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Pruning action is a mandatory step in growing shrubs. This is a fast-growing species, it reaches 2-3 m in height in 1-2 years and forms a huge number of shoots. If you do not carry out timely and regular cleaning of the crown, the plant will overgrow very quickly and lose its ability to bloom.
Why cut action
Pruning flowering shrubs of any type is aimed at forming abundant flowering and creating a beautiful crown. Competent anti-aging pruning in the fall often helps to save dying bushes.
The following types of vegetative cleansing are used for action:
- Annual sanitation. Task: cut out frozen, old, diseased and crooked branches that can become a source of disease.
- Summer, at the end of flowering. Task: to lighten the bush and stimulate good aeration.
- Final shaping. Task: leave last year’s shoots and remove current year’s shoots, at the same time give the bush the desired shape.
- Rejuvenating, as the bush ages. Task: to form a new crown from young strong shoots from the mother stump.
When to cut action
Experienced gardeners carry out planned pruning of the action for the winter, spring and at the end of flowering. The timing of pruning directly depends on its task:
- Improving, or sanitary, pruning is carried out in early spring, at the beginning of the growing season. At this stage, about 25% of all shoots are removed. The spring procedure leads to the formation of new strong shoots.
- In July, old inflorescences are removed. The generative parts are removed to the first side branch, leaving only a strong, developing growth.
- In September, autumn pruning is carried out before the onset of cold weather. This will give the bush time to establish new buds and the basis for abundant flowering in the future.
- Anti-aging pruning “on the stump” is also carried out in the spring for 6-8 years of the life of the bush. Repeated flowering begins 2-3 years after cleaning.
Preparation of tools and materials
Graceful pruning action is impossible without quality gardening tools and wound protection products. The main tool for pruning flowering shrubs is a pruner. It easily copes with lignified branches up to 50 mm thick. There is no need for a long-handled lopper either, because the shoots are in the access zone.
To avoid pinches and burrs, the secateurs must be sharpened well. This will make it possible to make an even cut that will heal very quickly.
If the bush is healthy, the cutting part of the pruner is once treated with kerosene before the disinfestation procedure. If there are branches affected by rot on the bush, the pruner blade is wiped with kerosene after each diseased branch is removed. It is mandatory to store garden var for treating wounds.
How to prune action in the spring
In the first spring after planting, it is undesirable to touch the bush in order to allow the plant to adapt to a new place and form a decent root system.
Deytion forms flowers on short lateral shoots of last year’s growth, which is why the first serious pruning is done in two-year-old bushes. Usually the operation is carried out in March-April, depending on the region. They are guided by the swelling of the growth buds. They show where new side shoots will grow, which helps to prune correctly. Cardinal shortening of last year’s growths is done in such a way as to leave 2-3 strong buds.
During pruning, the secateurs are wound behind the branch and cut off at an angle of 45 °. Wounds are treated with garden pitch.
Before pruning, an audit is carried out for the presence of diseased and damaged branches, they are removed first. During spring thinning, too old branches are also cut.
The correct scheme for pruning the action in the spring for beginners will help to carry out the maximum molding accurately.
How to prune the action after flowering
Cleaning the bush immediately after flowering stimulates the formation of new branches. The following year, such a plant abundantly produces large inflorescences. Pruning of shoots after flowering is carried out one third from the top to well-developed buds.
Pruning action in autumn
Heavy fall pruning will produce new, healthy stems straight from the bottom of the crown. Autumn thinning is carried out in September, before the onset of severe cold weather. The lack of thickening will help the bush accumulate more nutrients for the winter and properly distribute them.
Autumn manipulations include measures to remove this year’s frail growths. To do this, 6-7 last year’s shoots are left in adult bushes, which will give buds in the spring. They cut off the top by one third. Old branches and frail growth of this year are removed completely.
When the crown is formed decoratively, you need to cut off the action for the winter. Particular attention is paid to:
- shoots growing inside the bush;
- zero thin branches coming from the root;
- sideways growing shoots.
In bushes at the age of 7-8, a radical pruning is carried out, during which a new crown is formed. To do this, all branches are removed to the base in the spring, the wound is treated. During the summer, the stump will give young shoots. In autumn, 5-6 of the strongest branches are selected from them, shortened by 1/3, the rest of the trunks are removed. After pruning, the action usually leaves sprouts, 50-60 cm high. After a radical rejuvenation, the action will miss one flowering season, but will form an attractive crown in the second year.
The radical pruning of the action in the fall is shown on the video:
Care after trimming
Spring and autumn pruning actions are completed with the mandatory application of complex mineral fertilizers – Master Valagro, Planton H. Nutrients will provoke the growth of new shoots and prevent them from stretching and thinning. After top dressing, the soil around the bush is watered and mulched with sawdust, peat, and humus.
Conclusion
Pruning action will help maintain the decorative appeal of the shrub. Radical measures are not required. The main rule that should be observed when shortening shoots is to protect valuable second-years.