When and How to prune Rose of Sharon???

I have killed one of these hardy plants once before by over pruning. :-? Thought I'd best ask about when and how to prune this Rose of Sharon hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus).

It has gotten way too big (over 12 feet, or 4 meters), but I needed it to help shade and add moisture to an area to a hot dry area of the yard. It has helped protect the ferns and hellebores (after removing a big cherry tree) from the late afternoon sun. Now that the Japanese maples are getting some size the Rose of Sharon needs to be scaled back to a third or more of its size. I need some expert advice on the when and how and best way to prune this plant, so that I don't murder another one.


center is the rose of sharon and it is flanked by different varieties of maples ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )


I'd like it to eventually be a little shorter than the ivy hedge ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )

Thanks for any and all help

 

Thanks Eileen, guess I'll take some off this fall so that it isn't in the one Japanese maple. Then I'll wait and see how its doing in the spring.

 

I have trimmed Rose of Sharon in either Fall or Spring. You can keep them cut to the height you want. Someone even made a hedge of them here with the height being three feet.

 

These flowers shouldn't be cut so often.

 

I would like to hear another opinion on the topic.