weigela pruning

[bunty39]

i've made rather a meal of trying to prune a weigela. would it survive if i were to cut most of the main stems to the ground ? at ground level there are several stems growing across each other. would appreciate some advice, even if it is to leave pruning to the experts.!

[Maydup]

Hi Bunty

I have two Weigela and have hacked at them plenty in my time!, but never into the main stems. They do come back, they are very determined shrubs, but the new shoots will be green and whispy rather than strong and woody. Don't cut the main stems unless you have already, its from these stems however bare they look, that the new shoots will emerge.

If you've already cut it to the grond then you'll just have to live with it and leave them well alone for a couple of years.

[bunty39]

Thank you Maidup,
I've taken one main stem to 4 ins from the ground. There are another 10 or 12 stems coming from the ground, some thicker than others. It was those thicker stems I was thinking of taking down. I don't know enough about how the weigela is supposed to shape up so I suppose it might be the best idea to prune it right down and , as you say, live with it for a couple of years then pay it more attention in future. Thank you once again Maidup.