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Snow Damage to Californian Lilac

EmmaP2EmmaP2 Posts: 35
in Problem solving

Could anyone advise me on how to best tackle this problem.  My Californian Lilac bush which is approximately 3 years old and about 6 foot tall has fallen over when it got snowed on and I am unsure as to whether I should try to get it upright and firm it back in (it is very heavy) or if I should give it a radical prune and then restart from there - of if I should chop it down and start again from scratch?  What do you think?

 

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  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066

    Hi Emma, I dont think CL really like being hard pruned.  I know that you treat the evergreen and the deciduous plants differently.  If I were you I would take a look at the RHS web site and check how your particular type like to be pruned and then act accordingly.  In a perfect world I gues it would be best to trim about a third off and then press the roots back in and perphaps give it a bit of support until the roots have had time to stabilise, but as I said it will depend on which type you have.

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • EmmaP2EmmaP2 Posts: 35

    Thank you Yviestevie - that is helpful, I know that they are not keen on big hair cuts - certainly not at this time of year!  Will check out RHS to see if they have any advice.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Ceanothus?

    I gave mine a big haircut when it did the same thing. Down to 2 almost bare trunks. One regrew and one died back. 

    With hindsight, they're such quick shrubs I think I'd start again given the same situation



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,887

    Verdun " ceanothii" made me titter. How about ceanothuses? even the sound makes me titter.

    Devon.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I think it should just be the one 'i' Ceanothi image



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,887

    nutcutlet, you know I love a Pedant.

    Devon.
  • EmmaP2EmmaP2 Posts: 35

    Thank you!  All very helpful!  I may try to get it back in once ground defrosted and see if it pulls through!  Does anyone know if there is any problem with putting another Ceanothus in the same spot - are they like roses in that respect??

     

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,887

    never known of replant problems with Ceanothi image

    Devon.
  • Woodgreen wonderboyWoodgreen wonderboy Posts: 2,322

    I don't find them particularly long lived, and almost all of mine have died on me over time. Time to consider replacing it? 

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