Pruning/Trimming Arborvitae - Ask Extension
Hello,I’m hoping you can assist with a question. The shrub in the attached pic has started to impede my walkway. I would like to retain the shrub, t...
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Pruning/Trimming Arborvitae #886506
Asked September 26, 2024, 3:22 PM EDT
Hello,
I’m hoping you can assist with a question. The shrub in the attached pic has started to impede my walkway. I would like to retain the shrub, trimming it back so that the walkway is cleared. Upon investigation, it appears that if I were to trim it back all the greenery would be gone, exposing the inner brown branches. If I were to move forward with this process would the green leaves grow back or would the Arborvitae be forever destroyed?
Note: The shrub was previously a tree. I cut the top off a couple of years ago as it was growing too tall and it has continued to thrive.
Thanks.
Harford County Maryland
Expert Response
You are correct that there is a risk of having the shrub not regrow foliage in any area where branches are pruned back to old wood (the areas with no foliage in the plant's interior). If you want to experiment, you can try pruning to see how it responds (though wait until early spring at this point). However, given how close it is to the walkway and the fact that it will still regrow (if it does recover well) and keep repeating the problem in the future, the better solution would be to either transplant it to a better location or replace it (with a plant more able to fit into the space available without needing pruning).
Miri
Miri
Thanks, your response is much appreciated.
On Sep 26, 2024, at 4:37 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
You're welcome.
