If you want a Bougainvillea that’s absolutely covered in color, there’s one golden rule: you need as many fresh shoot tips as possible. See, every new tip is a potential spot for those gorgeous, vibrant bracts to pop. To make sure your garden season is a total knockout rather than a dud, you’ve got to get comfortable with your pruning shears at the right time.
Give it a Heavy Prune in Early Spring
Bougainvillea starts waking up and pushing out new growth as early as February or March. You want to get in there with your shears right before that happens. A heavy cut encourages the plant to branch out like crazy, creating a lush look with tons of new growth. If you skip this step, you’ll end up with long, leggy vines and a Bougainvillea that won’t bloom—or at least won’t put on much of a show. Plus, pruning helps the main trunk grow thick and sturdy so the plant can eventually stand tall on its own.
- Cut back all side branches coming off the main leader.
- Trim them down close to the base.
- For young plants, cut the height in half to help develop a strong “backbone.”
Keep Trimming Throughout the Season
To keep the party going, you can give your Bougainvillea a “haircut” in May and periodically throughout the summer. This little nudge encourages the plant to go through another blooming cycle. If you’re diligent with your shears, you can actually get your plant to bloom up to four times a year! The trick is to trim the side shoots by about half—but only *after* the current flowers have faded. For older, denser plants, this is also a great time to thin things out a bit to improve airflow between the branches.
Pro Tip:
In the spring, you can take 8-12 inch tip cuttings (look for stems that are mature but not yet woody) for propagation. With plenty of light, warmth, and a little TLC indoors, you can root these to start brand-new plants.
Shaping Your Bougainvillea
Pruning isn’t just about the flowers; it’s about style, too! You can train your Bougainvillea into a perfectly round canopy, grow it as a formal “standard” (a little tree), or even try your hand at a Bougainvillea bonsai. Since these are naturally vigorous climbers, regular pruning is the best way to keep them from taking over your entire patio.
Pruning and Feeding Go Hand-in-Hand
After a good prune, your Bougainvillea is going to work overtime to produce new shoots. That takes a lot of energy! Make sure to fertilize your plant right after you cut it back. Timing your pruning and feeding together gives the plant the fuel it needs to bounce back stronger than ever.
Fall Pruning Before the Big Sleep
Bougainvilleas aren’t fans of the cold, so they need to spend the winter indoors in a frost-free, cool spot to overwinter properly. If you’re tight on space in your winter quarters, don’t be afraid to take the shears to it again—you can safely cut the plant back by about half its volume to make it easier to store.
