Tatty Crinodendron

lislily55

We moved house a few years ago and at last I'm sorting out the front garden. There is a large Crinodendron Hookeranium in a mixed border. It is about 8/9 feet tall, each branch heavily wreathed in ivy. It looks tatty and not in the best of health.  Not sure what is best to do- cut it right back + remove ivy, slight trim + remove ivy or get rid of of completely. 
Although we are within Dartmoor National Park the garden is fairly sheltered, soil is acidic and we get lots of rain. 

All helpful ideas most welcome.

Hostafan1

Welcome to the Forum
I'd remove ivy, feed in spring, but NOT prune ( which can "stress" it ).
Can you add a photo? Click the little icon which looks like a postcard of a mountain and follow instruction. If it doesn't work, try reducing the "size" of the image.

Lyn

I’ve got two of these brutes in the garden, one of them I sawed right down to the ground hoping it would die, oh no, shot out from the bottom and now about 6 ft tall. The other one is really huge but wonderful for nesting and sheltering birds, it it wasn’t for that and the fact my dad grew them from seeds, I’d have them out.  Never the tidiest shrub, 
Ive never fed a large shrub, usually our moorland acid soil is all they need. 

Hostafan1

I'd not normally suggest feeding a large shrub, but this one has been strangled by ivy so probably starved of nutrients too, so a wee boost would do it no harm.