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With its graceful silhouette and elegantly overhanging branches, the ranunculus belies its vehement urge to spread. Without regular pruning, the opulent ornamental tree takes over the bed in no time at all. However, professional pruning requires a targeted cut so that the Kerria japonica retains its magnificent appearance. These instructions explain in 7 steps in detail when and how to blend a Kerrie in an exemplary manner.
Best time
With the ranunculus shrub, a remarkably pruning-tolerant flowering shrub is making its way into your garden. After planting, give the beautiful flowers a few years to develop their natural, harmonious growth habit unhindered. Under normal conditions, from the fifth year of growth, the shape and maintenance cut is part of the annual care program.
Choose the ideal date according to these criteria:
- immediately after the end of the flowering period
- a day with dry, mild weather
- no blazing sunlight on the branches
- Pure thinning and a radical cut, optionally in late winter on a frost-free day
Cut back your kerrie in a timely manner so that the wilted flowers don't have an opportunity to bring out the poisonous seeds inside the spherical fruit. This measure is highly recommended, especially in family gardens with small children and pets.
The right tool
With a bypass secateurs you are well equipped in the first few years to professionally trim a ranunculus bush. These one-handed scissors have a hardened steel blade and counter-blade, which guarantees a smooth cutting surface. In contrast, anvil secateurs work with a sharp blade that presses the shoot onto a smooth surface and cuts through it.
The reduced force required for these scissors means there is a risk that the cut will fray or the branch will be crushed. Especially during the first few years, the shoots of a Kerria japonica do not reach the diameter of more than 10 mm, from which point an anvil scissors become interesting for the cut.
On the selected date, the scissors should be freshly sharpened to counteract any risk of unnecessary cut injuries. In addition, please do not forget to carefully disinfect the blades with spirit. One of the most common causes of diseases and pests spreading to garden plants is scissors contaminated with viruses, bacteria, insect eggs or fungal spores.
Instructions for the cut
Instructions for grooming
Over the years, the Japanese goldrose has increased in size. As a result, not enough light gets inside the bush, so that the older shoots become bare. At the same time, the ornamental tree strives to subdue the garden with the help of above- and below-ground spurs. Last but not least, neighboring plants are shaded by the overhanging branches, so that they can no longer carry out photosynthesis and only grow poorly.
If one of these aspects applies or if the circumstances occur cumulatively, the time is ripe for an annual cutback. If you follow the instructions below at the end of each flowering period, you will be spared having to drastically cut back the magnificent golden rose one day because it only blooms sparsely.
How to do it right:
- Cut back all brown shoots to 10 cm above the ground
- Cut branches that are too long to the desired length
- ideally cut off young branches by a maximum of one third of their length
- apply the scissors a short distance above a leaf node
When pruning, please bear in mind that a golden rose primarily blooms on the one-year-old branches. These can be clearly distinguished from old branches that will no longer bud by their green bark. By not cutting the brown shoots all the way down to the ground, you give the old wood the opportunity to sprout freshly from dormant eyes.
Remove runners
The ranunculus bush has developed a clever survival strategy. In order to ensure the continuous need for nutrients, the wood conquers unused terrain with the help of foothills. If this venture is not stopped in the ornamental garden, sooner or later a Kerria japonica will dominate the entire appearance.
To keep the urge to spread under control:
- Cut above-ground runners with scissors or separate with a spade
- Dig up underground runners and prune down to the base of the trunk
You can do without the use of scissors if you regularly check the root disc of the goldrose for offshoots. In the early stage of rooting, you can easily pull these shoots out of the ground.
taper cut
If a ranunculus bush is not pruned for several years, the wood will age to such an extent that only a rejuvenation cut can still prevent clearing. This drastic measure is particularly suitable if only a few flowers are still unfolding at the tips of the shoots in spring. By radically shortening all the shoots, you make room for a fresh shoot from the dormant eyes near the ground.
Here's how to get the bloom back on your Kerrie with a makeover cut:
- the best time is in January/February on a frost-free day
- Using freshly sharpened, sanitized scissors, cut the branches from the outside in
- Green, vital shoots should not be cut lower than 10 cm above the ground
- Prune dead, inward turning and obviously diseased branches to the ground
- if branches rub against each other, cut off the weaker ones radically
- Cut off and remove any spurs with a spade
At the end, please spread a 3-5 cm layer of compost or leaf compost on the root disc in order to revitalize the soil life in early spring. After you have cut back a Kerria japonica so radically, experience has shown that it takes 2 to 3 years before the first flowering.
hedge trimming
In a mixed natural hedge, the decorative attributes of a kerrie come into their own. Peasant jasmine (Philadelphus coronarius), field maple (Acer campestre), sloe (Prunus spinosa) or bloodcurrant (Ribes sanguineum) also give the graceful branches additional stability.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with creating a flower hedge solely from the ranunculus bush. After the spring blossoms, the dense, summer-green foliage reliably keeps prying eyes away. In order for the golden rose to retain its shape in a hedge, a twice-yearly cut should be considered.
For the first time of the year, cut back the ornamental shrub in the hedge according to the same instructions as apply to a solitary tree. Once again you reach for the scissors in autumn. Since the buds for the next flowering period are already on the young shoots, only the branches that protrude from the mold are cut. This has the advantage that your flowering hedge goes into winter with a well-groomed appearance, without impairing the blooming splendor of next year.
vase cut
With its bright yellow flowers, the golden rose brings a floral spring mood into your home. Therefore, do not be afraid to cut beautiful branches for the vase immediately after they have blossomed. As long as you leave a stem of at least 10 cm on the bush, the ranunculus bush will happily sprout again.