How to Prune Philadelphus and other Spring Flowering shrubs

Prune your spring flowering shrubs like Philadelphus (mock orange) in early summer

[@kittybanou8635]

Best video I found on how to prune my philadelphus thank you!

[@thunderkitten8325]

This was so helpful! I have an older Philadelphus that has never been pruned right, and I feel like I’ll be able to get it back to looking nice in a few years. Thanks!

[@raybede]

Thanks Annabel. We have both Philadelphus and deutzia which have gone unpruned for a few years and your video has helped no end. A in the UK

[@beverleylouis7513]

Thank you Annabel - very helpful video. I’m off to prune mine now.

[@jeffallinson8089]

Thanks Annabel, good tips and I enjoyed your video.

[@monevaluation4716]

Very helpful. Good info abput the direction of the seccateurs

[@bennyharston5349]

Excellent thank you x

[@dustyflats3832]

I grew up with mock orange and we never pruned them much. They develop a vase shape. I know they can’t handle drought. The one problem I am seeing is at flowering some of the branches are dying back as if sprayed by a cat. I don’t know if it’s grubs or what. It happens every year. I thought of trimming out some of the larger limbs from base. Not sure as I like the tallness of the shrub and it flowers bottom to top.

[@S_M_20117]

It's been 6 years. No flowers yet on my mock orange :(

[@tibbs4000]

I'm in zone 6 in Canada. I have one of these mock oranges...VERY tall, possibly over 12 feet. Very spindly and looks like it mostly has old trunks - little new growth and hardly any flowers last year. Should I hard prune it down close to the ground or should I do a little each year like you recommend? I'm really hating it as is, but I don't want to lose it as it has a glorious scent!

[@annabelinthegarden4119]

Hi Tracey sorry for the very late reply. Sadly it is better to go slowly on the pruning and take it back over a 3 year period. Don't despair you will get there and keep the scent in the process!

[@tibbs4000]

@@annabelinthegarden4119 Thank you

[@oobenoob]

You’re beautiful.

[@stratosaurusrex3399]

What would happen if I prune it all in one year instead 1/3 per year?

[@stratosaurusrex3399]

It’s severely overgrown, twiggy and very tall.