bush trimming ideas

[cbdo2007]

Wife and I are not good with yard work, so we're wondering what we should do on this side of our house. Should we just cut those really tall, out of control bushes straight across at about 3 feet up to give them a fresh start or what?

Also that big red/purple tree thing in the background, what's the best and most appropriate way to cut that back without killing it? It's out of control as well. Thanks for your help.

[burrfoot]

1. I thought this was going to be a totally different thread....

but FWIW, you probably can't over-trim either of those unless you really, really try. Do you eventually want them to grow together into a solid unit? Or do you want them to be three distinct, more column-like shapes? That will in large part determine your trimming strategy.

Same deal with the red guy in the back. Do you want it still "wild" on the top, but just tighter to the wall of the house? Or do you want a more manicured look?

In any case, I think you're safe to go with your 3' start-over plan on all of them- they'll be fine.


:toast:

[47of74]

9. So did I

[blueamy66]

2. I'd cut them down a bit as well.

Just take the tops off and shape the sides of the purple one.

I live with a yard junkie and sometimes have to watch him so he doesn't go all Edward Scissorhands on me. :-)

[HopeHoops]

3. Well now. It would be helpful to know what they are, but I have some ideas.

The small one in front: Use hedge trimmers to shape it into a 3/4-round from front to back. Lop everything off on the house side so there's about 8" of clearance. Don't cut too deep while doing the shaping because it looks like it is about to flower.

The middle three: They look like forsythia. Do NOT do any radical trimming on them now. You can clear a foot or so of space on the house side and level off the top. That won't hurt them. Since a lot of the stuff on the house side is growing from the base, use loppers to cut off the entire branch as close to the ground as you can. That will save you a lot of time too. There's a lot of strong growth down low so after the heat of the summer fades, September or so, you can cut them down to about 2 1/2' - 3' tall.

The purple one: If that's a barberry, get rid of the fucker and have someone grind the stump. Those things are nasty. Whatever it is, the base is way too close to the house so it should probably come out anyway. Small shrubs look so cute and cuddly right up against the house when the developers put them in. They get bigger!!!! I've had to take out several for that reason and I've got three more that need to go this year.

[Brickbat]

4. When I was working in Russia I had a photographer come in with a bunch of photos from the city's

pubic-hair-cutting fashion show/contest. Which had been held outside. I know you have a serious question.

[Kali]

5. hire a landscaper

signed, Mom of two :P

[bluesbassman]

6. Is that what they're calling them now?

:P

[UTUSN]

7. (Ignoring the clear duality: ) I've gone through stages with my bushes.

When I moved into my little digs, the yard was bare and like a tract place. I started out with pittisporum all around the front at the property line. One side grew ten feet tall, other places were stunted. Plus I had other types close to the house, as in your pic. Plus, "native" plants, the kind with thorns.

The thorned things were the first to go after the first few years, because all yardwork and pruning involved tending scratches and blood.

Then, after five or more years, the pittisporum started getting sick, fungus or something. So I replaced them ALL with Cape Honeysuckles, because they are somewhat native (actually from South Africa) and thornless and supposedly low maintenance. So those went on for another five or more years with the same tall and short results, then there was a particularly bad freeze and several in the perimeter froze dead and what was left was just scraggly and see-through.

So, I'm at the place where I WON'T (more than CAN'T) go through chainsawing junk down and then digging up the stumps, so besides the never-again THORNS, I've gone to the ultimate low maintenance: Something commercial, Arborvitae (or something), evergreens that are Xmas-tree-like shaped and grow fairly fast and apparently strike water deep enough to need little water from me and turn into a dense privacy fence and dust blocker.

Plus, what I would see wrong in the pic are things CLOSE TO THE HOUSE. I have gone ALL perimeter, nothing close.

***************QUOTE********

http://gardening.yardener.com/YardenersPlantHelper/LandscapePlantFiles/FilesAboutTrees/TreesEvergreen/Arborvitae

The Arborvitae for the South, while not as hardy as our native American arborvitae species, Oriental arborvitaes (Thuja orientalis) are widely planted because they tolerate heat, drought, and alkaline soil and have a reputation for toughness. For some reason this tree is often planted in cemeteries and is referred to as the Cemetery Plant.

************UNQUOTE*********

[KittyWampus]

8. the first one is definitely a Burning Bush. The 3 next ones could be so many things- need a close up

The red one- it could be a barberry if the branches have barbs and it makes tiny little yellow flowers. In this case you can butcher it down.

If it's smooth leaved it might be a smoke tree. In that case you leave it grow.

All of your plants look good actually and don't seem to require pruning. They all should be moved about 2-3 feet out from the house.

[cherokeeprogressive]

10. I prefer the "landing strip" if not just letting them grow wild...

But that's just me.