Probably the most important aspect of caring for the ranunculus bush is cutting. But if you're ignorant, you can do a lot of things wrong. Read below why a cut is necessary and how to proceed!
How do you properly prune a ranunculus bush?
When cutting a ranunculus bush, it is important to remove older shoots directly at the base to prevent balding. After flowering, also cut diseased, crossing branches and old flowers to encourage repeat blooms in August.
Reasons that make cutting useful
Among others, there are the following reasons that may speak for cutting the ranunculus bush:
- Propagation of cuttings
- Runner propagation
- Stimulating flowers
- Extend flowering period
- Avoid growths
- Prevent baldness
- Stop growth
- Keep height shorter
- remove diseased parts
Lighten regularly, do not cut back
With this fast-growing tree, it is less recommended to radically use pruning shears (€14.00 on Amazon) in spring or autumn and shorten all the shoots. This only leads to the bush becoming increasingly bare from below over the years.
It is therefore much better to check every year which shoots are older than two years. These are removed directly at the base. This process is called thinning. As a result, the ranunculus bush constantly rejuvenates itself by producing new shoots.
The ideal time for thinning
Prune your ranunculus bush immediately after flowering! Don't just remove the older shoots, but also crossing and diseased branches. At the same time, you now have the opportunity to cut off the old flowers. This means that the ranunculus bush is willing to form new flower buds. A subsequent bloom in August is no longer uncommon.
Cut to avoid overgrowth
The ranunculus bush is all too happy to form runners. Because of this, living with him can sometimes become a really challenging affair. If the runners are not removed, the shrub will spread unhindered and quickly crowd out other plants. It is therefore better to remove the foothills.
Stimulating flowering
If you want to witness an abundance of blooms on your ranunculus bush every year, you should prune it properly! After the first flush of flowers, which usually lasts from April to June, cut off the wilted flowers! The plant branches behind the cut and produces new flower buds.
Cut the flower shoots for the vase
The shoots from the previous year mainly bear the flowers. If you would like to use them as decoration at home, you can simply cut them off. That's no problem. The plant, which grows up to 2 m high, regenerates quickly.
Get cuttings for propagation
Do you want to propagate your ranunculus bush? Nothing easier than that! In addition to being able to separate and plant the runners, you can also take cuttings. These are either placed in a glass with water or stuck in soil and kept moist.
Tip
Be sure to avoid cutting the ranunculus bush topiary! This stimulates growth even more and over time the plant becomes bald from the inside.
