RENEGADE GARDENER™
The lone voice of horticultural reason
Don’t be afraid to tear out old shrubs.
Folks, this one is simple – just because the thing came with the joint, doesn’t mean it deserves space in your landscape. Shrubs get old, ugly, they start to fail because they were planted 30 years ago in full sun and now they are in part to full shade. Evergreen shrubs quite often grow too large, planted too close to the house in relation their mature size.
If you are planning on renovating your landscape, walk around your entire property this fall and note every single living plant in your possession. Then decide if it stays, or goes. If a couple, use this rule: If both of you vote it stays, it stays. If both of you vote it goes, it goes. If one of you votes it stays, and the other votes that it goes, it goes. Let that be the tiebreaker.
Don Engebretson
The Renegade Gardener