I agree. This is a perfect plant and a perfect opportunity for proper rejuvenation pruning....done in ONE fell swoop. I'd cut to 6 inch stumps, though. Your plant will regrow beautifully in a few months (it will start growing in a VERY short time) after the procedure. I'd suggest that you attend to this in the early spring, as you see new growth appear on the early shrubs and trees....maybe in early March in your area? Don't fertilize for a year.

I was given a ligustrum tree as a gift last February 2008. I followed the directions of watering, etc. It is planted in a very sunny area (southern exposure) It immediately started to drop leaves (brown) I left in June 08 and my sister watered weekly. I returned this October and the tree was without leaves (except for a few small new growth leaves). I called the nursery that sold it to us and they said it was dying due to a fungus due to lack of water and would not replace it. I need help. Can I prune it back and hope it come back to life. It has small leaves trying to come back (we have fertilized it regularly and watered it for the past 2 1/2 months) I think if we prune of the dead limb areas that it might come back. Can you offer me any help? Thanks, grammy Judy

Cortaderia IS evergreen and as such does not go completely dormant. What appears to be a deciduous habit in colder climates is merely dieback. Obviously this would prompt cutting back in spring in those areas where the grass does turn a tan or straw color. Where it remains evergreen, annual cutting back is not required, just a simple trimming or tidying is sufficient. There is a commercial planting of Cortaderia not far from my work that is routinely trimmed to keep it tidy - the grass is very carefully shaped from the outside with the outer edges kept short and allowing the inner growth to achieve full height with flowering stems. Not a common approach, but it does keep the grass very compact and upright in a windy situation and does speak to its versatility in trimming or grooming.

i have an antique brass bed, in a guest room, with the same kind of side rails. i think they might be put in upside down (in the photo) and, therefore, are on the wrong side of the bed. my bed was put together like that by my last mover and was recently discovered by my daughter when she was here visiting. she wasn't able to get the mattress and springs off so just put short boards at the corners to keep them from falling off. i got new carpet since then and i asked the installers to put the rails on correctly when they reassembled the bed. sorry this is so long!..... i don't know if that was done or not and the bedroom is on a different level of the house than i am on and i am in a wheelchair so i can't go check. regarding the length of the mattress, yes, today's mattresses are too long. i bought a used one about 25 years ago, when i bought the bed, since it was shorter than new mattresses at that time. i hope this makes some sense!