My Dark Horse Weigela Planted This Spring Is Suddenly, Now November, Has Brown Papery Leaves And No Flowers Ever

Question

My Weigela is planted in clay soil in a rock bed with afternoon sun. Now it is getting close to snow fall here in Minnesota. Time for cutting back – I cut of the browned papery leaves. There are no flowers but all summer the plant with lovely leaves looked healthy but not now. We put in a drip system for my perennial garden. We have a underground sprinkling system in a community that handles that and according to their terms. I have no control over it so we put in a separate drip system for this perennial garden.

Answer 1

It is OK to remove dead leaves or limbs at any time, but any other pruning should be done after flowering. Weigela blooms on old wood which means the buds formed the previous summer. Since you just planted it in spring, it may have bloomed before you acquired it. The literature says it may bloom off and on, but I had one for years and it never bloomed past the spring show. Papery leaves makes me think it isn't getting enough water or it is getting too much, which seems unlikely since you have two systems working for you. The rocks in the garden could be reflecting too much sun and could be scorching the leaves.

Here is more info that may help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/papery-looking-leaves.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/weigela/pruning-weigela.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/weigela/growing-weigela.htm

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/weigela-florida/