A little late, but I had the same question.

I don't suppose you really have to prune it at all, but the best time to do it is after it blooms - as soon as the flowers fade, since they bloom on last year's growth.

If you haven't done it yet, you could probably still prune it now - just be careful of the buds.

PV

Here is a link that might be useful: Pruning Spring-Flowering Plants

PVick, did you get a Midnight Wine? I just bought one! Are they really tiny??

Judith

Judith - actually, mine is 'Wine and Roses'- that's supposed to be a potential 4-5 footer. I got it as a 6-incher in 2004, and it's now about 18" tall and wide. And the flowers are fragrant, even to my dead schnozz.

I'm curious as to whether 'Midnight Wine' is a true dwarf.

Keep us posted on yours.

PV

PV - I never even attempted to check the Wine and Roses for fragrance. I'll try to remember to do that when it blooms.

I'm also interested in how Midnight Wine grows. All the pictures I've seen of it in a landscape have it no more than about 1ft - 2ft tall, but then I guess some of that could be from heading it back a little to shape it.

Hey Jenny! A bit off the topic, but my third year lilac 'Sensation' is getting ready to bloom! I am SO psyched!

PV

A Woot woot for you PV! :-D I noticed my lilacs (which are later bloomers) have their flower buds expanding and they may end up blooming earlier than usual this year. Haven't had chance to check on them the past couple days but I can't wait either!

Should I cut off old blooms (like a lilac) on my year old weigela?

wendra - I don't cut the old blooms off my weigelas, just let them fall off by themselves. My 'Wine and Roses' will give a little re-bloom in the fall; the other one I have - 'Aurea' - is a second-year plant and hasn't bloomed too wonderfully yet, but it's growing nicely.

Don't know if that's the correct way to do it, but it works for me.

PV

Like PV, I let the blooms fall off on their own. I've never had any problem with doing that and since they produce so many flowers along the branches, it would be laborious to try to dead head them.