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Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea - Hard Pruning Help

I have a healthy Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea hedge that is now over 5ft high. I prune it regularly in Summer but it has crept up so that it is now too high for me to easily clip.

I would like to hard prune it, shortening it by as much as 2 ft if possible. Is it possible to do this during the dormant season (i.e now), when the leaves are gone and I can see what I am doing? I don't want to harm it in anyway!

Thanking folks in anticipation.

Posts

  • I think that will be fine (wear strong hide gloves).  I've seen it cut harder back than that and it's grown away happily in the spring.


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





  • Jim MacdJim Macd Posts: 750

    yes i had one that used to coppice every winter, it will be fine. 

  • Lupin 1Lupin 1 Posts: 8,916

    I've pruned many Berberis hard with no ill effect, treated them like pyracantha & escallonia. With those I waited until the berries had gone.

  • Thanks everyone. The hedge is about 3 ft wide so I'll have to do it over a period of time - it'll keep me busy over Winter.

  • Verdun wrote (see)

    Shears or hedge cutter works very well.  No special pruning required image

    Ah - even better - a job that Hubby can tackle!

  • Just bumping this thread up to let folks know that having cut my 6ft high Berberis hedge down to 2ft last Autumn, it is now happily showing signs of strong growth again. Thanks for the advice and I hope this feedback will help some other fretting gardner with an overgrown hedge in the future!image

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