| i am from maine can i cut my rose bushes,hydranders, wisteria, lilac, back to ground level next fall and will they come up bushier next year thanks so much suzanne |
| Sounds rather drastic to me! Roses can be pruned down by two thirds each spring; hydrangeas by the same amount. If your shrubs are very overgrown, plan on reducing their sizes over a 2-3 year period rather than all at once. Pruning down to ground level will remove all the leaves, which plant roots need to manufacture carbohydrates. Without leaves, the shrubs will be really stressed. Lilacs develop flower buds over the summer months on for the following spring's floral display so don't prune until after flowering is finished. Best wishes with your garden. |
