Content
Pruning is an obligatory stage of growing shrubs. This is a fast-growing species, it reaches 2-3 m in height in 1-2 years and produces a huge number of shoots. If you do not carry out timely and regular cleaning of the crown, the plant will very quickly become overgrown and lose its ability to flower.
Why trim the action?
Pruning flowering shrubs of any type is aimed at creating abundant flowering and creating a beautiful crown. Competent rejuvenating pruning of deutia in the fall often helps to save dying bushes.
The following types of vegetative cleansing are used for action:
- Annual sanitary. Task: cut out frozen, old, diseased and crooked branches that can become a source of disease.
- Summer, after flowering. Objective: to lighten the bush and stimulate good aeration.
- Ultimate formative. Task: leave last year's shoots and remove current year's shoots, at the same time giving the bush the desired shape.
- Rejuvenating as the bush ages. Task: to form a new crown from young strong shoots from the mother stump.
When to prune
Experienced gardeners carry out scheduled pruning of the plant in winter, spring and at the end of flowering. The timing of pruning directly depends on its task:
- Health-improving, or sanitary, pruning is carried out in early spring, at the beginning of the growing season. At this stage, about 25% of all shoots are removed. The spring procedure leads to the formation of new strong shoots.
- In July, old inflorescences are removed. The generative parts are removed up to the first lateral branch, leaving only strong, developing growth.
- In September, autumn pruning is carried out before the onset of cold weather. This will give the bush time to lay new buds and the basis for abundant flowering in the future.
- Anti-aging pruning “to the stump” is also carried out in the spring at the 6-8th year of the bush’s life. Repeated flowering begins 2-3 years after cleaning.
Preparation of tools and materials
Graceful pruning of deutia is impossible without quality gardening tools and wound protection products. The main tool for pruning flowering shrubs is a pruner. It easily copes with lignified branches up to 50 mm thick. There is also no need for a lopper with a long handle, because the shoots are within reach.
To avoid pinching and scuffing, the pruning shears must be sharpened well. This will make it possible to make an even cut, which will heal very quickly.
If the bush is healthy, the cutting part of the pruning shears is treated with kerosene once before the disinfestation procedure. If there are branches affected by rot on the bush, wipe the pruning shear blade with kerosene after removing each diseased branch. It is mandatory to stock up on garden varnish for treating wounds.
How to prune in the spring
In the first spring after planting, it is not advisable to touch the bush in order to allow the plant to adapt to the new location and form a decent root system.
Deutzia forms flowers on short side shoots of last year's growth, which is why the first serious pruning is done on two-year-old bushes. Usually the operation is performed in March-April, depending on the region. They are oriented by the swelling of growth buds. They show where new side shoots will grow, which helps to prune correctly. Drastic shortening of last year's growth is done so as to leave 2-3 strong buds.
During pruning, the pruning shears are placed behind the branch and cut off at an angle of 45°. Wounds are treated with garden varnish.
Before pruning, an inspection is carried out for the presence of diseased and damaged branches; they are removed first. During spring thinning, branches that are too old are also pruned.
The correct spring pruning scheme for beginners will help to carry out maximum shaping carefully.
How to prune the plant after flowering
Cleaning the bush immediately after flowering stimulates the formation of new branches. Next year, such a plant produces large inflorescences abundantly. Pruning of shoots after flowering is carried out by one third from the top to well-developed buds.
Pruning action in the fall
Heavy fall pruning will produce new, healthy stems right from the bottom of the canopy. Autumn thinning is carried out in September, before the onset of serious cold weather.The absence of thickening will help the bush accumulate more nutrients for the winter and distribute them correctly.
Autumn manipulations include measures to remove this year's frail growth. To do this, 6-7 last year's shoots are left on adult bushes, which will produce buds in the spring. Their top is cut off by one third. Old branches and frail growth from this year are removed completely.
When the crown is formed decoratively, you need to prune it for the winter. Particular attention is paid to:
- shoots growing inside the bush;
- zero thin branches coming from the root;
- shoots growing to the sides.
The bushes undergo radical pruning at 7-8 years of age, during which a new crown is formed. To do this, all branches are removed to the base in the spring, and the wound is treated. Over the summer, the stump will produce young shoots. In the fall, the 5-6 strongest branches are selected from them, shortened by 1/3, and the remaining trunks are removed. After pruning, deutia usually leaves sprouts 50-60 cm high. After radical rejuvenation, deutia will miss one flowering season, but will form an attractive crown in the second year.
Radical pruning of action in the fall is shown in the video:
Caring for action after pruning
Spring and autumn pruning of deutzia ends with the mandatory application of complex mineral fertilizers - Master Valagro, Planton H. Nutrients will provoke the growth of new shoots and prevent them from stretching and thinning. After feeding, the soil around the bush is watered and mulched with sawdust, peat, and humus.
Conclusion
Pruning deytsia will help maintain the decorative attractiveness of the shrub. There will be no need to take radical measures. The main rule to follow when shortening shoots is to protect valuable second-year shoots.
