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Pieris help

lchalmers3lchalmers3 Posts: 5
in Plants
In our estate, nearly every house has a pieris, must have been done when houses were first built. The pieris in our garden has a long 'naked' trunk which is different to all the neat wee bushes in other gardens...... is this normal or is there any way to encourage growth down trunk?
Also, how best to trim and maintain? We've not really touched it in like 2 years.... 
All advise would be appreciated! 

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,879
    I think that looks very good, much nicer than the ones that are clipped and shaped like a plum pudding. It looks like the lower branches have been removed at some point, resulting in a tree-like shape.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    Hi - once the flowers have finished/gone over, you can trim them off and tidy it up a bit (any straggly dead looking branches). That will encourage new growth. Also, do you feed it (with ericaceous-tailored food)?
  • lchalmers3lchalmers3 Posts: 5
    Thanks @Pianoplayer. So wait and trim it after it has flowered? 
    No, I don't feed it anything. I don't even really water it tbh..... 
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    Yes, that's right - probably late spring. I don't think they like being pruned hard, so a light trim of the flowering shoots is best. Maybe give it a treat of some feed at the same time  :)
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