Lithodora Trimming: When And How To Prune Lithodora Plants

Lithodora is a beautiful and easy-to-grow perennial plant. This low-growing flower is ideal for use in rock gardens, near pathways, and around the edges of flower borders. Producing a profusion of blue blooms in late spring to early summer, lithodora requires very little maintenance to thrive. Beyond consistent schedules of irrigation and fertilization, learning to properly trim and prune lithodora plants will help to ensure healthy plants for many seasons to come.

When to Prune Lithodora

When discussing when to prune lithodora plants, there are quite a few considerations. Pruning lithodora plants can happen at different times throughout the season. While trimming and rejuvenation are most likely to occur in the early season, the removal of overgrown plant matter in late winter will also be important in maintaining quality plants.

Since the plant is an evergreen, lithodora trimming is common in the early spring, just as winter has ended. Extended periods of cold or exposure to extreme winter weather can damage leaves and plant stems. Damaged leaves will be black and may impede new plant growth. Removing these leaves will be imperative in helping to prevent disease, and in improving the overall appearance of the planting.

Cutting back lithodora may need to be done after the flowering period as well. Cutting back lithodora after flowering can help growers to maintain plants and to ensure they remain the desired size. Tall or leggy growth can be removed at this time in order to create a more uniform appearance within the flower border.

How to Prune Lithodora

Learning how to prune lithodora plants is relatively simple. Sharp garden shears are the best tool to make clean cuts on the plant. This will be especially important in instances when the removal of a large portion of the plant will be needed.

When pruning lithodora plants, always make certain not to remove more than one-third of the plant at any given time. Doing so can severely damage the plant, and possibly cause it to die back completely.

When pruning lithodora plants, always make sure that the shears have been properly cleaned to reduce the spread of any plant diseases present in the garden. Carefully snip any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage from the plant. Make certain to dispose of the plant matter to maintain proper garden sanitation.