How to Trim Weigela in the Fall
Weigela are deciduous flowering shrubs that can grow to 9 feet in height, depending upon variety. They are widely used in butterfly gardens and also attract bees and hummingbirds. Native to Japan, weigela is easy to care for and resistant to pests and diseases. Although it has a tendency to spread and become leggy, weigela is easily pruned into hedging, borders or into a rounded garden accent. Weigela is best pruned immediately after flowering, in early to mid-summer. You can prune it in the fall, but be aware that weigela blooms on old wood so you may be cutting off buds that would otherwise bloom in the spring. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Remove damaged stems by cutting them back to a main branch.
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Scrape the bark on stems that appear to be dead. Scrape along the length of the stem until you see green underneath. Cut the stem 1 inch into the green wood. If the stem has died all the way back, cut it flush with the branch from which it had been growing.
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Cut off branches and stems that cross over others. These may rub up against each other, wearing down the bark, which can then allow the admittance of boring insects and fungus.
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Remove all stems that are weak and thinner than the others. Cut them back to their points of origin.
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Clean the planting bed of all pruning debris, bag it and dispose of it.
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Water the weigela until the water puddles. When the soil drains, add a 3-inch layer of mulch to the soil, completely surrounding the shrub and spreading it out to the tips of the widest branches.
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Tips & Warnings
If your weigela is overgrown, you can safely shear off one-third of its growth in the spring. You can perform a heavy pruning in the fall as well, but realize that you will have no flowers the following season.
