How to Trim Camelias
An evergreen shrub, camellias are grown primarily in the southern United States and other areas with mild winters. These shade-tolerant plants produce large red, pink or white flowers that are reminiscent of roses. Camellias need pruning regularly in order to thrive. While you can forgo yearly trimming, pruning every three to four years helps shape your shrub and return it to its prime appearance. Trimming camellias in late winter stimulates new growth which also leads to more blooms. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Mix one part bleach with nine parts water. Wash your pruning shears or saw in this solution to prevent spreading disease between your plants.
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Prune away old wood that no longer has visible flower buds. Cut them off where they emerge from the ground or main trunk.
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Cut off short, non-flowering branches and twigs from the main branches. These are approximately four inches long and grow primarily on the inner portions of the camellia. Removing these helps prevent diseases due to poor air circulation.
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Cut older, overgrown camellia down to approximately 18 inches above the ground. Remove all foliage from the plants when pruning back severely. New branches will emerge in approximately eight weeks.
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Thin the new branches that emerge after cutting back in mid-summer. Pinch off two inches from the tip of each branch once it reaches one foot long. This makes it branch and creates a fuller shrub.
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Tips & Warnings
Water the camellia thoroughly after trimming, especially if it is a severe pruning. Fertilize afterward to encourage new growth. If you just want to trim a young tree to maintain its shape, do so after the spring flowering period.
Rinse your shears in a bucket of bleach solution after every cut, especially if you are trimming more than one camellia. This prevents infections. Camellia are prone to tea scale, which attacks mainly overgrown plant. Cutting back overgrown plants helps prevent the disease.
