Question
I have a sturdy heather plant which seems to do well in NY State without mulching in the winter (but maybe I should!).  It has developed a very leggy, woody center w/ branches leaning outward.  The result is a brown center, no green until the outer 50% of the branches.  should I prune it all the way back and hope it will fill out from the ground or is this the nature of the plant and how it is supposed to mature. This is its 4th summer in the ground.  Thanks.  Sue

Answer
Dear Sue

Thank you for your question.

Heather plants do need regular trimming (not pruning) to keep them bushy.  In the wild this is done by browsing animals - usually deer and sheep.  As things stand with your mature plant I think it might be best to cut back about 50% of the green growth this year and then trim back about 50% of the new growth every year after it has flowering in the spring.  Don't cut into the woody part of the plant as there's no guarantee that it will put out new shoots.

Hope this helps to restore the beauty of your plant

As for mulching your plant in the winter -  heather is very hardy and really doesn't need winter protection - your plant has survived 3 New York winters - speaks for itself!