Rosemary, Trim or Not?
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cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-05-2005 at 4:06pm
This is like the lavender pruning question. Is there a desirable size and shape to trim rosemary? Our first rosemary kept getting more and more shaggy and longer, dipping branches into the ground where they got roots. After quite a few years, is just up and quit and died and one of the dippy branches became the new rosemary, It had been growing in the shade of a Doug Fir, so we moved it to the south side of the house, Also because it rooted in a semi prone position it has grown long(sideways) and skinny and quite tall. Before it didnt matter because we never saw it--only when we wanted rosemary-- but now on the south side of the house where lots of things are growing, it has this bewildered looking shape. Because I have always just let it do its thing, I have not paid attention to raising it right--whatever that is. Here it is again, the question that needs a book written about it--It grew, now what do I do?
1. do you trim back to the beginning of the branch, 2. trim tips to shape it? thin it or cut it way back? or leave it alone?
Carol
basilgirl
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-05-2005 at 7:41pm
in my experience rosemary can take a pretty hard prunning. Rule of thumb then ever prunning anything, take a 1/3 at a time. sometimes it will take a couple years to get the exact look your after, but its better for the plant.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
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