Need advice on pruning old plants

[Ernest]

Some of my old cvs that have been in the ground for several years are looking somewhat bare, spindly, and shabby. Unfortunately I neglected these plants for quite a while--little or no fertilizer and no pruning until about a year and a half ago. These four that are looking particularly pathetic were also getting too much water from the backyard sprinklers. I have corrected the sprinkler problem and would now like to "rehab" these plants. Having virtually no experience with pruning, I am not sure how to go about it. Can they or should they be pruned back to the main stem? As you can see in the pictures the main stems are 1-2" thick and sometimes knarled and bent. Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

Erny

[Charlie]

Ernie, looks like it is time for your "inner sculptor" to come out and get creative.

A hard prune back to the main stem works beautifully if it does not kill the plant. The regrowth is usually very healthy and lush. However, this is major surgery and sometimes they just up and die when the prune is that hard. I've done it many times and the odds are high that it will succeed. But, I've lost a few too, doing this.

A safer prune is one that leaves the main stem and several of the main offshoots, including a few leaves wherever possible. You can even do this in stages - waiting for new growth to show before pruning the next quadrant of the plant. This latter strategy takes longer but is the safest way to go.

To get good results you do have to get right in there and remove a lot of old wood.

Good luck!

Charlie

[Ernest]

Thanks Charlie. I don't know if I have an "inner sculptor". I'll have to rely on my "inner surgeon".
An unrelated question I've been meaning to ask. Any plans for Open Houses this year?

Erny