I've never pruned one, but in my experience, Indian Hawthorn is a very tough shrub! If it will be out of balance with the plants around it, then trimming it to be in balance will only enhance the looks of the area.

I would, under the circumstances, take off the minimum necessary, but i am not there, looking at the "mess", so that may not be easy to decide - how much is enough and how much is too much.

What I think I would do, were it mine, is to take off any obviously dead or damaged branches, to the trunk or to a larger diameter branch, and then look at the whole thing. If more needs to be removed, have at it, keeping in mind the shrub as a whole, as well as its surroundings. Don't forget that minor pruning can result in minor regrowth, while major pruning CAN result in massive regrowth....

Though I've done alot of rejuvenation pruning (where you cut the entire shrub back to 6 inch stumps), I don't believe that I've ever practiced the procedure on a Rapheolepis. My gut reaction is that they would respond slowly, but I just don't know for certain.

Since I have always had such great results from this kind of pruning, I'd be very tempted to give it a whirl come spring. Don't fertilize, though.

Thanks for your replies. Like you rhizo, I have cut back alot of shrubs for rejuvination purposes but never this type. I am just a little nervous about doing it for the first time. Oh well, come spring their gonna get cut.

I could be mistaken but doesn't Indian Hawthorn bloom on last years growth? If so I would wait until after it blooms in the spring and then prune but prune it before July 1st in your area. This is a shrub that doesn't shear well and any experience I have with it is that it does not respond well to heavy pruning or what some call revival pruning methods. In my own words it just isn't one of those cutback type shrubs.
Talk to your local garden center, they may be able to offer better advice for your growing zone as far as pruning this shrub goes.
Good Luck,
Cindi

They produce blooms on new wood. An early spring pruning would be ideal.

But they MIGHT be too busy growing to flower much this first year after a big chop.

I'm not really worried about whether or not they will bloom the first year...I can live without it. I just want them to grow back after pruning.

I guess it all depends on what book you read and zone you live in. I found this chart while surfing tonight and thought I would share, it shows different shrubs and pruning advice. It may be of help to someone.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shrub Pruning Calendar

Funny you should ask. I was doing some trimming this week and discovered the Indian Hawthorne that the utility company "rejuvenated" for me when I was home and all they had to do was ask. (In all fairness, it is very close to the electrical box). Anyway, they chopped it all the way back to a stump. One year. It's back up to what a respectable three gallon one would look like in a nursery, now that I have shaped it. Cut away. I think you'll be safe. And, by some maps, I live in the very top of zone 8a.

Thanks for that information, Donna. Now we can add it to our list of plants that respond well to this procedure.

Donna,

Thank you for your reply. I feel much better now about the outcome and will be cutting all of them back early spring. Thanks again!