I have a large and beautiful Ceanothus which I believe to be Ceanothus
thyrsiflora, Blue Blossom. It is about 6' tall x 10' wide. It's huge! Its
also lovely this time of year - you can hardly see the greenery for its
intense blue flowers. Trouble is, it is slowly pushing down a fence and
covering a path. I'd like to take it right back and promote some new,
smaller and easily controlled growth.

Any tips on hard-pruning a mature but healthy Ceanothus?


Thanks
Baz

I just saw it off to size and it never comes to any harm ................
but don't blame me!

Barry Watts wrote:
: I have a large and beautiful Ceanothus which I believe to be Ceanothus
: thyrsiflora, Blue Blossom. It is about 6' tall x 10' wide. It's
: huge! Its also lovely this time of year - you can hardly see the
: greenery for its intense blue flowers. Trouble is, it is slowly
: pushing down a fence and covering a path. I'd like to take it right
: back and promote some new, smaller and easily controlled growth.
:
: Any tips on hard-pruning a mature but healthy Ceanothus?
:
:
: Thanks
: Baz

"Barry Watts" wrote in message
...
I have a large and beautiful Ceanothus which I believe to be Ceanothus
thyrsiflora, Blue Blossom. It is about 6' tall x 10' wide. It's huge!
Its
also lovely this time of year - you can hardly see the greenery for its
intense blue flowers. Trouble is, it is slowly pushing down a fence and
covering a path. I'd like to take it right back and promote some new,
smaller and easily controlled growth.

Any tips on hard-pruning a mature but healthy Ceanothus?


Ceanothus are temperamental and unpredictable. Wave a pair of secateurs next
to one and it will keel over before you can mutter "light trim". Take a
chain saw to another and it will laugh at you.

I generally advise light trimming to keep to size and avoid getting too
large, if it has got too large then little is lost by risking a hard prune.

pk