QuestionWe had our home built 2 years ago and the frontyard landscaping was included.Within one year 1 evergreen tree and one yew turned yellow and then died. Upon removing the shrubs the roots were very moist. Other shrubbery in the same area is doing well ie holly bushes, dwarf pear tree and ornimental grasses. The mulch where the dead shrubs were planted was very deep, about one foot deep. Could this have contributed to the problem? I would like to replant, as the landscaping looks very bare, but am hesitant, and do not know what type of shrub would do well.
We live in NEPA and the area gets full sun from about 1pm.
Thank you for any suggestions and/or advice.
AnswerJanet,
It sounds like the landscape is suffering from a problem common to all new homes- compacted soils. when builders go into a site, they first strip away all of the good topsoil, then they run their heavy equipment over the yard, compacting the soil. This compaction restricts water from draining normally through the soil. The foot of mulch didn't help the situation either. Mulch should only be 3- 4 inches thick.
I would recommend trying to relieve the compaction by adding sand to the planting holes and augering down into the compacted soil. Have mulch removed from the beds until it is only 4 inches thick nad watch you rwatering practices.
Some plants that would do well in wet areas are:
Willows, Amelanchier, Birches, Viburnum, Salix, Clethra or Linden.
Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen
