| I'm new at gardening and I saw this particular plant in a shopping center. I bought your Collie Mullens Rose of Sharon and I would like to train it as a tree. Would you please tell me how to do it. Also what do you mean shear after flowering, how much do I cut? How do I take care during the winter months. I really appreciate your help Sole |
| It's easy to train a Rose of Sharon into a tree form; simply cut back all but one upright stem and clip off any branches that have formed near the bottom of the stem. Leave a topknot (treelike canopy) at the top of the stem. To maintain this tree form, rub out any buds that appear along the stem. Rose of Sharon is easy to grow. Provide full sun, water regularly during the growing season, prune out old growth when it no longer produces flowers, and thin out the top when branches and stems become too dense. To keep the top compact, prune the stems back 3"-4" at the end of each summer season. No special care is required during the winter months. Expect the leaves to drop after the first frost of the season. New foliage will appear in late spring. Your 'Collie Mullens' will produce lots of double purplish lavender flowers. Enjoy! |
