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Will this bush tolerate heavy pruning?

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They regularly don't come back here. It's the cold wet that does for them, so pruning hard can just be disastrous. Many of them don't survive winters anyway, so it absolutely depends on conditions, as well as variety. 
    Yes- they're quite easy from cuttings, so I'd do as @Dovefromabove suggests too, and it's an ideal time. They take a few years and some potting on before you have a decent sized plant, but they're fairly straightforward. I now have a replacement for the two I lost some years ago, and it's a good size, from a tiny seedling about 6 or 7 years ago.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    No don’t hard prune it . If you want to keep it just trim the ends or ,as has been suggested, try to dig it up and move it to a place in the plot where it can do it’s own thing ,as it were . 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I'd go kill or cure on that one. Cut it back hard, and if it doesn't regrow well take it out and use it as an opportunity for something new.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    I've successful brought these hebes down from 5ft down to a foot, have a look inside the shrub for some little green shoots they is the odd one here and there prune down to that point , they is a chance it will die if they are no live growing shoots lower down if pruned hard.   
  • ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627
    Hebe Pinguifolia I think.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
     I have heard of H Pinguifolia but not able to give any thoughts on an ID. I did think this thread would divide opinion due to different experiences. Years ago the Dr Hessayon books would have descibed it as a shrub for seaside locations. Over the years with milder winters they have become more popular, someone, somewhere will be buying one as I write.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • cavsamcavsam Posts: 3
    Thanks all for your responses. Differing opinions indeed! Think I might attempt the digging it out and replace elsewhere method and see how that goes...
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    cavsam said:
    Thanks all for your responses. Differing opinions indeed! Think I might attempt the digging it out and replace elsewhere method and see how that goes...
    If you do it while so hot I reckon it will die.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
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