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mock orange
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Posted by flossieann 8 GA (My Page) on Sun, Jun 28, 09 at 20:37
| Doe sanyone know if the mock orange sets it's blooms for the following year by July of the year before? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: mock orange
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| Has yours already finished blooming? They're just starting here. Mock orange (Philadelphus) blooms on the prior year's growth, so prune immediately after the blooming period. On stems that have just finished flowering, prune off growth above where you see outer-facing buds. Also prune off any dead, badly-positioned or ill-formed branches if you want to do a little extra clean-up. |
RE: mock orange
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| Thanks so much for the info. One problem, it hasn't bloomed at all this year (or last year). Last year I cut it back in the spring so I understand now why it didn't bloom but this year I haven't touched it and it is as high as the eaves of the house. I would like to prune it but I'm scared too. I think I keep cutting it back after it's set it's blooms for the following year but it gets so high and unruly if it's not pruned. The plant seems to be putting all the strength into the greenery and none into the blooms. I'll take your advice when pruning it, thanks again. |
RE: mock orange
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| You're welcome. If your mock orange is a mature one and overgrown, you can probably start taking out one-third of it. Prune out one-third of the oldest branches right down to the ground. Do this over a three year period, each year taking out another one third of the oldest branches. If wildly overgrown, you can even do some drastic rejuvenation pruning - if you do it before it starts putting out new growth in the spring. Prune the whole thing down to the ground - or to a point where you're comfortable. It won't bloom that year, but it'll put out all kinds of new growth from the bottom up. We don't have the long growing season here that you do. Mine tends to stay in the 6' range and I just have to lop off a dead branch here and there. On the bright side, they're tough and hard to kill. |
RE: mock orange
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| Thanks again. I never would have thought of pruning drastically in thirds but it makes sense since the plant would be a lot more likely to accept it that way (little at a time). I don't think I would dare cut it all the way to the ground although I don't know why because I do it every year with hydrangeas, I cut it down to about two feet last year (but I don't remember what time of year it was) and now it's a good ten feet high and growing like a weed. It amazes me because it doesn't get nearly as much attention as some of the other plants because of the location. It goes long periods without water and then gets deluged every time it rains also because of its location. I'll wait until fall and if it hasn't bloomed by then I'll try that reducing it by a third. I'm feeding it Miracle Gro bloom booster but there's not a sign of a bud, just loads of new leaves. Thanks so much for the advice. |
RE: mock orange
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| Stop the fertilizer - an established shrub or tree simply does not need it. You're forcing the plant into expending all its energy into leaf production. |
RE: mock orange
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- Posted by brandon7 6b (like 7b now) TN (My Page) on
Wed, Jul 1, 09 at 16:26
| Ditto everything that duluthinbloomz4 wrote, including the part about pruning the whole thing completely down to the ground. It will actually look better if pruned all the way down near the ground than if you only gave it a serious haircut. You may not want to do this every year, but every few years sure wouldn't hurt. It actually reinvigorates the shrub. |
RE: mock orange
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| Thanks so much to you both. I'll stop the fertilizer and if it doesn't bloom in the fall (I had one at my former home that bloomed spring and fall) I'll cut a third of it down to the ground and see what happens in the spring. Your help is very much appreciated, happy 4th! |
Coral Honey Suckle
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| I got your message. I am in Patterson, where are you located? You can see my list at jerryngeorgia31557 I am looking for an evergreen vine. Thanks. |
RE: mock orange
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- Posted by ditas z4b-5 Iowa (My Page) on
Wed, Sep 9, 09 at 20:57
| Hi duluthinbloomz & Brandon - I planted my Miniature Snowflake Mockorange (Philadelphus) in Fall '05 ... she has grown, as promised just 3'tall-2'wide, produce floriferously in June, for these past yrs & walkers-by always asked, which blossoms in my collage, the beautiful fragrance came from!!! She now needs to be move just 3' over, as she is getting crowded by huge Tardiva ( to rt) ... I dug up a huge/old Patriot Hosta (to left), to allow her this extra room between a Blue Frost Hydrangea & Tardiva. my ???
1- How large of a root ball am I expected to find under this pretty shrub?
2- Is it better this Fall or early Spring for the move? (I'd prefer Fall if OK)
3- If in early Spring, will it affect the production of blooms?
4- If Fall, will watering w/ root stimulator, help w/ possible damages/stress control? I love this absolutely beautiful little lady w/ rich & shiny dark-green foliage! ( a MN state shrub - of course you know this, duluthinbloomz, right?) |
RE: mock orange
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| I've never moved one - mine aren't the miniature Snowflake variety - but the literature says mock orange is shallow rooted and that it should be fairly easy to get a shovel under the root system; especially a relatively small specimen. I'd dig deep and wide as a precaution, though. Maybe Brandon knows, but I'm thinking spring for transplanting as soon as the soil warms up since the Snowflake can experience severe die back in harsh winters. It's just so iffy here as to how long decent fall weather lasts and if fall transplants would have time to reestablish and settle in. |
RE: mock orange
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- Posted by ditas z4b-5 Iowa (My Page) on
Thu, Sep 10, 09 at 21:14
| Thanks for responding dib4! If this Miniature Mockorange is truly shallow rooted, I should go ahead & dare now ... Winter usually does not set in 'til around *Thanksgiving* ... she should still have time to settle down before then. I'll mulch heavily & if necessary will give her a nice winter coat!!! Last Winter was one of our harshest in recent times ... a true killer. My little Mock'o did react a bit, with some dead canes, however, still blossomed beautifully!!! €;) BTW - I didn't know I was supposed to dead-head ... ended up plucking seedlings around her. Do your regular-sized Mockorange bushes, behave similarly? This year, I pruned after blooms were spent ... however she didn't bush out, due to crowding in her site ... the reason I need to move her. Many thanks again! €;) |
RE: mock orange
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| I never thought about deadheading philadelphus - mine are too big for that and just get a routine cutting out of any dead wood. They seem to respond to that. I've never seen a seedling. |
RE: mock orange
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- Posted by ditas z4b-5 Iowa (My Page) on
Sat, Sep 12, 09 at 22:46
| Thank you duluthinbloomz, for the info on root system of Mock'O ... I was able to dig her up easily ... I over-did the hole I prepared ahead of time - her rootball wasn't very large at all. What was difficult was removing all the river-rocks around the area to be able to dig ... just glad I've overcome the cringing effect (like teacher's nails on chalkboard) each time my shovel hit buried rocks!!! Anyway, mission accomplished ... I still watered with solution of root stimulator as I'm sure she's gone thru some stress ... I did prune her some ... should ease demands on the roots as they recover ... there should be enough time here before Winter sets in. I'll post again to update! Many thanks again! €;) |
RE: mock orange
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| ditas~What is the name of the root stimulator you use/how do you apply it? I have to move some shrubs, wonder if that tonic will help them settle in. Many thanks! |
RE: mock orange
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- Posted by ditas z4b-5 Iowa (My Page) on
Mon, Sep 14, 09 at 20:52
| Hi p~g~5 - I use Miracle Grow's Quick Start ... other brands have them as well with similar names like *Up Start* etc. I just follow instructions. The nursery I trust recommends it whenever I relocate a plant or shrub ... I use it for all new plantings as well. A scoop or so of organic, Cotton Burr compost in the bottom of the hole tilled with the native soil is another he recommends. Welcome & Good luck! |
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