Marianne's Response

Dead shrub trying

Hi there,

I have a few shrubs which pretty much seem dead… but then there are 1-2 branches on each that look to be growing leaves nicely..but off to the side.

Wondering if there’s anything I can do to try and revive the whole shrub… or what’s the best thing for me to do in this case?

Posted by Jonathan Go on April 8, 2022

Marianne's Response

I could not tell what type of shrub you have by the photo but I do see signs of life in the few green leaves. My advice is to cut back the entire shrub even the new growth. Leave just a few stems or trunk protruding about 4 inches from the ground. This will be a do or die situation. Either the shrub will resprout and regrow looking great or it will die. Either way you won't be stuck with all those dead brown branches. Sometimes when it comes to gardening it is best to use tough love. Your plants are not children and you do not owe them a life time commitment. Now when you replace the dead plants consider some shrubs that are more drought resistant or forgiving of what ever killed the first group of shrubs. Right plant in the right place makes for years of more enjoyable gardening. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti