How to Prune Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

[@gayletaylor4042]

Detailed information that even a beginner can learn how to prune a Rose of Sharon. Thanks to the Expert!!

[@michelleperez5926]

My dad planted a Rose of Sharon in the yard. He has passed away many years ago. The Rose of Sharon means a lot to me because of that. I have not touched it in many years it is so overgrown. I've been so intimidated to do anything with it. I am also from Connecticut so I appreciate you being from Connecticut. I now have the confidence to take care for my overgrown Rose of Sharon. Thank you so much for your video. Keep making the world look beautiful you have a great talent.

[@CTSCAPER]

Rose of Sharon has a lot of seedlings. You may be able to transplant one of the seedlings to spread the memory.

[@lindaahlgrim1331]

@@CTSCAPER I deadhead the flowers before they make seed. My husband loves this plant after living in Fl. I have never had a seed head make another plant nor do I want one to; because I'd really love to have only native plants. He planted 4. We now have 3. I said a no to a Mimosa. The Rose of Sharon has lots of pollinators feeding on it. It's the only plant that I have had stings from bees or wasps. Some are so keen on stinging that I have had to run like crazy. First they hurt for a day & then they itch for a week. Today he is pruning the 3 The last time I pulled a branch that hung over our fence I stabbed myself with a branch. Had to go to a walk in clinic. I'd already been putting san eyedrop in my eye every AM & a gel in them at night. Now I have to put another eye drop in my eye 3X's a day, When I went for glasses they told me to use the 3X's a day one & told me to come back in 32 weeks. This time they gave me a prescription I am waiting to have a call for pickup.

[@Trav_Can]

That intro was pure Tim and Eric. Loved it.

[@marktwain368]

This was very helpful for me, as I inherited two bushes that are threatening to take over my front garden. There is s system to pruning and I think you demonstrated it very well, so thanks, neighbor!

[@ckent32]

I was looking for how to overwinter my hibiscus and then I found you! I have a literal forest of Rose of Sharon in my yard and I love them. But, I've never really set my day aside to prune them. Come next year I'm spending a weekend pruning my Rose of Sharon ! Thank you so much for teaching me how !!

[@KathleenEvans7]

Thank you! My mom's Rose of Sharon is out of control and I'll try but wish you could come over and give her a haircut. So cute about the robin and eggs.

[@roseredd7895]

On my so happy I found this ! My beautiful Rose Of Sharon’s are out of control and so tall they are flopping together ! Thank you very much for this informative video 👍

[@annabyerly1386]

I picked up few ideas in trimming and just now finish trimming plumeria bush so lower buds can receive sun. I'm in Honolulu. Your video helped me more than what I perused earlier. Thank you and Aloha.

[@naca1553]

I'm so glad I found this. My rose of Sharon is getting more and more dense. It flowers profusely. Till now I've trimmed it down each year to keep it from getting higher than I could reach. Next year I'll be able to address the density.

[@JointPixi]

Even when you cut the top of it in the fall does it still stay short for the time being until it grows taller?

[@naca1553]

@@JointPixi yes, till the following late spring

[@janeanson8520]

I love the branch up your nose 😂. I usually get a branch in the eye!!! I now have a large collection of safety glasses 🌿💗🌿

[@breathnstop]

I love this video not only because of your exceptional expertise but you care for nature I. E. Mother Robin and her babies. ❤ thanks so much. I have a ton of Rose of Sharon some 60 years old that are gorgeous and self seeding in the corners of my yard too.. But need pruning and get a little more under control. I wanted to prune now before they get any buds but maybe I'll wait until winter so I can see what's really going on inside..

[@JamieNewellActress]

One of the best "How To" ever. Thank you. I am looking forward to cleaning up my messy bushes. I am also struggling with the reseeding and spreading. Augh

[@SaraGrant-xj4lr]

I dig mine up and donate them . Everyone loves free plants. 😊

[@MsSindie]

Thanks for the great coaching and thanks too for looking out for the little robin family. So nice!

[@audreyjandreson8964]

Wow! Well done. I am a Master Gardener and I learned more thru your video. Thank you.

[@littlequickfire3296]

I was just given two rose of sharons by a neighbor and I had no idea they could get this big. Glad I found this video!

[@juliankent4805]

Very clearly explained and some nice personal touches. Thanks.

[@meredith3588]

You're a great landscaper, but more importantly, you're just a really nice guy!

[@CTSCAPER]

Thanks Meredith. You made my day! :-)

[@sharonhein85]

Made mine too! That was so nice!

[@timvogel2407]

Thanks!

[@CTSCAPER]

Thanks YOU Tim!

[@janieschafsnitz5330]

Very nice tutorial...

[@coninitaly]

Thank you..saved this for a year and finally my Sharons look good!

[@darylg.4270]

Thanks for the tips I am dealing with my first rose of sharon in which came with our house. It fell over recently and I am learning a lot.

[@lvvry1855]

I found it strangely touching when he showed the 3 eggs and mentioned the mom.

[@melissadavis5954]

Me too 🥺

[@bessietorres4348]

Absolutely. Very heart warming. Love it

[@ellelouise3724]

Great video with much needed information. My Althea's are getting crazy. If it stops snowing by April, they are all getting a spring trim. 🌿

[@hummingbird6618]

Thank you for all the excellent details and zoom-in shots. This video was most helpful. I've just completed my pruning tasks in Manassas, VA, and will await the new blooms.

[@fattoria_di_bastoni]

Smart bird! She picked a protective Holly! I’m going to prune my R of S today. I might have to get a wee bit brutal on it. It’s huge and gives too many seedlings. Nobody wants even one. Old Lyme, CT here!

[@craigmeeker3295]

Thank you for sharing your expertise in pruning a rose of sharon. It was good.

[@CTSCAPER]

Thanks Ann.

[@BEABE4242]

Wow, awesome job. I learned how to prune my rose of Sharon .Thx.

[@joelinaalba533]

Great video. When I trim my rose of sharon, I plant all the branches that I cut. They will grow beautifully. It is one of the strongest plants I know and hard to kill, for those who are not good at taking care of plants. Something else that happened to ne last year was that I hsd so much seeds. I tossed them pn the ground and I had so many new plants and they have new collors. It is amazing. This season I have actually too many seeds. It bloomed beautifully but I have seeds all over. Could make a lot of money with them if I had the time to sell them

[@TheFLOPY3032]

Hi Joelina ! How did you plant the branches ?

[@carlandcolleenanderson8811]

Thanks so glad I found your video and am in time to prune as its March in the UK and heading into Spring

[@richardjorgensen5840]

Thanks, and thanks for your concern for the Robin. It reminds me of the stone carving of a Robin and her nest at the top of a column in Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, BC, which commemorates the builders halting construction in that area until the eggs were hatched.

[@LizaDeSouza-y9p]

Thank you for the video. Could you add a link for the hand saw you were using?

[@n.gr.4879]

Wow! I did not know they grow up like a tree. I thought it was a small growing bushes. My son gave to me for mother's day (2021). I'm not sure where to plant. Not near the house. It's a lot of work I see. Your Information is very good. Thank you!

[@karenmckillip4584]

Thank you, My neighbor gave me a plant and I wanted to know where and when to plant it. Good video.

[@cpo1wh45]

Thanks for an excellent and well produced tutorial. I appreciate your time and clear explanations.

[@susanwarren6547]

Awesome video! Thank you so much for showing how to prune the Rose of Sharon.

[@dulcamarabuffo]

Great Video covering many aspects of pruning. Regards from Weimar Germany.

[@cynthiaowens1639]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. We moved into a house with a monster rose of Sharon bush! It seems to be similar to some old fashioned lilacs that I’ve pruned.

[@findinggrandpa]

Thank you for posting this! We just moved to Lincoln, NE from Albuquerque, NM and have one about 8 feet tall in the back yard. I had no idea how to prune it, or maintain it, but now I feel confident I can do it properly.

[@Cassie67Marie65]

I'm from Lincoln NE too! I love Rose of Sharrons I have 5 of them I've planted within the past few years but unfortunately not that big. I'd love to see that in person in full bloom being so big!! Do you have a love for flowers and gardening?

[@22304abc]

Thank you for the video. My old Rose of Sharon needs pruning. I also have a young sugar tip one that has gotten too tall and is top heavy especially on windy day.

[@777-Phil]

Great job 'before' and 'after'. The R.O.S. now appears more majestic, imho with its verticality and labor of love.

[@cstewart3671]

Lovely video thank you. It would be helpful to know which month you’re in and were you are in the world.

[@MarkMasters...]

Excellent. Your appreciation for nature in all its forms is clearly evident. Thank you & subscribed.👍

[@TheJohnGent1]

Thank you. Would like to see it in the summer in bloom to see the results of your work in season.

[@cuyoung1568]

This video was so helpful, thank you for sharing..

[@DeborahScott-l6l]

Very helpful video. I would like to know what kind of hand saw you are using. I use longer version and end up nipping branches that I don’t want to cut out. Thank you.

[@CTSCAPER]

It's a Felco 600 pruning saw. I always keep one in my back pocket when pruning. You can visit my website for a link to the gear I use: www.landdesigns.com/ .

[@I_leave_mean_comments]

Ahhh, all those east coast trees and bird songs remind me of home.

[@CTSCAPER]

Me too!

[@269brighton]

Very helpful. I just wonder if this pruning can be done in the Fall around the end of October?

[@Puddycat00]

Oh wow I never knew. I was cutting it all the way to nothing. And it still came back every Summer as big and beautiful as always . But my rose of Sharon doesn’t grow as huge as yours, mine is about 5’ tall at most and my branches are not as thick as yours . I do love this bush. The huge beautiful pink flowers. They close at night and open in daytime. Next to my beloved butterfly bush, my rose of Sharon is my favorite shrub. Now I know to not cut it so much anymore. I didn’t know. I feel so bad.

[@joejoanne9130]

I wish I had seen this video before I pruned our Rose of Sharon. We have a problem with our Rose of Sharon growing up and forsaking the lower branches, so it's looking very thin and gangly at the base so I cut the tree down by about 1/3 from the top to try and encourage it to 'bush up' rather than 'grow up' (hopefully). I'll have to go around it again in the Spring and do some more trimming based on your instruction here. Thank you!

[@joejoanne9130]

***** Thank you! We'll definitely go back to the shrub this late winter/early spring and do some final cleaning like the video instructed.

[@susanhubert31]

Joe & Joanne i

[@ethanboyd7843]

I was told in in the early 50's when my grandfather came back to the dairy farm and build hi BIBill house these were the most affordable tree/shrub. Mine are in tree form but I Bonsai and propagate the millions of unkillable seedling. A spring after sprouting they are about 2 ft natural spear straight and great for bonsai or a hedgerow.

[@lindseyallenlmft5078]

Excellent video and explanations. I appreciate this very much.

[@ILoveTheMoodyBlues]

It was fun seeing the Robin's nest 💙

[@charmed2u2]

I wish you were in Masachuetts to help me. I have these bushes growing in my front yard. 6 all together. 3 down either side of my front yard. They are so out of control. I don't know where to begin. We were just going to use electric hedge clippers. Glad I came upon your video. I wonder if a regular landscaping company would know how to trim them back.

[@frandanco6289]

I have a few of these and was wondering how high they can grow and yours are wow really tall ! They look great ! Mine are a few years in the ground, from 5-gal cans and they are easily 6+ feet tall and growing nicely.. I now know, thanks to you that my hibiscus bushes can grow way, way, up if I want them to, and that is great! Thanks for all the work you did on your hibiscus and the great video, editing, etc... It is a lot of work i am sure... Loved that little folding saw you used.. It was really sharp and that always makes the work go faster and easier...

[@lindseyallenlmft5078]

Thank you so much! What kind of tool is this? Brand? I need one!

[@overge1]

That's a nice pruning saw that you are using! Would you kindly let me know the brand? Thank you!

[@valerieunderhill6188]

I would liked to have known also.

[@wikked98]

Looks like the Felco 600.

[@michelelara5982]

Great pruning video! Would this pruning technique apply to crape myrtle and Cleveland ornamental pear trees?

[@MsUnik44]

thanks for this great video, I have one that is about 3 years old...it's growing beautifully and I was wanting to shape. Can I prune it in th fall without damaging it for next season's flowering?

[@simonriddick]

I have about 8 of these in my backyard and this video is exactly what I needed. I trim them a bit here and there but generally didn't know what I was doing. Going to get a saw like that too because some of mine are really bad.

[@simonriddick]

It looks like it. Cut through the branches like butter.

[@truthofthematter9409]

More gardening vids plz! Thank you so much

[@CopperHealer]

My boyfriend bought a house last year and a friend of ours is giving me one of the pups off her own Rose of Sharon. I've already started tearing up the front of our yard to get ready for it next year, this is the first video I've found that explains it's pruning care in ways I can easily understand!! Do the pruned areas sprout new growth and how quickly? I've never had to prune anything (I just have my indoor pothos)

[@kathrynfranz3277]

Excellent, and just what I needed! Thanks.

[@sueinraleigh3091]

Great info and demo!! Thanks for sharing. I have one I got on clearance at Walmart years ago, I couldn't believe it even survived. But good grief, I wanted it as an ornamental type tree and the darn thing is as big as my crepe myrtles. I hate I can't do anything with it this year.

[@sarahe397]

I’m a little confused now about my rose of Sharon! It’s more like smaller, individual sticks coming up, instead of his that looks like a big tree. Should I just leave my 4 sticks then?

[@tinaknutsen]

Hi John; What kind of sunlight do they prefer? I bought 2 half wine barrels and planted a rose of Sharon bush in one and the other a rose of Sharon in a tree form 7 years ago in full sun. They have hardly grown. I’m in zone 8b Seattle, Washington area. I knew I would be moving when I originally planted them in barrels.

[@CTSCAPER]

They excel in full sun. That one was so tall because it's in some shade. Rose of Sharon grow very fast and will outgrow a Whiskey Barrell quickly.

[@tinaknutsen]

@@CTSCAPER Thank you! Very much appreciated!

[@JoaquinMarv]

great video! great explanation

[@UKBB]

How about a picture of how it looks with foliage?

[@brianhierstein7890]

sweet soul who honored that mama bird, a quick question...can this be done in late fall - Nov/Dec after all the leaves have fallen?

[@kristine6996]

Explanation of a real Pro with a ❤️ for nature.

[@DanielColageo]

You're great, man! Thanks a lot for the help.

[@InstazomeASMR]

Thanks for showing it! I always read to cut down dead branches and crossing branches, but I inherited a garden (with years of no pruning for a lot of the shrubs, etc.) so this has been a learning process for sure! (Ours is flopping over in July and I wasn't sure how to start). I assume all these work for hibiscus double red althea as well

[@ShaneTallon88]

Do you have any tips on how to get rid of mold or moss growing on rose of Sharon?

[@CTSCAPER]

My advice is to appreciate the beauty. If there is moss on the plant I have to wonder if it's growing in a shady spot. Transplanting it to a sunnier location may help. Rose of Sharon love full sun.

[@deeshea3286]

Great lesson. Thank you so much!

[@Ladysmyth]

Thank you so much for your excellent videos on pruning spirea and Rose of Sharon. I have both to deal with in our new home. I also have two smoke bushes that are now at least 10 to 12 feet tall...and need pruning too. Mu instinct is to do exactly what you did with the rose of sharon, but sure would appreciate your input!

[@Ladysmyth]

Thank you!

[@robertduncan2742]

Can I replant a rose of sharon shortly after winters over and the same with ones that's started from it

[@leah6657]

Thanks for the video. My 2 years old Rose Of Sharon grows fast and looks a little too big for my flower bed now that i want to transplant it to another spot. How can i transplant this tree safely?

[@madisonnanda5246]

Hello, I want to keep the roots from spreading , would it work to plant it in an underground pot? Thanks

[@jefflloyd394]

Thanks, I have a two trunk plant, each trunk 6 inches diameter and 15 feet high - how do I prune that ?

[@robertduncan2742]

I've learned a lot at my older age thanks

[@SplitMuffins]

We recently (last year) planted a row of rose of sharon (maybe 8) to become a hedge and I'm thrilled at how they are growing..... these were free branches (someone elses pruning I guess). But my question as they are blooming like crazy and love all the flowers..... can I cut them for a vase? and I read that they are edible..... would I just snip them off as they bud?

[@ramonabellamy7889]

Thank you for the video. I live in upstate NY. Can you prune in late fall after the flowers have bloomed? Also from last year the deer have eaten my rose of sharon trees terribly, so this year we have put fencing around them, but I wanted to prune them before winter unless that is not a good idea?

[@JohnMartinez-sm1sk]

If you cut out all the middle stems, will it still look full when it flowers, or will it take several years to fill back in? Can you over prune it?

[@mickyunit]

Thank you for the helpful, detailed info. New sub. I just bought 2, it's averaging 30-40 degrees here in zone 8 in mid November. Should I plant now with starter fertilizer or keep in garage until spring? Thanks!

[@donelahaynes9022]

You definitely know your plants and pruning! I have a rose of sharon that is already too tall (going into soffits) and needs to be pruned down in height about three feet now, before it grows another three feet. If I wait until it finishes blooming and then prune, will I lose next year's blooms? Thank you,

[@erikamiller6497]

Love your videos...so very helpful. I'm glad I watched your how to on pruning my tree hydrangeas...they have a massive growth of wild wood. I'll be having some fun! Also, when is the best time to transplant the tree type hydrangea's? I have a white one and a pink one.

[@CTSCAPER]

I'd have to look that up. I've never transplanted a tree form hydrangea.

[@karenmcfall5493]

Super helpful! Thanks for filming this.

[@kathk1971]

do you recommend "painting" the cut branches with the black preserver stuff (not sure what it is called) so that the tree/bush is not damaged? or when you prune any trees/bushes, is it alright to just leave them to heal?

[@CTSCAPER]

When I was in school eons ago they told me not to use the stuff to paint the cut because it seals in disease rather than sealing it out. I've never used paint in my life and if you make the cut right the wound heals well.

[@queenb9070]

I appreciate this video. But I have a question. I inherited an overgrown Rose of Sharon. Its extremely tall with only 5 huge branches. I'm not sure what I need to do with it. It desperately needs rejuvenation. I'm tempted to just get rid of it but I'm sentimental to these old fashioned plants. I wish I could post a picture.

[@Marco-jq3cq]

Would it be safe to split a a Rose of Sharon at the root to create two or three from a big bush?

[@z0ZzZ0z]

Thanks. We have a monsta growing on our New England property. I wasn't sure if it was ok to give it a good hair cut.

[@Doug111973]

Hi! I have a large Rose of Sharon in my front yard, it was hit by a car over the last winter, which cracked the base of the tree open, and caused it to lean over alot more than it already was. I would like to try and save it if i could, im curious how far back i can prune it, w/o killing it. It gets so top heavy when it reaches bloom, I figure I would trim half or more of it back, and bind the base together with something, and hope for the best.. right now its propped up, until i can figure out what to do with it. :/

[@nogoodcops6557]

I've got a Rose of Sharon next to my house that's nearly fifty years old. It has the most beautiful and gnarly trunk system you could imagine. Because i have a basement I'm contemplating excavating it and turning it into a bonsai. Do you think this is feasible or will it most likely die if I attempt it? Also, what would you recommend planting next to a house with a basement as to not leave large bland patches of brick showing? 2 story house with basement.

[@nogoodcops6557]

Its actually been well maintained with a height of about 8 feet. Stays full of blooms in the late summer and the humming birds can't stop fighting over it. It doesn't seem to be causing any issues inside but we had a foundation repair specialist come inspect our basement just for peace of mind and he recommended getting rid of it bases on the fact that the trunk is just so huge. Its just too majestic to trash.

[@barbararichman1606]

excellent video - I learned a lot, thanks!

[@donnamaekelly]

Thank you🎉

[@dseidel01]

My ROS hedge is getting tall...maybe 10-12 feet and spindly. Can I top *gasp* these to encourage thicker shrub-like growth? I'm waiting until all seed pods are harvested (autumn). Thanks for tips. :)

[@endlesssummerlc]

Ahhh, the dreaded branch up the nose... good video!

[@getbeautified79]

Thank you for such a thorough and detailed video . We just planted 10 three footers in a wood planter box across my deck as a divider from the neighbors . They look pretty healthy now and they are full in leaves . Is there any reason I wouldn't cut back straggly branches spring through summer. I want them to grow up but also meet each other eventually to create a screen . They are about 2 1/2 feet apart from each other

[@davep.5658]

Is there a picture or video that shows what this one looked like after blooming again?

[@CTSCAPER]

No. I didn't make that one.

[@MrStanwillis]

Is rose of Sharon okay for walking canes or staffs?

[@asthaverma9684]

Can such huge shrub be relocated? Or can I use the branches to start new shrub? We have two and would like to relocate if possible