I have a mature landscape that has a boxy, unnatural look. Would it be possible to restore some of these plants to a more natural appearance instead of replacing them with new plants? I also need your help in choosing the right replacement plants so I don’t end up with the same problem all over again.
Some overgrown and badly pruned plants can be restored to a more natural appearance with proper pruning. The first approach I would consider is to reach deep inside and remove approximately one-third of the branches. In some cases, you will go two or three layers deep and remove multibranched pieces. This reduces the thickness and makes the shrub look more natural. You have to be careful with needle-leaf evergreens so you do not expose too much brown tissue. They will not sprout new growth from brown tissue the way broad-leaf plants will.
Another approach with most broad-leaf plants is to prune the entire plant back to within a foot of the ground and start over. If resprouting is very thick you may need to thin by removing a third to half of the branches in the next trimming. Small shrubs may return to mature size in one year. However, it may take multiple years for large shrubs to return to mature size.
You are also wise to be concerned about plant choice for replacement landscaping. For example, mugo pine is a popular shrub for foundation plantings. Most plants are grown from seed collected where the plant grows naturally. Mugo pine is a very variable species with mature plants ranging in size from 2 feet to as much as 15 feet. A “dwarf” uniform selection propagated from vegetative cuttings named Pinus mugo pumilio can grow 5 feet tall and 10 feet wide — a bit large for under a 3-foot window. It could be kept at 3 feet with yearly pruning, but the width worries me too. A better choice would be a plant that fits the space requirements without pruning.
