The indigo shrub is an attractive butterfly family that is characterized by a long flowering period. Between June and October, the tree shows its blossom splendor, whereby the right cut and the optimal cutting date are of great importance for the development of the flowers.
A professional pruning guarantees beautiful growth and abundance of flowers
Optimum time
The indigo bush develops its flowers on this year's wood. This means that after cutting, the plant will sprout and flower in the early part of the year. Therefore, only a spring cut is suitable for this species. This should take place when the buds are leafless, before the fresh sprouting of the buds, so that the plant then puts all its energy into the remaining sleeping eyes. No pruning is recommended during the winter as the pruning wounds are damaged by frost.
grooming cuts
If you want to keep your indigo bush small, it is advisable to take a generous amount of branches. Shorten all branches so that half to a third remain. This corresponds to a residual height of 30 to 50 centimetres. In this way, enough buds are preserved to ensure fresh shoots over the next few weeks.
tips
You can use the cut off plant material for the propagation of cuttings.
Thin out
With this care measure, you concentrate on branches that disturb the overall picture. This includes specimens that grow inward, are too close together, or cross one another. Remove such branches directly at the base without damaging the branch ring. Sick, dead and damaged shoots are also removed.
Cut espalier bushes
Indigo shrubs also grow on trellises as an alternative to rampant climbing plants such as Wisteria. To keep these specimens in shape, cut back the new shoots every year. Similar to solitary trees, it is sufficient if a few sleeping eyes remain. You can shorten the main shoot or direct it further upwards as required.
radical cuts
If many branches have frozen back during the winter, a radical pruning measure makes sense. Shorten the shoots to four inches above the ground and make sure that some buds remain on the remaining parts of the plant. In the coming growth season, the indigo bush will sprout vigorously again, so that flowering can be expected in the same year.
rejuvenation
Shrubs that have been pruned annually tolerate a radical pruning well. If the trees have grown over the years without regular pruning, a lot of old wood has formed. It is harder to sprout, so you should be careful when removing branches. Careful thinning is recommended for specimens that have grown too large and are out of shape. The pruning intensity depends on the growth of the last one to two years.
You can use this as a guide:
- clip longest rods at the base
- shorten all other branches slightly
- few buds should remain
- do not cut back into the old wood