How to prune spring flowering shrubs

How to Prune Spring Flowering Shrubs

Pruning promotes flowering, rejuvenates the shrub and keeps it to the size and shape you want it. As a general rule, flowering shrubs should be pruned just after they've flowered.

How to Prune Deciduous Flowering Shrubs Such as Spiraea

• Look for stems that are too long or look unbalanced.
• Take out some of the flowered stems, as this will encourage new growth that will bear next year's flowers.
• Sometimes I prefer to prune out from the base to encourage growth from there rather than making cuts high up. If a stem is too long, I may take the whole stem out.
• Alternatively, you can cut back to a strong shoot of new growth.
• Go through making cuts to a strong shoot or to the base, always standing back and looking at the overall shape.
• Use secateurs or loppers or a saw for thicker stems.

In the White Garden in April, we're going to look at how to prune Spiraea 'Arguta' to keep it looking good and flowering well.

Other Flowering Shrubs

Four key shrubs give structure to the White Garden:

1. Spiraea (bridal wreath)
2. Viburnum
3. Syringa (lilac)
4. Philadelphus (mock orange)

I prune all of these straight after flowering, except the Viburnum, which is slow-growing and doesn't need regular pruning. In the winter I may take out a stem or two for shape if it needs it, but unlike the others, it's not about promoting flowering for next year.

Philadelphus species and cultivars

Mock oranges

Hardy deciduous shrubs

Hydrangeaceae

Spiraea 'Arguta'

Bridal wreath

Hardy deciduous shrub

Rosaceae

Syringa species and cultivars

Lilacs

Hardy deciduous shrubs or small trees

Oleaceae

Viburnum species and cultivars

Viburnums

Hardy deciduous or evergreen shrubs

Viburnaceae