On occasion, a tree or shrub overgrows its allotted space so that it must be chopped back. Truthfully, there is not one but many, and most are left to fend for themselves.

I’ve pledged several times on these pages to hack back paperbushes (Edgeworthia chrysantha) that have spread several times the width promised by otherwise dependable references. But, nothing of great importance stands in their way, so the urgency will take a backseat to midafternoon snoozes until the treasured shrubs begin to obstruct the path in the lower rear garden. Maybe next year.

For whatever reason, I chose to prune the dull yellow leafed ‘Canyon Creek’ abelia that stands partway between two of the four original paperbushes (several more were planted later, but in part shade where they do not thrive). As I said, one paperbush has now spread to the edge of a path while the other was once at the front of this shrub border, but now is mostly hidden behind a columnar ‘Tokyo Tower’ Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’) and ‘Canyon Creek’.

The fringetree will not be pruned, though someday it might be limbed higher. The abelia does the most of the blocking, and I figured it would easily grow back. With support from the fringetree and a deutzia, it grew far taller than expected, so perhaps it would grow more compactly if it was chopped hard.

Well, plans often go astray, and if anything, the abelia has grown taller and more open in its branching. No big deal, but the hard pruning has also delayed and limited its flowering.

Despite its open branching, which is largely due to it position shoehorned between two taller neighbors, ‘Canyon Creek’ is my preferred abelia, favored far above more compact and popular variegated leaf varieties. Its flowers stand beautifully in contrast to its large leaves, and blooms often last well past early frosts. Oh well, it’s looking like there will be many fewer flowers this year, but while it’s late getting started, I should enjoy the blooms until the end of the autumn gardening season.

While we’re close by, I must also mention the ‘Tardiva’ hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva’) that predates the paperbush as it rises far overhead. ‘Tardiva’ was also once at the front of the border before the paperbushes were planted, and now this selection has long been forgotten as improved cultivars (such as ‘Limelight’) have been introduced. But, it is a splendid large shrub that adds glorious blooms for weeks in the rear garden beginning in midsummer.

I don’t believe a warning is necessary since it does not seed prolifically, but several seedlings have grown from beneath other shrubs. None were evident until the hydrangea grew through the canopy of foliage, so they were far too large to pull out. I’ve attempted a peaceful coexistence, and so far, an annual chop keeps the peace. Since panicled hydrangeas flower on the current year’s growth, there is no problem with flowering, and all flower in time with their nearby parent.