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Philadelphus not flowering

Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155
in Problem solving
It's been in for several years but has never done very much.  I pruned out a few of the older stems last year and it's now a better shape, but this year I can count the flowers on one hand.  It's in mostly clay soil to which I keep adding compost etc, in a border facing south west, so gets sun most of the afternoon and evening.  Any thoughts?

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    We are in clay soil and over the years we have pruned them at the wrong time because they are "part of the hedge". Last year no pruning at all and the flowering has been the best for many many years.
  • DaveGreigDaveGreig Posts: 189
    I have a friend with a Philadephus that refused to flower. His soil was neutral on to acid and got the sun all day so a different soil from yours. Mine flowers it’s heart out and it’s in a south east aspect with lots of competition.

    bertrand-mabel is right about the pruning though. If you prune at the wrong time you won’t get flowers next year.They tell you to prune right after flowering but that can leave a messy pruned bush in the middle of your display during the height of the season. My remedy for this is to take a top and sides approach. Ie. As the season starts to wain I’ll prune the sides back and leave the top. Next year I’ll prune the top and leave the sides. It’s always better during the years when the tops flowering but I find it a good compromise.
  • Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155
    Thought I'd pruned at the right time last year, but looks like maybe I didn't :(.  After this year's nandful of flowers (lol) I'll try taking the tops off and see what happens next year.  Thanks folks for your advice.
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