Okay, let’s talk about that burning bush I finally tackled. It was getting seriously out of control, looking more like a tangled mess than anything else. Just way too big for its spot, blocking the walkway a bit. I kept looking at it, thinking, “Yep, time to do something about this.”
So, this past weekend, I decided today was the day. Grabbed my gear – trusty old loppers, the hand pruners for smaller stuff, and definitely my thick gloves. Those branches can be scratchy. Made sure the blades were reasonably sharp; makes the job way easier and cleaner cuts for the plant.
Getting Stuck In
First thing I did was just walk around it, get a good look. You gotta figure out a plan, right? Saw a bunch of dead wood inside, easy stuff to take out first. Just snipped all that dead grey stuff right at the base or where it met a healthy branch. Cleared out a surprising amount right off the bat.
Then, the real work started. The center was super crowded. Branches crossing over each other, blocking light and air. That’s no good. So, I started thinning it out. Picked the oldest, thickest stems, especially the ones growing inwards or rubbing against others, and cut them right down near the ground. Had to wiggle the loppers in there sometimes. The goal was just to open it up.
After thinning, it was time to bring the whole size down. It was easily six feet tall and wide, maybe more. I wanted to get it back to maybe half that, like three or four feet. So, I started cutting back the longer branches. Didn’t just shear it flat like a hedge, though. I tried to make cuts just above an outward-facing bud or branch, keeping a sort of natural shape, just… smaller. Took off a lot of growth, maybe more than I thought I would.
Stepped back and took a look. Honestly? It looked pretty bare. Kinda like a bunch of sticks poking up. It always looks a bit brutal right after a hard prune like this. But I know these things are tough. You gotta do it sometimes to keep them healthy and looking good in the long run.
Spent a good chunk of time cleaning up afterwards. Raked up all the branches – made a pretty big pile! Hauled it all off to the compost heap.
So, that’s the “before and after” for now. It’s cut back hard. Looks a bit naked, yeah, but I cleaned out all the junk and gave it a better shape. Now, we wait. Come spring, it should push out lots of new growth and hopefully look much better. Always satisfying to see them bounce back.
