Leggy Pieris

I am doing away with my pond. I started on it yesterday. Amongst all the weeds and general neglect of five years there was a Pieris surviving at the back. I dug it out yesterday, trimmed away the dead wood soaked it and put it in a large container. It's a bout 10 years old about 2 1/2 feet. The branches are very leggy but the top growth is good and it is now crying with relief in it's pot:D. Should I stage prune it like a rhodi or what is the term they use now..............ah renovate by cutting it down hard? I don't want to start again as it's so mature and I reckon re growth will be strong but I don't want to kill it if it does not like pruning..

 

I had a similar problem with a leggy pieris - here is the link to the thread.
http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/pieris-problems-too-t26188.html

In the end I just decided one day as I was walking past it that I was gonna hack it back. And boy did I hack it. Each trunk down to about 10cms....

.. and within two weeks it is sprouting all over. Yay! I can only speak from my experience, but I am glad I did it. It wasn't any good to me looking ugly, leggy and unhealthy - so something had to give.

 

Thanks Victoria. I know the same thing is going to happen to me. It is nearer four feet not 2 1/2 as I previously said. Should wear my glasses shouldn't I? :dh:

 

Deed is done. I whacked it down:D:skp:

 

:yho: How liberating!

There is something rather daring about cutting a plant back to a stump - we spend so many hours tending and nurturing, it makes you feel rather rebellious!

 

:lollol: Yes it was a sort of liberating moment..:thumb: How sad are we:hehe: