If you want a tidily growing and bushy flannel shrub in your garden, you need to prune it regularly. The right time is just as important as the technique.
The flannel shrub is relatively easy to care for and undemanding, but you can't avoid pruning it every year. After all, you want the plant, which originates from North and Central America, to develop magnificently and grow shapely here too. And you can only achieve this if you apply the scissors.
But be careful: In order not to damage the plant, it is important to choose the right time and use the right technique.
Pruning time
Pruning the flannel shrub should take place at the end of the winter dormancy. Mid-February to early March is the best time for most locations in Germany.
Prune on a frost-free, dry day. In dry air, cuts can heal faster and the risk of pathogens penetrating is significantly reduced. You don't have to worry about the flannel bush being weakened by severe pruning.
Pruning Technique
In the early growth phase you lay the foundation for the later shape of the flannel bush. Many hobby gardeners appreciate a strongly branched, bushy growth of rather low height. You can achieve this by regularly pruning the shrub. This stimulates the plant to develop new branches.
You should remove any visible deadwood, cutting directly at the base of the branch. When trimming long branches, be careful not to trim more than two-thirds. Start the cut above a branch knot pointing outwards from the center of the shrub.
Ensure adequate ventilation. Each branch should get as much sunlight as possible. When defoliating, give preference to branches that grow inwards or downwards and leave branches that grow outwards and upwards untouched. This creates a harmonious overall picture of growth over time.
Tool for thePruning
Depending on the thickness of the branches, you will need a sharp saw or powerful pruning shears (such as these here) to cut them back. The cutting surfaces must be rust-free and clean. By using a strong disinfectant, you also ensure that no pathogens adhere to the devices.
Be sure to wear long-sleeved outerwear and gloves while trimming. The hairs on the leaves of the flannel bush are poisonous. Contact with the skin could cause an unpleasant itching. Be sure to avoid hair contact with your eyes, for example by wiping your face with your sleeve.