When is the best month to prune bougainvillea? Time and method for pruning potted bougainvillea

Bougainvillea pruning time

Bougainvillea needs to be pruned three times a year. The first pruning is usually in spring from March to April , when it needs to be heavy pruned to make the branches the same length; the second pruning is generally from late June to July , which is a supplementary pruning after the first pruning; the third pruning must wait until August , usually no later than mid-August.

How to prune bougainvillea

1. Cut

Pruning means trimming down part of the branches. After pruning, the branches below the cut will sprout new branches. After pruning a branch, 2-4 new branches can sprout below. By pruning, the effect of making the branches shorter and denser can be achieved.

2. Sparse

Thinning is to completely cut off the branches from the base of the trunk. Thinning can make the crown more light-transmissive and the air more circulatory, and reduce the number of branches and leaves. The combination of the two can make the bougainvillea be pruned better.

Tips for pruning bougainvillea

To make the branches of the bougainvillea grow in a balanced shape, avoid some branches growing too strong and some branches growing too thin, so that the branches grow in a balanced way and in a reasonable direction. When pruning, try to keep the outer branches and the inner branches as much as possible. After a few years of pruning, the shape will be very beautiful.