The problem is, they are very thin. I need them to get bushy, thicker with leaves. I've top pruned them for the last four years. They seem to be getting thinner and thinner.

I think I might give them a dose of some sort of fertilizer in the spring. I cannot use compost as there are landscape stones beneath them. Anyone have a recommendation for fertilizer? I don't care if they bloom or not.

Thanks

Have you considered removing the landscape stones, at least temporarily? Compost often does wonders!

they arent meant to be that tall.. and as a result.. they are spindly ...

and they need to be renovated.. or regenerated ... google such .... which will make them much shorter.. but fuller ....

also.. perhaps other trees.. have grown such.. that they are now in shade.. and they are one of the full sun needing shrubs ..

most likely.. by improperly pruning them at height.. you have given up flowers????

fertilizer.. is NOT going to solve the problems you are having ....

good luck

ken

The thing about other trees getting taller is true. The tops get more sun that the bottom. The bottom probably only gets a few hours. If I lop off the top, then, I think your'e right - the lower parts will get more sun and become more full!

In the spring, I'm going to cut off the top four feet. I'm going to spread some compost on top of the rocks and cover that a soaker hose and some landscape fabric (to keep weed seeds from growing).

Now, to figure out that compost part. I can buy bagged compost, but will that really work?

You might want to read some of the threads about landscape fabric (here, in the Tree Forum, and even in the Fruits and Orchards Forum) before you decide on that part. Landscape fabric is sometimes used to get rid of weeds initially, but it has some major drawbacks longterm. If it were me, I'd remove the rock, apply the compost, and then cover with mulch (either the rocks or, better yet, some type of organic mulch like shredded pine bark or pine needles). If you need something underneath the mulch to kill weeds, consider a layer of newspaper about 6 sheets thick. It will last long enough to get rid of your weeds, break down and improve your soil, and won't have the drawbacks of landscape fabric.

Bagged compost varies quite a bit. None of the commercially available stuff may be quite as good as a good homemade compost, but it will still be good for your soil and your plants. It safely adds nutrients to your soil, and, unlike synthetic fertilizer, can greatly improve tilth as it breaks down and gets incorporated into your soil.

The article did say that the top leaves shade out the bottom. So, since I don't care much about the blooms, I might still just cut off the top 4'. Unless you guys think I might kill them by doing that????

Although, it did have huge and very fragrant blooms.

at your cut.. at 4 feet.. the plant will put or 3 to 8 [guessing] new branches... eventually.. they will become so large.. in a couple years.. that you will be re-cutting them off.. at the ground.. like i suggested.. BECAUSE the single lower branch will collapse ...

if you want to watch.. why dont your try cutting one or two like you suggest.. and cut one or two down below like you are supposed to ...

that way.. when your theory fails.. the plant is already on the way to rejuvenation ...

just send me the money you want to spend on the fabric.. it will do more good for me.. than it will in preventing weeks.. think dandylion... which are seeding right now for me... one minute after you put down the fabric.. the seeds will start blowing on top ... and the birds dropping from above ... and then .... they will grow thru the fabric.. and you will NEVER pull out the weeds ....

do not confuse compost and mulch ... compost is to feed the plant..

and on top of that.. you put some mulch.. to prevent weeds and keep the soil cool and damp ... money would be better spent on mulch rather than fabric ..

ken

ken

I'm going to top off the rest, down to about 10'.

As you can see in the pic, they are bare one the east (lattice) side. These I can easily cut to 12". The one's growing over the neighbor's driveway I can cut to 12" too. The rest, I'm going to top off at about 10' or less. Looks like they are only about 13' tall.

What if I keep topping them at 10'? Won't they sucker or something?

As you can see, many of the leaves are turning yellow and dropping already. Neighbor sprayed something - I think it was inscect killer. I could smell that @#$% for three days.

Anyway, I NEED the privacy. He sits in a chair in his driveway facing my deck and just stares over here. Yeech!

I have a question about pruning or cutting them back. Now that they have flowered, is it a good idea to dead head them? What are the best directions for doing this? I have owned them about 4 years - inherited - and have not done serious pruning or dead heading, but from what I read here, some maintainance might be a good thing.
Any advice about cutting them back/dead heading? The flowers have turned brown, so no seems like the right time.

thanks!