Does bougainvillea need to be pruned after it blooms (how to prune bougainvillea after it blooms and the flowers fall)

Bougainvillea flowers grow on the branches. The colors of the flowers are relatively rich and colorful, and the flowers bloom for a long time. It has a fast growth rate, a particularly strong germination ability, a long flowering period, and is resistant to pruning.

Generally, proper pruning after the flowers fade will not only save nutrients, but also help shape the flower. Therefore, bougainvillea needs to be pruned after it blooms. However, if you want it to be beautiful and bloom in full bloom, you need to manage and prune it . You can refer to the following methods.

The growth of flowers and plants has the dominant characteristic of the top, which continuously grows upward. If it is not controlled and allowed to grow naturally, it will become wild and lose its beauty and ornamental value. In order to keep it in a beautiful tree shape, it is necessary to pinch the top, pick the buds, pick the leaves, and prune it.

(1) Pinching

The buds will elongate and change their formed and shaped shapes at any time, so they must be controlled. When the branches are relatively sparse, increase the branching to promote the development of axillary buds.

You can use your hands or scissors to remove the growth point at the front end of the tender shoot. This can inhibit the growth of apical dominance, promote the growth of low-lying branches, and maintain the original shape of the stump.

(2) Picking buds

The trunk, twigs and branches of a tree stump often sprout many adventitious buds. If allowed to grow, it will not only affect the appearance, but also consume nutrients, hinder air circulation and sunlight, and make it easy for insect pests to occur.

Therefore, unnecessary branches must be removed, and the buds growing on the crown must be shortened in time to improve the appearance.

(3) Leaf picking

The best time to view the leaves is when new leaves have just grown. For some tree stumps, the viewing period can be extended by removing old leaves. All leaves should be removed during the growing season of the tree.

After picking the leaves, be sure to apply thin fertilizer to allow the branches and buds to germinate normally and grow new leaves.

Tips for pruning bougainvillea

In order to maintain the original shape of the tree, the shaped tree stumps need to be pruned frequently, focusing on pruning weak branches, diseased branches, dead branches, ugly branches, and overgrown branches.

Choose the required branches according to different situations. Deciduous trees should be pruned after they lose their leaves, and tree stumps should also be pruned during the period of vigorous growth.

(1) Cross branches

The two side branches interfere with each other and cross each other. The crossed branches appear messy and need to be pruned off. Keep the branch with better branch and prune the other one.

(2) Parallel branches

In the same direction of the parallel branches, the upper and lower branches grow parallel to each other and are the same length and thickness. If you want to cut off one branch, or shorten the upper branch, you can twist and swing it in the same direction by climbing and tying.

(3) Whorled branches

If more than three side branches grow at the same level of the trunk, it is not easy for the whorled branches to grow balanced, which affects the appearance. Leave one healthy branch with a suitable angle and cut off the others.

(4) Symmetrical branches

For branches that grow opposite to each other at the same level of the trunk, that is, two branches growing in front and behind or on the left and right of the trunk, one of the branches should be cut off, and the pruning should be carried out in a staggered manner from bottom to top.

(5) Clustered branches

If there are several side branches growing from the same part of the trunk, if you want to keep branches in this part, keep a healthy one and cut off the rest.

(6) Terminal branch

The branches that are directly in front of the trunk and at right angles to the trunk are facing people and are dazzling, so they should be cut off. If you must keep them, you should control the length of the branches and use the climbing method to twist and swing them.

(7) Leggy branches

Branches that grow vigorously, have large leaves and long branches, are upright or tend to grow thick should be cut off. If they are to be kept, they must be shaped in time.

(8) Axillary branches

It grows in the depressions of tree trunks and fills the curved parts, often destroying the beautiful shape of the curves, so it should be pruned off in time.

(9) Upright branches

Upright branches growing on horizontal branches will affect the growth and appearance of other branches and should be promptly pruned off. If they are to be retained, they must be tied up in time and bent into a curved shape to increase their beauty.