The pieris japonica on this pathway has become over exuberant. I am thinking about cutting the shrubs all the way back. I think they will grow back, but is that a good idea or should I just prune back part of the bushes? Thanks for your help, Kris
Answer
Hi Kris,
The perfect time of the year to cut them all the way back to about 2' tall is the period from mid-April through mid-June when the plants are actively pushing out new growth. In fact, this is the only time of the year that "rejuvenation pruning" should be done. Pruning at this time helps to create a fuller shrub. If you were to perform this drastic pruning in the fall, the shrub would die.
Once you have the bulk of the shrub cut back, make sure the remaining branches are thinned and all are growing away from the center of the shrub.
Loosen the soil around the base of the plant and fertilize with Hollytone to help with new growth. Keep the plant well-watered because after pruning, the soil around the base of the plant will be exposed to more sunlight and will dry out quicker. Good Luck and thank you for your question.
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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.
