Save The Climate With Gardening!

Download the FREE gardening4climate guide and start making a difference

    Powered By ConvertKit

    Stop Breaking Your Back Gardening!

    Get these easy to implement gardening hacks and create a productive but easy to manage vegetable garden!

      We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Powered By ConvertKit

      Reduce Your Carbon Footprint With Gardening - FREE Download!

        My Clethra shrubs are not blooming flowers

        by Diane Deakin
        (Newtown, CT)

        Hi,


        For some reason several of my Clethra shrubs did not produce flowers this season (they're approx 3 years old).

        Can you think of a reason why this would be? Otherwise, they seem to be quite healthy (plenty of greenery). Should I try fertilizer? If so, when?

        Also, since they are about 3 years old, they are in need of pruning. Can you advise me as to when and how to prune them?

        Thanks,
        Diane Deakin

        Flower Clethra Shrub

        Hi Diane,

        it would be interesting to know whether your shrubs did flower well in the previous seasons?
        There could be several reasons for this:




        Photo courtesy of KingsbraeGarden



        • The growing conditions are not correct. Clethra shrubs like sun to part shade and a moist, acidic soil. If your plants are too shaded they won't flower well. They should have at least half a day of sun. Maybe the trees behind them grew too big in the meantime and are shading them too much?

        • The ground could be too rich. If you use a lot of fertilizer with too much nitrogen it encourages a lot of lush growth but no flowers. The plants go very leafy.

        • The ground is too dry.

        • The plants are not mature or established enough yet to produce flowers.



        If your Sweet Pepper Bush gets too much shade you could try to cut back overhanging trees to give them a bit more light. Alternatively you could transplant them to a sunnier spot. You could also try a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen but high in potash. Potash encourages flowering and fruiting. Tomato fertilizers are usually high in potash. Apply the fertilizer during spring.


        If your soil tends to dry out try a layer of mulch around the plants to keep the moisture in the ground.



        Pruning Clethra Bushes:


        You can prune your Sweet Pepper Bushes in late winter or early spring. Remove damaged branches first, right at the base. Then remove old and woody branches. Cut back about one third of the old growth to encourage new shoots.



        Hope this helps! Send us a picture when they flower!



        Click here to post comments

        Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Gardening Problems FAQs.

        Want to learn how to grow your own food from seed?

        Grab the cheat sheet and learn how to avoid the 7 most common seed starting mistakes!

          We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

          Powered By ConvertKit


          Back to top


          Recent Articles

          1. Tips For Growing Thyme Herb In Containers And In the Ground

            Growing Thyme is a must if you like Italian cooking! Learn how to grow thyme indoors and outside. There are loads of culinary uses for thyme in the kitchen.
          2. Growing Chervil Is Easy! - How To Grow This Underused Culinary Herb!

            Growing Chervil is so easy! Learn how to grow chervil and benefit from this delicate looking culinary herb even in the winter!
          3. Growing Lemon Balm As A Refreshing Culinary Herb

            Growing Lemon Balm in containers or the ground is easy if you choose the right place for it. Learn how to grow Lemon Balm with these easy tips.