I have 3 purple colored leaves/pink flowered Abelia's that have gotten too full and getting tall, esp. with all the rain we've had. Can I prune them lightly now in July/Aug. ( the blooming is done), or do I have to wait until winter?? We live in NC so hot summers!
Thanks for posting this! It's very detailed and, since I'm a visual learner, I appreciate the pictures showing which branches to trim. However, I didn't hear you say WHEN to prune the abelia. I have 3 young ones that I planted in early spring this year but they already look like the drawings you have on this video-- long shoots coming out the bottom, crazy random shoots coming out the top and sides. So, when should I trim this plant? Or should I trim it at all since they are so young?
I just realized mine are called Fragrant Abelia and their full grown size is 3-5 ft tall and 4-5 ft wide. Is the care for mine different than the Grandiflora??
Hi! You advise to first prune the branches arching over and touching the ground; well, my abelia bushes are all branches growing straight up, at least 4 feet, and then huge overgrown bushy tops with moon-shots up the second floor of the house. I wish they looked less like trees and more like shrubs, and that there were fewer branches visible. I wish I could bring the height down so that the leafy shrubbery covered up the trunk. any suggestions? Should I just skip step 1 and trim a few at the bottom and a few at the top? I'm so tempted to cut them down completely a foot to the ground....
Hi 20Alphabet, If the abelia is dead it will not rejuvenate. If it has lost its leaves because of a cold winter, wait till summer to see if they regrow on the branches. It it froze down to the ground, but the roots are still alive, you can cut all the canes down to about one inch above the ground and wait to see if it will regrow. You will know by the end of summer. To tell if a cane is alive or dead, scape away a bit of the bark with a pruning blade. If the layer just under the bark is green-ish, it is alive. If it is brown, it is most likely dead. good luck, CASS
Thank you. I love to learn how to properly prune plants. The mow and blow pruning style leaves results that ruin the plant’s natural aesthetics.
Very thorough and detailed instructions. Thank you.
I have 3 purple colored leaves/pink flowered Abelia's that have gotten too full and getting tall, esp. with all the rain we've had. Can I prune them lightly now in July/Aug. ( the blooming is done), or do I have to wait until winter?? We live in NC so hot summers!
Thanks for the clear instructions. We'll give the moon shoot treatment a try!
Thanks for posting this! It's very detailed and, since I'm a visual learner, I appreciate the pictures showing which branches to trim. However, I didn't hear you say WHEN to prune the abelia. I have 3 young ones that I planted in early spring this year but they already look like the drawings you have on this video-- long shoots coming out the bottom, crazy random shoots coming out the top and sides. So, when should I trim this plant? Or should I trim it at all since they are so young?
I just realized mine are called Fragrant Abelia and their full grown size is 3-5 ft tall and 4-5 ft wide. Is the care for mine different than the Grandiflora??
Hi! You advise to first prune the branches arching over and touching the ground; well, my abelia bushes are all branches growing straight up, at least 4 feet, and then huge overgrown bushy tops with moon-shots up the second floor of the house. I wish they looked less like trees and more like shrubs, and that there were fewer branches visible. I wish I could bring the height down so that the leafy shrubbery covered up the trunk. any suggestions? Should I just skip step 1 and trim a few at the bottom and a few at the top? I'm so tempted to cut them down completely a foot to the ground....
What did you end up doing?
Extremely helpful - thank you!
what are water sprouts on abelias
Mine look absolutely dead... no leaves at all. Can they be rejuvenated?
Hi 20Alphabet,
If the abelia is dead it will not rejuvenate. If it has lost its
leaves because of a cold winter, wait till summer to see if they regrow
on the branches. It it froze down to the ground, but the roots are still
alive, you can cut all the canes down to about one inch above the
ground and wait to see if it will regrow. You will know by the end of
summer.
To tell if a cane is alive or dead, scape away a bit of the bark with a pruning blade. If the layer just under the bark is green-ish, it is alive. If it is brown, it is most likely dead.
good luck,
CASS
Duchy Family
I doubt if it froze, as I live in southern California.
Very helpful!
This video is way too long. Get to the point!