Re: Cutting back Prostrantheras

Jan Smithen wrote:
> 
> Thanks to both Deborah and Moira,
> for a list, a concept, and plain ol' good gard'ner advice.
> 
> This last year (late winter)I cut hard back a Salvia guaranitica (to 6")
> believing that, like other salvias, it would jump up with warm weather.
> Tuberous rooted 'tho it is, nothing has happened and we are well on our way
> to autumn! I'm thinking, since this was an older plant, never having been
> cut this hard before, perhaps it is only younger individuals and yearly
> cutting that is successful. Input please?
> 
> So now Moira, with my 2 new (and new to other gardeners here) Prostanthera
> ovaliafolia; I'd like to keep them dense and shrubby, but blooming in
> spring. Tip shear now while still some growing time? or leave alone?
> 
Hi Jan 

Can't help with the Salvia, as I grow very few of these but I _can_
answer your second query.

It's years since I have grown Prostrantheras myself, though my garden
had several in  a previous "incarnation".

As they only flower on ripened growth, I think it would be a gamble
cutting them so late in the summer that you would get any flowering next
spring.

You might like to forego the pruning this time then, but it will be
really important for them to be cut next spring  as soon as blooming has
finished.

They are very straggly growers and if not sheered severely each year
will soon become top-heavy and easily wind damaged. 

When you do prune you should be ruthless and cut off around 2/3 of the
top growth.

Even with this treatment, as they are naturally short-lived  you can
expect to have to replace anyway them at least by the time they are ten
years old.

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ.     Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
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