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Apr 13, 2015 10:19 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Reid
North Branch, MN (Zone 4b)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
Hi! I have a burning bush that is 20 years old and taking over an area. How much can I prune it? What is the window of time to do it?
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Apr 13, 2015 7:59 PM CST
Plants Admin
Name: Kent Pfeiffer
Southeast Nebraska (Zone 5b)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator Plant Identifier Region: Nebraska Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Forum moderator Irises Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level
All the way to the ground, and probably almost any time of year. Smiling

Seriously, they are almost impossible to kill (without herbicides), which is part of how they've managed to reach invasive species status in woodlands throughout the eastern US. Thumbs down
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Apr 13, 2015 8:58 PM CST
Name: Deb
Planet Earth (Zone 8b)
Region: Pacific Northwest Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
I have found mine to be a fairly well behaved shrub - no major pruning needed and it maintains a nicely rounded but slowly expanding mound. We do cut it back when it encroaches on the driveway (any old time) and it bounces back fine.
I want to live in a world where the chicken can cross the road without its motives being questioned.
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Apr 14, 2015 9:20 AM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
They are not known to be invasive here in Minnesota, Reid, and are not as resilient. I've seen the occasional reseeding in yard situations, but have never seen them proliferate in the wild. When pruned, sometimes they do come back if we cut them to the ground here, but don't be surprised if the result is less than satisfactory. Really though, you've hardly anything to lose if you want to start small again; if it dies just plant another, or better yet, plant something more interesting, like Leatherwood, Hazel or a viburnum.

Minnesota ranks invasiveness of species:
A. ―Severe threat‖ - known to be in the state
B. ―Severe threat‖ - not known to be in the state
C. ―Moderate threat‖ - known to be in the state
D. ―Moderate threat‖ - not known to be in the state
E. ―Minimal‖ - known to be in the state
F. ―Minimal‖ - not known to be in the state
G. ―Watch / Unknown threat‖
H. Considered But Not Ranked
I. Severe pests in other areas, but could not establish in Minnesota.

While Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is known to be invasive in many states in the eastern half of the US for many many years, for our state, Minnesota ranks it as "G".
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
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Apr 14, 2015 12:57 PM CST
Name: Deb
Planet Earth (Zone 8b)
Region: Pacific Northwest Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
It doesn't even make the watch list in Washington state, although I would personally put it on the 'overused in parking lots' list!
I want to live in a world where the chicken can cross the road without its motives being questioned.
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Apr 14, 2015 8:10 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Reid
North Branch, MN (Zone 4b)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
AWESOMENESS. Thanks everyone. And @leftwood it's great to have a local expert!
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