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Fri, Oct 23, 09 at 0:05
| I'm trying to catch up on some shrub maintenance before winter and want to prune back some leucoethoe fontanesia "Rainbow". It's in a fairly shaded spot so its a little leggy. Where do I cut it back to? If I cut too far back I'm at bare stem. Thanks for any tips, also I would love a suggestion for a good shrub pruning guide. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Don't prune it now, it will have no time to grow back this season, but in an early spring you could prune it as you wish to and it will fill in. |
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| HI ego45 Yeah - my problem is I'm so busy every yr I never get to this stand of shrubs. Seems like every yr I get to some of this pruning in fall. I don't mind if it grows back right now, they really need shaping! I'll lose some of next yrs flowers but so be it. They are ericaceous so they should be pruned immediately after they bloom in early summer - but it always seems that time of yr doesn't find me in the garden very much. Thanks for any answers! |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Sat, Oct 24, 09 at 10:39
| Pruning any broadleafed evergreen in your climate at this time of year is apt to result in increased winter damage. Pruning wounds do not seal off as rapidly and any new growth that is stimulated is more vulnerable to winter cold damage. If you can't wait to prune after flowering or if your schedule doesn't accomodate, at least wait until late winter or early spring, just before new growth begin. And be careful with 'shaping' - Leucothoe 'Rainbow' is a caning, multi-stemmed shrub that produces long, arching or sprawling branches. It is unnatural to the growth habit to trim it into a ball shape. It is suggested that older stems be removed at the base, 1/3 each year, to renew the vigor of the plant and encourage new, full growth. |
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| Thanks gardengal Good advice - I'll put it on my calendar for March I love the arching branches - - they are beautiful in the snow. Its a little used shrub around here but the former owner of my house planted an entire stand of it - nice especially in winter to look at |
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