How do you care for an old fashioned weigela?
How to care for weigela. Weigela are low-maintenance shrubs that are easy to look after. The main tasks to keep on top of are watering, feeding and mulching. Watering – water newly planted shrubs regularly until they’re established, especially when the weather is hot and dry. In late spring, bright pink tubular flowers emerge for their first cycle of flowers. Up to 2-3 more times throughout the summer you will see a fresh round of blooms. Hardy in zones 4-8, Weigela likes to be planted in full-sun locations and is adaptable to just about any soil type.Low-quality soil may cause a nutrient deficiency and prevent the plant from blooming. Amend the soil with compost when planting or use compost to top-dress the soil in the spring. Feed the plant using a balanced slow-release fertilizer once annually during the spring, and this should help Weigela bloom.Weigela has a round, mounded growth habit and flowers mid-May into June. Flowers are rather tubular in form, in small clusters. Weigela will sometimes throw off a few flowers on and off all summer, up until frost. Growth rate is moderate: 12–24″ per year depending upon conditions.The leaves of a weigela may turn yellow or brown and drop earlier than they should because of the leaf spots. Trim the center of the bush to allow for better air circulation and give it a few good shakes to loosen all the affected leaves and bring them to the ground for disposal.Propagating weigelas via cuttings Propagation via cuttings is a very common method and is also easy for amateur gardeners. When removing the cuttings, make sure that the cutting edge is slanted – this prevents waterlogging here and the wounds will dry well after every rainfall.
Do weigela spread?
Weigela florida is native to northern China, Korea and Japan. It is a dense, rounded, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 6-10′ tall and may spread over time to as much as 12′ wide. Beautiful shrub Growth rate is moderate: 12–24″ per year depending upon conditions. CULTURE: Grow Weigela in full sun to partial shade and average garden soil with good drainage. Space 24–30″ apart. Fertilize just once, in early spring, with 5-10-5 or 5-10-10.Weigela typically grows from 6 to 10 feet tall and 9 to 12 feet wide; however, cultivars tend to be smaller. When mature, older interior branches can be removed in late winter to improve the plant’s vigor and blooms the following year.Weigela’s watering demands are minimal. Water once or twice a week, and do not overwater if it rains. Hardy down to temperatures of -15°C, weigela does not need much in the way of cold protection. However, you can insulate the roots in late autumn by adding mulch to the soil annually.The best way to propagate Weigela shrubs is by taking cuttings. You can take cuttings from soft new growth in the early summer or from the mature hardwood stems in the fall. Both types of cuttings will result in shrubs that are genetically identical to the mother plant.
How do you winterize weigela?
Winterizing: A good 2-3″ layer of mulch is recommended before winter. Maintenance & Pruning: It’s not necessary to prune or trim. Weigela shrubs bloom on old wood, so pruning them in spring will remove flowers. If needed, you can prune after they finish flowering later in the season. 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.When to Prune Weigela. After the plant is done blooming in the late spring or early summer is an excellent time to prune Weigela. Flowers only emerge on one-year-old growth, so trimming after the plant has bloomed ensures you do not remove next year’s flowers because those branches have not yet started to grow.When to prune Weigela? The right time for pruning Weigela depends to some extent on the purpose. Old and also withered wood should be cut off mostly at the end of February. If neglected over many years, Weigela can even be radically rejuvenated at this time and cut back to short branch stumps.Fertilizing: Apply a granular rose or garden fertilizer in early spring if desired. Never fertilize weigela past mid-summer, as this increases likelihood of winter damage to any new growth the plant puts on as a result. Winterizing: A good 2-3 layer of mulch is recommended.Large varieties may need pruning throughout the growing season to maintain shape. The easiest method to trim the old-time Weigela, which can become straggly, unkempt and larger than intended, is to cut back the entire plant about halfway, just after the blooms fade; do this every other year.
How long does weigela bloom?
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. Weigelas are prone to winter dieback. Carefully examine plants in late winter/early spring and prune out any dead wood. Sonic Bloom® weigela are the strongest rebloomers ever seen in weigela. Loads of hot pink flowers in May are followed by waves of blooms until frost. No deadheading is needed to see strong reblooming through summer and fall.Sonic Bloom Weigela are the heaviest and longest bloomers to date of all the Weigelas, blooming from summer through to fall in heavy-laden clusters covering the plant.The Sonic Bloom® Pink Weigela is a true powerhouse of color, featuring an abundance of vibrant hot pink flowers that first bloom in May and continue to rebloom in waves throughout the summer and fall.Sonic Bloom® weigela are the strongest rebloomers ever seen in weigela. Loads of hot pink flowers in May are followed by waves of blooms until frost. No deadheading is needed to see strong reblooming through summer and fall.
Where is the best place to plant weigela?
Weigela grows best in moderately acidic to slightly alkaline soil, with a pH between 5. Soil should be moist and well-draining. A position with plenty of light will enhance foliage colour and increase flower production. Soil: Plant in fertile, moist, but well-drained soil. Weigela is tolerant of a range of soil types as long as drainage is adequate. Enrich the planting area with compost or well-rotted organic matter to encourage healthy growth.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.The best way to propagate Weigela shrubs is by taking cuttings. You can take cuttings from soft new growth in the early summer or from the mature hardwood stems in the fall. Both types of cuttings will result in shrubs that are genetically identical to the mother plant.Flowering in late spring to early summer, weigelas are easy-to-grow deciduous shrubs that combine with evergreen shrubs to provide a backdrop to later-flowering plants. Their trumpet-like flowers mostly in whites, pinks, reds and purples but also yellow are popular with the bees.