These hedges are about 300' long. I'd like to keep them but they are really alot to take care of. However if I cut them back to about 3' high in stead of the 7-8' height they are now, I could manage them. By cutting them back so much, I don't know if they will die or come back. Anyone know?
2006-10-01 13:47:00 · 6 answers · asked by steve j 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
I could be more accurate if I knew in what zone you lived. However, here are the important basic of Juniper Hedges.
*Juniper should only be cut back, to a "Whorl", meaning a circle of buds, or the small branches on active wood, where there are needles and buds.
*Never over prune a Mature Juniper, Do a little bit over a period of perhaps 3 years. If you don't, you might prune into an area lacking green, and the results would be unsightly for years.
*Evergreen hedges such as Juniper, should never be trimmed below the Foliage or "They Won't Grow Back". Clip only a few inches from the previous year's growth. Spring is the time to begin, before you see budding.
Good Luck.
2006-10-01 14:49:49 · answer #1 · answered by Excel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think I know the answer to this one, believe me.
Do NOT cut back mature junipers that much. In general, junipers cannot be sheared at all like other hedges. Junipers are usually managed by selectively trimming out the tips of young branches with a hand pruners. You can't just take a shears and whack off where you want the hedge to be, especially if it is an older, established hedge. Do that and what will result will be dead branches devoid of all foliage -- they will not come back and fill in the holes you have created, whatsoever. I have seen supposedly knowledgeable people do this and they essentially ruin the appearance of the shrub forever.
Watch professionals trim large juniper shrubs in a mass planting. They NEVER take a shears and just trim to their heart's content. Usually what you see is at least three guys or gals working together snipping off selected, individual small branches. It is very time consuming but they do it.
Your hedge is a haven and grocery store for wildlife. If you do what you are planning on doing, you will be destroying something they enjoy and need. You will also end up pulling out dead shrubs and replanting your whole hedge or replacing it with a fence.
I do not know where some of the people here got their information, but it is very incorrect. Excel gave a good answer.
Please do not ruin what nature has taken years to produce.
2006-10-01 18:09:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Juniper Hedge
2016-10-01 08:54:01 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you live in a freezing climate, don't prune them, or any other evergreen anymore this season. Wait until spring. They will really look funky as there won't be any green on top for a long time, but they should make it.
2006-10-01 14:08:58 · answer #4 · answered by Papa John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on the climate where you are and how long you've had them and of course watering them. They will be in shock for a while. But you should be fine. Good Luck.
2006-10-01 13:53:24 · answer #5 · answered by btybyc 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to kill juniper...even if you wanted to! Prune them back in the spring. They should be fine.
2006-10-01 14:39:06 · answer #6 · answered by catherine02116 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋