How to Prune Outdoor Hibiscus

The hibiscus is an ornamental bush that planted outdoors as a landscaping element. It has colorful flowers and alternating green leaves. You can prune hibiscus plants to maintain their size and keep them healthy. In the spring, you can prune hibiscus to maintain size and shape. It can also be pruned in the fall. The focus in the fall will be to remove dead or damaged branches. Hibiscus responds well to pruning, and you can remove one-third of the branches safely to create new growth.

Prune Hibiscus

Hibiscus adds a tropical vibe to any landscape, whether planted in patio pots or in a relaxing warm-climate garden. Pruning hibiscus to remove dead or ailing branches also helps the plant stay healthy. It's also the best way to encourage the overall shape of the hibiscus. Deadheading—the process of removing faded, wilting blooms—benefits many types of flowers, including hibiscus, since it helps the plant redirect its energy into creating more blooms. If you prefer to use tools, bypass hand pruners are ideal, speeding up the process when deadheading lots of flowers. * Tropical hibiscus varieties don't tolerate cold well, so they aren't good options for a garden outside of USDA plant hardiness zones 10 to 12. Instead, wait until late winter or early spring when temperatures start to rise. Tropical hibiscus:** The tropical varieties can be pruned any time during the growing season to help shape them and to remove dead branches. If you place it in a cool, dark place such as a basement, save the pruning until late winter or early spring. Nodes are the bumps on the stems from which leaves grow. An eligible node for pruning may have a leaf on it, or it may just look and feel like a bump.  * To encourage the plant to grow inwards, prune 1/4-inch above a node facing the center of the plant. New growth will sprout from the node and grow inward. * Use bypass hand pruners to make the cuts.  A mature tropical hibiscus with lots of dead branches may benefit from a hard prune, or cutting back much, if not all, of the old growth. Expect to wait at least a couple months for the first new flowers after a hard prune.

Prune Hibiscus

Hibiscus adds a tropical vibe to any landscape, whether planted in patio pots or in a relaxing warm-climate garden. Pruning hibiscus to remove dead or ailing branches also helps the plant stay healthy. It's also the best way to encourage the overall shape of the hibiscus. Deadheading—the process of removing faded, wilting blooms—benefits many types of flowers, including hibiscus, since it helps the plant redirect its energy into creating more blooms. If you prefer to use tools, bypass hand pruners are ideal, speeding up the process when deadheading lots of flowers. * Tropical hibiscus varieties don't tolerate cold well, so they aren't good options for a garden outside of USDA plant hardiness zones 10 to 12. Instead, wait until late winter or early spring when temperatures start to rise. Tropical hibiscus:** The tropical varieties can be pruned any time during the growing season to help shape them and to remove dead branches. If you place it in a cool, dark place such as a basement, save the pruning until late winter or early spring. Nodes are the bumps on the stems from which leaves grow. An eligible node for pruning may have a leaf on it, or it may just look and feel like a bump.  * To encourage the plant to grow inwards, prune 1/4-inch above a node facing the center of the plant. New growth will sprout from the node and grow inward. * Use bypass hand pruners to make the cuts.  A mature tropical hibiscus with lots of dead branches may benefit from a hard prune, or cutting back much, if not all, of the old growth. Expect to wait at least a couple months for the first new flowers after a hard prune.