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Bargain shrub purchases, to prune or not to prune?...........

JoolzJoolz Posts: 24
in Plants
Good afternoon everyone. I'm after some advice please.

I went to a local garden centre this morning and I always like to check out their hospital/bargain corner... Well, These two just pleaded with me to bring them home. Not one to refuse, I popped them into my trolley and now they're having a lovely long drink whilst recouping their strength in the greenhouse.

Salix Caprea Kilmarnock & Corylus Scooter.

Both are in need of some TLC. The salix has lots of new bud growth and on the stems,  and it looks like catkins are forming in places. The Corylus seems to have frost damage & windburn.

Would you prune out the worst offending stems on the Corylus and with the Salix would you recommend giving it a light prune to take out the worst affected areas? 




Posts

  • JoolzJoolz Posts: 24
    Both cost a mere £5.00 each.. :D

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    If I had the two plants, I would most likely prune out/shorten some of the Willow branches. With the Hazel, I will leave it alone. As you said, they were probably neglected with a combination of poor weather and inconsistent watering. I have seen plenty of shrubs in very poor state this year, due to early warm spring weather followed by sudden drop in temperatures. Your plants will most likely improve over the year.

    The priority is the get them into the ground or re-pot and ensure they are well watered throughout the year. Come late winter to early spring you can trim or shape the Hazel if you want.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Lots of water will do them both the power of good.
    Devon.
  • JoolzJoolz Posts: 24
    Hostafan1 said:
    Lots of water will do them both the power of good.
    Lol @Hostafan1, they've had a mammoth share of that the last couple of days. We had a biblical storm yesterday, never seen rain like it. So, yep, they're exceptionally well-watered atm. :smiley:

    Borderline said:
    If I had the two plants, I would most likely prune out/shorten some of the Willow branches. With the Hazel, I will leave it alone. As you said, they were probably neglected with a combination of poor weather and inconsistent watering. I have seen plenty of shrubs in very poor state this year, due to early warm spring weather followed by sudden drop in temperatures. Your plants will most likely improve over the year.

    The priority is the get them into the ground or re-pot and ensure they are well watered throughout the year. Come late winter to early spring you can trim or shape the Hazel if you want.
    Thank you @Borderline
    They've both been repotted now and there's an abundance of catkin pods developing now on the Salix, which is brilliant. I have given it a little tidy up but I'll be giving it another spruce up next spring. I pruned out 3 branches from the Hazel which were in a poor state and it's looking all the better for it. 

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