Bush adice - trimming and ability to withstand damage

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I have three large bushes I need to either remove or trim back. Interestingly, these were 3 were small bushes in our yard when we bought the house a long time ago. For years they wouldnt grow much at all, seemed already at thier final height.

Moved them to where they are now and they all took off! Pretty sure we missed the opportunity to prune and cut back, esp for the evergreens in front (cant believe how large that got once moved to a different spot).

First: giant evergreen at corner of house. Not sure what it is. This thing remained at 2' x 3' for years. Moved to corner of house in front and took off. Every year thinkign I should find out if that can be pruned at all. Although it may have to go altogether because I have a downspout drainline I need to replace that is, you guessed it, right under it.

Second: An evergreen bush that also remained small until moved up against the house, then went crazy. Also probebaly missed our chances to prune back. We like this bush but it blocks the entire window now which is where I work and where we have many plants. Can a bush like this be drastically cut back at this point and rebound?

Thrisd: Arborvitae. Another remained about 8 ft for years, moved to front corner, now 25'. For this one, I have to replace that downspout drainline on that side of house also and afain, runs right under the Arborvitae. Im assuming it cant withstand dramatic root cutting, but figured I ask.

Thanks all!

bush2.jpg


bush1.jpg


bush3.jpg
 

Martin Mikulcik

Rain makes corn
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First ones a juniper
Is the second a chamaecyparis, idk
Regardless they'll take some pruning but digging up a drain line underneath is a tall task.

Good luck

If you really want to shrink the second and not kill it, take it down slowly over the course of a few years, but it might be easier to try cutting very hard and hoping it lives. It probably will but no one's going to guarantee it. And killing it might be less work in the long run anyway considering it's never going to want to be a tiny ball under the window
 

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