Purple berberis

Kit3131

Can anyone advise what to do with a purple berberis shrub which is covered in unsightly lichen.

Some books say trim it after flowering and others say cut back some old stems to the ground now!

Does the lichen harm the shrub?

Thanks

Welshonion

Shows you have clean air. When the shrub is dry you can take a brush to it if you can avoid the prickles.



If you cut it back before flowering you will lose this year's flowers, so I would do it straight after flowering.

Obelixx

Lichen is a sign of clean, still; damp air and is not harmful to plants though it can indicate a lack of vigour.  Some judicious pruning to take out dead, broken and weak spindly stems plus one or two of the oldest stems and a good general feed of blood, fish and bone or pelleted chicken manure which will feed beneficial soil organisms as well as the plant should help.

I have noticed a lot more lichen on my red and blackcurrant bushes this winter as they are now protected from strong westerly and northerly winds by a windbreak fabric strung along the fence.  I find it rather attractive but the oldest stems will be cut out at harvesting time to enable easier collection of the fruit and thus keep the plants renewed.

Here is what the RHS says - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=411 

 

Kit3131

Thank you very much.

Can I remove a couple of old stems now?

jo4eyes

You obviously want/need to remove some branches now, so fine. Just old ones mind.... J.

 

Kit3131

Thank you