Marianne's Response

When to trim Mountain Laurel Bushes

I have two questions.

1. I have mountain laurel bushes that are getting huge. When is the best time to trim them? And what is the best way to trim them? Cut them to a stump? Or trim them while shaping?

2. We have fir trees (regular fir, nothing fancy). One of them is half dead (the top half of the trees are brown) but the bottom half has new growth. Shall we cut it down or do you think it needs water? We normally don’t water the evergreen firs that much but with the heat we’ve been having, we are wondering if that is why the tree could be dying.

Posted by dogluvr on July 24, 2015

Marianne's Response

First, the best time to prune Mountain Laurels or Kalmias is right after they bloom and you can just cut at a joint or node and this is the spot new growth will begin. Water them well all summer. Second, I am not sure where you live but adult fir trees will not turn brown from the drought unless there is root damage. I suspect a mole or vole has cut off a main root so that part of the tree is suffering but the rest remains healthy. You can remove the dead top or the entire tree. New growth says the trees are getting enough water. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

    Search the Ask the Gardening Expert library

    Looking for a quick resolution to your problem? Marianne has answered thousands of gardening questions. One may be similar to yours. Try searching our library to get the answer you need — fast!

    My Topics

    View questions you submitted to Marianne in the past

    VIEW MY QUESTIONS