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Physocarpus (Gold) dieback - best option?

Posted by ruth_mi z5MI (My Page) on
Fri, May 6, 11 at 11:41

I have a number gold physocarpus (not Dart's Gold, and the name escapes me at the moment) that suffered fairly severe dieback this winter. I'm probably to blame, as I pruned them quite heavily very late in the year but before they were dormant, so I'm thinking I stressed them. My Dart's Gold (not pruned) all survived this winter fine.

So...now what? If I have a 2' - 2 1/2' tall shrub where maybe 1/4 of it is leafing out, is there hope that it can be saved? If so, any pruning recommendations? They were 3 1/2 - 4', very full shrubs the last couple years, so they should have a good root system.

No, I won't prune at that time of year again, and yes, I realize it would be better to put them where they don't need pruned. Too late. :) I'd rather not replace them now if I don't need to. I love the yellow foliage where I have them, and I hate to replace eight shrubs if I don't really need to. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Physocarpus (Gold) dieback - best option?

hmmmmm....

i am in MI ... its been one of the coldest .. longest early springs in my 5 decades ... i would not give up on anything yet .... give them at least another month ...

and that was preceded with a VERY cold and miserable winter ... and if anything caused die back or death.. it was winter ...

i highly doubt.. that fall pruning had anything to do with it ..

bottom line there ... blame mother earth.. not yourself .. lol ...

i am still mystified what is in tipton .. lol ....

did you apply any late fertilizer.. after pruning???

its just too early to tell you what to do ....

ken


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RE: Physocarpus (Gold) dieback - best option?

I cut/broke a couple brown branches to see if there was any sign of life...they're crispy. I'm not sure if a hard pruning at this point might revive them or kill them.

To answer your Tipton question :), it's a group of privately-held companies owned by someone who lives there. (Don't want to post his name.)


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RE: Physocarpus (Gold) dieback - best option?

I'd prune them back to live wood and they should sprout back with no problems. Ninebark seem to be pretty vigorous in my experience.


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