In article ,
Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message
from "Emrys Davies" contains these words:

With cistus no pruning is required and older plants seldom recover from
being cut back. On young plants straggly growths may be lightly trimmed
in March to provide bushy growth. Also, remove all dead and frost
damaged wood.

I would add, IME they are not longlived plants ( 5 yrs or so is good
going in a wet windy climate).

It also depends a lot on the soil - the better-drained and poorer,
the better for longevity. Mine last a lot longer than that, and my
normal reason for replacing them is that they have got too big.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.