skip to main content

Pruning really tall burning bushes

17 years ago

Hi all,

I used to prune all the "dwarf" burning bushes that line our long porch about every 2 years. But they got away from me, and now they're about 8-9' tall. Unfortunately, they've already been leafing out, but the weather has kept us from getting out there (rain/freezing temps). The trunks are about 1 to 1 and 1/2" thick, and go up that thick about 3-4'. Will they continue to grow if we cut them back that far? I realize it might take a couple years for them to fill back in, but will it be lethal to cut them back to those big trunks??

I'm so tired of the living room being so dark because they shade out all the light. But I sure loved them around the porch........nice and cool and natural feeling.

Thanks for your help.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
my dad once took a 12 footer down to 6 inches .... it bounced right back .... then he kept it at about 4 feet ...

my bet would be that you couldn't kill them if you tried ... so go for it ..

but since i am not sure.. i would take the farthest two in the line .. and do it .... and if they do well ... do some more in fall ... if they dont make it... you only lose two anyway ...

experiment ... you have a multitude of plants.. and you have nothing to lose ...

ken
catherinet
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Ken,
I have the feeling you're right.......about not being able to kill them! Some folks consider them very invasive, but they haven't been for us......yet. We've had these for about 18 years, but I am starting to see seedlings of them everywhere. I may eventually wish they'd died!
I sure like them though.
DH bought "Little Wonder" electric shears yesterday, and he's so disappointed today......its snowing out! hahaha I just know it will turn to 90 degrees any day now.
Thanks Ken!
Related Discussions
Prunning of very tall burning bushes
Q
Comments (2)
dad had one that was going on 15 feet.. blocking his driveway.. and cut it 3 inches from the ground.. and without insult to the root system.. within a few years.. it was back to 6 feet .. and ready to be beat back with a stick again ... i call these type of plants ... 'run them over with the truck' type .... being you can run them over.. and they will be back with a vengeance soon enough ... as noted above.. if you think it needs some help go back at it ... a picture would sure help with future suggestions ... ken
...See More
pruning burning bush
Q
Comments (1)
They are seedlings, and they are the reason that the plant is considered an invasive in many states. In CT, I believe it will be illegal to sell it very soon. Google "burning bush invasive" and read up on why the best thing to do would be to remove them. I inherited an entire hedge of them when we bought our house, and they're coming out.
...See More
Burning Bush and Butterfly Bush...Do they grow in AZ?
Q
Comments (8)
So i have researched the chinese pistache tree and it is incredibly beautiful with its fall/ winter colors...So now my next question is where do you buy one?!?!?! I have been all over town to different nurseries and they all tell me that they either don't know about the tree, where to find it, or even what it is. I looked at moon valley nursery, and even though they are a little pricey, they dont have it and they said that the best they could offer is the Sweetgum tree...So (1) Does ANYONE who has a Chinese Pistache know where to buy one and (2)Does anyone know about the sweetgum tree? Thanks for all of your help! -AZnursingstudent.
...See More
Pruning burning bush
Q
Comments (2)
I have a couple of those as well that I haven't pruned at all for 5 or 6 years. They slowly grow, at least on the north side of a building with a lot of competition from other bushes and trees. I don't think I've ever seen one that grew quickly, but I wouldn't know. I sorta doubt they are ever going to grow quickly in this dry climate. Re pruning, I would prune it if you want to shape it into something more manageable, and do it any time you feel like. The bush is generally grown for its fall color, not flowers (which I've never even noticed). Now that I think of it, we have two burning bushes because the small one, and its still pretty small, was given to us as a gift from a very good friend neighbor, and we planted it in a prominent position along the north side of the garage so they would see it when they drove in, and then it 'died', so my wife went and bought another, much bigger and ridiculously expensive one to replace it. Which then meant that the small one recovered. There they are, side by side.
...See More
Embothrium
17 years ago
Cut to near ground at end of winter each time they get too big. Do not shear. Will probably be at least several years between each renovation.
WendyB 5A/MA
17 years ago
I do similar. I cut mine down to about 2' every few years. I also remove a few branches completely to the base to keep the plant overall smaller.

I like to do it before they leaf out while the plant is still dormant, but agree that you probably cannot kill them no matter what/when/how.

Extra benefit is that don't have to worry about reseeding for a year or two when this is done. All the energy goes to top growth and little to flower production. I had a BB in another location that was never pruned. THe seedlings generated were massive. I hate to think where the birds brought all the berries in less tended areas of this rural neighborhood. That one is now history.
catherinet
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks bboy and Wendy. Getting rid of the seeds is a definite plus for drastically cutting back on a regular basis.
Embothrium
17 years ago
I'd cut to near the ground so you don't have a 'hydra effect' with new branches coming off of clearly visible old ones.

Related Stories

WINTER GARDENING Pruning Secrets for Exquisite Roses

By Annie Thornton

Encourage gorgeous blooms year after year with this time-tested advice on how to prune your rosebush in winter for health and shape

GARDENING GUIDES How to Prune Your Flowering Shrubs for the Best Blooms

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Less is often more when it comes to properly pruning flowering shrubs. Here’s what to do and why

GOLD FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: Milk Bush

By Annie Thornton

With a rubbery texture and cartoon-like branches, this succulent brings an unusual, exotic energy to landscapes and container gardens

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

CONTAINER GARDENS Patio-Perfect Berry Bushes Like You’ve Never Seen

Small enough for pots but offering abundant fruit, these remarkable bred berries are a boon for gardeners short on space

GARDENING GUIDES Great Native Plant: California Flannel Bush

By Annie Thornton

Forget watering once this bush is established. But the yellow burst in spring and summer, you'll remember

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Old Fashioned Smoke Bush

Balance garden color with this shrub's cool blue-green foliage, luminous when backlit and sporting yellow-green flowers in spring

FLOWERS Great Design Plant: Bush Anemone

By Annie Thornton

Breathe in this shrub's sweet perfume while you're admiring its petite white flowers and the butterflies it brings

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Valentine Bush for Heartfelt Winter Color

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Passionate red flowers from winter through spring add gorgeous color to bare Southwest landscapes

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Coyote Bush

By Annie Thornton

Remarkably resilient, this coast-happy shrub attracts native wildlife — and its leaves have an unusual attribute

Sponsored

Mary Shipley Interiors

32 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 10x Best of Houzz

More Discussions

How do you know spring has arrived?

50

Rubus idaeus or wineberry?

13

Buddleia hardiness

5

Fix a Severely Root Bound Rhododendron planted over 10 years ago

8

Tall shrub or small tree. Verticillium wilt resistant.

2