Having pulled out the hedge at the front of the house, in readiness for planting a new one, there are a number of large shrubs that also need to come out (the flower bed in front of the hedge is going too).
I'm going to re-plant them in front of another hedge where we are making a new bed, and could do with some taller things at the back, and as such I'm not too bothered what survives and what doesn't.
I'm getting a JCB in next week to remove the roots of the old hedge etc., so I can "scoop" up the shrubs as best I can, and dig big holes for them in their new home.
How much do I cut the plants back?
I've got:
Lilac. About 15' tall. Has very old wood up to about 2'6" (where it was pruned many years ago, by the looks of it) and then younger stems above that (about 3/4" thick). I was planning to leave about 6"-12" of the younger, thinner, stems.
Forsythia - about 4'-5' high. Lots of thin-ish branches. I'm planning to cut that back to about 2'6"
A huge Cotinus. It has about 4 branches straight from the base that go along the ground for several feet, and then up to about 10'-15'. I don't think there is any hope for this, what do you suggest?
A Garry eliptica about 10'-15'. Not sure how to tackle this.
Picture shows the Cotinus, and lilacs behind; the remaining hedge plants are about 15' tall.
Thanks
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If the untouched shoots break leaf naturally and look as though they are going to live (not just the sap rising and expiring for example) then triim the remainder back, especially if new stems break from the ground or around the base.
That's a good plan, and one I've used successfully before, thanks.
I'll let you know what survives the JCB-transplant!