The problem arises when they aren't pruned until they're already a bit too big. All Ceanothus do best when trimmed after flowering, from early on in their lives, as @punkdoc describes. Once they're too big, pruning can end up with them failing completely. If you have plenty, try doing one and see how it is. I'd take some branches right back, and see how that goes. If that's ok, it might be better to do that with all of them, rather than trying to cut all the branches back. For rejuvenating most shrubs, that's the way to go - taking about a third of the stems/branches out and repeating over the next coupe of years. Start with those that look ropey/damaged.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have seen evergreen forms pruned and they simply do not regrow. As @punkdoc has said a pruning regime should be started from when the shrubs are young that way you have the control you need.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
That is good advice for someone with a new Ceanothus, but someone with an overgrown tree needs to cut inot old wood. I did justthat with an unknown ceanothus in my daughter's garden in London. It thrived, but in a better shape.
I took away the cuttings. What a dreadful smell they made.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I googled "ceanothus trewitan blue" in order to check deciduous/evergreen.. I got this:
Pruning Advice for Ceanothus Trewithen Blue Trees Ceanothus trees do not require a lot of pruning. Simply remove any dead, diseased or awkwardly placed branches from the tree as and when you see them.
My daughter's tree was evergreen.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
The first garden I worked in I planted C thyrsiflorus, it grew over a pathway and had to be cut back. So I pruned it straight across along the edge of the path. I remember it looked dreadful. Not one piece regrew, it's saving grace was when some of the top growth grew over to hide it. It was in a hot sunny front garden that lots of people walked past!
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Punkdoc, everyone says 'don't prune into old wood' but unless you prune them when the new growth is active, what else can you prune?? This is specifically why I wanted the advice of people who have this plant and have pruned this exact plant Anyway, Clamarver, thanks so much for the input - let me know about the new growth once there's some daylight, please! I think I'll try reducing one of them by a third this Spring after flowering, see how it behaves...
Hello @Tanty2 I have been out to check my tree and was pleased to see new growth around the thickest limb that I had to saw because of its proximity to the boundary. For various reasons including so that I could hang a hammock and bird-feeders from it, I did not simply saw the @90°c limb off close to the trunk, but further out and the regrowth is around the 'stump' of this sawn limb and below it. I actually sawed it off in early January (not this year) which may not be recommended, but I had to take some sort of action.
The other smaller branches that I thinned with a saw and also loppers, don't seem to have much growth. I thinned these at various times during summer. The other thing I should say is that gradually many of the lower branches began to naturally darken and die off over time during a period of years when I was not able to do much gardening. I have not yet trimmed all of the dead branches off, as I am planning to grow more vines around the tree (there is already an established jasminum Officinale). I really don't mind having some dead branches but I can see that purists might object. I think my tree is in an exposed position and that it might well have fared better in a different position and if I had done some pruning earlier in its life, but I was scared off from pruning because I believed I might be shortening its life. On balance, knowing that they may not be long-lived, I have and still enjoy a beautiful tree with lots of blossom, but the productive branches do seem to be predominantly higher up the tree, where the light levels are the best. I hope this is of some help to you.
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
@clamarver With a Ceanothus that has grown into a small tree it is common for the lower branches to blacken and die back. I guess lack of light is one reason. If it has a good structural shape you could consider crown lifting. It requires a pair of googles stout gloves and patience. Results can be amazing, the leaf and flower is at the top and underneath lovely shaped well defined branches. This is something I have done before it lived for a further 4 years before it gave up I don't think it was the result of pruning but old age. It gave the clients garden an exciting new look in it's latter years.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Oh thank you @GardenerSuze, that is encouraging to know. Yes my lower branches in the shadier areas have done that over time. I think I have almost accidentally slightly raised the crown although not by design. I can see how doing this with purpose ( and well-equipped with armour! ) my tree probably could look better. It is great to hear your testimony to this approach. Was your client's tree showing signs of late aging when you did this? I am thinking ahead to later when I would like to keep the structure of my tree ( when it eventually dies) but with more vines (planting this year) growing through them, along with the established jasmine and climbing rose
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
@clamarver Yes the specimen was showing signs of age a lot of the lower growth was blackened, just years of old growth. If you can get down on your hands and knees look up into it you will get a general idea as to what it will look like. Just beware like lilac you don't want the dried dead bits in your eyes. It did have to be repeated as the blackened area did increase. Trees are known to die slowly I don't know if it was the same with this Ceanothus.If it will still stand once dead I doubt for long.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
All Ceanothus do best when trimmed after flowering, from early on in their lives, as @punkdoc describes.
Once they're too big, pruning can end up with them failing completely. If you have plenty, try doing one and see how it is. I'd take some branches right back, and see how that goes. If that's ok, it might be better to do that with all of them, rather than trying to cut all the branches back. For rejuvenating most shrubs, that's the way to go - taking about a third of the stems/branches out and repeating over the next coupe of years. Start with those that look ropey/damaged.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I took away the cuttings. What a dreadful smell they made.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Pruning Advice for Ceanothus Trewithen Blue Trees
Ceanothus trees do not require a lot of pruning. Simply remove any dead, diseased or awkwardly placed branches from the tree as and when you see them.
My daughter's tree was evergreen.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
The other smaller branches that I thinned with a saw and also loppers, don't seem to have much growth. I thinned these at various times during summer. The other thing I should say is that gradually many of the lower branches began to naturally darken and die off over time during a period of years when I was not able to do much gardening. I have not yet trimmed all of the dead branches off, as I am planning to grow more vines around the tree (there is already an established jasminum Officinale). I really don't mind having some dead branches but I can see that purists might object. I think my tree is in an exposed position and that it might well have fared better in a different position and if I had done some pruning earlier in its life, but I was scared off from pruning because I believed I might be shortening its life. On balance, knowing that they may not be long-lived, I have and still enjoy a beautiful tree with lots of blossom, but the productive branches do seem to be predominantly higher up the tree, where the light levels are the best. I hope this is of some help to you.
This is something I have done before it lived for a further 4 years before it gave up I don't think it was the result of pruning but old age. It gave the clients garden an exciting new look in it's latter years.