These were planted about 7-8 years ago and have never been pruned. They are getting quite tall though (about 9 feet) and they only bloom at the top of the plant. What's the best way to prune these to reduce the height a little and have them flower all over instead of just at the top? Two of the shrubs have an upright form and the other is more wide and spread out.
Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) are pretty tough and durable shrubs/small trees which bloom in the summer months on new wood. Thus - you can prune off as much as you'd like during dormancy (now) and watch new growth emerge on which flowers should form and bloom.
All this is predicated on having otherwise generally healthy plants - which you apparently do. I would prune them now, as lightly or severely as you wish, and then follow up with a light general fertilizer after bud break and keep moist through any droughty periods.
Post pictures after pruning, and then successive images through the growing season, to show everyone how it goes.
bump dur to time stamp issues
Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) are pretty tough and durable shrubs/small trees
What's the best way to prune these to reduce the height a little and have them flower all over instead of just at the top? Two of the shrubs have an upright form and the other is more wide and spread out.
Since they bloom on new growth, you can be pretty drastic if they are strong plants. In my garden, they would take over if I let them so I often whack them pretty severely. I only have the upright style, though - not the branchy type. I'll be doing mine soon so I'll try to remember to take some before and after photos.
I accidentally double posted - sorry
This message was edited Apr 19, 2016 8:40 PM
This message was edited Apr 19, 2016 8:41 PM
