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Escallonia needs help

KarenDKarenD Posts: 21
in Plants
Hello, I have a very sad looking Escallonia that I would like to rejuvenate. It's showing signs of life so I would like to know, if I cut it right down to the ground, will it recover? I wouldn't expect it to flower this year but would it send up enough new shoots to create a 'new' shrub?
Cutting it right back will also enable me to remove all the ivy and saplings growing in and around the whole plant. (Most of the green at the top is honeysuckle).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.


Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    If it is that dense, prune it down to rejuvenate it, but don't expect flowers for this year. New branches need to be formed, and they will not be fully mature enough to support flowers for this year.
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hello KarenD. Yes, you can cut back escallonia really hard and it will grow bushy. Why not just take it back halfway at first and see if you can de-tangle it from the ivy and hineysuckle. You can also ease some of the congestion in the middle of the shrub by removing some of it's own interior branches. Failing that, then you can be more radical and cut it off at ground level as you suggested. Good luck
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If you follow LB's advice you will still be able to enjoy some flowers and taking out middle stems should give you access to the base for clearing ivy and co.

    Whichever you do, give it a good feed afterwards and a good drink and then mulch it as this will encourage new stems that you can retrain.   
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • KarenDKarenD Posts: 21
    Thanks for the advice everyone. It'll be great to keep some flowers this year so I'll try taking it back halfway to begin with. I'm a fan of a good feed and drink so makes sense to treat the plants too!
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Unfortunately I don't agree with the others. The escallonia looks too old and past it's best, also you will never get rid of the ivy within its roots.  I would be more inclined to dig the whole bush up, dig out the ivy and other saplings, enrich the soil and then replant with a lovely new plant.  Bushes don't last for ever and I doubt whether this one will ever look good again.  Sorry!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • KarenDKarenD Posts: 21
    Point taken Lizzie, thank you. I will try to revive it as it'll be a shame to lose it but won't be surprised if it's not a success. This garden is full of overgrown shrubs festooned with ivy and I'm tackling them one at a time.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If it was just one shrub full of ivy I'd agree that it's probably easiest to dig it out and plant a new one after clearing the ground but doing that for a garden full of infested shrubs will be very expensive.

    If it is old and has dead stems you can cut those right to the base and then I'd consider leaving one or two of the stems with new buds on at full length so it doesn't go into shock and has some leaves for its food factory whilst new buds grow from the remaining good stems you cut back hard or half way.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • KarenDKarenD Posts: 21
    I've rescued a lilac and a forsythia from ivy so far but they have far fewer stems to the ground than this escallonia. I'm also working on a buddleia too as that needs a haircut but again seems easier to work on.
    I'll start with the dead stems of the escallonia and will see what's left to keep it going this year. Thanks for your help and suggestions
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