They can be pruned to size and shape @johntmt, best time to do this is just after flowering. Ours has just finished flowering now, so we'll be pruning it this week.
I find it best to prune them by removing a third of the older stems from the base. This way you encourage a graceful natural branching shape rather than the blob that is so often seen.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My Philadelphus above was growing in a wood, so rather shaded...hence the lime green colour, which just glows, instead of the yellow leaves. I like to give shrubs space so I tend not to prune. In the wild they do not get pruned.
Exception is Witch hazel, where I am brutal to keep them compact and very twiggy. ( the more twigs the more flowers!)
@Silver surfer We have a philadelphus which the previous owner used to cut right down to the ground every year after flowering, which explains why it is a twiggy mess right now, but it is actually your witch hazels that interest me more.
I've wanted one for years and now live in a house where there is somewhere to put one, but I will need to keep it within a sensible size. Some varieties say they grow to about 2.5m x 2.5m, which would suit the space I'm thinking of, but most are bigger.
How and when do you prune yours please? They look lovely in the pics, but do you have any current pics you could share too please? I'm keen to know how they look in the summer, but most photos are obviously winter ones.
Apologies for hijacking the thread btw.....
No longer newish but can't think of a new name so will remain forever newish.
@Silver surfer We have a philadelphus which the previous owner used to cut right down to the ground every year after flowering, which explains why it is a twiggy mess right now, but it is actually your witch hazels that interest me more.
I've wanted one for years and now live in a house where there is somewhere to put one, but I will need to keep it within a sensible size. Some varieties say they grow to about 2.5m x 2.5m, which would suit the space I'm thinking of, but most are bigger.
How and when do you prune yours please? They look lovely in the pics, but do you have any current pics you could share too please? I'm keen to know how they look in the summer, but most photos are obviously winter ones.
Apologies for hijacking the thread btw.....
The books say to prune after flowering to 2 buds above flowers. I am brutal. I prune to bud above, before flowers open. The more twigs the more flowers. Pic below was taken just now 15th June. 2023 ....Hamamelis Arnold promise. Still quite young it was planted maybe 8/9 years ago. But I am pleased with the shape.
They are never cheap to buy, as they are grafted. IF you get one it is important you start with a good shape. Autumn while bare of leaves is when they normally arrive. Buy from a reliable place. Names in garden centres can be so dodgy I have seen Hamamelis Diane with yellow flowers! ( they should be red!)
In summer Hamamelis are boring.
Pics in flickr below ...most are from old garden in Wales pre 2013. I collected plants there like other people collect stamps! I had many named Hamamelis...some young ones. Arnold Promise and Orange Peel were my favourites.
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I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Agreed....Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus'
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I like to give shrubs space so I tend not to prune.
In the wild they do not get pruned.
Exception is Witch hazel, where I am brutal to keep them compact and very twiggy.
( the more twigs the more flowers!)
I've wanted one for years and now live in a house where there is somewhere to put one, but I will need to keep it within a sensible size. Some varieties say they grow to about 2.5m x 2.5m, which would suit the space I'm thinking of, but most are bigger.
How and when do you prune yours please? They look lovely in the pics, but do you have any current pics you could share too please? I'm keen to know how they look in the summer, but most photos are obviously winter ones.
Apologies for hijacking the thread btw.....
The books say to prune after flowering to 2 buds above flowers.
I am brutal.
I prune to bud above, before flowers open.
The more twigs the more flowers.
Pic below was taken just now 15th June. 2023 ....Hamamelis Arnold promise.
Still quite young it was planted maybe 8/9 years ago.
But I am pleased with the shape.
They are never cheap to buy, as they are grafted.
IF you get one it is important you start with a good shape.
Autumn while bare of leaves is when they normally arrive.
Buy from a reliable place.
Names in garden centres can be so dodgy I have seen Hamamelis Diane with yellow flowers! ( they should be red!)
In summer Hamamelis are boring.
Pics in flickr below ...most are from old garden in Wales pre 2013.
I collected plants there like other people collect stamps!
I had many named Hamamelis...some young ones.
Arnold Promise and Orange Peel were my favourites.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=hamamelis&view_all=1