is my Rose of Sharon doomed?

Question

The support ties came off my ROS a couple of years ago, and I foolishly ignored the poor bush. Last week the buds started. When I looked at the roots (the trunk is about 3 inches in diameter, the branches are about 6-1/2′ long and an inch thick), I discovered that the bush has grown at an absurd angle, sagging to about a 45 degree angle (toward the sun, of course). Should I try to force the branches back into an upright position with stronger ties? Should I prune the branches from the base of the shrub and hope it grows back in a few years? Or dig it up and plant gladiolas? Thanks for your help and I promise that this won’t happen again!

Answer 1

It is okay to prune back and shape up your rose of sharon shrub. Many folks have pruned them back to two or three feet in height just to make them more manageable and then shape prune them as they grow back. Usually the best time to do this pruning is March to early May. I like to do such pruning late March to early April weather permitting. You could buy or have made, a sturdy trellis and tie her back to that. Some pruning to cut down on the load would be recommended.