I think there's a misconception that everything 'needs to be pruned'. Some things don''t need pruning until they're outgrowing their space or until the plant needs rejuvenating. As yours is only two years old it's got lots of growing to do before it reaches that stage. Why not try leaving the snippers alone this year and giving it a top dressing with some blood, fish & bone or rose fertiliser this spring - that'll encourage it to put on some new flowering shoots
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I realise this is some time after the original post but the original question wasn't really answered properly. This is not about whether you want to prune potentillas or not but, if you want to prune, when is best to maximise flowering the next year.
It is not useful to say after flowering as they flower right through till late Autumn. If you prune for shape early in Spring then you seem to lose the flowers (at least for a few months May- July??
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thanks *love* good advice do you also tidy it up in autumn?
also thanks to *dove and *Nut* - I guess I won't kill it is I tidy it up a bit in spring
just reluctant to touch it in case I then cause it to hardly flower at all!
I don't have any particular time to prune it. Just if I happen to be passing it and think it needs a bit of a tidy up.
that's my kind of gardening Chris
I think there's a misconception that everything 'needs to be pruned'. Some things don''t need pruning until they're outgrowing their space or until the plant needs rejuvenating. As yours is only two years old it's got lots of growing to do before it reaches that stage. Why not try leaving the snippers alone this year and giving it a top dressing with some blood, fish & bone or rose fertiliser this spring - that'll encourage it to put on some new flowering shoots
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
thanks Dove - that's a good point - I may just leave it this time - I fear I am a bit prune-happy!
Nothing like a prune to keep you regular
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I realise this is some time after the original post but the original question wasn't really answered properly. This is not about whether you want to prune potentillas or not but, if you want to prune, when is best to maximise flowering the next year.
It is not useful to say after flowering as they flower right through till late Autumn. If you prune for shape early in Spring then you seem to lose the flowers (at least for a few months May- July??
So any useful information really appreciated.
Think this tells you what you want to know
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You have answered your own question kennington.
If you prune in spring and they don't flower well and they tend to be long flowering shrubs, then as Nut says, prune them in winter.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border