Question
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Followup To
Question -
When I moved into my current house there is a very well established rosemary bush at the back of the house. I have been here since August 2004 and have never cut it or done anything to it (I'm not very good in the garden) but it is starting to take over and I would like to trim it down ... without killing it.

At present it is about a metre and a half wide and about a metre across. I didn't know when the best time of year was to trim it or how. Please help!
Answer -
Karen:
Start at the bottom and trim 1/3 off each branch. Do this every 3 weeks. When new shoots start growing from your first cuts, trim them again by 1/3. Place cut pieces in brown bag and place in a dry place. When they are dried, place in a blender and store in seasoning jars and give as gifts for barbecues and you must try rosemary chicken if you have not done so.

Leroy

Thanks alot Leroy, Should this be done on a regular basis then? Its just coming to Spring at the minute so i'm okay to start cutting now?
I don't want to the bush to be too big so how do I get it to be smaller ... only removing a third will still be too big for the area.
Karen

Answer
Karen:
Now is the time to start cutting. Since it is so large,do 1/2 on each branch and every 3 weeks cut when you see new growth anywhere on the plant. You can also cut off 12-18" from the top. I hope this will bring it down some. Then keep pruning the new growth every 3 weeks and find a chef who will love to have some fresh rosemary.

LeRoy