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Protect Bougainvillea by pruning and care in USA

Bougainvillea is one of the most suitable evergreen shrubs for a garden or office or lawn that produces eye-catching, soothing flowers every year. These pink flowers bloom in a bunch on each twig and stay for enough time. After blooming, they start falling and new flowers bloom in their place. 

It is important to prune and trim it from time to time even if it can grow with very low maintenance. But I'll suggest you take care of this shrub at least a couple of times a year. Prune, fertilize, and irrigate it from time to time. 

Bougainvillea pruning and care

I've got a beautiful bougainvillea plant in my office yard which is growing for the last 20 years and still growing well. I usually do it myself to prune and trim it. Let's discuss things in more detail. 

Bougainville pruning

Identification of bougainville

  • Plant type- Evergreen perennial 
  • Flowers- a bunch of pink flower
  • Leaves- thin and light 
  • Size- Maximum size 10 feet and wide enough
  • Stem- Initially soft but later becomes strong wood 

When to prune Bougainville?

The pruning time depends on the purpose of pruning. Because we have many types and purposes of pruning like pruning to remove dead portions, pruning for shape, and pruning for basic maintenance, it is very particular to the problem. 

Suppose your Bougainvillea plant is matured, so you need maintenance pruning for that. In initial conditions, you also need the same to keep it in shape. After dormancy or a dry period, to remove the dead leaves and wood, you need distinct pruning. 

So in a sentence, we can say that pruning depends on the purpose of pruning Bougainvillea but mostly, we prune it from mid-spring to the following seasons.

How to prune Bougainville step by step

Considering you have a medium-sized Bougainvillea shrub, and you want to prune it to keep it in shape, remove dead leaves, and general maintenance. So follow the instructions for that-

Step 1- Make a rough shape of the shrub in the mind as you want after pruning. 

Step 2- Ready your tools like cutter, and trimmer, and wear safety gloves. 

Step 3- Mark all the twigs and leaves you want to remove. 

Step 4- Cut the sections according to the shape you want. Start with the external twigs first and then follow the leaves. 

Step 5- Don't cut or trim near the main stem. 

Step 6- Provide vertical support if it is required otherwise your plant will grow horizontally on the ground. 

Step 7- Clean the removed wood and leaves after pruning. 

Growing conditions of Bougainville

Soil type

A rich component of loamy soil is very good for Bougainvillea plants. Though, it can grow in other soils as well if they have enough richness in soil; Fertility, and composition. Soil pH shouldn't be too acidic or too alkaline. It should be well-drained in both cool and warm climates. 

Climate

It can grow in both warm and cool climates but the timings and duration may be different for flower blooming. 

In warm climates, it can handle temperatures up to 80F and as low as 40F. 

Sunlight and shade

In the early days of growing, it needs direct sunlight for 6 to 8 hours daily. It can tolerate partial shade but in matured conditions. 

When bougainvillea becomes mature, it can handle drought and intense or low sunlight easily. But that doesn't mean it can live without sunlight. It needs at least moderate bright sunlight to stay alive and prepare food. Mature bougainvillea is more comfortable in partial shade than young bougainvillea. 

Fertilization

It doesn't need monthly or quarterly fertilization. You can even fertilize it once a year will not affect the overall growth in good rich soil. But it will be better to keep it alive for a long time to provide it compost twice a year. 

Care of Bougainville at home

Pruning

Following are the stages when you can prune your bougainvillea plant to keep it healthy and in shape-

  • Young plant- No need initially until it is in shape. Otherwise, prune once. 
  • Mid growth- Prune multiple times till it becomes mature.
  • Mature plant- Prune every year

Trimming

Regular trimming is important to help bougainvillea to be in the best shape and have healthy growth. Trimming every 4-5 months is very good after mid-growth. 

Support stands

For young plants, you can use vertical wooden stands to support them till it gets to establish their roots and stem. Although it becomes a shrub later initially, it has a soft stem. It will start hanging if you don't support it. Ultimately, it will start growing horizontally on the ground like other vines do. 

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