Landscape plantings are continually growing and changing and should be periodically reviewed to determine if they are still effective and meeting your requirements or if some renovation needs to be done. Trees and shrubs are usually thought of as permanent parts of our landscapes, but many plants have a limited useful life span. When a plant no longer serves the purpose for which it was planted, a decision needs to be made whether it should be removed. The following guidelines may make the decision process easier.
Is the plant out of scale with the site? If a shrub is taking over the sidewalk or the Colorado Blue Spruce that once looked so attractive is now blocking the view from two windows and filling your gutters with needles, it's probably time to remove them. Most trees and shrubs don't benefit from continuous, heavy pruning and will become unattractive and lose their natural shape if pruned too heavily.
Have diseases or insects weakened the plant? A plant needing heavy doses of pesticides throughout several growing seasons just to keep it alive may be a candidate for removal.
Has it shown poor performance? A plant in the wrong site will never do well. For example, a sun-loving shrub in a shady area will grow poorly and be especially susceptible to insects and diseases. It would be better to relocate the sun-lover to a sunnier location and plant a shade-tolerant plant, in the first site.
Is it a safety hazard? Trees in decline can pose safety issues for your family, property and even your neighbors. Decline can occur for many reasons, including root damage from construction and disease. If removal is necessary, consult a licensed arborist.
Is the plant located correctly, healthy and not too large for the site, but needs rejuvenation? In many cases, shrubs that have been ignored for several years will gradually lose some of their appeal and beauty. In this case, the plant simply needs rejuvenation pruning to be brought back to its prime. Remove about 1/3 of the old, woody stems each year for the next three years. Cutting the old stems down to the ground will encourage new, vigorous growth that will be fuller, more attractive and bloom better.
Fall is a great time to make changes to home landscape plantings. Make notes now of the changes needed for next year, and plan to address them when the cooler temperatures of September arrive.
