Ceanothus Puget Blue Californian Lilac 'Concha'

Hi all, just joined with a specific issue regarding our
Ceanothus Puget Blue
Californian Lilac 'Concha'

The shrub has been absolutely fine for at least 5 years but for some reason this year the bottom branches have started to die back.
Is this something I should be concerned about please? Should I remove the dead branches or let nature take its course? Its a beautiful large shrub and will leave a big hole in our garden if we lose it. Any help would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards

Alan

 

I'd cut the dead stuff out, I doubt it will green up again.
Did you get any exceptionally hard frost last winter.

I've got "concha" and it can become leggy over time.

 

Not that I can remember but hey I'm getting old
That's my next job then, many thanks

 

Hi and Adam. Where are you located? County only is okay.

I had a gorgeous one in Bucks many moons ago and it got straggedly (is that a word?) underneath. I just cut all the dead stuff out underneath and it did fine thereafter.

 

Ceanothus 'Puget Blue' or Ceanothus 'Concha'...Both good ones but I think Concha has deeper blue flowers? As the others have said, best to cut the dead wood out, then feed and water it

 

Thankyou for the info, I'll get pruning ASAP.
North Lincolnshire here