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Out of control rosemary

HerbYourEnthusiasmHerbYourEnthusiasm Posts: 5
in Plants
Hi all, I’ve just moved into a new apartment and I’ve got a gorgeous little terrace. The plants are all a little out of control including this rosemary. There’re lots of woody areas and I’m reading conflicting articles about whether I should prune it all the way back to these thick woody parts. It’s currently flowering and so I’m guessing I should leave it until that’s finished?

Thanks so much! 

Posts

  • ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
    edited May 2018
    I would take cuttings (from non-flowering shoots) and pot them up ready to replace those plants next year. In the meantime I don't know what a proper gardener would say but I have trimmed rosemary at various times through the year and it doesn't seem to matter. Would be nice not to lose the flowers so perhaps wait till they're finished. It might sprout from older wood but it's not guaranteed and would be an eyesore in the meantime so I would just give it it light haircut and wait for those cuttings to grow on. 
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    If you cut it back to old wood it probably won't regrow. If you can see a way to make a decent shape out of it by cutting right back some of the tallest 'lumps' so you're left with a much smaller plant of untrimmed bits, then it will probably be fine - it's not easy to kill once it's going. But f that's going to leave you with something odd, then do as TTC says above- take cuttings this year and replace it next year with young plants
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    It will not regrow if cut back to old wood. When it’s finished flowering cut it back to growing shoots, aiming for a good shape. Do this soon after flowering giving the rosemary a long period over the summer to make good growth.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • Lily PillyLily Pilly Posts: 3,845
    You are lucky! We lost ours this winter. I used to give friends and family large branches 
    Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
    A A Milne
  • HerbYourEnthusiasmHerbYourEnthusiasm Posts: 5
    Thanks everyone! 
  • stuart.dotstuart.dot Posts: 127
    IME rosemary and lavender eventually get woody and need replacing, but they both root so easily from cuttings that it's usually just a question of sticking bits in the ground nearby when you think of it.
    We have a couple of the prostate type rosemary, very useful for corners/edges
  • siananiganssiananigans Posts: 49
    We had a huge old knarly rosemary bush at the side of our house which we got rid of year before last. I took some cuttings of new growth from it before it went, just poked them into a pot of compost and kept them on the patio to be watered with the other pots and I have 5/6 nice little plants now :) 
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