Marianne's Response

Pruning and shaping a bushy plant

Hi Marianne, I have a Pieris Fire and Ice plant. How can I get it to be more bushy?

Posted by mdumaine on February 23, 2015

Marianne's Response

If you mean the Pieris japonica or lily of the valley bush this evergreen shrub is easy to prune to shape. Early spring is a good time to prune back the tallest branches removing no more than one third of the shrub. Follow a branch all the way down to a joint or node and remember that the spot you make the cut will be the spot that will sprout new growth. It may take a few years of snipping back the top of the shrub but you will train it into a more compact shape. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti