Plants

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

laf — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:11:08 GMT

Looks like no-one's posted here for a long time.

I have a 3 year old Ceanthothus which has hardly grown. It seemed to have a disease, like a lichen covering the branches but with tiny bugs inside. I have sprayed it well and it seems to have disappeared but the branches are brittle. It is now sprouting new growth from the tips but is very straggly so needs pruning. I have read that it will not regrow from old wood so what should I do?

Is it salvagable?! Any advice appreciated.

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

Val. — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 13:52:32 GMT

Whats this about silent apples?....put your teeth in boy, that'll cure it.

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

P Stick — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 12:05:50 GMT

Hi William - I could say it was evergreen before I pruned it but to be honest, all I did was to tidy it up and cut back straggly pieces. If you cut them back too hard they can go like leylandii, die back in chunks and look horrible. Strangely, A4A is the only place I have found which makes you eat apples in silence............they have a problem and won't admit it........;-|

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

Obelix — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 21:47:42 GMT

Hi P Stick. Nice to see you here. I don't prune any ceanothus any more. I had a lovely pale deciduous one with big flower heads and a deep blue evergreen one. Both were pruned as I advised above and did very well but both lost it in consecutive winters. Frozen off the planet, poor things.

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

William — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 19:19:48 GMT

I noticed they had taken residence inside our walls, didn't like that and have caught them in traps.... Suppose they are in hog heaven by now, .... ;-)

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

Val. — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 19:02:22 GMT

Oh yes and I really needed to know about the mice, didn't I Wills?...Where did they go, checked your attic lately? lol. or don't you have attics over there?

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

William — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 16:54:20 GMT

Well the bees were humming on another fence on the other side of a path between our house and our neighbours. But a Wren nesting in our Ivy on the other fence would really be wonderfull. Last year we had a couple of mice walking up and down that spot....

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

Val. — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 16:45:58 GMT

Yes I've seen bees in the garden just lately, not as many as you've said just the odd one but it doesn't seem normal does it? I expect your wren was after all the spiders in the ivy.They might even nest there next spring.

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

William — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 16:39:38 GMT

Talking about bees, our neighbours have an ivy hanging over their fence, full in bloom last week, it was still buzzing with some sort of bee things and hoverfly like things. It was really humming and buzzing.

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

Val. — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 16:31:30 GMT

Oh right Wills, it almost feels like home doesn't it lol...It is an evergreen so I'll just have to snip round it, but I won't do it until after its flowered , the bees really loved it last year,so I'll wait until its finished flowering.

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

William — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 16:21:35 GMT

Hi Val, nice to see you've made it here. Ceanotus ehhh, if it drops its leaves hit it hard and it will flower. If it doesn't drop its leaves, don't hit it too hard ( treat it a bit like a rhododendron or a hydrangea...

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

Val. — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 16:12:19 GMT

Hiya...I made it here, amongst all the others I see. Right now what were we saying, oh yes ceanothus, let me have a read.....Oh I've got one that will need pruning soon, its near the bird bath, does that mean it will die if I chop it back or just not flower.

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

William — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 15:34:57 GMT

Hi P Stick, nice to see the RHS does not object to apples... Is your ceanotus evergreen or deciduous?

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

P Stick — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 14:06:28 GMT

Hi Obelix - strangely enough I cut mine back yesterday and shredded the bits for composting. I prefer to do it after it has flowered in the spring but if yours is autumn flowering then I'd do it now or early spring.

Re: Pruning Ceanothus

Obelix — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 09:30:31 GMT

I would prune it after flowering but take out only one third to a half of the branches this year and repeat next year. That way you will still get your flowers and have reserves in case of a hard winter killing off stems or, as in my case, the entire plant!!