[jmarkohio]

Is there a proper way and best time of year to trim bushes such as a Botttle Brush?
Thanks

[redwitch]

From what I could find (and what I remember from the bottle bush I had in California), trim after it blooms (early summer). Actually, it should be thinned rather than trimmed but I do remember hacking the heck out of mine and it came back the following spring with no damage.

It seems most flowering bushes here should be trimmed twice a year -- March and October seems to be the most popular times to do this trimming. I know the hibiscus should be trimmed one-third each time.

Hope this helps a little, at least until a serious gardener comes along.

[JohnN]

Most plants do best when trimmed/pruned during the dormant "winter" months, before the spring growth.

[jmarkohio]

Thanks for the info.