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Overgrown Beauty Bush
Penny14
Posts: 3
As you can see, this Beauty Bush is completely overgrown and has so many conjested branches and long stems. I don't know what to do with it? Can I make it smaller and less overcrowded as it looks like a mess? Thanks
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These are best pruned after flowering so you don't lose a whole season's flowers. However, I think, while it is bare and you can see what you're doing, I would take out 1 in 3 of those stems right back to the base and choosing the older and more knobbly looking ones. Do this on a day when no frost is forecast for a few days as this can damage new wounds and let in disease.
You could also shorten by a third some of the longer stems left once you've thinned it. Repeat this thinning process every year so that you end up completely renewing the shrub whilst keeping it to size. Give it a generous handful of pelleted chicken manure every spring to encourage healthy fresh growth and flowers.
I agree with the first bit of Obelixx's advice but I wouldn't shorten stems. I can see stems in there that have been shortened in the past and are now divided into 3 or more stems, pointing all over the place and spoiling the shape of the plant. Also I think that would chop of next year's flowers.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I only meant the very long, arching ones Nut.
Right, I think most of those are on the previously cut back stems, I'd have those out on the first round. Others next year
In the sticks near Peterborough
You're probably right. Much easier to see once the first third of stems have been cut out so there's less of a tangle to confuse the eye.
Last edited: 29 November 2017 14:47:53
Easy make that pruning mistake, cutting things to fit the space, until you know your plant or ask us
In the sticks near Peterborough