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Can max size Hypericum be cut to the ground?

TanTan Posts: 10
in Plants
Have 5x5x5ft Hypericum/St Johns Wort, I am struggling to see how to reduce it in size without cutting it all to the ground (no issues with that if it grows back to reasonable size)

Is it a good time to do now (5-10C), or should we wait for warmer days?

Will we still get flowers in July, what size would the new growth be by then roughly?

Thanks


Posts

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    edited 7 March
    You can be absolutely brutal with these and go right down to the ground ; they always regenerate . They flower on the current years growth so there's no loss there .
    Do it now as there is nothing particularly threatening in  the forecast .
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree … cut it right down … it’ll rejuvenate it and trigger lots of fresh new growth. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • TanTan Posts: 10
    Good, good .. thanks. I guess if it will flower this year it may be close to 1ft by July?
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    The ones I used to deal with (mainly Hypericum 'Hidcote') made it to between 3 to 5 ft. by July after cutting to ground . It will certainly attain more than 1ft. !
    Good luck !
  • EscarpmentEscarpment Posts: 53
    Brilliant, that's just what I was wondering too. I've got a monster in the front garden which is probably about 50 years old - planted by previous house owner. I removed a lot of the spread in the autumn leaving a big bare patch which I planted up with bulbs. Those are just starting to flower. I shall cut back the rest of it to the ground as I can access it from behind without treading on the bulbs!
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