The message
from Sacha contains these words:

Mel30/1/04 5:39


"Kay Easton" wrote in message
My cotoneaster horizontalis, because of severe neglect, has gone
wild and
needs pruning hard. When should I tackle this?

When you can summon the energy ;-)

I've hacked at mine at all sorts of times of year. I think it's
indestructible.

Thanks, Kay. I was out there an hour ago in the pouring rain. I'd bought
some brand-new loppers and couldn't wait to give them a try. I
lopped off a
load of branches but then stopped because I thought I might kill the
thing.

Admit it - what you really mean is - you panicked. ;-)
I think Kay's right, you can hardly kill them. I cut one against a wall
right back to ground level - one stump only left which I couldn't get out.
Damned thing sprouted right back next year!

If this easy, handsome, foolproof plant had a better publicity agent,
s/he'd tell the world it's a rare and exclusive indicator of gardeners'
good taste and skill. Then it might receive the appreciation and
admiration it richly deserves :-)

Janet