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Hebe pruning

Hebe pruning

Question from Shoot User
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I have a number of Hebes in my garden (Hebe pinguifolia 'Sutherlandii' (Hebe 'Sutherlandii' ) and Hebe rakaiensis (Shrubby veronica). They are all 12 year old and have never been pruned. They are beginning to look straggly with open areas in the centre. What can I do to recover them?
Posted: Wednesday 7th of April 2010 11:17 AM

  • Hebe pruning

    Janine Pattison MSGD
    Hi Brian, hebes are quite difficult to carry out renovation pruning on as they do not shoot back that easily from old wood. If you look down into the plant you may see some tiny new shoots fairly low down. It is important to make the pruning cuts above these so that these tiny shoots are encouraged to grow. If you are too aggressive with pruning the plant may simply die.
    Now is a good time to cut the plant back by around one third (staying in green, leafy stems) and selectively prune out one third of the older stems down to just above some new green shoots.
    Once you have done the pruning, hand fork in some fertiliser (eg a handful of Growmore or similar) around the base and water well. This is stimulate new growth. A mulch around the base of well-rotten manure or shredded bark will also help a great deal.
    In future years clip back immediately after flowering to keep your newly renovated hebes under control and looking good. I recommend taking around one third off each year.
    Good luck!
    Janine Pattison MSGD
    [LINK]www.janinepattison.com[/LINK]
    [LINK]www.sgd.org.uk[/LINK]
    Replied: Thursday 15th of April 2010 06:15 PM

    • Re: Hebe pruning

      john hutcheson
      I was looking for some advice on how to restore my Purple Pixie. I am not sure that is has not gone past a point of restoration as it is now very leggy with few shorter stems. However, the advice given here is very helpful and I will see what i can achieve. Sadly, the old thing is now tripping us up as we pass it. Maybe it is telling us that it needs more love. :)
      Replied: Thursday 3rd of March 2016 08:10 AM

  • Height?

    Shoot User
    Hi,

    Just out of curiosity, how tall are they now, after that many years?

    -Kevin P.
    Replied: Saturday 17th of April 2010 01:05 PM

    • Hebe height

      Shoot User
      Hi,

      The tallest hebe is around 1m.

      Brian
      Replied: Monday 19th of April 2010 11:49 AM

  • Re: Hebe pruning

    Fannie Leigh
    Strangely enough I was looking at the Hebe Society site for advice on the same thing, and they say: "We have grown this plant for 25 years and have cut it hard back twice. It would be best to leave any cutting back until spring, as any cuts will not have time to heal before the winter, then rot can get in. Yes they do break from old wood." One of my large Hebe pinguifolia 'Sutherlandii' is looking shaggy - the other served the chop a few years ago. I think they will be fine.
    Replied: Sunday 24th of July 2016 11:34 AM
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