Mock orange, also known as Philadelphus, is a popular shrub that produces fragrant white or cream-colored flowers. To keep your mock orange healthy and looking its best, it’s essential to prune it regularly. Pruning encourages new growth and helps maintain the shape of the plant. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through how to prune a mock orange.
When to prune a mock orange
The ideal time to prune a mock orange is in late winter or early spring when the plant is still dormant. This will give the shrub plenty of time to recover before producing flowers in summer. However, if you missed pruning your mock orange during winter or spring, don’t worry; you can still do it during summer after flowering has ended.
Tools needed for pruning
To properly prune your mock orange shrub, you’ll need some specific tools:
1) Sharp pruning shears
2) Lopping shears (for thicker branches)
3) Handsaw (for larger branches)
How to start pruning
Before heading into how-to steps for pruning a Mock Orange shrub there are certain tips one should consider before starting with the process;
1) Always wear protective gear such as gloves and eye protection.
2) Clean all your tools with rubbing alcohol before use.
3) Start by removing any dead or diseased wood from around the base of the plant using sharp hand pruners.
Step-by-step guide on how-to-prune-a-mock-orange-shrub
Step 1: Remove old growth
Start by cutting back old stems at their base near ground level – this will encourage new growth and make room for younger shoots.
Step 2: Cut out crossing branches
Next up comes removing all those crossing branches that rub against each other so harshly that they might cause damage over-time quickly made more brittle parts open up entry points for disease infestation.
Step 3: Trim back branch tips
Trim the outermost tips of the branches by about one-third. This will encourage new growth and help maintain the shape of the plant.
Step 4: Remove dead, diseased or damaged wood
Now for an essential step! Any dead, diseased or damaged wood should be removed from your mock orange shrub to prevent it from spreading any further. Cut back to good-quality healthy tissue.
Step 5: Cut out suckers and water sprouts
Suckers are shoots that grow off the base of a plant, while water sprouts arise from older branches. Both types can weaken a shrub if left unpruned, so remove them as close to their origin as possible.
Step 6: Prune lightly every year
To avoid heavy pruning each year which might cause stress on your Mock Orange shrub; prune lightly each season by removing all crossing branches and trimming back woody stems’ tips.
In conclusion,
Pruning a mock orange is not difficult once you know how to do it correctly. Remember always make sure you are using sharp tools when cutting; this will reduce damage caused during pruning/ Cutting at an angle just above where buds have formed encourages new shoots/growth without leaving unsightly stumps -essential factors in maintaining healthy bushes that bloom beautifully come summertime!
