Mock Orange Pruning Tips: Cutting Back Mock Orange Shrubs
Garden center customers frequently come to me with questions like, “should I prune my mock orange that didn’t flower this year?”. My answer is: yes. For the overall general health of the shrub, mock orange pruning should be done once a year, not just when it doesn’t bloom or has gotten overgrown. Even dwarf varieties need a good pruning each year. Continue reading to learn how to trim mock orange shrubs.
Pruning a Mock Orange
Mock orange is an old-fashioned favorite with its large, white, fragrant flowers that bloom in late spring. Hardy in zones 4-9, most varieties mature to a height of 6-8 feet (2-2.5 m.) and have a natural vase shape.
With a just little maintenance, a mock orange shrub can be a beautiful addition to your landscape for many years. Before pruning any plants, you should always sanitize your pruners or loppers to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. You can simply do this by wiping the tools down with a mixture of bleach and water or rubbing alcohol and water.
Be sure to get the cutting surfaces of the tools. If you are pruning a mock orange because it is infected by a pest or disease, dip your pruners in water and bleach or rubbing alcohol between each cut to avoid the risk of further infection.
Mock orange blooms on the previous year’s wood. Like lilac, mock orange bushes should be pruned right after blooms have faded, so you do not accidentally cut off next year’s flowers. Since mock orange blooms in late spring to early summer, they are usually cut back once a year in late May or June.
It is recommended that mock orange shrubs not be pruned or deadheaded after July to ensure blooms the next spring. However, if you just purchased and planted a mock orange, you should wait until the following year before doing any deadheading or pruning.
How to Trim Mock Orange
Pruning a mock orange each year after it blooms will keep the plant healthy and looking good. When cutting back mock orange shrubs, cut back the branches with spent bloom about 1/3 to 2/3 their length. Also, cut out any old or dead wood back to the ground.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
Branches that are crowded or crossing should also be cut to open up the center of the plant to air, sunlight, and rain water. When pruning anything, always discard the cut branches immediately to avoid the spread of pests and disease.
In time, mock orange shrubs may get gnarly looking or become less productive. If this happens, you can give the whole shrub a hard rejuvenation pruning by cutting it all back to 6-12 inches (15-30.5 cm.) from the ground. This should be done in winter or early spring while the plant is still dormant.
You most likely will not get any blooms that spring, but the plant will grow back healthier and provide blooms the following season.
-
5 Plastic Products To Avoid In Your Garden – And How You Can Embrace Plastic Reduction
The less plastic we use, the healthier our planet will be. Here are some big plastic gardening products to avoid, plus some alternatives.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
8 Small Trees For Front Yards – Boost Curb Appeal Without Dominating The House
Discover the best small trees for front yards, which make an impact in multiple seasons without overshadowing the rest of the yard.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
No Flowers On Mock Orange: Why A Mock Orange Bloom Does Not Bloom
It's late spring and the neighborhood is filled with the sweet scent of mock orange blooms. You check your mock orange and it doesn't have a single bloom, yet all others are covered with them. Click here to learn why there are no flowers on mock orange.
By Darcy Larum
-
Transplanting Mock Orange Shrubs: Learn When To Transplant Mock Orange
If you are planting or transplanting mock orange shrubs, you'll need to know how and when to start the process. For information about how to transplant a mock orange shrub, this article can help. Click here to learn more.
By Teo Spengler
-
Mock Orange Bushes: How To Grow And Care For Mock Orange Shrub
For stunning citrus fragrance in the garden, you can't go wrong with the mock orange shrub. This late spring-blooming deciduous bush looks great and requires little care. Read this article for more info on mock oranges.
By Nikki Tilley