In article , Anthony E Anson
writes
One of those up there /\ is a little decrepit to say
the least. There are / \ dead bits on most of the stems
and some of them are ¯||¯ only fit for kindling.
||
Question: what is the consensus of opinion - root fresh
cuttings and dig the old root out, or cut the stems back
to just above the ground in the autumn?

Cut it right down late summer and stick a load of the 'sticks' in the
ground at the same time. If the bush survives you have lost nothing. If
it doesn't survive I think at least a few of the sticks will root over
the winter so that by next autumn you should have the startings of a new
bush. At least that is what I did with one of ours and have more plants
than I can cope with now!!
--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
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