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Will my conifer grow back?

michelle0619@michelle0619

1 Post

#1 · 8th March 2023, 5:43 pm

Quote from michelle0619 on 8th March 2023, 5:43 pm

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Lee Garden Ninja@lee

592 Posts

#2 · 9th March 2023, 4:10 pm

Quote from Lee Garden Ninja on 9th March 2023, 4:10 pm

Hi @michelle0619

The quick answer is no. I'm afraid your Conifer won't grow back looking at those heavy pruning cuts.

The reason for this is that Conifers have super strong apical growth at the very tips of branches. Unlike other plants that when pruned, send their energy back down into side shoots, conifers don't do this.

If you cut back into old wood conifers won't regenerate. That's why pruning them needs to be done a little and often 2x a year as they grow, never cutting back into old wood. This helps keep a good shape and prevents holes from appearing where they've been cut back to old wood.

There's a really good question here with more detail on why Conifers need to be pruned carefully rather than being hard pruned or brutalised with chainsaws.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

All the best

Lee

Hi @michelle0619

The quick answer is no. I'm afraid your Conifer won't grow back looking at those heavy pruning cuts.

The reason for this is that Conifers have super strong apical growth at the very tips of branches. Unlike other plants that when pruned, send their energy back down into side shoots, conifers don't do this.

If you cut back into old wood conifers won't regenerate. That's why pruning them needs to be done a little and often 2x a year as they grow, never cutting back into old wood. This helps keep a good shape and prevents holes from appearing where they've been cut back to old wood.

There's a really good question here with more detail on why Conifers need to be pruned carefully rather than being hard pruned or brutalised with chainsaws.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

All the best

Lee

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Last edited on 5th February 2024, 11:02 pm by Lee Garden Ninja

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