[Growster...]

We've had a Pagoda Bush for about twenty years now, and since we moved it to it's permanent position about fifteen years ago, it has got steadily taller, with a decent canopy but with fewer leaves and blossom lower down.

Is there an issue with pruning such an established tree, (which is what it is now), as it really is a favourite, but getting very thin on top! It's about ten ft high now. (It hates very dry weather too)!

[Yorkie]

Is the formal name for the plant Enkianthus campanulatus?

If so, the RHS says it's pruning group 1.

[Growster...]

Thank you, Yorkie!

It is indeed one of these chaps, and we've noticed over the last couple of years, that the lower branches have lost their 'fullness', although the tops are quite healthy!

It did suffer during a couple of very dry summers, and we used to water it, which worked well - the root system is as the RHS describe, and after those episodes, we started to notice the change.

We'll wait and see what happens this year, and hopefully report back, but thanks again for the link!