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Talkback: What to prune in winter
susie spragg
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in Talkback
I have a huge overgrown choisya and want to reduce the overall spread. How and when should I go about it?
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Usually done in spring susie to avoid risk of frost damage. I assume it's the standard green ternata? If there's a lot to come off it you might prefer to do it in a couple of stages rather than hacking it right back in one go. If you want to have the flowers this year, you could wait till after it's finished, take a bit off this year and the rest next spring. A bit of feed afterwards and it should be fine.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for a speedy reply. When is spring?! We are near the Somerset Levels and water is in abundance, if not with feed!
My sympathies susie.
I'm in west Scotland and we're used to high rainfall, but it's really taking the 'you know what' this year isn't it? We've been wetter than normal here, but we've got off lightly compared to a lot of areas. Here's hoping someone turns the tap off eventually.
Spring's coming soon - honest guv!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If your'e so wet susie, I'd give it 6-8 weeks for some of the ground water to drop. This constant wet ground will kill some shrubs as the roots will be waterlogged. I wouldn't expose any plants to any stress right now or for at least until we have a serious dry spell. Unfortunately, the long range weather suggests this weather will continue for the next 3-4 weeks at least.
Dave - you're so right. We'd normally expect by April that the ground will be warming up and drying out - down south anyway - but who knows what the state of the ground will be in a couple of months. Last year we were freezing cold till May - maybe this year everyone will be waterlogged till then
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Do you think I should hold off pruning my dogwoods then Dave? Clay here and very waterlogged.
Moved house last August, and inherited a 20 ft fig tree, on a south (house)wall. Absolutely stuffed with fruit! wonderful, but overgrown and needs to be pruned and I don't want to kill it, but haven't got a clue what to do. Any advice more than welcome. There is also a limit to how many figs you can eat, let me tell you. !!
Speaking of choisya, when we moved here 3years ago we inherited a large, really wayward one. I cut part of it off altogether and some down to the ground, the rest I left as it was. This plant has barely flowered since, that's 2 summers, will it recover or should I chop ALL of it down and hope for the best.
I did feed it last year and I would like to keep it but would love to see it flowering.
I hope I'm not hijacking this thread by the way.