Sasanquas (Camellia sasanqua) are an assortment of camellia that blooms from autumn through early winter, depending on the cultivar and growing region. Sasanquas are usually hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. Unlike Japanese camellias (Camellia japonica), sasanquas typically require considerable trimming and pruning to maintain their form and size and can withstand heavy pruning, that helps revitalize an aged, sick plant or assist train a young plant to a powerful, sturdy structure.
Sharpen and clean pruning tools if needed. Jagged, rough cuts do not heal as quickly a clean, sharp cuts. Hand clippers and loppers are adequate for divisions with diameters between 3/4 inch and 1 3/4 inches. If the sasanqua which you are cutting is big, you may also require a pruning saw for larger branches.
Examine the plant and then trim away any limbs or branches that are dying or dead, and some that show signs of infection. Pruning these limbs away encourage healthy growth while decreasing the odds of infestation and disease. Also remove any branches that rub others, which can leave the plant vulnerable to disease or pests.
Remove any long shoots that develop from the foundation of the camellia. These thin branches develop quickly, but infrequently produce flowers. Trim branches to form the camellia as desired.
Prune an overgrown or youthful sasanqua to form it to a shrub or small tree, depending on individual preference. To give it a shrub shape, prune all the vertical leaders and prune away all but the main group of several trunks. To encourage tree-like shaping, prune all but a single pioneer branch on top and a single main back at the bottom.
Fertilize the plant using an acidic fertilizer to support and encourage the plant’s creation of new growth. The American Camellia Society advocates a 4-8-8 fertilizer for well-established crops and advises following manufacturer instructions regarding the amount of fertilizer to use.