Q: Three shrubs in front of our electric box haven’t fully leafed out, and large sections are bare. This happened last year, and we waited until fall to trim it back, but couldn’t get as close to the ground as we hoped. This year, even more branches are bare. Should we do more trimming? Is there hope that it will all come back? — Christine N.

A: The shrubs appear to be dwarf viburnums. The winter was rough on many shrubs, and homeowners have been busy pruning back those that were injured.

If shrub branches are alive, but slow to leaf out, they’ll usually awaken by late May or early June. If scratching the twigs reveals the bright green cambium layer under the outer bark, there’s a chance they’ll produce leaves.

But if nothing happens soon, many shrubs are best pruned heavily. Leafy, d

See Full Page