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My Mahonia has snapped :-(

GuybrushGuybrush Posts: 172
in Plants

Hi folks,

I bought a mahonia last autumn and although it developed a touch of rust over winter, it's grown a couple of sets of new leaves and was looking very healthy - until this morning...

Last night it was very windy and all the new growth has snapped off and now only the old leaves from last year remain. As I'm not familiar with mahonias, what's the future for the plant? As new growth comes from the centre, will it grow any more or has it self pollarded as it were?

Cheers

James

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Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,249

    Mahonias may be pruned to within  a few inches of the ground and then they grow from the dormant buds in the stem. You end up with a multi-stemmed shrub, which is actually the best way to grow them. More flowers and more berries that way.

  • GuybrushGuybrush Posts: 172

    Thanks Berghill! I was worried for a moment then. Hopefully it'll be all the better and stronger for it then.

    Cheers

    James :-)

  • ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627

    I hack mine right back every spring so that I can get to the clematis Montana on the fence behind it without getting caught up on those devilish sharp leaves !  It comes back twice as big and twice as ugly. !

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