Replacing Overgrown Shrubs
Most of the shrubs around my home are overgrown and unattractive. What suggestions do you have for replacing them?
The main problem with most mature landscapes is overgrown shrubs which no longer enhance your home. They may have been sheared so they are all round balls or boxy hedges. They may have lost their leaves at the bottom because of overgrown top growth. In many cases, shrubs have grown together so they no longer have their individual shape or character.
Even if your landscape is relatively young, you may be able to see shrubs that will soon be overcrowded. You may be able to remove some of the extra ones before they have completely grown together. This will allow the remaining ones to retain their natural shape. Will some light pruning on remaining shrubs help before they become overgrown?
If it is too late to do anything but remove an entire row or group of shrubs, you may want to make some plans on what you will use as replacements. You will find lots of ideas on line under “landscape design”. There are lots of books on plants and landscaping at the library. One of the best books for plant selection is Sunset Western Garden book. It has the most complete selection of plants. Most of the Vancouver, Portland and surrounding areas are in Sunset climate zone 6.
Most other plant books use USDA climate zones. Most of the Vancouver and Portland areas are in USDA climate zone 8.
Full service nurseries and garden stores can help you select locally adapted plants. Be sure to measure the height and width of planting areas. Replanting with plants which reach a mature size greater than their allotted space will result in the same problem a few years from now. A sketch on graph paper can be very helpful. Consider widening beds near buildings so that you can leave some space between shrubs and the building. A minimum 3 to 4 foot width is needed to accommodate most shrubs. Try curving the beds to get a more natural look.
Limit the different kinds of shrubs you plant. In most cases clusters of 3 or more of the same shrub are more attractive than individuals. Individual specimen plants may combine well with clusters of other plants. Space plants according to their mature size. Use larger size shrubs to get a more immediate full look.
Consult books on landscape design for ideas about attractive groupings. I am available for free landscape design consultation in Vancouver and Clark county. If you are planning to do extensive landscape remodeling, a landscape architect or designer may be a good investment.
Allen Wilson
Allen has been writing about gardening for over 30 years. He is a retired professor of Horticulture.