Bushes Grown Together

Question

We have a great big azalea bush; it’s about 50 years old. We have kept it there for sentimental reasons, but it’s getting white fungus on it pretty bad. Now the problem: For the last three years or so, we have noticed a beautiful nandina bush that has grown right through the middle of it. We want to cut down the azalea and keep the nandina. Any suggestions on the best way to do this?

Answer 1

I would just take a pair of pruning shears and trim away the azalea, branch by branch, from around the nandina. Trim away until just the stumps are left. Paint the fresh cuts on the azalea stumps with Round-up to finish off the root system.