I've got 4 large Brugs about 5 or so yrs old. Usually I manage to get them into one of my greenhouses for the winter however this year, as you can see in the photos, all except one are way over the top of the greenhouse. So, I think I have two choices. Either mulch and wrap with something like burlap or prune. Not knowing how cold our winter will be this year is another factor to figure in. If I prune, how do I do it?

Pruning is a matter of whacking away. Keep in mind Ys. Anything pruned can be easily rooted. If it is above a Y, it will bloom much faster. If you have to cut a stem below a Y, then stem growth and branching will have to happen so as to make a new Y.

Mine are getting too big to get in my basement for storage. I will be chopping them this winter.

I have found a lot of useful information at this site:

http://www.trumpetflowers.com/...

Lots more info here:

http://www.brugmansia.us/index...

You might also stack them at a 45 degree angle in the GH so they will fit. Roll them 45 degrees periodically so growth is not messed up and to assist in moisture in reaching all the soil.

Thanks David, great information and thank you for the links. I'll be reviewing them later today. Guess I'll be 'whacking' away soon as I don't want to get caught like I did last year.

I think they would benefit from a good pruning. I have to use a hacksaw to cut my big ones back.

I'm sure they will Anna as they've never really been pruned that I can remember.

I bend them over in pot and they grow funny for a few months I hate to the tops off lol. The ones in the ground I tie them down so they don't hit the roof!!

I cut mine back, remove all leaves, and wipe stems with rubbing alcohol before bringing into laundry room. I get no bugs that way. I cut about 3 ft off these.

I'd prune them and put them in the greenhouse, myself. I used to prune big ones back, dig them up, put them into 5-gallon pots, and stick them in the garage to overwinter. All the trimmings went into big pots of water, where they rooted over the winter and were given away in the spring.

This morning I ended my 'Burlap and Brugs' experiment and though I expected to find nothing but mulch when I unwrapped them I was pleasantly surprised by one of them. I gave them all a good watering and fed with some Milorganite so maybe the other three will pop up with some surprises in a few weeks. FWIW we did have some days in the 20's back in Dec. My wife reminded me that happened while we were on vacation.

Been a very pleasant winter so far...
My Brugs and other perennials are all sending up new foliage too.
Remember that there's always a cold snap in early march....
And with climate change, might be really cold, to make up...
I would not get in a hurry to remove the mulch!

But... I feel you, my plants are all out of the house... Till the weatherman predicts the next frost...
Really wanna take the plastic off the windows too, tired of not being able to see out.... Holding off, though.

What really surprised me is the fact that the burlap idea actually worked. The mulch will definitely stay on. It was down to 39 this morning. I had to pot most all of my four trays of seedlings up the last few days since most had at least 3 sets of leaves. Some of the same in other cells looked almost dead I'm sure from lack of nutrients. Of course I didn't have room in either of the greenhouses so they all went outside in the raised bed we've got laid out but haven't moved to the front yard yet. Hopefully they were somewhat protected. Had to light the propane heater in with the orchids last night as most all of those are spiking and full of buds.

Just an update on the Brugs that I covered in burlap last winter. I cut them down when I uncovered them and finally they're starting to put out new growth.

Chris, I think it was you that sent me brug cuttings last year. They all grew, and the ones in my greenhouse have all bloomed for me. I now have some planted outside in AZ, and will take my NM ones outside for the summer. I'm hoping they will all continue blooming. These are all yellow ones. Now I need to find some of the other colors! I am amazed at how large the flowers are on a tiny cutting plant!

I wish I had colors other than yellow. I could probably get some seeds somewhere and give those a try. I've got 16 cuttings that I have in pots for now from mine before I got them ready for winter. I plan to put them in the ground soon and hopefully they'll become acclimated before winter.

I think the yellow is so fabulous, that now I need to find other colors. Seeds is a good way to grow since they grow so quickly and easily. I may look for some. thanks, Chris.