Dead or save it??

12 years ago

We are on the fence with this and don't know if it is worth trying to save or rip it out? Last year at this time it was full, green and healthy. Now the limbs are dry and easy to break with dead leaves. We did cut it back last fall and we had a long, rough winter. I can see the new green sprouting at the base but I don't know what to do? Should we just trim it down and hope it lives or just accept that it's dead? We are new to gardening and need help from the experts :)

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Comments (4)

jean001a
12 years ago
Green and growing is not dead.

You can cut off the dead and let the green grow.

Or if you never liked the shrub anyway, this is a good time to plant a emplacement. Or a younger more vigorous version of the old one.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
i will yell ...

THIS IS THE FRONT OF YOUR CASTLE ... GET RID OF IT ...

crikey.. this is not the place for a 2 or 3 year renovation project ..

even if you cut it down.. what are you left with.. huge bare spots???

be really nice .... to know what it is .... so we could suggest how long it might take ... or if it is worth it .. [any pic of it from last year????]

i think there are two other shrubs planted behind.. way to close to the house..

you ought to really think about a front redo .. so you can plant your own mistakes ....

you have the bed.. you have the mulch ... you could really make an outstanding landscape out there ...

and you can get advice on such.. here in GW.. but not in the pest forum ...

fall would be a great planting time for such ... giving you plenty of time to make a plan ....

so cut this monstrosity down.. and see how the green develops.. in the mean time ... and see if you like whats left of it ... with no insult to the root mass.. you will be surprised at how fast it will grow .... presuming its just winter damage ...

ken

ps: there is a small boy in need of a haircut at the bottom of your pic... lol ...
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DMForcier
12 years ago
I agree. Get rid of it and replace with something nice. A landscaper would have good ideas - and probably some good plants. Ask around.

Dennis
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
12 years ago
Perfectly healthy shrubs discard limbs occasionally. I'm not a fan of this table-top style of shrub pruning, as an opinion, but looks necessary to keep these from blocking the windows. If you go with replacements, choose based on mature size, unless you savor the prospect of needing to trim shrubs annually (possibly more often) so they don't get too tall/wide.