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Re: renewing old shrubs

Beth,

That can be a challenge!  Again, may not be the orthodox way, but when I've
had to attack something like that (mostly wild roses or junipers, in my
case), I spend some time looking at the mess to try and figure out what
main branches should go.  Once I've visually traced a branch/stem from the
base or trunk to its tip, then I just start from the tip, outside, and cut
my way in until I can physically get to the base where I want to remove
major bits.  

Sometimes, you've got to do more than one stem/branch to create enough room
for your body or arm as you work back in toward the center.  Sometimes this
means cutting something you'd rather not, in which case you need to start
from the least prominent side of the plant.  

Once I can get inside the shrub, then I can start to remove stem/branches
from the base.  Hope this makes some sense.

I've spent many a hot sweaty hour inside of various plants, muttering
imprecations at them as they take every opportunity to poke me with
branches, snag my scarf or my glasses or whatever they can get a grip on. 
And, in the case of the junipers, insert their sharp little awls into the
neck of my shirt.  It becomes a battle sometimes...and not always easy to
win unscathed:-)  

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Beth Metty <patrickm@umich.edu>
> Date: Friday, February 13, 1998 3:30 PM
> 
> Like the kolkwitzia owner, I'm interested in any suggestions for getting
> at the old wood in the middle of a large overgrown shrub.  We have a
> truly venerable clump of mockorange, and I dispair of being able to
> clean it oout and thin the middle - it's 4' across and so thickly wooded
> that there is literally no room to work inside the outer ring of woody
> stems.  I suspect that it was cut to the ground 20 years ago and came up
> as thick as the bristles on a porcupine from the roots after that - and
> now it's 20 years later and you can't squeeze a knife between the stems,
> much less a saw or pruners.

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