Expert: Edward Gulliksen - 7/25/2007

Question
I have some shrubs that have been here since I moved in so I don't know how old they are.  I read somewhere that they should be pruned underneath as well as on top so they don't get top heavy.  I think I overdid it on one because I keep finding big brown dead areas every time I check.  Doesn't seem to be happening to the others though. It's the kind with the needles. It's huge and it's going to look so bad.  What can I do?

Answer
Valerie,

There are many types of shrubs with needles (Yews, Hemlocks, Pines), and depending on which one you have will determine what is happening to the plant and if it will recover. Yews, for example, can be cut back drastically adn recover fairly easily. Hemlocks, on the other hand, will never recover from over pruning.

I would recommend contacting a local tree care company to examine the plant to positively determine what the problem is and what steps should be taken to bring them back.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen