Choisya pruning advice please: urgent?

A couple of days ago, I thought: "Wouldn't it be lovely to turn this shrub into a sort of "tree" by cutting off the lower branches, letting light into the ground and keeping the strongest growth toward the top!"

So, with pruning saw in hand and a pair of secateurs I began trimming way the lower branches of my choisya "Aztec Pearl". I was going great guns up until: I heard a creaking sound one of the older/oldest branches has split

I have no idea how old this shrub is, but, I'm guessing it is quite an age! This is not a shrub which has been planted anywhere near the past 9 years or more!

Can I "duct tape" the place where it has split? Or, should I just leave it as it is?
If I leave it as it is, will disease get into it?
Just how hardy are they?
From the trimmings, I have popped three pieces into some Jack's Magic compost in the vain hope they may "take" - should the very worst happen to the parent!

So: questions.

What are the 'parent' plan chances of survival?
What can I do to ensure the "cuttings" take?

I would really hate to lose this shrub as it is synonymous with this property history.

Any and all help gratefully received; thank you.

 

Choisya (any variety) is extremely easy to propagate. Take tip cuttings now. I find that the Choisya prefers not to make a tree shape, and usually cut it lower as it is prone to splitting as you have discovered. You could cut the whole plant back quite hard and reshape it. Good luck.

 

Hello M
No to duct tape.
As Tetters said, cuttings are easy. Also, look for any stems that may have layered themselves. I often find choisyas do this.....makes quick replacement plants.
Yes, cut back as hard as you like. It will respond to make a thick dense mound.
Branches are brittle. Trying for a tree shape is not really sensible because branches will grow quickly and snap off thus look awful esp with a clean trunk
The split branch? I suggest you cut this cleanly to intact wood. Always best to emulate a plant's basic "style"; in this case a relatively low mound shaped choisya :rasp:

 

''M'' Have you noticed, there is someone in our midst who appears to be hooked on this .......:rasp:. Wot we gonna do with him?

 

Who dat? :rasp:
Wot do you mean? :rasp:

 

Oh that is easy to answer: we do this ...






























:rasp: :rasp: :rasp:




Thank you for your kind advice @Tetters and @Verdun much appreciated

 

........there`s just no hope !

 

Ganging up on me, a poor simple cornishman :rasp:

 

:rasp:

 

Oh no ''M'' don't encourage him......you will be offering him donuts next

 

Hi Tetters / all - just wondering when you say "You could cut the whole plant back quite hard and reshape it", how hard is quite hard? :o)
I have inherited a Choisya that has (due to an overbearing neighbouring plant, now gone) developed a bit of a 'sideways' habit which I've managed to rectify to some extent with some heavy duty staking(!), but it has also been left (due to its overbearing neighbour) very one-sided in terms of its stems and hence foliage (think a letter C when looking at it!!). If I were to go right back to the main 'trunk' would it survive this kind of 'pollarding'?! Not sure how else I could get it back from a letter C to letter O!!
For further info, it is an old plant, with a 'trunk' getting on for probably 2" thick

 

Hi @Martin Procter, in case Tetters doesn't have the personal experience I just happen to. Early this Spring I had to remove a huge Choisia. It was large when we moved here 14 years ago so god knows how old it is. It was about 10 ft tall and multi stemmed. Some of the stems were about 6 inches in diameter.
I was sad to have to dig it up so thought I'd prune the big trunks right down to about 6 inches, replant and I had nothing to loose by trying.
Kept the stumps well watered and after about 6 weeks new growth started. The new growth is about 6 inches from the trunks now. Therefore not only did it survive being somewhat unceremoniously dug up it has responded from being severely pruned too. It never fails to amaze me how the majority of plants have a strong will to live if you give them a chance.

 

Good news thanks @silu . I'll give it a go in spring and hope I have similar success

...assume it is best to wait until spring?

 

If that's possible I think it would be best to wait until next Spring.