By Peanuts
Surrey,
United Kingdom 
St. John's wort. I have one of these shrubs but it is looking rather woody in the middle. I cleared out a load of dead branches earlier on in the year. If I was to cut it back hard so it's not so leggy next year, is this a good idea? How is best to have these plants looking full of leaves and flowers. I've seen some recently in gardens so know it can be done just need to learn how. Any advice? Thanks as ever!
21 Sep, 2013
Answers
We only grow the small species and I find that cutting them right down to the ground (difficult to do with crossed fingers) seems to work. Actually I do it at the end of summer flowering season and get new growth the following year.
21 Sep, 2013
These are quite undemanding plants, mine just has a trim in the autumn to keep it tidy followed by a mulch and it responds well. Given normal seasonal weather they bush out well and produce loads of blooms followed by very attractive berries which give interest during the winter months.
23 Sep, 2013
you can prune it quite hard but I'd personally do it in the spring.
21 Sep, 2013