How to prune a bonsai osmanthus? Master the correct pruning method

Pruning osmanthus not only maintains the tree shape of the osmanthus, but also, through thinning branches, increases the number of flowers and makes the plant healthier by improving light and ventilation conditions. So when should potted osmanthus be pruned? No rush, let's take a look below.

Spring is the best season for pruning. Because osmanthus is an evergreen tree, it is not cold-tolerant, so it cannot be pruned in winter.

In the summer months of July and August, the flower buds begin to sprout. If you prune at this time, you will certainly cut off branches bearing flower buds, resulting in a reduced number of flowers.

Osmanthus planted in the ground can be carefully pruned after the autumn bloom, but potted osmanthus is not as sturdy as plants in the ground and is not suitable for autumn pruning. Therefore, potted osmanthus is best pruned in spring, and the most suitable month is March.

In addition, plants that are too small are not suitable for pruning, and usually the plant type can be managed two to three years after purchase. The pruning cycle is once a year.

Suggestions for pruning potted osmanthus:

1. Cut off tangled branches. Usually several branches are intertwined; leave one of them and the rest must be cut off.

Some branches of osmanthus like to grow upward, so it is necessary to prune these upward-growing branches. Before pruning, make sure which ones to cut and which ones to leave.

3. Cut back the inward-growing branches so that the side branches grow outward, and cut off the inward-growing branches inside.

4. Finally, adjust the overall shape. Cut back some unusually long, exceptionally prominent shoots so that the overall lines are softer. Be careful to cut near the blade. If the remaining branch is too long, the axillary buds will not grow, which will cause the entire branch to wither.