Pruning a rosemary

[Millymollymandy]

I planted out a little rosemary only two years ago and now it is a good 3 foot high and about 4 foot wide and covered in flowers.

However it is leaning outwards and the inside of the bush is looking a bit woody and bare. I don't know anything about pruning them as I'm more used to them dying on me in harsh winters!

Any tips please?

[ina]

Don't know - my goats manage to do that for me at least once a year..

[ohareward]

Hi 3M, from my bible. Rosemary becomes straggly unless pruned hard in summer, after flowering, but must not be cut back to old wood. I think if you cut too hard back to the old wood you will be cutting off the new growth. It is much the same with lavender, you cut the flower stalks back to the new growth. I think you may have to leave the bush as is, ie, woody in the centre.

Robin

[Millymollymandy]

OK guys I'll just give it a haircut after it has finished flowering (or borrow a goat ). I thought it might be a bit like lavender and not to cut the woody stuff. There's still plenty of greenery on it all the way down, so should rejuvenate.

I just never in a million years imagined it could grow so big in just 2 years!

[ina]

but must not be cut back to old wood. I think if you cut too hard back to the old wood you will be cutting off the new growth.

Could somebody tell my goats, please?

[Cheezy]

My OH gave 3 of my 4 rosemary bushes a hard cut last year.

Now I have one rosemary bush!.

[hedgewitch]

I remember reading somewhere that you shouldn't prune off more than a third of the Plant and wait until after it's flowered.
I'll see if I can dig out where I got that from.

[Thomzo]

Hi Hedgewitch.

I think that's fairly general pruning advice not to cut away more than 1/3rd of the plant. I have read that several times for all sorts of shrubs and trees. If you cut away more than that, there aren't enough leaves to support the existing root system and the whole plant can suffer.

Zoe

[wulf]

It might be a good idea to combine a more gentle prune with taking lots of cuttings; that way, you can hopefully eventually take out the original, woody-centred plant and replace it with some more verdant offspring.

Wulf

[hedgewitch]

Grow in sandy soil with pH level of 7-8. Pinch the tips to direct growth. Once you have a well-established plant, increase your supply by taking cuttings. Don’t take more than 20 percent of the plant, however.

http://www.organicgardentips.com/how_to ... emary.html

[wulf]

That is an interesting looking site - bookmarked for further reference.

Wulf