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Pieris pruning

Pieris pruning

General post from Shoot User
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We have got a beautiful Pieris 'Forest Flame' which was in the garden when we bought the house. It is well over three metres tall but leggy. There are three trunks 75-100 mm diameter, There is virtually no foliage below the two metre mark. We had Rhododendrons at the bottom of the garden which I vigorously cut back two years ago and gained a good 5 metres of garden length. They are bushing up nicely. Can I cut the Pieris back, when and by how much? If I cut it back to head height I will be left with three thick sticks with no leaves! I don't want to kill it or mutilate it but what about after care of my three sticks? Thanks.
Posted: Sunday 20th of January 2008 08:19 PM

  • Rejuvenating Pieris

    Kathy N
    Hi! I agree, Pieris 'Forest Flame' is a beautiful shrub. Pieris, in general, tend to be somewhat short-lived and when grown in moist soil (not sure if that is the case in your garden) do not age gracefully. It sounds like you have two options: remove it (which it is hard to part with mature plants, I know), or hard prune it now and see what happens in the spring. You can give it the same treatment you gave the Rhodos - going so far as to cut it back a foot or less from the ground - but is is a gamble whether the Pieris will respond and rejuvenate or give up the ghost. With any pruning, try to find a bud and make a clean cut just above it. If you decided to hard prune it, leave it be (no need to feed at the moment and water only if we have dry conditions for more than a week or so - unlikely!!). Good luck and if you do cut it back, let me know what happens in spring!
    Replied: Monday 21st of January 2008 10:15 AM

    • Pieris pruned!

      Shoot User
      I've done it. The weather here is all to pot at the moment. I've got Bluetits looking to set up home in the nest box on the 2nd of February and Bumble bees visiting the snowdrops and crocuses. I took the Pieris down to just above ground level as the only life was at the end of the highest branches. I'll post here again with any results. I have put some composted manure around the stump in the vain hope that the roots will appreciate it. We'll see.
      Replied: Monday 11th of February 2008 05:46 PM

      • Pieris still pruned!

        Shoot User
        It is now the 19th April and there's no sign of life. It has now been very cold for a long time and nothing has happened. I'll obviously leave it for as long as possible and post here should anything 'shoot' so to speak.
        Replied: Saturday 19th of April 2008 11:34 AM

    • Rejuvenating Pieris

      Shoot User
      I chopped it all back to about 6 inches above the ground at the beginning of February and thought I had killed it. At last I've now noticed life on 18th May. Half a dozen little shoots sprouting forth through the papery bark. It looks like my fingers are greener than I thought. Thanks for the advice Kathy C.
      Replied: Monday 19th of May 2008 02:47 AM

      • Re: Rejuvenating Pieris

        Rose Stockwell
        And how is it 10 years later! I have the same problem and you are giving me confidence to cut back.
        Replied: Sunday 13th of January 2019 03:53 PM

  • I'll give it a go.

    Shoot User
    It looks brilliant in the spring/summer but really is far too tall. I think I will leave it until mid February then cut it down and seewhat transpires. I will probably put some manure around the base and see if it comes back. I'll certainly report back if it works or not.
    Replied: Wednesday 30th of January 2008 10:24 PM
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