My boyfriend thought the Euonymus was a weed and cut the plant back leaving only the roots ?

Question

There's a few little brown trunks left for each of the three plants. The plants were very established and had been there over 10 years. Will they sprout new growth and grow back? If not, is it ok to plant new ones at this time of year in the Toronto Ontario area?

Answer 1

The shrubs will most likely grow back.  But you won't know for sure until next spring.  If they are not showing any signs of new growth by spring, that will also be a good time to replace them.  I would suggest getting Mr. Plant Killer to dig the holes for your new shrubs.

Don't be so sure that they died an accidental death though.  I've known other men who develop a strong dislike for a particular plant and they'll come up with all sorts of excuses for killing it.  One of my friends had a lilac bush that was dear to her because her mom had given it to her.  Her husband hated that bush and he kept asking her if he could replace it.  Finally one day while she was gone, he ripped it out with his tractor.  Surprisingly, she's still married to the guy.

Find a hobby for your boyfriend so he stays away from your plants.

Answer 2

How can he mistaken ten-year-old shrubs for weeds?!

The plant's roots are perhaps in shock after the beheading but give it some time...they may just regrow!  Euonymus are rather hardy plants and withstand heavy pruning.  Plants grow from rootballs and if the roots are intact, there is still growth potential.

Don't grow anything in the place yet.  Wait until next spring.  If nothing has regrown by then the plants had been murdered.

Many shrubs actually grow better after a near-death massacre, and will grow lusher as well.  So give it a try and give your b/f a serious lesson in pruning and plant identification.

Answer 3

They should regrow quite well.  I had two die back to the ground last year because of a very late frost and both have come back very well (although they both need some corrective pruning to improve their forms).

Just a little word of advice: Keep the loppers out of the boyfriend's hands until he can identify what is what.......