No offense intended, but that is one ugly shrub. It's been very poorly placed right up next to the house. See how it's reaching out toward the sun?

I'd remove it and not give it a second thought. As said in the post above, you can't expect new growth from lower on the stump.

short lesson ...

shrubs ... as in flowering shrubs.. can usually be cut back hard .. usually using a rejuvenation system ...

trees ... can also be cut back ... sometimes ... but more often than not.. no one really wants to do that ....

conifers .. which are trees ... again.. sometimes ... as noted above ...

there is a forum for each of those ... but the usual suspects.. hang out in all 3.. so no need to repost ...

all that said ... the prior owner really messed up this planting ... planting a babe much to close to the house.. with no real conceptualization on its future growth potential ...

and since we have a prior owner to blame.. i would agree ... its just time to get rid of it.. and plant your own mistakes ... lol ...

i doubt it is leaning toward the sun ... and would suggest that it was improperly planted.. and its leaning.. most likely .. because it was a potted rootbound plant that started tipping over due to improper root growth .. but .. either way... you arent going to pull it back straight .. so .. again.. its just time to divest.. and move one ...

a lesson hard learned with my first house ... just get rid of the prior owners mistakes .... lifes to short ...

ken

ps: and as noted.. plant your own mistakes.. for the next owner.. lol ..

It won't be able to come back well, if at all from inside or below the ball.

Can you stake it so it is more vertical. I think you would like it better.

I doubt a trunk that thick will be amenable to staking. It's already tied to the house with no visible effect. And the poor thing would still lean out because of the proximity of the building.

Whoa looking back at my message I clearly didn’t proofread, but you all got my point . I hate to kill them if I can reuse/save them but it doesn’t sound like there’s much hope for that one. There truly is only like 1-2 inches of dense green depth before it becomes a barren wasteland inside. It’s deceivingly green to be so dead inside. His buddy on the ground has a better chance of being salvaged but it’s the same- dead inside so maybe I’ll keep the little one and relocate him. I’ve heard that cutting a few holes to let light in can help it fill in on the inside some. Naturally I don’t want to give it bald spots, but I’ve got nothing to lose with trying. Thanks for all of your insight! Happy New Year!

No light no green. Doesn't mean it's dead inside all plants pretty much grow this way. Some don't respond as well as others to the heavy trimming and I would wait until spring to do anything anyway. If this is not an ideal spot maybe while it is dormant root prune it around the base (if you can) and keep chipping away at it till you get a nice fat root ball and then leave it alone till spring. then find a new home it's is a nice looking plant just not in a good spot anymore. It outgrew this area. when you replant it, plant it vertically and I bet you and the plant will be happy.

Did anybody else notice there's wires attached to the wall holding it up? Ken's probably right about the roots.

Did you notice Floral’s post?

Much woody plant material presented to the market in my area is root-bound, I expect the plant being talked about here has the same problem.

>maybe while it is dormant root prune it around the base (if you can) and keep chipping away at it till you get a nice fat root ball and then leave it alone till spring<

The value of pruning roots before transplanting depends on the new roots produced from the cut root ends not being cut off when the pruned specimen is finally dug up later. I don't see how "chipping away" relates to this procedure, all the more so because there is little, if any winter root activity on cold climate adapted woody plants. With spring being the time when new roots coming from cut root ends first sprout (and fall being the time when existing roots do most of their elongation). Doubtless this is partly why the habit in commercial practice of storing stock dug bare-rooted in November in warehouses until an end of winter shipping time developed - it doesn't come to life again until spring bud break.

One of my most important landscaping lessons.

If you are not happy with it ... it's okay to put it out of your misery ...

There truly is only like 1-2 inches of dense green depth before it becomes a barren wasteland inside.

==>>> i hate to use the term .. but no 'evergreen' holds its leaves forever ... with conifers.. its one season to three years ... in plants like this one... they dont fall off ...

it is ENTIRELY normal ... that the interior of a conifer has brown dead leaves in the interior ... there is nothing you can do about it .... as its normal ... this is also caused.. by the new spring growth.. shading out the interior leaves over the years ... leaves/needles whole purpose in life is to convert sunshine into food ... and once they are in deep shade.. they are of no use to the plant.. ergo.. they die off ...

moving away from that .... frankly ... you have a ton of money invested in the house .... and a plant that could damage the house with that wire attachment ... in my world.. warped as it is.. i would protect the house investment.. and get rid of the plant ... its a much higher priority ...

its laudable that you dont want to kill things ... but sometimes it just has to be done .... i usually get past this conundrum .... by planting two or 3 replacements ... mother earth.. net plus 2 ...

i love that quote above.. have used it many times .... PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MISERY ...

when i bought my first house.. i spent upwards of 5 years... trying to save or restore every error the prior owners made .... but.. in the long run.. i just ended up removing them all .... in hindsight.. i wonder why i wasted 4 years ... i am trying to convince you to not waste the time and effort ...

but if you insist.. try whatever you want ... but get it off the house .. a siding job will cost you thousands ... all to save a tree with little or no value .... taht is probably going to fall over and die anyway ...

good luck.. and have fun in your new garden ...

ken