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Training shrubs into small 'trees'.

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  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    I have made a start on raising the canopy of my 2 shrubs.
    Have cut away quite a bit but still a way to go.May need someone to take off some of the thicker branches as I am not quite up to it!!
    Will leave them alone now till next year I think and see how they progress.


    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    That looks fine so far.  I wouldn't take off any more.  Just make sure you rub off any buds that form on the stems so they stay bare.
    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
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    I will leave them now.Have left the top growth to get taller.
    Probably leave now till next year but as you say just rubbing off shoots when they appear.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I had a look at my Eleagnus yesterday after being on this thread!
    Mine has two quite distinctive sets of trunks. I think it would be quite tricky to make it look symmetrical as it's a bit lopsided.
    Not necessary for mine though. It's a few feet from the house, beside the side gate, and blocks the wind nicely from that corner.  :)
    I think you'll just have to keep looking and checking, and gradually forming the shape over time. It's difficult to put branches back if you take off too many  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited August 2023
    Your Griselinia will respond well to that pruning @madpenguin.  You'll also find that by just nipping off the end tips of each stem you'll encourage bushier growth below which will then add thickness to the height of your plant as it grows upwards.  I do this regularly after about four to six inches of growth on my hedging and stand alone plants.  This hedge is just a foot in depth but is happy to grow in excess of six feet:



    Here's one I like to keep in a columnar form, cut back quite severely yesterday but it will soon recover!




    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Here's one I'm encouraging into a cube to match one on the other side of the garden.  I've only cut off the tips so far, no major surgery!


    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    I shall be nipping out tips this evening when the temperature goes down a bit!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
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