How to prune verbena

Video: HOW TO PRUNE VERBENA BONARIENSIS I Pruning Verbena bonariensis

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prune in early spring
Part 2 of 3: Stimulate New Growth in Summer
Part 3 of 3: Tear off faded flowers in the fall
What do you need

Verbena can be a great addition to any garden.Although verbena plants do not require much pruning (unlike other grasses and perennials), sometimes they still need to be pruned to give the plants a neat look and encourage new growth. The most active pruning should be done in early spring. In summer, the top of the plant can be trimmed to stimulate flowering. In the fall, all you need to do is remove the seed heads and dead flowers. Just try not to prune the plant too much to slow down the growth of the verbena.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Prune in early spring

1 Wait until you see new growth in the spring. This usually happens after the last frost. During this period, new shoots appear along the base of the plant, and young leaves appear on the stems. This suggests that it is time to start pruning.
2 Cut the old stems 5 cm above the ground. Older stems are usually long, tough, and tree-like. Use a hedge trimmer to trim them, leaving the greener stems alone, which are usually no more than a few centimeters high. This will clear space for new shoots and at the same time prevent old shoots from outgrowing the plant.
- Leave the shoots no more than 5 cm. The plant will grow back quickly if you cut it close to the ground. If you see new shoots growing from old shoots near the ground, cut them a little higher.
- Always wear protective clothing such as gloves before gardening.
3 Remove any dead shoots from the ground. Look for stems or shoots that turn brown or stretch along the ground. Cut off dead shoots on the ground. Throw them in the compost heap or throw them away.
- If mold or colored spots appear on the leaves of the plant, cut them off, as these may indicate the presence of a disease.
4 Rip out all the seedlings. This will keep the plant from multiplying. Verbena very easily scatters seeds, and before you have time to look back, your garden is filled with verbena seedlings. Look for cruciform seedlings at the base of the plant. Pull them out of the ground if you don't need them.

Part 2 of 3: Stimulate New Growth in Summer

1 Start in summer, just after the first bloom. This usually happens in the middle of the season. The first flowering of verbena plants is usually quite bright, but if you don't cut it, the plant may not produce more flowers until next summer.
- Don't be afraid to prune the plant during the first flowering. By pruning it early, you stimulate new blooms throughout the summer and fall.
2 Trim the entire plant to a quarter of its height. Use a garden shears or brush cutter. Trim the top of the plant, not the bottom. After 15–20 days, you will have new flowers and shoots to replace the old ones.
- This usually only needs to be done once after the first flowering.
- Always wear long-sleeved protective clothing and gloves before pruning the plant.
3 Keep trimming the tips of the plant throughout the summer. Verbena can grow very quickly, so you may need to prune it to control growth throughout the season. To do this, cut about 5 cm from the stems you want to control.
- This can be done about 2-3 times per season or as needed.
- This process is called pruning the plant. It helps the plant to branch out, thanks to which the verbena will delight you with a thick and lush, and not sprawling and patchy look.
4 Remove all powdery mildew leaves. Verbena plants are generally disease resistant, but if the summers have been humid, you may need to remove the powdery mildew. Look for white dusty spots on the leaves. If you see them, pluck the leaves or cut off the branch.
- Be sure to disinfect the pruner with alcohol before and after pruning diseased plants.
- You may need to treat verbena with fungicide or neem oil to get rid of powdery mildew completely.

Part 3 of 3: Tear off faded flowers in the fall

1 Tear off plants about 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Study the weather service data to find out how long the last frost usually falls in your area. If you are unsure of the dates, prune in early fall.
- Plucking off dead flowers means removing dead flowers, shoots, or seed heads. This promotes the flowering of the plant next year.
2 Trim off dead or withering flowers at the base. When flowers start to wither, wither, or die off, trim them at the base of the flower, or twist the stem and tear off the flowers or seed heads. Throw them in a compost heap or trash can.
3 Remove the seed heads if you don't want the verbena to spread naturally. The seed heads are the top of the flower that stores the seeds after the petals wilt or fall off. Removing the seed heads will prevent the verbena from spreading the seeds. If you want verbena to grow throughout your garden, do not remove the seed heads.
- Allowing vervain to reproduce naturally will not control its spread, but new seedlings may be stronger and more drought tolerant than vervain grown by cuttings.
- Some people choose to leave the seed heads in the winter because it helps liven up the winter garden. If you are one of them, remove all seedlings when you prune the plant in the spring.
4 Avoid heavy pruning in the fall to help the plant survive the winter. While it is helpful to pick flowers in the fall, do not do any more serious pruning during this period. This will help the vervain survive the winter. Set aside more thorough pruning for early spring next year.
5 Spread mulch around the plant to protect it during the winter. Once you're done picking off the faded flowers, add a layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Use mulch that contains wood chips, humus, or compost. This will help protect the vervain in winter.