
    Good luck bertrand-mabel, let's hope it does!  I cut mine way down, all bare wood, and it still flowered that year, I was so surprised. Not masses of flowers but a good number.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited March 2023
    I was wondering, is adding some fertiliser after pruning the hypericum a good idea to encourage flowers, or would that just encourage too-crazy growth?
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have cut a really old on almost to the ground. It was fine, I would add it did have rain to help it get going again.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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