Weigela care includes pruning for shape. Preparation for winter will help ensure that the plant emerges in the spring healthy and with minimal damage. Water only on a sunny day, in the mid-morning, when the surface of the soil is warmed. Best of all, weigela is bulletproof — easy to grow and pretty tough. Care for Weigela Bushes (Pruning Tips, Etc.) Weigela is an excellent spring-blooming shrub that can add flair and color to your spring garden. To ensure you get exactly the plant you want it is best to propagate by cuttings. More winter-hardy species are: Weigela blooming, Weigela Middendorf and Weigela early, they are successfully grown in conditions of middle lane. You can take semi-ripe cuttings in summer or hardwood cutting in winter. Light pruning for shape can be included in care of Weigela following the spring bloom. Weigela is a flowering perennial shrub that is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. Prune back any branches that did not make it through the winter, in the spring, after the last hard frost has passed. If you're growing a weigela (Weigela spp.) This should be done three or four times per year starting in late April and ending in mid July. Water your weigela shrub deeply several times in the fall well before the first hard frost to support the roots to withstand winter drought conditions. Use pine straw, leaf mold or shredded bark to insulate the roots from cold and drought. To protect the roots and to prepare the soil for the next year’s growth, cover the root stock with a … By fertilizing young shrubs you can increase both the size and the amount of flowers on the plant. An alternative way is to drill or punch 6″ deep holes at the drip line of the plant. Top prune the plant to improve the shape and reduce its size but, be careful not to remove more than 30% of the top growth. But it can be a little confusing when trying to figure out how and when to trim weigela shrubs. All Rights Reserved. Wise Weigela facts. Weigela is a flowering perennial shrub that is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. How To Care For Weigela In The Winter. Repeat this process each year over a three year period to re-invigorate old plants. Stake type fertilizers can be used following the directions on the package. Because a weigela has no leaves in winter, its stems are susceptible to a problem called sun scald, which happens when sun heats up the bark on bright but cold days, stimulating activity in the stem that can be followed by tissue damage when the sun goes down and the stem is chilled. With any of the above techniques a balanced mix should be used, 20-20-20 or 20-30-20 or 18-24-16. Larger mature specimens benefit from the removal of older branches to rejuvenate the plant. Weigela Winter Care. Oops! Weigela is a flowering perennial shrub that is valued for its spring and summer ornamental flowers. Height – 3 to 6 ½ feet (1 to 2 meters) Exposure – sun and part sun Soil – rich enough. Sign up. Granular types should be worked into the soil around the plant at a rate of 2 pounds or 2 pints per 100 square feet of planting bed. Liquid fertilizers (such as Miracle Gro) are mixed with water and applied the same as you would water the plant (see product for specific details). Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. The material should be worked into open soil at a rate of one bushel per one 6′ shrub or 100 sq. In late winter or early spring, trim out no more than one-third of the oldest branches at the base. Have any Question or Comment? Organic fertilizers, like manure, can also be used with good results. ... How to Care for Weigela in the Winter 2 How to Grow Spanish Lavender 3 How to Care for Mums in … Use loppers for small-diameter branches and a pruning saw for larger branches. Tony Duquette Beverly Hills Home. These shrubs need little winter care but, should be occasionally checked for rabbit or other damage. How to Care for a Weigela Bush. Cut down to a point of healthy wood or down to the crown of the plant. Prune these spring flowering shrubs soon after they have bloomed. Most varieties are hardy in Zones 4 to 8. Because many of the Weigelia rebloom you have to decide whether shape and the reduce in size is more important than the potential rebloom, its up to you. Water only on a sunny day, in the mid-morning, when the surface of the soil is warmed. If you do choose to prune, do so just after flowering. This is done in early spring by removing two or three of the plants largest canes to the ground. Weigela is a flowering garden perennial shrub that throws out a profusion of pink, red or white blooms throughout the spring and summer. Sun Stripe Agapanthus. Poured into these holes should be a total of 1/4 pound of fertilizer per foot of height or spread of the shrub (divided up and poured evenly between all of the holes). Pruning a weigela plant will help it maintain its shape, promotes healthy growth, and improves flowering. Prune back any branches that did not make it through the winter, in the spring, after the last hard frost has passed. Pull all of the loose cuttings from the canopy and collect any debris that has accumulated on the soil below, to prevent the disease and insect prone conditions that rotting plant tissues provide. This method of fertilization should only be done once a year, and is best done in late fall after leaf drop, or in early spring before bud break. Their aroma resembles the smell of honeysuckle. It appears that you have disabled your Javascript. Burn, chip, compost or otherwise discard the cuttings as you prefer. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Some summer pruning can also be done on particularly vigorous plants but, not after mid-July. Although weigela is a hardy plant, it's prone to winter dieback, especially in areas with harsh winters. The new weigela selections fall into every size category, from one that's perfect for pots to one that can create a hedge (like Fine Wine weigela, above). Weigela is a flowering garden perennial shrub that throws out a profusion of pink, red or white blooms throughout the spring and summer. Weigela – Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing. Fall Preparation Although a weigela is a deciduous plant that drops its leaves in fall, its roots continue functioning for a … Always use sharp, sterilised tools to take cuttings. These are shrubs that bloom on old wood. www.gardenmanage.com. It is prized for its spring and summer flowers, whose fragrance resembles that of honeysuckle. The branches of the plant should be tied in towards the center, then a circle of hardware cloth can be placed around the outside. As the plant matures, some “renewal pruning” should be done. Mulch around the base of your weigela with an organic material laid down in at least a 3-inch-thick blanket. Weigela thrives in full sun and partial shade exposures in well drained and nutrient-rich soil. Weigela plants are shrubs that have beautiful red and pink flowers and can grow to be up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall. Weigela can suffer significant shoot loss in a hard winter. Resume a regular irrigation schedule in the spring after the last hard frost. This is especially likely in a young or recently transplanted shrub, or in one planted where its south-facing side is unprotected. Pruning this plant at any time is a trade off. Whatever type of weigela you grow, it's a good idea to give it a bit of extra care as winter approaches and at winters end to help keep it flourishing. Name – Weigela Family – Caprifoliaceae Type – shrub. Water a few times during winter if conditions are dry. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Because many of the Weigelia rebloom you have to decide whether shape and the reduce in size is more important than the potential rebloom, its up to you. This protection should be installed in late November and removed in mid April. Prune these spring flowering shrubs soon after they have bloomed. Related posts: Box Wood Garden. Commonly planted as hedges, foundation plantings or in beds and borders, weigela is low-maintenance and thrives in sunny sites and moist soil. The base of the hardware cloth should be buried in the soil or mulch. Reapply a fresh layer each year in the fall as winter approaches. These holes should not be filled with more than 1/3 of the fertilizer and then they should be top filled with soil.