Wigelia and Orange Blossom

[jackie j]

My Wigelia and Orange Blossom have just finished flowering and I have cut them both back to the ground as they have both become to big for the garden I am hoping they will both be ok and will regrow. The orange Blossom was absolutly covered in black fly. Have I done the right thing oh well if not will have to buy some more.

[vicky]

Only time will tell!
I wouldn't recommend that level of massacre! But they are both tough shrubs and will most likely regrow - although might be too stressed for as much in the way of flowers next year!

[Two_Sheds]

Rustylady cut her mock orange (philadelphus) to the ground last year, and it's now 13 foot tall again.

[digthatchick]

I should be doing one today but it is pi@@ing down here!

This is how I would do it.

As soon as the shrub had finished flowering, cut out all of the stems which have just flowered. Prune them back to around a third of their length. They will soon start to produce new stems which will provide the flowering stems for next year. Do not just prune little bits off the end. Prune right back into the bush.

Once that bit of pruning has been done, then we (you) go on to the next stage of pruning. Pruning out around one in three of all the old stems - but right back to near ground level. We are talking about a few inches above the ground here.

Reason for this pruning?

This hard pruning of old stems, will prompt the shrub to send out new basal growths, which will provide good flowering branch framework for subsequent years, resulting in a fresh looking shrub. Do a further pruning of a third of old stems in subsequent years.

[Fat Bob]

Weirdly I have a Weigela next to an Orange Blossom and I hacked them both right down last year, this year the Weigela flowered but the Orange Blossom didn't. It seems to have spent all Summer growing these long green shoots, probably in readiness for next year.

They look much better for it though and they do come back strongly.

[jackie j]

Both of mine had become unruly and were in desperate need of a very hard prune. I have pruned them before but not this drastic. I only have a small garden and they were begining to overtake the area's they were in. The orange blossom in one bed, a rocking double seat between then the wigelia, almost couldnt sit on the seat. I now look into the garden and think ' daylight ' lol