Ebbing's Silverberry (Elaeagnus) - Knowledgebase Question

New Orleans, Lo
Avatar for carolhoganca
Question by carolhoganca
September 10, 2010
Thank you for your quick response. It's possible that it could have been overwatered -- it has rained here in New Orleans constantly for over a week (several inches). As previously stated, there is one branch that the leaves aren't yellow or falling. The shrub is 6', how much should I prune? Or, will the branches sprout new leaves from where they have fallen (wishful thinking).


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Answer from NGA
September 10, 2010
Wishful thinking or not, I'd err on the side of caution and give the branches a chance to show some signs of life before writing them off as a lost cause. You can try scraping the bark with your fingernail. If you find green tissue beneath the bark, that branch is still alive, and there's hope it will leaf out again. If you find brown material, the branch is dead and you can prune it back. Go slowly, snipping off just a bit at a time - you may find live material somewhere on the branch. If so, stop pruning; if not, go ahead and prune it off completely. I hope your shrub recovers!

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