Pieris
Flora rosa
Posts: 261
in Talkback
Hello, I need some advice on my pieris japonica 
. It's got very tall and leggy, I've pruned out all the thin shoots and deadwood and it's now like this! Would I kill it reducing down by half ? I have fed it now and mulch but feel it needs a better cutting.
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I'd take a third off, down to strong growth.
Then do more next year.
I did mine last summer as it had grown out over lawn. I think it rejuvenated it as it sprouted lots of shoots from the woody stems and is lot bushier now.
I think I'll try that on mine too, although mine is much smaller but also leggy. I'm persevering with it for sentimental reasons so worth a go...
Thanks guys, was cogitating all last night and will cut it back - will do the front ones by half this year, and then the other stems next spring . Thanks for all your advice. Do love this shrub
You can hard prune pieris successfully. Cut it down to about a foot high. Now is the best time to do it. It will respond with vigorous growth and probably won't flower again fir a couple of years. Might be a good time to think about relocating it.
And lo, the deed is done .. Gulp, have cut the front few branches and left a back row . All fed and FHM'd , fingers crossed but yes! I have every faith it will come back