Getting ready for the greenhouse

I know you don't want to cut back your hibiscus in the fall but I have a tree that is about 8 ft. tall and won't fit in my gh this winter, it was 7 ft last year and just barely made it in there. Would I be safe to trim it back the first of Aug. since it won't be going in the gh until after Oct. That is if the weather holds out. I would only be cutting off the top branches.

Linda

Will no one came back with a answer for my question, so today is the day I am going to trim the top off. I will let you know how it does. I don't think it should hurt to much since I will have at lease 2 months before it goes in the GH to heal. But will post my results.

Good luck! I've got no answer for you, but here's a little cheerleading for ya on a Monday morning...:)

Thanks tess, need all the support I can get.

2pugs, from a plant health standpoint, I don't see a problem. From an aesthetics point, tree might start getting a funny shape. I would think one would have to trim all around to get an overall rounded form. I think you will be fine.

Thanks Vossner I will do that, trim it up all around. I do need the room in the GH

Linda, I do not get why you are worried about trimmming it at any time of the year? I would trim it and seal the cuts just before it goes into the GH. But keep in mind, I kill lots of my hibiscus over winter. LOL.

If yo do not want to cut it, do you have room inside in a light area? You could have blooms all winter.

I have to trim all mine for winter. I may lose one or two, but I don't think it's because of the trimming. Wish I had a greenhouse.

Kell no it is really to big to bring into the house, no place to put it. I just know I have read to never trim them back in the fall, I don't know why. I have a lot of the smaller ones in pots that are getting leggy and I think I am going to do the same. I really don't know what it would hurt since it is going into the GH and I don't plan on any of them freezing. I know last year they did loose most of there leaves, but they kept right on blooming. They did look a little funny with no leaves and flowers. But I have got to get everything in the GH so I am going to have to trim them back.

AuntB I just got my GH last Nov. and I love it. There was times last winter I didn't know if it was worth all the worry, but when spring came and I carried out all my flowers, I knew then it was well worth all the worry. My worry was whether or not the heater was going to keep it warm enough, but after having it for one winter I don't think I will have the worry quite as bad come this winter. I now there was some mornings my hubby would come in and wake me and tell me the GH would be down to 38 or 36, but it never seemed to bother anything. I don't think it would say down that low for to long of a period. Since I found out it didn't run our electric bill up that much last winter I will just turn up the heater to another notch and not worry.

Linda

Kell, what do you mean sealing the cuts?

I second that Kell, and what do you use to seal the cuts?

don't cut it back until you are ready to put it in the GH and keep it on the dry side. Give it a good pruning. I always prune mine good and they are better the next year. I have never used any sealer.

Donna you are saying to wait until I put it in the GH, that would work for me, then I would know for sure how much I would have to trim off. Why should I keep it on the dry side? Inquiring minds want to know.

yes Donna. Wait until you are ready to put it away for winter. You will lose having most of your blooms if you cut it now. Don't be stingy when cutting it back. More is better and makes it branch better. I don't mean to hat rack it like people do Crape Myrtles but take at least have the lenght of the branch and shape it up. Rember Hibiscus bloom on new growth

Thanks Donna I know what you are talking about. I have been getting about 25 to 30 blooms a day. I would hate to have that stopped, so I think waiting until it goes in the GH is excellent advise.

Maybe you heard not to cut it back too late because the cuttings would have a harder time taking when the growth hormones inteh tips are declining for winter rest. Just guessing!

I have always be told by who knows who, to seal after all pruning. So you do not have an open wound for disease or bugs to invade the plant. Who knows if it is true. There are all kind of sealers to use. Rose people seal their cuts, though I never have on a rose. It would take me hours for my bushes are so big. But I do on other things. I have heard Elmer's Glue works great but I use this stuff in the picture. And I am careful to dip my finger in a new disposable glove in it to wipe on the cut, so I do not infect my whole jar with germs from the plant I am cutting.

Thanks Kell