very leggy Hebe Pascal

jessisinthegarden

Afternoon All,

My Hebe Pascal was almost forgotten last year under a great stack of other plants and is now looking very leggy and sad.

I really do need to take the stems back to encourage some fresh growth, as there are virtually no leaves except in the last 10cm of stem.

However, I know I risk losing flowers this year, if I do that now.

Once site recommends a hard prune, but not into the old wood and leaving at least two leaf buds per stem. It also recommends doing this in March.

I was under the impression that hebe liked to be pruned after flowering, or is this only for very light pruning/reshaping, as opposed to more drastic cutting back?

It's currently in a pot, I should also mention.

Thanks 

jessisinthegarden

bumping

 

jessisinthegarden

anyone?!

nutcutlet

I don't think hard pruning but not into old wood is a possiiblity.

I haven't had much success with cutting back leggy hebes, one looked OK for a couple of years, lots of new growth from the base, then snuffed it.

Barrie5

I am not a big lover off Pascal but I have quite a lot of Hebes in my garden. A few years ago we had frost down to minus 15c  my Black Beauty hebe looked dead, I cut it down to between 12 - 18 ins stripped all dead leaves this was mid to late March.By July it looked stunning. I regular prune Hebes to keep their shape,  all evergreens I prune Mid to Late March for shape, mine all flower after June.I have none that flower in early spring I find those type too large for my garden. Spirea prune down to 12-18 ins. late Feb E March.

Fairygirl

I think you're right nut - some cope with it and some don't. Keeping them tidy is the best way to maintain their size and shape. 

I wasn't familiar with this variety either, but I had a look and it doesn't seem very hardy. You could always take some cuttings when/if you prune it, and then if it doesn't survive, you'll have a few to back it up 

jessisinthegarden

Thanks All.

I'm in central London, so we pretty much never had really hard frosts. Hebe is in a sunny spot in a sheltered garden.

 

Thanks Barrie - I will try that and see what happens. I suppose I can do this as soon as any frost risk is over.

 

I wonder Nut, if Pascal is of the finicky type and will snuff it...will take cuttings!

Dave Morgan

You have two chances with hebes, one and none. Take cuttings first they root easily after that it doesn't matter if pruning works or not you have a replacement.