(Japanese Quince) Am I Too Late to Prune With Buds Set?

[szxnx]

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a Japanese quince (Chaenomeles) that I’m developing in a pot. I know ground growing would be faster, but I actually enjoy having it as-is and watching it develop, so I’m sticking with pot growing for now.

I’ve seen mixed advice on when to prune quince, and I meant to do it earlier but was away on a trip and didn’t get around to it.

Right now the tree already has:
- Flower buds set, Buds on older wood, a few long runner branches that are clearly outside the frame

So I’m wondering:

• Am I already too late to prune now that buds are set?
• If it’s still okay, should I keep it very light and just take off the worst runners?
• Is it better to clean up a bit now, or just wait until after flowering and do a more proper prune?

I’m not trying to thicken the trunk aggressively, mostly just looking to keep the shape under control.

Photo attached. Appreciate any advice, especially from folks who’ve worked with quince.

Thanks!

 

[szxnx]

British Columbia, Canada
USDA grow zone 6b-7a

 

[n8]

I would wait and enjoy the blooms. I follow this article and trim Japanese flowering quince in the spring: http://www.internationalbonsai.com/files/1708315/uploaded/FLOWERING QUINCE ARTICLE.pdf

This article advises late May, which is too late in the year for me (I typically due April or even late March), but might be about right for your climate.

 

[namnhi]

I think it perfectly fine to prune the runners. Your option number 3 is sound to me. You tidy it up and also enjoy the bloom.

 

[Shibui]

Can prune any time but, obviously hard pruning may remove potential flower buds.
Cut back long runners now, enjoy the flowers, then prune more after flowering if necessary.

 

[szxnx]

I think it perfectly fine to prune the runners. Your option number 3 is sound to me. You tidy it up and also enjoy the bloom.

Thank you for the confirmation - i think i will certainly go ahead with that! the flowers are too nice!

 

[szxnx]

Can prune any time but, obviously hard pruning may remove potential flower buds.
Cut back long runners now, enjoy the flowers, then prune more after flowering if necessary.

Thank you! I will go ahead and do that

 

[szxnx]

I would wait and enjoy the blooms. I follow this article and trim Japanese flowering quince in the spring: http://www.internationalbonsai.com/files/1708315/uploaded/FLOWERING QUINCE ARTICLE.pdf

This article advises late May, which is too late in the year for me (I typically due April or even late March), but might be about right for your climate.

Originally i was thinking of this, its what I do with a larger non-bonsai quince in my parents house (grows like a weed), but I came across I think on bonsainut some people saying that they prune in winter.