Winter and early spring may see little movement in the garden, but when it comes to camellias, you’re guaranteed to see colorful blooms. With their bright barbie pink flowers and glossy green leaves, camellias add vibrant color to the garden when there isn’t much else in bloom.
But if you’ve enjoyed their spectacular display and are left with camellias full of fading blooms, you may be wondering what to do with camellias after flowering. And the good news is that in the spring when camellia care or How to Prune Camellias That will help set up your plant for next year.
“While many gardens are just starting to wake up, camellias are really finishing their flowering season and turning to new growth,” says Shelley Davis, florist. Flying Flowers. ‘Here are some simple care tips specifically for your camellia to help it stay healthy throughout the summer Flowering bushes Which will ensure that they return year after year with beautiful blooms.’
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1. Deadhead pale peacock
(Image credit: Future / Lisa Fazani)
There are few flowering shrubs that are easy going How to grow camellia. Well suited for Flower bed ideas When situated in a sheltered spot, camellias thrive in acidic soil or are equally happy when grown in containers in peat-free ericaceous compost.
The question of When do camellias bloom?Depends on the variety. If you want your camellia to flower in fall and winter, Camellia sasanqua (eg Camellia Sasanqua Cleopatra, £19.99 at Gardening Express) to ensure an abundance of autumn/winter flowering. For late winter and early spring color, Camellia japonica (eg Camellia japonica ‘Bonomiana’, from £14.99 at Thompson & Morgan) or Camellia x williamsii (eg Camellia × williamsii ‘Eagy Waterhouse’, £24.99 at Crocus).
When it comes to what to do with camellias after flowering, deadheading faded blooms is the first step. ‘It’s important to remove any faded or brown flowers that bloom,’ advises Shelley. ‘In addition to making the plant look better, this helps prevent downy mildew, a fungal disease that can cause the petals to fall before they have a chance to open.’
‘To deadhead your camellia safely, you can either gently twist or break off old flowers at the base or use a clean pair of secateurs to cut back the flower head, being careful not to disturb the buds of fresh growth developing below.’
2. Dispose of fallen flowers
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By the time we get to spring, the ground around your camellia plant will no doubt be littered with drooping and faded flowers, whether the plant has been damaged by strong winds, heavy rain, or frost. Instead of leaving them on the ground, it is a good idea to gather and fertilizer All fallen flowers, if they show no signs of disease, should be tied in that case.
3. Prune if necessary
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Pruning is next on the to-do list after your camellia has finished flowering in late April. When to spray camellias (whether fall- or spring-flowering varieties) only after the plant has finished flowering to ensure you don’t remove new growth that will produce next year’s blooms.
‘April is the ideal month to start preparing your camellias for their next blooming season,’ says Shelley. ‘Although these shrubs don’t require a lot of pruning to produce flowers, they can often grow too large for their space, so if they need to be pruned a light trim is a great way to manage their size and maintain a tidy shape.’
‘When you’re cutting back the branches, make sure you cut right up to a knot, ideally above a leaf joint or bud, as this is precisely where your new shoots will eventually emerge,’ advises Shelley.
Light pruning is fine if the plant has grown too large, although camellias can take a few years to recover after heavy pruning, so don’t expect to see any new flowers for the next two years. If you need new recruiters for a job, then Spear and Jackson Razorsharp Advantage Bypass Secateurs from Amazon We love our top budget Best Safety Guide.
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4. Keep well hydrated
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‘After you’re done pruning and deadheading, it’s important to keep your camellias Well watered During spring and summer, this is the critical window when next year’s buds start to form,’ advises Shelley. ‘If you live in a hard water area, try to use rainwater collected from a garden watering can whenever possible, as high calcium levels in tap water can interfere with the acidic soil these plants need to thrive.’
Amazon sells the Slimline Water Butt Kit for under £40Which can be discreetly tucked into the corner of a small garden.
Strata Amesbury Water Butt with Planter
Alternatively, this beautiful water butt doubles up as a planter.
5. Apply a layer of mulch
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If you’ve already mulched to protect your plants over the winter, it’s always a good idea to do it again in the spring after the camellias have flowered. Green grass It often compacts over time, drifts or blows away in winter, or is carried into the soil by hungry worms.
‘To help the soil stay moist in the heat of summer, apply a thick layer of mulch such as garden compost around the base,’ advises Shelley. Other mulch options include composted leaf-mold, store-bought ericaceous compost, or acidifying mulch such as pine needles or pine bark (which helps maintain acidity).
something like RocketGrow Organic Magic Mulch is readily available on Amazon And has 100 5 star reviews.
6. Boost with compost
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‘With plenty of water, April is a great time to feed your plants,’ advises Shelley. For best results, use ericaceous compost borders Immediately after the flowering season ends. This provides the exact nutrients needed to support healthy new growth and ensure successful bud formation for next year.’
You can try something like this Miracle Grow’s azalea, camellia and rhododendron concentrated plant food, available on Amazon for £7.
Purchase an ericaceous fertilizer
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Erichius plant feed concentrate
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Azelia, Camellia and Rhododendron concentrate plant food
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Erichius feeds on flower plant granules
Just because your camellias are coming to the end of their flowering window, doesn’t mean you should forget about them. Now’s the window to make sure you get even more Barbie-pink blooms next year
