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Gardeners’ Forum: “weigela”

• weigela

  Posted by Charlotte Hayes on Saturday, October 20, 2007 12:52 am ADT

  Can anyone out there advise me on how to get my weigela bushes to bloom. they are 3 yrs. old and still no blooms. What and when should I fertilize them?

  • re: weigela

    Posted by Nicole on Sunday, October 28, 2007 6:46 pm ADT

    Weigelas bloom relatively early in the season so is one of those shrubs which forms their flower buds in the previous year. So with these, I don't prune after they bloom. If you are not pruning it, then evidently, that's not the problem. Every fall, I mulch my shrubs with some homemade compost. I would do the same in your case, placing it about 2-3 inches thick around the shrub, but making sure it is a couple of inches away from the base (trunk) of the shrub. In the spring, place mulch around the base (old shredded leaves are great!). I don't 'fertilize', but if you do, a simple feeding of 10-10-10 in the spring should suffice.

  • re: weigela

    Posted by Ferne on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 10:31 am AST

    Is it getting enough sun Charlotte? When plants don't bloom by the third year that is often the problem. If it isn't getting at least half a day of sun, I would consider digging it up and putting it in a sunnier area....providing you haven't been pruning off the buds as suggested by Nicole....another common problem.

  • re: weigela

    Posted by Bern on Friday, January 11, 2008 8:15 pm AST

    I live in Newfoundland and I grow Red Prince and Pink Princess with great success. They bloom profusely around early July. They are planted by the side of a building, and are exposed to the sun in the afternoon. When I first planted them, I used some 20/20 fertilizer, and we used compost, but now I just water them when it's dry. The soil in Newfoundland is somewhat acidic, so maybe that has something to do with my success. Three of my weigelas have been growing and blooming for around ten years. Our zone is 5b.

  • re: weigela

    Posted by Kay on Sunday, January 13, 2008 1:29 pm AST

    When do you suggest one should prune a weigela? Mine is huge and sprawling. Thanks for any advice. The plant was here when we bought the property, it flowers beautifully, but is a little out of control.

  • re: weigela

    Posted by CJ on Friday, January 18, 2008 9:23 pm AST

    Prune weigela only after flowering. Prune lightly, remove all dead and weak growth. Cut out a few old branches at the ground to induce new growth. If this is your first pruning job invest in a good pair of pruning shears they will last for years.