Flowering Shrubs - Page 2
© Nathalie Gignac Henderson
S - Scented
SP - Spring flowering
SU - Summer flowering
A - Autumn
W - Winter
Flowering shrubs will need a fertiliser that has a higher dose of potash (K). Fortunately, you can find some of them sold as rose fertilisers. Usually roses are fed twice a year, so do your flowering shrubs at the same time. Water is as important for shrubs as for other plants, but once established and well mulched, most of them should go through summer without incident.
Pruning is required for some flowering shrubs, but don’t be scared by it. It is done once or twice a season (depending on the plant) and is pretty simple in fact. Cutting their buds or stems and removing dead or weak twigs will reduce the size of the plant, and prompt more growth further down. For flowering shrubs that are less productive, some species need a good pruning for stimulation of bud development. Always prune just above a bud (1/4 inch) and slightly angled, and never in the middle of a stem. The timing for pruning of flowering shrubs is of great importance. In fact for some, if you prune at the wrong time you could take all the flowering buds off for the season. As a general rule, shrubs that will bloom before the end of May usually have their buds growing on shoots from last year’s growth. The ones that bloom after May generally have them on the same year’s growth. So you should always prune “after” flowering. And the later it blooms in the year, the harder the pruning will be. One good tip for your pruning gear, buy the best quality for the best result. Make sure it is always well sharpened and clean it regularly with alcohol and a bit of oil. Each species needs different care; look in your gardening books for more details or ask your local nursery.
Fremontodendron
A fast growing shrub of heart-shaped grey-green foliage with striking bright yellow flowers. Blooms from late spring to late fall in a full sun location but will tolerate light shade and is not fussy about soil. Moderately hardy at around -10°C (14°F). Pruning is not necessary but will help flowering, and size can be controlled by cutting back new growth by one-third in early spring.
Ceanothus
A popular shrub, fragrant in some varieties, and comes in many shades of blue and violet and a few types in pink. The deciduous types will bloom from late summer to fall and evergreens ones from spring to early summer. Evergreen types do not need pruning and deciduous ones should have a hard pruning in spring to about 1 1/2 to 3 inches from the start of the previous year’s growth. Prefers full sun but tolerates light shade. Requires rich soil and is moderately hardy, -10°C/-15°C (14° to 5°F).
SP - Spring flowering
SU - Summer flowering
A - Autumn
W - Winter
Flowering shrubs will need a fertiliser that has a higher dose of potash (K). Fortunately, you can find some of them sold as rose fertilisers. Usually roses are fed twice a year, so do your flowering shrubs at the same time. Water is as important for shrubs as for other plants, but once established and well mulched, most of them should go through summer without incident.
Pruning is required for some flowering shrubs, but don’t be scared by it. It is done once or twice a season (depending on the plant) and is pretty simple in fact. Cutting their buds or stems and removing dead or weak twigs will reduce the size of the plant, and prompt more growth further down. For flowering shrubs that are less productive, some species need a good pruning for stimulation of bud development. Always prune just above a bud (1/4 inch) and slightly angled, and never in the middle of a stem. The timing for pruning of flowering shrubs is of great importance. In fact for some, if you prune at the wrong time you could take all the flowering buds off for the season. As a general rule, shrubs that will bloom before the end of May usually have their buds growing on shoots from last year’s growth. The ones that bloom after May generally have them on the same year’s growth. So you should always prune “after” flowering. And the later it blooms in the year, the harder the pruning will be. One good tip for your pruning gear, buy the best quality for the best result. Make sure it is always well sharpened and clean it regularly with alcohol and a bit of oil. Each species needs different care; look in your gardening books for more details or ask your local nursery.
Fremontodendron
A fast growing shrub of heart-shaped grey-green foliage with striking bright yellow flowers. Blooms from late spring to late fall in a full sun location but will tolerate light shade and is not fussy about soil. Moderately hardy at around -10°C (14°F). Pruning is not necessary but will help flowering, and size can be controlled by cutting back new growth by one-third in early spring.
Ceanothus
A popular shrub, fragrant in some varieties, and comes in many shades of blue and violet and a few types in pink. The deciduous types will bloom from late summer to fall and evergreens ones from spring to early summer. Evergreen types do not need pruning and deciduous ones should have a hard pruning in spring to about 1 1/2 to 3 inches from the start of the previous year’s growth. Prefers full sun but tolerates light shade. Requires rich soil and is moderately hardy, -10°C/-15°C (14° to 5°F).
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