Prune Chansonette Weeping Camellia

Maintenance Pruning

• Pruning “Chansonette” lightly once each year will keep it healthy and more attractive. It will also eliminate the need for severe rejuvenation pruning in later years. Maintenance pruning should be done in the winter after the shrub finishes blooming. Remove any dead blossoms that remain on the shrub. Trim new shoots back that grew during the previous season. They can be trimmed back as far as necessary to maintain a desired shrub size and shape. Make the pruning cut about 1/4 inch above a growth bud or eye. Prune dead and diseased branches off at the base. Prune damaged branches back to healthy tissue. Remove shoots or branches that are growing at odd angles across other branches.

Rejuvenation Pruning

• “Chansonette” can grow to a width of up to 8 feet. If it has grown too wide and full, do a rejuvenation pruning to bring it back under control. This type of pruning should be done in late winter or early spring when the shrub begins growing. Cut all of the stems back to 4 to 8 inches high. Make the cuts about 1/4 inch above a healthy growth bud or eye. For less severe rejuvenation, cut one-third of the oldest branches back to the ground each year for three years. The shrub may not bloom for one to two years after severe pruning. Sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of a 16-4-8 or 12-4-8 azalea fertilizer over the shrub's root zone, and water the shrub twice each week.

Espalier

• Prune espaliered “Chansonette” in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth, and in early summer to shape the new growth and control the shrub’s size. Minimal pruning of several new smaller shoots can be done at any time during the summer. Do not prune it heavily after mid-summer as this will encourage new growth that could be damaged during the winter. Attach branches that are to be kept as part of the design to the support structure loosely with soft twine or twist-ties. Remove other branches completely at the base of the branch. Pinching off the flower buds during the first year or two will cause the shrub to put energy into branch growth, resulting in faster establishment of the espalier design. Pinch off the tips of the branches only after they have reached the desired length. Let the new side shoots grow to 1 foot long before shortening them to a length in keeping with the design. Several leaves should be left on each side shoot. Light pinching and pruning can be done at any time during the year to maintain the espalier design after it is established. Check the twine or twist-ties twice each year and loosen them when necessary.

Pruning Tools

• “Chansonette” should be pruned with sharp hand pruners or loppers. Do not use hedge shears as they will tear the leaves, expose old wood and ruin the shrub‘s overall form. Disinfect the pruners or loppers before and after using them with bleach or rubbing alcohol. If any of the branches are diseased, disinfect the pruners before and after each cut to prevent spreading the disease to healthy branches. All of the clippings should be raked up and removed from the garden.