What would you do with these shrubs?

We have 3 Fragrant Sumac Lo-Grow that were planted in front of the walk before we moved in. Bush 1, nearest our driveway, had at some point had all the middle cut out, and has always looked weird. I pruned it back off the driveway and walk yesterday, and pulled the mulch and a root that had grown around the truck off. Bush 2, in the middle, looks pretty good, I did the same with it, and noticed it has 2 crowns (do you call them that in shrubs?) a couple inches apart. Bush 3, next to the neighbors driveway, is farther away from the other 2 and is already hanging over their driveway. I haven't touched it yet.

Bush 1 and 2

Bush 3

All 3. Maybe we could move Shrub 3 (Curly) closer to 1 and 2 (Larry and Moe) and try to keep them in a kind of mounded hedge configuration. There are a lot of these shrubs in some of the malls around here pruned as very small square hedges, but I'd like something a little less formal looking. I just don't like pruning the end ones so lopsided to keep them off the driveways (and from getting trampled and broken off). Also thought of taking out Larry and Curly altogether and just letting Moe spread out more.

This message was edited Apr 29, 2009 1:34 PM

No takers? Should I post it somewhere else?

I don't have any experience with that particular shrub, however. If they were mine, I do have a few of questions first.

1) Is this in the front of your house or to the side? In the back?

2) Do you like them?

3) Is there another place they could be enjoyed more?

If they are in the front of your house, I would consider relocating them to a less conspicuous bed. Being bare takes away a bit from curb appeal. You could possibly plant something around them that could grow opposite their growing season to help camouflage them in their dormant state.

If you don't particularly care for them, consider trading them to someone for something you DO like and that might be evergreen (again, IF they are out font).

If you do like them, and can move them to another location where you can enjoy them more in their growing season, that would be ideal. Then you can replace them with a better choice for curb appeal.

Hope this helps.

This message was edited May 3, 2009 6:40 PM

I have sumac in my yard...I had to look up Lo Grow, never heard of it...I read that it spreads 8 feet wide. The sumac in my yard (fragrant sumac) is so horribly invasive, we've been pulling it up for years.It sends runners out everywhere. It isn't attractive at all. It looks dead most of the time then when it comes to life it's a thicket. And it spreads & spreads & spreads... I just pulled & hacked a bunch of roots out the ground yesterday. There were already little baby shoots sticking up everywhere. Unless you love this plant, I'd ditch it now lol