When and How to Prune Wine and Roses Weigela for Maximum Flower Production

Rosy-pink flowers add a touch of romance when displayed against this shrubs dark glossy foliage. Produces a huge amount of flowers in spring that re-bloom throughout summer.

Weigela is a popular spring-blooming shrub valued for its abundant flowers and attractive foliage. There are many lovely weigela cultivars to choose from, but Wine and Roses is one of the best. This compact shrub produces masses of bright pink trumpet-shaped flowers set against deep burgundy foliage providing striking contrast in the garden.

While weigela is easy to grow, proper pruning is key to keeping your Wine and Roses weigela healthy and floriferous. By learning when and how to prune this shrub correctly, you can maximize its flower power for seasons to come.

Why Pruning is Important for Weigela

Pruning accomplishes several important things for weigela bushes

Promotes flower production – Weigela blooms on one-year-old wood. Pruning encourages new growth that will bloom the following year.

Maintains shape/size – Pruning controls errant growth and keeps shrubs neat and compact. Prevents legginess.
Rejuvenates old plants – Removing old wood periodically rejuvenates the plant and encourages new, vigorous growth.
Removes dead wood – Gets rid of dead, damaged or diseased branches.

Neglecting to prune weigela can result in fewer flowers, leggy/unkempt plants, and decline in plant health. Proper pruning is essential for maximizing blooms!

When to Prune Wine and Roses Weigela

The ideal time to prune weigela is in late spring, right after the shrub has completed its bloom period. Here’s why:

Pruning immediately after flowering avoids removing next year’s flower buds. Weigela blooms on old wood from the previous season.
You can easily see and remove spent blooms and dead/damaged growth.

The plant can immediately begin growing new shoots that will produce flowers the following spring.

Pruning in late spring channels the plant’s energy into regeneration instead of seed production, resulting in vigorous growth.

How to Prune Wine and Roses Weigela

When pruning weigela shrubs, it’s important to know what type of wood to remove:

Old wood – Thick, woody stems more than 1-2 years old.

New wood – Current season’s growth that is green and pliable.
Spent blooms – Dead/faded flowers that have lost their petals.

Here are some pruning techniques to use:

Pruning to Rejuvenate Old Plants

Identify and remove old, woody stems at their base to rejuvenate overmature shrubs.
Don’t remove more than 30% of total stems at one time.

Cutting too much risks damaging or shocking the plant. Prune remaining old wood the following year.

Pruning to Maintain Shape/Size

After rejuvenation pruning, shape and reduce size as needed.
Makes shrubs denser and more compact.

Remove up to one-third of total branches using hand shears. Cut back to a leaf node.

Clean-Up Pruning

Remove dead, damaged or diseased wood any time.
Cut spent flower stems back to strong new growth.

Clean pruning directs energy to healthy areas.

Pinching Tips for Filler Growth

Pinch or snip back new shoot tips around July to encourage bushy, compact growth.
Don’t pinch after mid-July, as this removes next year’s flower buds.

Properly thinning old wood while shaping and containing new growth will maximize flowers on your Wine and Roses weigela.

Pruning Don’ts for Weigela

Never shear or cut back all growth severely. This removes flower buds and encourages leggy regrowth.

Avoid heavy pruning in fall. Pruning stimulates new growth that may not harden off before winter.
Don’t let shrubs get overgrown and woody. Prune regularly to maintain vigorous growth.
Never prune off more than 30% of total growth when rejuvenating. Do major rejuvenation over 2-3 years.

Follow these guidelines for pruning do’s and don’ts to keep your Wine and Roses weigela flowering its best for years to come!

Signs Your Weigela Needs Pruning

Look for these clues that your Wine and Roses weigela would benefit from rejuvenation pruning:

Few flowers or no blooms at all
Mainly thick, old wood with little new growth

Leggy, open growth instead of dense and compact
Dead branches or twigs
Overall lack of vigor

Plants that bloom prolifically every spring generally don’t need rejuvenation pruning. But if flower production declines or plants become overgrown and woody, it’s time for rejuvenation.

Pruning Neglected, Overgrown Weigela

Sometimes lack of pruning over many years can leave a weigela shrub seriously overgrown. Here are tips for rehabilitating an overgrown Wine and Roses weigela:

Cut the entire shrub back to 6-12 inches above soil level. This stimulates fresh, new growth from the roots up.
Water and fertilize regularly after severe pruning to aid recovery.

It may take 1-2 seasons for the shrub to resume flowering as it regenerates. Be patient!
After renewal pruning, follow proper yearly pruning practices to maintain plant health.

Even severely neglected weigela can be rejuvenated with aggressive pruning and proper follow-up care. The results are worth the effort!

Other Weigela Care Tips

Pruning is just one aspect of caring for weigela shrubs. Here are some other tips for success with Wine and Roses weigela:

Choose a site with full sun to part shade and well-drained soil.
Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Water 1-2 times per week until established, then as needed during dry periods.

Fertilize in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer.
Monitor for pests like Japanese beetles that skeletonize leaves and flower buds.
Protect young shrubs from deer browse with fencing if deer are problematic.

Follow these best practices for site selection, planting, and care along with proper pruning to keep your Wine and Roses weigela thriving beautifully!

The key points to remember when pruning Wine and Roses weigela are:

Prune in late spring after flowering ends

Remove up to one-third of oldest, thickest stems at the base to rejuvenate overgrown shrubs
Shape and thin growth as needed to control size and improve form
Never remove more than 30% of total growth when rejuvenating

Cut back spent blooms and any dead or damaged wood

Pruning weigela doesn’t need to be complicated. Focus on removing old wood while lightly shaping new growth. Avoid shearing off flower buds or over-thinning the shrub. With the right technique and timing, you can enjoy an abundance of spring blooms from your Wine and Roses weigela for many years to come.

How do I prune Weigela Wine and Roses?

When should you prune your Weigela Wine and Roses shrubs? After they’re done blooming in late spring. If you trim your bushes right after they bloom, you won’t cut off next year’s flowers by accident, since these plants bloom on old wood. The wood that grows this year will bloom beautiful flowers next year. During the shrub’s growing season, you can do regular maintenance pruning to get rid of any dead or dying leaves or branches. Be careful not to cut back any branches that look like they might bloom again, as this will stunt the growth of the flowers the next year.

How to Care for Proven Winners® Color Choice® Wine & Roses® Weigela

Before you buy a Weigela Wine and Roses Shrub, make sure you read the care instructions to make sure it stays happy and healthy for years to come.

Pruning Wine and Roses Weigela, Siberian Iris and Poppies!

FAQ

What month do you prune weigela?

It is best to prune weigela shrubs in the late spring after they have finished blooming. Trimming weigela bushes right after they bloom will keep you from inadvertently pruning off next year’s flowers. This is because weigela blooms on wood that it is a year old. The wood that grows this year will bloom next year.

Can you cut weigela back hard?

Weigelas are easy to look after. Prune moderately, after flowering has finished. Established weigelas also respond well to hard pruning if they have outgrown their spot – you can cut back stems to ground level to encourage new growth.

Do weigela bloom on old or new wood?

Answer: Weigelas bloom on both old and new wood. Plants bloom heavily in late May or June on the previous year’s growth. They also bloom intermittently through the summer on the current season’s growth.

How do you prune a wine & roses weigela?

When pruning, make clean cuts just above a leaf node or bud. Avoid cutting back more than one-third of the plant’s overall growth, as this can stress the Weigela. Regular pruning will help maintain a compact and attractive shape, ensuring that your Wine and Roses Weigela remains a stunning focal point in your garden.

How do you prune a Weigela plant?

Pruning a weigela plant will help it maintain its shape, promotes healthy growth, and improves flowering. If you follow the proper guidelines when pruning a weigela plant, you can help it to grow healthy and strong! Saw 2-3 secondary stems to the ground on mature plants. Cutting secondary stems will give you a fuller weigela plant.

Should I prune wine and roses weigela ‘Alexandra’?

Pruning your Wine and Roses Weigela (Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’) is an important part of maintaining a healthy, attractive shrub. After pruning, however, it is important to follow certain steps for proper maintenance. Doing so will ensure that the shrub continues to thrive and remain in top condition.

When should I cut down wine & roses weigela?

Cut down neglected Wine and Roses weigela to within 12 inches of the shrub’s base in early summer to give the plant time to send out fresh shoots that will bloom next season. Patricia Hamilton Reed has written professionally since 1987.