Pruning carol macke daphne - Ask Extension
I wish my c m daphne had a fuller, more circular shape. The lower branches seem too thick to cut. What can I do to make it a circular shrub without di...
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Pruning carol macke daphne #926637
Asked March 24, 2026, 10:32 AM EDT
I wish my c m daphne had a fuller, more circular shape. The lower branches seem too thick to cut. What can I do to make it a circular shrub without disrupting its blooms?
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Lynn
Thanks for your question.
This Carol Mackie Daphne appears to be very old. The plant, to maintain shape, needs regular pruning. To bring this one back will require significant pruning and dedication over a few years to get the shape you are looking for. You might consider replacing it, but if you want to try and bring this one back, rejuvenation pruning is the way to go. This involves cutting away no more than a quarter of the plant each year. This encourages the strong root stock to generate new shoots which eventually produces growth that can be pruned into the shape you desire. Each year you prune away the woody stock that appears old, damaged, or has sparse vegetation. With dedication, over the course of 4 or 5 years, the plant will do what you want it to do. With yours, I would suggest leaving the part with the most vegetation to be cut back in year 3 or 4 of your effort. That leaves vegetation for photosynthesis to sustain life of the plant while giving you some flowering you desire. Here is a link to CSU's plant talk document on pruning shrubs which will give you some pruning tips. Be sure to follow the links at the bottom of the page for more in-depth pruning instruction.
1713 – Pruning Shrubs – PlantTalk Colorado
Good Luck
Thanks for your question.
This Carol Mackie Daphne appears to be very old. The plant, to maintain shape, needs regular pruning. To bring this one back will require significant pruning and dedication over a few years to get the shape you are looking for. You might consider replacing it, but if you want to try and bring this one back, rejuvenation pruning is the way to go. This involves cutting away no more than a quarter of the plant each year. This encourages the strong root stock to generate new shoots which eventually produces growth that can be pruned into the shape you desire. Each year you prune away the woody stock that appears old, damaged, or has sparse vegetation. With dedication, over the course of 4 or 5 years, the plant will do what you want it to do. With yours, I would suggest leaving the part with the most vegetation to be cut back in year 3 or 4 of your effort. That leaves vegetation for photosynthesis to sustain life of the plant while giving you some flowering you desire. Here is a link to CSU's plant talk document on pruning shrubs which will give you some pruning tips. Be sure to follow the links at the bottom of the page for more in-depth pruning instruction.
1713 – Pruning Shrubs – PlantTalk Colorado
Good Luck
