Perhaps you can relate: A few years ago a family member of mine purchased a gorgeous ninebark—because, honestly, this shrub was featured as a “must-have” in all the local nurseries and she couldn’t resist—and now it is enveloping half her front walkway. It’s a perfectly wonderful shrub, but it’s a shrub that tends to get out of hand. There are actually quite a few shrubs that have become popular at the nursery in the last decade or so that, if left unchecked, tend to get unruly. They’re not bad plants; they’re just overly zealous when it comes to bulking up. Given enough time, they can reach beastly proportions. See below to learn how to keep them in check.
More on pruning
This article first appeared as “From Overgrown to Under Control” in issue 192 of Fine Gardening magazine.
-
How-ToHow to Prune Ninebark
-
How-ToHow to Prune Shrub Roses
-
ArticleHow to Prune Panicle Hydrangeas
-
