How to cut back a flowering shrub: Shrimp Plant. Pro DIY tips from a landscape design and installation business owner. #pruning #landscapemaintenanc #landscaping
During a landscape design and installation project, I always make sure to take extra time and go over techniques that will help my clients properly care for their new plants.
Some of the most common questions are:
“How should a flowering shrub be trimmed?”
“Should we let the lawn guys use hedge trimmers?”
“Do I need to do trim this by hand?”
“How often should we trim it?”
My primary advisor in school at UF used to be fond of answering any question with “it depends”. While I found his consistency somewhat annoying, over time I can see why he employed it so frequently. It really does depend on the specific shrub. Plants like Shrimp Plant that grow their canopy off a few main stems can more easily be cut back by hand than something like a plumbago which is super dense and often gets thick with branches that crowd up from the base. So, a heavy stand of Plumbago would be frustrating and unusually time consuming to cut back by hand. But hey, maybe you can consider that an exercise in patience like weeding.
For any flowering shrub, the goal is to care for and trim flowering shrubs so they flower profusely and remain healthy while doing so. Running over them with the hedge trimmers is not always the best way for many flowering shrubs. If you are able to take a little extra time, maybe in the morning with a cuppa or the afternoon while winding down from work, you’ll get a lot better response from your flowering shrubs with some basic hand pruning.
So, as often as I can, I’m going to talk about how to trim and cut back specific shrubs so you can understand the individual needs of each one. Over time, you’ll see some parallels that will help you to eventually make the decision based on your experience. Enjoy the following video and the tips that follow.
Shrimp plant: Justicia brandegeeana
Shrimp plants are hardy shrub with striking, unique flowers. They attract a host of pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds.
Do I trim the Shrimp plant after a new installation? Shrimp plants often come from the nursery in a bit of a leggy condition, meaning they have a few long branches that have been reaching up for the sunlight because they were kept in a tight group at the nursery. This is normal but resist the urge to heavily prune back a new plant. Install and keep it watered while it has time to get established, get some roots out, and put out some new growth around the base. After a few weeks you should be able to trim off the longer, leggy branches.
Care: Shrimp Plants like to be well watered in good, loamy soil so be sure to add topsoil or some other organic material (like black kow or mushroom compost) to the planting area or topdress the soil around existing plants before mulching. Fertilize at least in spring and early fall with a controlled release complete granular fertilizer.
Shrimp plants will grow very well in a variety of mixed lighting conditions. If you plant in full sun be sure the shrub is getting good irrigation coverage. It will grow in part sun and shady conditions but flowering will be a bit less.
UF IFAS write up: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/shrimp-plant/
Earthwise does not offer maintenance service. The focus is primarily on landscape design and installation services. The service area includes Seminole and East Orange counties (Lake Mary, Sanford, Heathrow, Winter Park, Winter Springs, Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Longwood, Casselberry areas and nearby).
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Bio: I am not a landscape architect. I won't charge big firm fees. I am a horticulturalist. This means I am educated, specialized, and experienced in selection, arrangement, establishment, and care of plant material in the residential landscape. I hold a Master of Science degree from University of Florida in Environmental Horticulture. I currently focus on existing residential work.
The focus of Earthwise Horticultural Services is landscape design and installation for existing residential properties. Within that scope I offer a wide range of services. My approach is holistic in nature with an emphasis on long term success. Success in landscape improvements begins with a good plan. While planning your landscape we'll focus on things such as plant choice, sod choice, problem solving, and an understanding of how to successfully establish and care for your new landscape.
Landscape services include, Design & consultation, installation, hardscaping, lighting, custom built pergolas and trellises.
This video was recorded and edited by Scott Simpson, owner of Earthwise Horticultural Services LLC. Visit my website and use the contact tab if you want to consider transforming your landscape into something special. #landscapeplants
