Maintaining Cloud Pruning For Pieris Japonica (Early Season) - May 4, 2022

I normally prune this after the new growth turned green, about June. Doing it a month earlier so it is easier to tell where the original clouds are.
Pieris grows fast and uneven. To maintain the clouds, pruning is needed every year. Otherwise the clouds will be gone (like at the beginning of the video). Good thing is you can always go back on this decision. I find the work manageable since its growth rate also make it very forgiving. No worries about mistake/permanent damage.
Home garden in Canada west coast zone 7
down-to-earth.co.uk/pruning/c....
Music by Aakash Gandhi

[@lovenature008]

Does this not flower? It looks so beautiful when the red leaves are on. I have 3 in a pot (ground soil is clay) but 2 have gone twiggy and sparce. Please advise. Thanks in advance.

[@GardenNotes]

Yes they normally flower in spring. Since I prune them back after mid summer to maintain the “clouds”, they do not bloom. When I pruned, I cut off flowers already formed for the following year. They get leggy if not pruned. I find pruning keep them energize and dense. Consider giving that a try. Remember to do it early (right after bloom) so you do not loose next year’s flower. My other one is in blooms now.

[@GardenNotes]

Good luck

[@lovenature008]

@garden Notes Will definitely try it. Thank you😊

[@TJ-bn2cn]

Why would you do this? 😱 Pieris hardly ever need pruning. Only slightly prune to keep the shape and if you want you can cut off the dead flowers but again not that necessary. This is a mistake to cut off the new red leaves, you’re just stopping it from becoming the beautiful shrub it is.

[@GardenNotes]

Agree, they are beautiful shrubs! I have 3 in my yard. This“cloud” pruning is inspired by topiaries and Japanese bonsai. I started out experimenting on this since it is too costly to test on an full size conifer. Once I started, I like the result; plus there is no longer any black mouldy issue as with another one. The good air circulation eliminates the need to spray. It is quite wet for a good part of the year for our coastal weather. I keep the other 2 fairly normal, just thinning to improve air. Thanks for your comments. I often learn from my viewer’s perspective.

[@GardenNotes]

There is another viewer mentioning the heavenly blooms that I am missing for the "cloud" pruning. You are both right. I will prune less but earlier to keep the spring blooms. Hope it stay in reasonably airy "cloud" form to avoid the black mold that happen in our moist coastal weather. Thanks for both your comments. I am changing course. Hopefully I can strike a balance. 😊

[@humeramudassir1008]

Thanks for sharing I am planting 10 mountain fire variety at my property line spacing 15 feet apart 4 feet from the curb Any suitable advise pl.

[@GardenNotes]

That would be so spectacular! With the generous spacing, there should be enough air circulation to fend off insect issues. Also dependent on your weather. My coastal weather is rainy in spring. That with a lack of air often result in some insect issue which leads to black color mounds. I have to spray almost every other year and thin the branches for better circulation. Mountain Fire should be more resistant. Keeping them to a certain height (your call) will make sure they are full from top to bottom. Other than their great look, I think privacy is also on your mind? I envy the space you have 😉😉👍🏻👍🏻

[@sammysworld5485]

Just curious how old your Pieris Japonica tree? I planted 6 in my garden & they are all very small now. They seem to have fast growth rate.

[@GardenNotes]

Both are over 15 years old. They grow quite fast in my area. Is it possible that yours are a verity that stay small? I do fertilize them every spring with slow release all purpose.

[@sammysworld5485]

@@GardenNotes I have two mountain Pieris with white blooms & two andromedas with pink blooms. Sadly one died this past Summer. My mountain Pieris developed black spots & they get powdery mildew which I’m constantly spraying with vinegar water mix in the Sumner. I might just transfer them into containers to closely monitor them. Maybe I need to use the soil acidifier or they getting too much Sun… either way they don’t seem to be happy.

[@GardenNotes]

@@sammysworld5485 I used to have the same problem, which improved significantly after I thinned them out hard. Having more air circulation really helps. Japanese gardens keep theirs very airy. Their way of presenting Pieris? I may thin mine further. 😊

[@Pieceofmeesh]

@@GardenNotesis there anyway to get in touch with you? I would love to send a pic if mine. It doesn’t branch out. It has grown straight up and thin 😢

[@GardenNotes]

@@Pieceofmeesh An easy way to get it branching out - to cut the top off. It would branch out in multiple places below the cut. Cut around the level where you would prefer the branches to start. Example: if you want it to be more like a tree form - cut at eye level. If you want it to stay rounded and bushy - cut at thigh level. It will bounce back. Spring is the best time to do it, right after bloom time. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@cindyl3916]

I just bought one from mr maple. Will be here this week. Really needed to see this awesome video! Seriously how much sun can they take? Still deciding where to plant. Thank you!

[@GardenNotes]

Congratulations! You will like this plant! 👍🏻👍🏻. I have two. One in front yard and another in the back. Both get half a day of sun but mostly in the morning. Our weather is mild, both in summer and winter. They are happy here, about 20 years old already.

[@cindyl3916]

@@GardenNotes I could just hug you! Exactly the information I was needing. I have the perfect spot now. Yours does look very content and so healthy. I’m zone 7 NE Oklahoma. My house sits almost on top of the spring I use for all my water. I’ll plant up above at the edge of the slope. Thank you so very much! Definitely subscribing.

[@paulgreenleaf600]

How'd the plant do this year? They can be pretty temperamental plants if drainage and sun isn't right, they do get tougher as the years go by.

[@cindyl3916]

@@paulgreenleaf600 Funny you should ask! It did awful lol! You’re right, tricky plant for me. I didn’t have it planted in the right spot, moved it and it never recovered. I do have a Scarlet O’Hara doing well in a different spot and a couple others in other spots trying to see what they like. Im stumped. I’m located on the northeastern corner of Oklahoma in a river bottom with live water. It gets super cold on the water here then brutally hot in summer. Thanks for asking!

[@paulgreenleaf600]

@cindyl3916 Of to work I'll send you a reply tonight on what I've found with this plant... as a landscape designer I almost never use them because they aren't reliable enough for the warrenty I offer to my customers. I do have a few at home I got going pretty well

[@pozzee2809]

I enjoy keeping the red leaves and they do flower

[@GardenNotes]

Thanks for the comments. Many viewers have mentioned this sacrifice the blooms. I am trying to have both next year. Not sure if it is possible. So far have not seen any flowers buds yet but keeping my fingers crossed 🤞🏻 🤞🏻🤞🏻