Q. I have a neglected privet that has overgrown its space. When
and how far back should I prune it and keep its shape? My neighbor cut one back
several years ago and it never came back at all. Thanks.
and how far back should I prune it and keep its shape? My neighbor cut one back
several years ago and it never came back at all. Thanks.
A. I may have some bad news for you. I looked at the picture
and I am guessing most of the leafy growth is out towards the
edges of the plant and on the inside will be bare branches.
and I am guessing most of the leafy growth is out towards the
edges of the plant and on the inside will be bare branches.
If your pruning
cuts are made back to the inside of this plant where there is no leafy
growth, re-growth from these cuts will be either slow or they won’t regrow.
Regardless, this plant is going to look bad for a long time after these
pruning cuts are made.
cuts are made back to the inside of this plant where there is no leafy
growth, re-growth from these cuts will be either slow or they won’t regrow.
Regardless, this plant is going to look bad for a long time after these
pruning cuts are made.
This is really a case where you have a plant that
was just too largeat maturity placed in a spot that was just too small.
was just too largeat maturity placed in a spot that was just too small.
Really your best alternative will be to replace it if you want to look
nice. It is possible to make some deep cuts and it may regrow but these cuts
will have to be done just to the outside of some buds and done very
carefully
nice. It is possible to make some deep cuts and it may regrow but these cuts
will have to be done just to the outside of some buds and done very
carefully