define: There is a rock garden bed under neath,

==>>> not much is going to grow under those mature shrubs .... the root competition will not all much of anything.. but rock mulch ...

the term to search.. that you are looking for.. is REJUVENATION PRUNING OF SHRUBS .... i have linked that search for you ....

done properly... this is a two to 3 year rejuvenation ... and is done with hand shears .... removing interior structure.. and opening areas where light can get in.. so that new lower branches will grow.. so you can shape those... into the form you want ...

just giving it a hair cut.. with shears ... will not really accomplish the restructuring you want ... mostly because ... as you note.. shearing.. only takes the surface .... and you need to remove more than that ...

part of the problem.. is that they were planted too close to that wall ... leaving you with little else you can do .. given the space ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Ken is talking about "renewal pruning" and is right that this involves making target pruning cuts (at a branch union) to individual branches/branchlets with either a hand pruner or lopping shears (for the big stuff), but I believe that is but a part of what you're after here. First, a hedge is by definition, a linear planting of shrubs, usually of a plant having fine texture, which is sheared fairly tightly. Sheared hedges are not "modern", so to speak, but still have their place in today's landscapes, such as what you've got there right up against your house.

To handle this, go through the plants with your hand shears, carefully removing dead branches, etc, but then, using hedge shears, whether hand-powered, gas, or electric, shear back just enough to get a nice clean edge, making sure that when you are done, the base of the planting is ever so slightly wider than the top. This for two reasons: First, if you are in snow country, this shape will better shed heavy snow loads, and second and more importantly, by leaving the "hedge" wider at its base, sunlight will be able to hit all of it so as to prevent bare areas at the base.

You see it all the time-folks thinking you're supposed to dive in at the base, with the resulting dead-looking areas at the base of the plants. Don't do that!

In cold areas, this shearing-type pruning is best done during the growing season, taking care to be done with it by August. You don't want to be going in there very late in summer making all kinds of pruning cuts, which will have no time to close over before winter. So a little earlier is better.

Is that a privet of some type you've got there? Classic group of plants for what I describe above.

As far as "rock garden" I believe you are mistaking that term with the simple use of rock mulch. Two very different things, with true rock gardens being an expert branch of specialized horticulture. Not at all what you've got there-I think.

+oM

I can't id the shrub (it's not privet as it has pinnate leaves) but going back to your basic requirement of a 10cm wide hedge you are virtually asking for the impossible. (That's about 4 inches folks) There are hardly any plants, let alone shrubs which can be kept that narrow. Those shrubs are already tightly controlled and you'll not get them any smaller while remaining healthy.

If you want to see the cobbles again I'd remove the shrubs and plant something else. Rejuvenating pruning is neither here nor there in this situation.

Heh, didn't see the 10cm width requirement! Yes, that's very narrow. Maybe read up on espalier!

+oM

10 cm less in width, not in total.

tj

That should be doable-just as I "should" be able to read the original post!

Thanks, Tj

+om, August in Queensland, Australia is Springtime.
Mike

Duh -- I need to read more carefully.

Looks like Murraya paniculata.