Cistus, includes over 20 species of mostly compact, evergreen branching and spreading shrubs native to the Mediterranean. Cistus and convolvulus. It stops the cistus losing its shape as a shrub > and getting leggy. Pruning cistus. ... they need little more than corrective pruning to remove diseased or misshapened growth. You’ll also want to prune the shrub differently if it’s trained against a wall. I have heard that you shouldnt prune cistus. Pruning a scotch broom shrub must be done conservatively and at the correct season. At least once a year, perform a close inspection of your tree. Any experience and, if you can, when and by how much? Also remove any dead shoot tips or those that have been damaged by frost. I suspect it also promotes plant life [not more > than 5 years anyway]. Avoid pruning your Cistus back in to old wood as they don’t respond well from hard pruning. To successfully prune a Cytisus battandieri, you’ll want to focus on removing any dead or disruptive shoots from the shrub. Poaannua . By Jackrc18. However, vigorous new shoots produce the most flowers, while older branches produce few or none at all. You could try cutting back to green growth, perhaps where the new growth is starting to become woodier? 27 Jan, 2009; Answers. Pruning is an important part of keeping your citrus trees productive and healthy. Thanks I think you're right. You would probably find that the plant struggles to shoot from old wood. 0. geraldinelloyd Posts: 3. 19 July. Having said that, I also recommend trying it. While you cannot prune cistus you can pinch back the new growth after flowering to make the plants more bushy. I usually recommend replacing plants that have become straggly/leggy. Kent, United Kingdom . Cistus, the sun rose, and Convolvulus cneorum also flower on previous-season growth. They are perfectly lime tolerant but may go yellow and chlorotic in very chalky soils. Once established, borderline tender shrubs such as cistus and convolvulus, which don’t tend to put on vigorous growth, need little pruning apart from the removal of the stem tips in spring to keep the plant tidy. Prune after flowering, but don't cut back below the lowest leaves. How to Prune Citrus Trees. These are shrubs that will continue flowering and maintain a neat shape without any pruning. Pruning a Cytisus battandieri will help maintain its shape and encourage new and healthy flowers to bloom every summer. Cistus thrive in poor or moderately fertile soil and need a well-drained site in baking sun for best results. Cistus doesn't take well to pruning, except for a light pinching back in late fall or winter, and even this can negatively affect blooming. 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