Weigela

Light and exposure

Weigela is happy in full sun or in part shade, it is not really fussy about either. In full sun the flowering is denser and lasts longer, and full sun is essential for purple leaved cultivars such as 'Wine and Roses' or 'Bristol Ruby', whose colour fades to a dull green as soon as light is lacking.

In part shade the shrub still grows very well but flowers a little less generously. A spot sheltered from wind is always a plus, especially in the first year after planting while the shrub settles in.

Watering

Once well rooted, weigela is happy with Belgian rainfall and needs almost no watering at all, except during a particularly dry summer when a few generous but spaced out waterings will do it good. The first year after planting remains the sensitive period, water it regularly while the roots colonise the soil.

A mulch at the base, bark or dried grass clippings, helps keep the soil cool and cuts down watering considerably. In a pot, keep a closer eye on the moisture of the compost, especially in high summer.

Soil and repotting

Weigela is not fussy, an ordinary garden soil suits it well, whether slightly chalky, clay or sandy, as long as it is not permanently waterlogged. Adding compost at planting helps it get going, though it is not essential afterwards.

The one real point to watch is drainage, soil that is too heavy and stays wet in winter can rot the roots. In compact clay, loosen the planting hole and add a little gravel at the bottom to avoid this problem.

Temperature and humidity

Weigela is fully hardy in the Herve region, it takes the coldest winters our zone eight a sees without any protection at all. There is no reason to mulch it against frost or bring it indoors, it is a shrub built to stay outside all year round.

Since flowering arrives in late May and early June, the late frosts of the ice saints never threaten the flower buds, unlike some shrubs that bloom earlier in the year. That is one of the things that makes weigela so reliable in our climate.

Pruning and upkeep

The one thing to remember is that weigela flowers on the previous year’s wood. Any pruning done in winter or spring removes a good part, or even all, of the coming flowering. The right window is right after flowering, in June, never before.

At that point, cut back the stems that have just flowered, taking them right down to the base or just above a young shoot, this renews the clump and stops it becoming bare at the bottom over the years. This pruning also sometimes brings on a small second flush of flowers in late summer.

Pests and diseases

Weigela is one of the most trouble free shrubs in the garden, it is practically disease free in our climate. No preventive treatment is needed, it is a shrub you plant and forget about on the health front.

The only occasional bother comes from aphids, which sometimes settle on the tender young shoots in spring. A firm jet of water or a little soft soap easily deals with them, and ladybirds often take care of it on their own in a garden that welcomes them.

Propagation

Taking cuttings is by far the simplest and most reliable way to multiply a weigela, and that is how most plants circulate between gardeners in the region. In summer, take a still soft stem about ten to fifteen centimetres long, remove the lower leaves and plant it in a mix of compost and sand.

In autumn you can also take cuttings from harder, ripened wood, which root just as well either in open ground in a sheltered spot or in a pot in a corner of the garden. Either way, success is generally excellent, no rooting hormone needed.

Month-by-month care calendar

Green Hub tips

• Never prune in winter or spring, weigela flowers on the previous year’s wood, and pruning too early removes the coming flowering.
• The right pruning window is right after flowering in June. Cut the stems that have just flowered back to the base to renew the clump.
• To keep a well coloured purple leaf on cultivars like 'Wine and Roses', plant them in full sun, in shade the purple fades to a dull green.
• Taking cuttings is child’s play, a soft stem in summer or a ripened one in autumn roots without any trouble, no hormone or special kit needed.