Camelia Pruning

[greenjelly]

I need some advice about how to prune a camelia.

We inherited a camelia when we moved house 4 years ago - it's probably at least 40 years old.

He has been glorious this year - the best we've ever seen it but oh dear he is getting rather out of hand. I fed him last year and cleared away some old shrubs that were crowding him out - he has responded by sprawling and spruging everywhere - it's probably got a 5 foot girth and a very untidy bottom.

We want to give him a good tidy - reduce the height a bit and slim him down somewhat.

All the flowers are finished now and new shoots have appeared on each branch.

I'm a bit scared to cut any away because I don't want to kill him or stop any flowers next year.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Greenjelly

[Martin H]

This is the time to do it - chop it back and get it under control then give it a good feed.

Detailed advice from the RHS here, including a re-assuring "Where an overgrown camellia needs to be reduced or renovated, hard pruning is usually safe and reliable."

Good luck!

[bend1pa]

First you will need a sharp pair of secateurs and/or loppers. Don't use a hedge trimmer for the job.

Have a good look at the shrub and decide which of the new shoots are growing in the right direction to make a good shape and retain those. Any new shoots growing in the wrong direction, and any that are surplus to requirements you can remove. Then prune the older stems to make the main shape. Prune each one back to an outward facing leaf bud. I would not shorten these stems back by more than half. As you prune, now and then step back to inspect the shrub so that you can see how you are shaping it. If you need to remove any complete branches back to the trunk, only remove those that look dead or are causing the shrub to be misshapen.

[Alison]

We had a huge one in the front garden when we moved in. Just hacked it back after flowering and it flourished. Established plants take a lot of abuse so just make the shape you want and it'll be fine.

[greenjelly]

Thank you

Thank you so much all who replied.

I knew there would be people who would know exactly what to do. We're going to do the deed this weekend so by Monday he should be looking like a new man!