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| Abelia |
A tender evergreen shrub originating from the Far East and Mexico that is more suited to the south and west of Britain.
Elsewhere they will require protection during the winter months.
A x grandiflora is a glossy leafed hybrid that grows from 900-1800mm (3ft - 6ft) high.
A x prostrate is a low spreading shrub often used for ground cover, growing to a height of around 600-900 mm (2ft-3ft) high
The lightly scented clusters of up to four tubular-shaped white / pink flowers are borne in profusion from mid-summer to mid-autumn.
Week 14-16; On deciduous varieties; cut out dead branches and weak twigs and trim back old shoots or branches that flowered the previous year,
Now is an ideal time to propagate new stock by layering some of the lower branches.
Similarly plant out cuttings taken last year if this was not done in autumn
Week 27; Take 75-100mm (3”-4”) long tip cuttings of the current season's wood.
Insert the cuttings in a 70mm (3”) pot containing of equal parts (by volume) of peat and sand, and place on a hot bed set to give a temperature of 16°-18°C (60°-65°F).
alternatively; the pots can be placed in a cold frame to root over the summer month.
Place the rooted plants in a frost free location throughout the following winter, then plant out in Spring, when conditions allow .
Week 35; Plant out any time from now until the end of October, in a sunny position.
If possible protect them from cold winds, e.g. against a south facing wall.
If unable to plant out now, then do it circa ( Week 14 ) providing ground and weather conditions allow.
Week 40; Generally no regular pruning is required, cutting out wayward shoots out after flowering will encourage new growth.
If plants have been allowed to get out of hand, cut out dead branches and weak twigs and trim back old shoots or branches that flowered the previous year.
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