Plants with bare lower branches - Ask Extension
Hello. These plants are on the south side of out house which gets midday sun - 5th or 6th year for them. We don’t recall what they are called. No...
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Plants with bare lower branches #806023
Asked August 12, 2022, 10:12 PM EDT
Hello. These plants are on the south side of out house which gets midday sun - 5th or 6th year for them. We don’t recall what they are called. Normally quite full by now. Bottoms of plants bare of leaves. Victim of the drought? Thanks for your advice.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
The plants appear to be False Spirea
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sorbaria-sorbifolia/
https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/false-spirea/
This is a tough plant. A couple thoughts. The ground is dry and it has been a harsh summer. Your lawn is stressed and to make it tougher, the house is painted with a reflective light colored paint.
Leggy plants like this benefit from renewal planting. https://hawkslandscape.com/false-spirea-pruning-winter-care-and-fertilizing/
https://www.pyracantha.co.uk/when-and-how-to-prune-sorbaria-false-spirea/
The plants appear to be False Spirea
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sorbaria-sorbifolia/
https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/false-spirea/
This is a tough plant. A couple thoughts. The ground is dry and it has been a harsh summer. Your lawn is stressed and to make it tougher, the house is painted with a reflective light colored paint.
Leggy plants like this benefit from renewal planting. https://hawkslandscape.com/false-spirea-pruning-winter-care-and-fertilizing/
https://www.pyracantha.co.uk/when-and-how-to-prune-sorbaria-false-spirea/
Thanks for your prompt response and good info! So the plants are not dead, but understandably stressed. Too late for extra watering?
Greg
On Aug 12, 2022, at 9:23 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Thank you for writing back.
Adequate water is important but will not bring dead stems back to life.
However, the roots are a part of these plants that are clearly still alive. They need water and are continuing to send out new shoots.
By removing dead canes, you allow more light to get to those new shoots and get a new plant.
Selectively pruning the spindly shoots (see previous notes) ensures that the new shoots will become a plant like you remember it and want it to be.
Adequate water is important but will not bring dead stems back to life.
However, the roots are a part of these plants that are clearly still alive. They need water and are continuing to send out new shoots.
By removing dead canes, you allow more light to get to those new shoots and get a new plant.
Selectively pruning the spindly shoots (see previous notes) ensures that the new shoots will become a plant like you remember it and want it to be.
This info much appreciated!
Thank you!
Greg
On Aug 13, 2022, at 8:07 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
