Lantanas demonstrate their South American temperament with fascinating modulations of their flower colors. The floral phenomenon is closely related to proper pruning care. This tutorial explains in detail why this is the case and how you can cut the exotic potted plants correctly.
How do you cut a lantana correctly?
Pruning lantana (Lantana camara) includes different types of pruning such as building pruning, thinning pruning, summer pruning and training pruning to create a stem. The optimal time for most cuts is in early spring or during the flowering period. Sharp secateurs are recommended for cutting.
Numerous cutting types are possible
The lantana (Lantana camara) is one of the most popular potted plants for balconies and terraces. The flowering tree owes its success story to a never-ending flowering period from spring to autumn. This year's shoots have the most magnificent density of flowers. The phenomenal play of colors in its distinctive flower heads is unsurpassed. As the flowering period progresses, the tones change cheerfully from yellow to orange and red. New varieties fluctuate from white to yellow and purple. The color change depends on how much time has passed since the buds opened.
Lanta roses combine their versatility with a good-natured tolerance for pruning, which offers the gardener a variety of possible uses. The following table presents all cutting options in brief:
| Cut style | Target | Period/Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| Build-up cut | Formation of a stable framework as an ornamental shrub | 1. up to 5th year |
| Blending cut | Maintaining shape and plant he alth | from the 6th year |
| Summer cut | Promotion of flower abundance and intensity in color change | every year |
| Educational Cut | Education to be a standard member | 1. up to 5th year |
| Rejuvenation cut | Rebuilding the old lantana | as aging progresses |
| Root cutting | Reduce growth in height and width | if necessary in case of excessive growth |
Please note that numerous modern lantana varieties with a height of 20 to 30 centimeters grow compactly and do not become woody. The innovative Lantana series 'Esperanta', for example, offers magnificent dwarf varieties for annual cultivation in summer flower beds, balcony boxes and hanging baskets. In contrast to long-shooting, classic Lantana varieties, modern dwarf varieties are discarded in the compost heap at the end of the flowering period.
Cutting compatibility allows several appointments per year
The diverse types of pruning already indicate that several appointments for pruning care are possible for lantana. The following overview lists the optimal times at which ornamental trees particularly benefit from pruning:
- Construction and thinning cut: in early spring, shortly before clearing out
- Summer pruning: several times during the flowering period
- Education cut for the standard tree: in late winter or early spring, at the latest by April
- Rejuvenation cut: between January and March
- Root cutting: in spring during repotting
The dates mentioned primarily take place during or at the end of the winter dormancy. This has the advantage that lantanas have shed their leaves in the cool winter quarters at this time and you have a better view of the branches. For pruning during the summer, we recommend a time of day when the ornamental tree is not in direct sunlight.
Elegant growth right from the start – instructions for the build-up cut
Under the influence of the Central European climate, tropical lantanas thrive as summer-green ornamental shrubs. In a sunny location with a balanced supply of water and nutrients, the flowering trees grow over the years into bushes with a dense network of branches. By building a stable framework of ground shoots, you direct growth towards a well-groomed appearance. This is how you get the perfect build-up cut:
- Select 3 to 5 of the strongest ground shoots in the first year
- Cut off all other shoots at ground level
- In the following 4 years, extend the scaffolding shoots by 10 centimeters every year
- Cut back side shoots along the framework-forming ground shoots by a third or half
Wandry roses develop most beautifully as a shrub when the scaffold shoots form a pyramid. With a wide base and a tapering crown, you grow a light-flooded flowering shrub that also has a dense foliage inside and numerous side shoots with terminal flower heads. During the five years of development, every late winter remove all shoots that are growing out of the ground as competitors to the scaffolding shoots. You should keep an eye on the recommended conical form of training for a lantana bush when the pruning care leads to the thinning pruning after the establishment pruning.
Thimning guarantees a long plant life
The thinning cut aims to maintain a light-flooded, conical shrub shape. At the same time, this type of pruning effectively prevents premature aging with the help of continuous rejuvenation of the framework and flower shoots. The cut is incredibly simple. How to master the thinning cut with flying colors:
- Cut out all dead wood at the entrance
- Cut off damaged, crosswise, criss-cross and inward-facing branches
- Cut back last year's dead side shoots by at least a third to a maximum of two thirds
- From the sixth year onwards, shorten the two oldest scaffold shoots at ground level
- In parallel, two strong ground shoots are established every year as a replacement in the sense of continuous rejuvenation
When pruning the side shoots, please note that a strong pruning to 2 to 4 centimeter short cones will slightly delay the start of the flowering period. In return, you achieve more compact growth with flowering branches this year. The bush crown should be shortened by at least a third so that it does not fall apart during the flowering period.
You give additional impetus to growth and flowering if you slim down older scaffold shoots that have not been thinned out by making a derivation cut. To do this, cut the shoot tips back to a young side shoot that is halfway up.
Lanta florets are lazy to bloom on perennial shoots. Therefore, cut the annual side shoots on the framework back vigorously every year to short cones of 2 to 4 centimeters.
Summer pruning promotes splendor of flowers
Summer pruning is particularly important for lantana. By removing withered flowers, the side shoots underneath and their terminal buds have free access to sunlight and restart the fascinating play of colors. Furthermore, excessively long shoots spoil the well-groomed appearance and should be cut back into shape. Therefore, use scissors several times in the summer to carry out this pruning care on strongly growing plants:
- Cut off this year's dead side shoots
- Cut back branches that are too long to an outward-facing pair of buds or leaves
- Heavily overhanging scaffold shoots lead to a lower side branch
Can't you provide your lantana with a bright, airy winter quarters, but instead put the potted plants in a dark basement? Then the summer pruning ends with cutting back all shoots by half before clearing away. The precaution effectively prevents common diseases and pests.
Tip
Sharp rose scissors or garden scissors are suitable for cutting lantanas. Since the shoots gradually become woody, sharp, clean blades are important for an accurate cut with smooth wound edges. Scissors with a bypass mechanism are advisable because, unlike anvil scissors, they have two sharp blades. To thin out an older scaffolding shoot, we recommend the handy Japanese saw with a folding saw blade.
Picturesque High Stem – Instructions for the Upbringing Pattern
The growth law of top support comes into focus for the skilful upbringing of high-level people. Accordingly, a top bud has disproportionately more growth power than deeper buds. If the top bud loses its top position due to pruning, the growth power is distributed among all buds of equal status. The law is fundamental for determining the trunk height. If you cut off the center shoot tip too early, your lantana standard stem will remain puny.
The connections surrounding top funding are closely linked to the concept of the juice scale. This aspect plays a central role in building a harmonious crown. So that the growth forces are distributed evenly, the tip buds of the leading branches should be at the same level and not be too far away from the tip of the trunk. The following parenting cut guide explains how to do it right:
- Determine a tightly upright and strong ground shoot on the young lantana to form the future trunk
- Cut off all other ground shoots
- Tie the middle shoot to a support rod with soft tubular tape
- Cut off side branches without damaging the bark of the central shoot
- Guide the middle shoot along the support up to the desired crown height
If the tip bud of the central shoot is 4 to 5 pairs of leaves above the desired crown base, you can cut the tip to prevent further upward growth. Cutting the tip of the trunk initiates the branching to the crown. Similar to the structural pruning of a shrub, a framework of 3 to 5 leading branches is advantageous for growing a flower-rich round crown with numerous side branches this year. On the tall stem, the thinning cut pursues the same goal as on the lantana bush by shortening the last year's dead shoots to short stubs.
Rejuvenate old lantana - this is how it works
The pruning tolerance of lantana allows for radical rejuvenation pruning. This type of pruning is used when annual pruning care with the continuous replacement of old scaffolding shoots has not taken place. With this cut you can undo the oversights:
- Start by cutting out all dead wood from the bush or crown
- Shorten aged scaffold shoots to a deeper, vital side shoot
- Cut back shoots without side branches to 2 cm
- Build up young ground or leading shoots to form a new framework
The degree of senescence determines how long it takes to rebuild the bush or crown after rejuvenation. If a lantana bush already has a few young ground shoots, the training is completed within 2 to 3 years and leads to the thinning cut. The same applies to the crown on the main stem, which forms quickly when young shoots are already waiting as a new framework.
Tip
Are you unsure whether a ground or crown shoot should be thinned out as dead wood or not? Then a simple vitality test eliminates any concerns. Scrape off some of the bark with the tip of a knife or your fingernail. If brown, dry tissue appears, you are dealing with dead wood. Green, bright and juicy tissue signals that life is pulsating in this shoot.
Root pruning keeps growth in check
Where Lantanas feel in good hands, they tend to overshoot their growth targets. Gardeners then receive obvious proof why the flowering shrubs are infamous as invasive plants in their tropical home regions. The good-natured pruning tolerance, which extends to the root ball, helps you solve the problem. How to Control Overgrowth with Root Pruning:
- The best time is in spring in conjunction with the annual repotting
- Unpot the lantana and shake off the substrate
- Clean the previous pot thoroughly and reuse it
- Reduce the root ball all around with a long, sharp knife
The root volume must not be reduced by more than 50 percent. Then pot the plant in fresh substrate in the usual manner and water thoroughly. It is important to note that when thinning and maintaining pruning, you cut back the shoots in proportion to the reduced root volume. In concrete terms, this means that a root cut by a third or half results in an equally extensive pruning of the branches.
Frequently asked questions
The space in the winter quarters is very limited. Can I trim lantana in the fall before putting it away?
Grateful lantanas won't blame you for pruning at any time of the year. The dates that can be found in this tutorial indicate the optimal time for the type of cut in question. If your space is tight for overwintering frost-sensitive potted plants, there's nothing wrong with cutting them to the right size. Please measure the size to what is absolutely necessary and only carry out the main cut in late winter.
Can the clippings be used for propagation?
With the exception of thinned out dead wood or stunted, diseased shoots, the cuttings are ideal for propagating lantana. Ideally, choose young, non-woody shoot tips that have not yet produced flowers. Cut suitable cuttings below a pair of leaves to a length of 10 to 15 centimeters. Remove all leaves from the lower half and place the shoots in moist potting soil. In a warm, bright location, rooting takes about four weeks.
Can lantana overwinter outside?
Lantanas are not hardy and shiver at temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius. The tropical flower beauties are therefore not suitable for overwintering outdoors. The lack of winter hardiness does not mean that you should dispose of the busy, continuous bloomers after a single season. The ornamental trees are not picky when it comes to suitable winter quarters as long as the temperatures are between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius.
Wandelröschen pflege schneiden Gießen vermehren Standort düngen überwintern Lantana camara
Tip
All parts of lantana are poisonous. The highest concentration of poison is in the berries. Please place the potted plants out of the reach of children and pets. To care for the cut, wear gloves with cuffs. If the plant sap comes into contact with your skin under sunlight, there is a risk of phototoxic reactions.
