I am new to the vitex (I am in my second year from a 3 gallon starting plant), but I intend to treat mine the same way I pruned a honeysuckle over 20 years. I developed the honeysuckle into a beautiful tree that was 15' tall and 30' spread that formed a canopy over our patio. For me, I do like to keep the base clean and the main branches clean. What I do is "prune" multiples times a week (whenever I am near the tree) by just running my hands all over the branches I want kept clean and I knock off all the new growth when it is soft and 1/2" to 4" long. I just let all the little suckers/buds fall the ground.
I like this idea. The vitex is such a vigorous grower that you would definitely have to do it weekly. I have thought about pruning it mid season but the denser base creates a view screen that I prefer at times. Thanks for the tip! I actually just planted my 1st coral honeysuckle. I cant wait to see it grow!
I think I missed the window to prune my Vitex tree that I have had for 2 yrs.....it arrived in a gallon pot about 2.5 feet tall and blooming! I have never pruned it and need to prune it due to over growth and it shading nearby garden plants. We have had a cooler than normal spring. Would it be too late to prune it now (the end of April) zone 9 (SW Louisiana)?
I live in Tulsa Oklahoma and I have a pretty large vitex so when should I be pruning it which month thank you in advance for answering me have a great day and happy New Year
I am new to the vitex (I am in my second year from a 3 gallon starting plant), but I intend to treat mine the same way I pruned a honeysuckle over 20 years. I developed the honeysuckle into a beautiful tree that was 15' tall and 30' spread that formed a canopy over our patio. For me, I do like to keep the base clean and the main branches clean. What I do is "prune" multiples times a week (whenever I am near the tree) by just running my hands all over the branches I want kept clean and I knock off all the new growth when it is soft and 1/2" to 4" long. I just let all the little suckers/buds fall the ground.
I like this idea. The vitex is such a vigorous grower that you would definitely have to do it weekly. I have thought about pruning it mid season but the denser base creates a view screen that I prefer at times. Thanks for the tip! I actually just planted my 1st coral honeysuckle. I cant wait to see it grow!
I think I missed the window to prune my Vitex tree that I have had for 2 yrs.....it arrived in a gallon pot about 2.5 feet tall and blooming! I have never pruned it and need to prune it due to over growth and it shading nearby garden plants. We have had a cooler than normal spring. Would it be too late to prune it now (the end of April) zone 9 (SW Louisiana)?
I live in Tulsa Oklahoma and I have a pretty large vitex so when should I be pruning it which month thank you in advance for answering me have a great day and happy New Year
I typically prune mine late winter. For me, that is late February to mid March.
Feb/March is the normal time for most. I try to do mine after the last freeze in Feb