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Post by peony on Apr 30, 2011 19:36:29 GMT
Some of the taller branches of my Fatsia have been badly affected by frost and the whole shrub has got a bit "leggy", although there are a couple of new stems at the bottom. Can Fatsia be pruned? I could do with some advice please  |
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Post by Geranium on Apr 30, 2011 19:39:01 GMT
Yes, it can. Could you post a photo? That would help us give you advice on what to cut and how much.
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Post by peony on Apr 30, 2011 19:43:38 GMT
Yes, it can. Could you post a photo? That would help us give you advice on what to cut and how much. I'll give it a try tomorrow Geranium, but its in amongst a lot of other shrubs so it may be a bit difficult |
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Post by Geranium on Apr 30, 2011 20:14:35 GMT
OK. I'll watch out for it - with my RHS pruning book open at the right page! ;D
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Post by merlin on Apr 30, 2011 20:15:15 GMT
I very nearly bought one of those the other day but went for a Viburnum instead. I always thought them bomb proof but I suppose we've had a couple of bad winters. Last year I bought a Mahonia, it's now in intensive care but not much life in it  Hope your Fatsia will be ok, such lovely foliage. |
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Post by steve on Apr 30, 2011 21:02:29 GMT
Don't give up yet Merlin, my Mahonia took a battering and lost most of its leaves but has just started producing new growth
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Post by Geranium on Apr 30, 2011 21:12:15 GMT
So has my Ceanothus 'Perle Rose'. |
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Post by merlin on Apr 30, 2011 21:13:20 GMT
I'll wait then, Actually I went to remove some brown leaves and the whole plant came up leaving a neat hole. No sign of it having rooted. It's now in a pot in 'hospital'. I'll let you know if it picks up.
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Post by Fractal on Apr 30, 2011 21:20:48 GMT
Yes, if needed it can be very hard pruned. I did this to mine a few years ago right back to heavy wood and it soon produced new growth both from the base and from the bare reduced stems. This is a perfect time to do it too.
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Post by peony on May 1, 2011 10:48:45 GMT
As promised Geranium, pics of my Fatsia. I see Steve N says it can be hard pruned this time of year and as it is very "leggy" perhaps this is the best thing to do. What do you think?  Side view  Other side  Rear view  Top |
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Post by steve on May 1, 2011 11:15:21 GMT
I have a good hardy one in the front which came through the -15 ok and a variegated one in a pot
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Post by Geranium on May 1, 2011 12:01:03 GMT
I'd say take the leggiest stems back quite hard, but not all of them - it's always recommended to do a third, isn't it. It looks as though you have some youngish healthy growth there anyway - the plant looks better than I expected it to. I'd give it the prune - and then feed it. Thanks for the photos - it made it much clearer. |
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Post by peony on May 1, 2011 12:29:33 GMT
Thank you for the advice Geranium, which I shall follow ;D I'm off into the garden now, so no time like the present. I've got some tree and shrub feed too, so I'll give it a good soaking and feed when I've done the pruning |
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Post by wildlifefriendly on May 1, 2011 13:36:26 GMT
Mine got hit very hard last year, I pruned half of it hard and when there was new growth on those bits I cut the other half back as hard. It is looking very healthy this year with very little damage over last winter.
A few of the branches grew a little to well so I've cut them back and put them in pots to see if they will root.
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Post by merlin on May 1, 2011 17:49:43 GMT
They are very lush plants, bordering on exotic, wish I'd bought one now.
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Hope your Fatsia will be ok, such lovely foliage.
