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annella

By Annella

Northamptonshire, United Kingdom Gb

Can you hard prune Choisya ternata 'Sundance' and if yes when is the best time to do so? I have been lightly trimming each year after the flowers have finished but it is taking over one end of my patio now.



Pict4984

Answers

 

Yes, you can, although it will look very woody and twiggy afterwards. So it's best to wait until spring or you'll have to look at an ugly plant til the end of summer. You can trim back a few of the longer shoots now, but try to leave some leaves on the bush. Use the trimmings as cuttings and grow some extra plants! The plant may take a few years to flower, after cutting back.

13 Aug, 2010

 

Thanks Volunteer, this is why it's got so big. There isn't a time of year when it doesn't look good so I just trim off a few shoots. I hate that 'woody' look.

13 Aug, 2010

 

Try taking out a few branches right to their base, every year. Choose different ones each time and that shouldn't cause too much ugliness!

13 Aug, 2010

 

Good Idea!!! Many thanks Volunteer

13 Aug, 2010

 

The time to prune this shrub is immediately after it has flowered, so about the end of May or in June - then you can be quite rigorous if you need to to be, though as Volunteer says, it will look a bit woody for a short time. Prune it now and you'll lose your flowers next year, so give it a light trim if you must, and save the hard cutback for next year.

13 Aug, 2010

 

Thanks Bamboo

13 Aug, 2010

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