Depends on your goals. It’ll live, but may take a bit to grow in/regrow vertically if you’re wanting it to start to shape the top any.
Alternatively, you could just grab a couple boulders or bowling ball arborvitae to stick in front of it.
Smokey19mom
Could possibly kill it too. When you make a cut you “expose” the trunk of the bush. When trimming trees or bushes, you want to trim branches, not the trunk of the tree.
Necessary-Sell-4998
Yes those bushes can be groomed in any shape you want. Like the previous comment, the top with be brown for a while.
acer-bic
You’d be better off going into that section and removing the 5-7 thickest branches. That will let light down into the center and stimulate new growth lower down. Then next year you can take the rest off. That will minimize the view of the dead stuff. There is most likely a lot of dead needles in the center of the tree. Shake it very vigorously to get those to fall out and allow more light to get to the center. Wear gloves and long sleeves
Brilliant-Ad232
What is your goal? Don’t take more than 1/3 off at a time.
If you just want to groom it, I would prune it in the niwaki style which means inground bonsai.
Pruning would involve starting at the bottom, exposing bark on the lowest branches. Do this over time for best results, giving you time to reassess how it looks.
You might Google whatever cultivar it is with niwaki style to get images.
the_perkolator
It would probably survive, but personally I would use what’s there and direct this toward a cloud-pruned Japanese style niwaki aesthetic.
HyenaThen572
Did the deer eat it? At least in New England they go nuts for this stuff in winter.
It’s easy to prevent without hurting anything. Just have to deal with the nets which is a bit annoying.
Marciamallowfluff
Not straight. Reach down in and cut over grown chunks but leave smaller branches to cover the stumps.
sayitlikeyoumeenit
If you cut that big of a chunk off of that bush, it will have a giant dead spot on the top.
iOpCootieShot
Cut windows, takes 2 seasons, but thats a big chop.
BigRoach
This is my favorite plant. If it gets enough sun it will transform into completely covered in lavender blooms, and bees will be crawling all over it.
Unfair_You_1769
Is it a Texas Sage? I would wait another month for heavy pruning due. Some light pruning would be ok now but topping it should probably wait.
Emily_Porn_6969
Of course , it needs it !
Repulsive-Bend8283
Oh lord no.
SuperPOSUser
I’d cut down into the shrub on the trunks of each of the branches rather than cutting straight across the top. You’re new growth will be fuller and make the bush better shaped in the long run. If you cut straight across the new growth will come from that line.
gr0uchyMofo
Yes. Texas Sage. It’s a hearty plant and will definitely grow back. I cut mine back every season.
17 Comments
She’ll have a brown top for a while.
Depends on your goals. It’ll live, but may take a bit to grow in/regrow vertically if you’re wanting it to start to shape the top any.
Alternatively, you could just grab a couple boulders or bowling ball arborvitae to stick in front of it.
Could possibly kill it too. When you make a cut you “expose” the trunk of the bush. When trimming trees or bushes, you want to trim branches, not the trunk of the tree.
Yes those bushes can be groomed in any shape you want. Like the previous comment, the top with be brown for a while.
You’d be better off going into that section and removing the 5-7 thickest branches. That will let light down into the center and stimulate new growth lower down. Then next year you can take the rest off. That will minimize the view of the dead stuff. There is most likely a lot of dead needles in the center of the tree. Shake it very vigorously to get those to fall out and allow more light to get to the center. Wear gloves and long sleeves
What is your goal? Don’t take more than 1/3 off at a time.
If you just want to groom it, I would prune it in the niwaki style which means inground bonsai.
Pruning would involve starting at the bottom, exposing bark on the lowest branches. Do this over time for best results, giving you time to reassess how it looks.
You might Google whatever cultivar it is with niwaki style to get images.
It would probably survive, but personally I would use what’s there and direct this toward a cloud-pruned Japanese style niwaki aesthetic.
Did the deer eat it? At least in New England they go nuts for this stuff in winter.
It’s easy to prevent without hurting anything. Just have to deal with the nets which is a bit annoying.
Not straight. Reach down in and cut over grown chunks but leave smaller branches to cover the stumps.
If you cut that big of a chunk off of that bush, it will have a giant dead spot on the top.
Cut windows, takes 2 seasons, but thats a big chop.
This is my favorite plant. If it gets enough sun it will transform into completely covered in lavender blooms, and bees will be crawling all over it.
Is it a Texas Sage? I would wait another month for heavy pruning due. Some light pruning would be ok now but topping it should probably wait.
Of course , it needs it !
Oh lord no.
I’d cut down into the shrub on the trunks of each of the branches rather than cutting straight across the top. You’re new growth will be fuller and make the bush better shaped in the long run. If you cut straight across the new growth will come from that line.
Yes. Texas Sage. It’s a hearty plant and will definitely grow back. I cut mine back every season.