my shrubs are growing unevenly - DIY Chatroom

analogmusicman · 07-09-2009, 06:06 PM

here's the situation: about 6-7 years ago,I decided to yank out the existing ratty looking shrubs in front of my house and start over. so,I did that,yanked out the old ones (wasn't easy,like pulling my dad's teeth and he had STRONG teeth!) and planted a row of Golden something or other. now,it got interesting: the shrubs are all healthy enough BUT, the one next to the garage is big and they get progressively smaller as you go down the line until you get to the very last one which is not much bigger tham when I planted it. any ideas as to what's wrong? after messing with the watering sccheme with no luck,I've now got a theory but I need to have it confirmed. any help? should I post a pic?

tnx,

Jamamros · 07-09-2009, 07:35 PM

After reading MANY landscaping books and doing work with my own shrubs over the years, I've finally decided on my own way to "regrow" shrubs. Everyone knows when you prune a tree//flower, it regrows new headers and over time basically creates a new plant. What you will need to do (a very timely process), is start with the middle of the shrubs, and prune about 25% of the largest and oldest growths all the way down to the crown. The following year, you will want to prune the outside 25%. On the third to fourth years, you'll want to prune the remaining existing limbs all the way down to the crown. Basically what this does is it centralizes all of the growth on your plant, and starts it anew. I don't know where to find pictures or anything online, but I know I check my library weekly for new books on plants and landscape care, just so when I run into a major problem, I no longer must stress. After all, you should be able to enjoy your land right?

Also, if you do this to all your plants, this will keep all of the new growth the same height! Now I don't know if you have tall standing shrubs that down crown at the bottom, if you do, not sure if this same advice would help.

analogmusicman · 07-09-2009, 10:37 PM

well,thanks for that post, but, I'm not sure pruning would do any good.
here's my theory: the amount of sunlight (or lack thereof) hitting the shrubs is what's doing me in. a whole bunch of sunlight hits that end shrub (near the garage) most of the day during the summer with progressively less and less as you go down the line until you get to that midget at the end which stays in the shade of the house all day. what tells me this theory just might be correct is the fact that this year, I pulled out my low voltage lights and replaced them all with solar powered ones and the one right next to the midget glows really dim and in fact,occasionally doesn't even come on at all because of the lack of sunshine on the solar cells. any ideas as to how I can get some sunshine where it's needed short of relocating my house? mirrors?

tnx,

Leah Frances · 07-09-2009, 10:41 PM

I have the same problem with the hostas in front of my house. One side of the porch clearly gets more sunlight and the hostas on that side are twice as big as the other.

Hey, if you wanted your plants to be perfectly symmetrical you could buy fakes

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analogmusicman · 07-10-2009, 07:13 PM

OK, fake bushes are out!

does anybody have an opinion about "artificial light"? you know, fool that midget into thinking the sun's on him when really, a light bulb is playing "pinch hitter".

tnx,