Starting in June, the Angel’s Trumpet becomes the absolute star of the garden with its massive, show-stopping blooms. But here’s the catch: if you want those stunning flowers to show up, you’ve got to be a little careful with your pruning shears.
A Bit of a Diva
Let’s be real—Angel’s Trumpets are high-maintenance. They’re picky about their fertilizer, they’re thirsty, and they have very specific feelings about being trimmed. If you get too aggressive with the pruning, you might end up with a plant that refuses to bloom at all. When it comes to this plant, “less is more” is the golden rule.
Prepping for Winter Storage
Since these beauties can’t handle a frost, you’ll need to bring them indoors to overwinter. To keep them from taking over your entire living room or garage, it’s a good idea to trim the branches back. Just make sure you leave at least one leafy shoot above each fork in the branch. If you cut below that “Y” junction, the plant won’t be able to set new buds there next season.
Spring Cleanup
Before you move your Angel’s Trumpet back outside in the spring, give it a quick check-up. Look for any “leggy” growth—those weak, spindly shoots with little to no foliage. These won’t produce flowers, but they *will* sap the plant’s energy. Snip them off early so the plant can focus its strength on the healthy, blooming branches.
Naturally Beautiful Shape
The great thing about Angel’s Trumpets is that they don’t really need “haircuts” for aesthetics. They grow relatively slowly and naturally develop a lovely, dense branch structure. Unless there’s a specific reason to prune, you can usually just let them do their thing.
The “Emergency” Prune
The only time you should really go heavy with the shears is if you’re dealing with a major pest problem, like mites or a fungal infection. Even then, try gentler treatments first. A hard prune is a huge shock to the plant’s system and almost guarantees you won’t see any flowers the following summer, since these plants only bloom on fresh, outer growth.
So, when should you actually reach for the pruners? Keep it simple:
- Before moving it indoors for winter
- In the spring to remove weak growth
- Only as a last resort for pests or disease
