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Philadephus Mock orange

NellyKNellyK Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi,
My mock orange is in vigorous bloom. Blooming from the bottom of the branches and leaving the new growth bare at the top, about 20cms. Leaving me wondering how to prune. Anyone that can assist I would be grateful. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is the growth beyond the flowers still viable and healthy? If so, just leave it, and if you want to tidy it up, you can do that after flowering has finished, by just pruning back to a good leaf joint.
    If those little bits are dead/brown, you can trim them off - back to the live material on the stems. They often get little woody, dead bits over winter.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • NellyKNellyK Posts: 2
    The growth is healthy. Thank you I had visions of having to cut back drastically.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    If its getting older, take a few of the older , thicker branches down to the base. It will then send up new shoots to flower the following year.  Do no more than a third each year.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Ours has been fantastic this year because we didn't prune back last year. Yes it will be done now it has flowered but it has been amazing.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    As @fidgetbones says, the size is a factor, and I didn't ask that. Is it a big, mature specimen or a new, younger one? 
    A photo will help too, if you can load one. The icon that looks like hills is the one for photos. If you can keep them at around 1MB or less, they load better   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I 've got a couple of Philadelphus aureus, tend to be a big round ball shape about 7 to 8ft, covered in blossom. I've also got a Philadelphus virginal, which will easily go up to 10ft and have all the flowers at the top if I don't have a severe hack back after flowering.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I have one that does the same.
    I think they bloom on wood that is at least 1yr old, so that may account for no flowers on new growth.
    I cut mine back to about 1ft every few years, so get no flowers the following year, but ok afterwards until it gets tall again, so I cut it back to about 1ft again.
    My neighbour has one that is rarely pruned.
    It's about 15ft - mostly bare stems bit smothered in flowers at the top.

    P. Aureus is a better shrub.
    The foliage was an almost flourescent lime-green when the leaves first open and they gradually darken to green over summer.
    Covered in highly scented flowers from top to bottom too.
    Cuttings are really easy and I have 3 of these shrubs now.
    Just below it is P. 'Manteau D'hermine' not as floriferous as usual this year, but another lovely variety that stays small



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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