Learn / Ask The Landscape Professional
Attached are photos are of my euonymus. They're all about ten years old. Until the very cold winter of 2010-11 they grew happily, but that winter the deer and rabbits ate them from the ground up. It's taken them since then to recover and I haven't trimmed them at all. This year they're finally getting new growth inside. The older outside stems are leggy, with growth only at the tops. I'm thinking of cutting them all back to the height of the new inside growth to encourage more new leaf growth all around. Do you think this is a good idea? Or should I let them be and merely trim them a bit on the tops? These are slow growers as it is but I'd love to see them fuller and filled in. I'd appreciate your advice. Thank you very much! Sincerely, Ann
Answer
Yes, it is a good idea
to cut them back, but not at this time. The
shrubs are preparing for winter and will
not be putting on anymore new growth this
year.
The proper time to cut them back is
in the spring. Wait until the end of May to
the middle of June. This is the time of year
when the sugars and water move from the
roots up into the stems and leaves to push
out new growth.
Cut back all the leggy
stems. This action sends a message to
the roots to send up new shoots. Loosen
the soil around the base of the plants and
fertilize the plants with Hollytone and water
in.
Keep them watered well throughout the
season - a couple of times per week. A
plant needs sufficient water to put on new
growth. Fertilize again around the end of
July.
You will have full shrubs by this time
next year.
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
