How to Prune Bougainvillea
Prune in early spring., Wear thick gardening gloves., Disinfect your pruning shears.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Prune in early spring.
Bougainvillea can technically be pruned at any time of the year, but the best time to do so for the integrity of the plant is in very early spring, before the plant has begun to produce buds for new flowers.
If you wait until the buds have formed, you'll cut off the new growth and limit flower production.
If you prune too early, frost can kill the new growth that immediately emerges after pruning.Bougainvillea bloom in cycles, with months of vigorous blooming followed by rest periods.
Pruning before the beginning of a new cycle allows the vine to produce vigorous new growth.
The exact month of the year during which bougainvillea should be pruned differs by region.
The easiest way to tell whether it's time is to simply check the weather or the Farmer’s Almanac.When the last chance of frost has passed, but before the vine has begun to bud, it's time to prune. -
Step 2: Wear thick gardening gloves.
Many bougainvillea species have thick, very sharp thorns that can hurt your hands.
Also, some species are poisonous and can even give you a rash or inflame your skin.
If you're planning a big pruning session, get prepped by donning a pair of thick gloves.
You might also want to wear long sleeves in a thick material to protect your wrists and arms.
Some bougainvillea branches have hardly any thorns, but others are completely covered in them., Wiping the pruning shears you're going to use with rubbing alcohol or another disinfectant will keep you from spreading disease.
If you trim off a portion of bougainvillea that has been affected by disease, you don't want to spread it to another section by using the same dirty blades.
Plan to wipe off the blades of your shears each time you cut off dead bougainvillea. -
Step 3: Disinfect your pruning shears.
Detailed Guide
Bougainvillea can technically be pruned at any time of the year, but the best time to do so for the integrity of the plant is in very early spring, before the plant has begun to produce buds for new flowers.
If you wait until the buds have formed, you'll cut off the new growth and limit flower production.
If you prune too early, frost can kill the new growth that immediately emerges after pruning.Bougainvillea bloom in cycles, with months of vigorous blooming followed by rest periods.
Pruning before the beginning of a new cycle allows the vine to produce vigorous new growth.
The exact month of the year during which bougainvillea should be pruned differs by region.
The easiest way to tell whether it's time is to simply check the weather or the Farmer’s Almanac.When the last chance of frost has passed, but before the vine has begun to bud, it's time to prune.
Many bougainvillea species have thick, very sharp thorns that can hurt your hands.
Also, some species are poisonous and can even give you a rash or inflame your skin.
If you're planning a big pruning session, get prepped by donning a pair of thick gloves.
You might also want to wear long sleeves in a thick material to protect your wrists and arms.
Some bougainvillea branches have hardly any thorns, but others are completely covered in them., Wiping the pruning shears you're going to use with rubbing alcohol or another disinfectant will keep you from spreading disease.
If you trim off a portion of bougainvillea that has been affected by disease, you don't want to spread it to another section by using the same dirty blades.
Plan to wipe off the blades of your shears each time you cut off dead bougainvillea.
About the Author
Grace Davis
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow organization tutorials.
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