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How do you prune petunias to keep them bushy

9 years ago

I need some green thumb lessons on petunias. How do you prune them to keep them from getting leggy and to make them stay bushy and in full bloom? I am putting them along my front walk, and I need to do better with them than I have when I had them in pots on the patio.

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Comments (5)

kris_zone6
9 years ago
When they start getting leggy, just pinch them back.
OklaMoni
9 years ago
Just pinch them back often. Don't wait for them to get leggy. Once a week or so, just snip some stuff off. :)

Moni
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littlebug5
9 years ago
I use grass clippers on mine. Any stem that grows to 8 inches or more needs to be cut back to 1/2 its length.

It used to really be hard for me to cut them when they were blooming merrily, but I got better at it. Just harden your heart and cut away. Then I pick up all the clippings and make a bouquet for my kitchen table.
3katz4me
9 years ago
How about wave petunias - they must be different since they are longer and hanging. What kind of pruning do they need to be full and blooming?
caroline94535
9 years ago
Check the label that came with them. Some varieties of petunias are "mounding" or "bushy;" some are trailing or spreading such as the Waves.

Waves should not need pruning, but they do spread out in every direction.

I saw one large (probably 24") planter filled with three or four upright geraniums, with one Wave petunia in the center. It spread around, over, under, and through the geraniums and made a lovely display with their blossoms above it.

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