Newbie/ Should I Cut Back?

13 years ago

Let me begin by saying I know nothing about gardening, but would like to learn. A bunch of this type of shrub were planted last year (I have about 20 or 25 of them). They are all small. I live in Eastern oklahoma. Almost all of them have one or two tall sprigs (for want of understanding of a better term) that extend much further than the rest of the plant. Should these one or two branches be trimmed back to more closely resemble the rest of the plant? Or is it too early? Or too late? Or am I just too dumb? Don't answer the last question.

Should these little shrubs be trimmed?

Comments (4)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
13 years ago
You can one hundred percent cut those long stems all the way back to the ground. Anytime you see growth like that, get the pruners out! Your act of cutting those errant stems back will encourage new growth to pop up further down the same branch. I'd not shear the whole plant, though.

This sort of pruning can be done at any time...seasonal factors don't enter the equation. It's only when you are doing extensive pruning on a plant that the time of year becomes important.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
hi

a bit smaller pic would help ..

can you do it.. yes ...

should you do it?? .. IMHO.. no ...

those are the first vertical shoots.. more will come this year .. so why cut those down ..

but listen.. you have 25 of them.. cut a few.. dont cut others.. and watch what happens.. i learned more through experimenting.. than i ever learning from a book or the web ...

now.. if you have 25 of them.. dont you think it might be useful to know what they are??? do they have a label???

if you had the name.. you could then go to google images.. and see how the plant matures.. and how that would guide you on how to prune them ...

and. finally.. as a collector.. who lives to own one of everything.. i have no clue why you have 25 of these .. lol ... i hope you start to love gardening.. and start diversifying your garden ...

i am guessing someone will come along and name it for you ... i am blanking right now.. looks like a euonomys ... but heck.. i cant even spell that this morning ...

just as an aside.. those plant ON THE WALL are planted way to close .... considering how deep your bed is ... ever consider moving those??? and do you know what those are.. and are those flowers i see???

good luck

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: if that is what they are.. they are not small cute plants ...
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athenainwi
13 years ago
I'm not sure what it is, but it looks to me like that shrub wants to be much bigger than it is and those shoots are just the beginning. I'd leave it alone and see if it fills in.
Embothrium
13 years ago
The thing in the front is a euonymus, like ivy this may grow across the ground or it may crawl up walls or trees. Apparently this one thinks there is a suitable support within reach.

The pieris at the back will grow inches per year and are more likely to fail due to heat or alkalinity than overwhelm that planting position. Like other heath family plants these require a cool, acidic soil and enjoy growing close to one another, in drifts or clumps, so that hot sun does not beat on their root zones.