I Butchered my Philadelphus..

[Mrs Bunny]

this morning.
Please tell me I've done the right thing.

I know it flowers on last years wood, but after pruning post flowering last year its gone all leggy and there weren't that many flowers and the ones that were there were on the end of long woody stems.

I went for it big time this morning and cut it right back, stems with dead flowers on and new stuff from this year. I am hoping as there is still a decent amount of growing time left I'm not going to be left with no flowers next year. I love them and they smell devine.

I hope I haven't buggered it completely
Mrs B

[Lady M's Mummy]

I don't even know what it is!

[frog]

It's completely the wrong time of year for doing it but if you leave it alone COMPLETELY from now it should come right next summer

Only thing I would say is go back and check that any cut wood is at an angle and not dead horizontal or rain can sit on the top of the raw edge and then rot can set in.

[Mrs Bunny]

It's completely the wrong time of year for doing it but if you leave it alone COMPLETELY from now it should come right next summer

I thought you were supposed to do things once they had finished flowering
Oh well, it may be ok. Fingers crossed.

This is a philadelphus LMM. Also known as Mock Orange. I've got one with double flowers and its lovely.

[frog]

Sorry I didn't realise it had gone over mine is still going strong.

[Mrs Bunny]

Sorry I didn't realise it had gone over mine is still going strong.

No worries. There were so few flowers on there this year they were gone before I knew it. It was a shame as I had a stinking cold when they were out and couldn't smell them.
This was why I butchered it, in an attempt to beef it up a little next year. Will wait and see.

[frog]

It shoudl be fine. We hacked ours off at ground level last year and it sprang back this year because DH never got round to getting the last bits out of the soil