How Long Do Shrubs Last?
Many property owners often confuse shrubs with trees in terms of care. Rather, they confuse the shrub’s lifespan with that of a tree. If taken care of, trees have a long lifespan, but the same cannot be said for a shrub. Unfortunately, your shrub will reach the end of its life sooner than you might expect.
If you have had your shrubs for 10 to 15 years, you are looking to see your shrub start to go downhill soon. What happens is your shrub starts to look pretty shabby until the point where you wish it were gone.
However while 15 years is really the longest amount you can expect a shrub to keep looking good, there are factors that will shorten this lifespan. These factors include:
- Stress – Planting shrubs near hot asphalt areas or areas where they are exposed to pollution like car exhaust put stress on them. They block this from your home, but it takes its toll.
- Disease – Like trees, there are many diseases that can affect shrubs as well. If a shrub is really popular in your neighborhood, a disease hitting them may become more likely.
- Planting Errors – Shrubs are pretty sturdy, so if you plant your shade loving shrub in the sun, it might last. However, it won’t last as long or thrive as much.
- Weather – Any time severe weather rolls through your neighborhood, it takes its toll on all your plants. You unfortunately can’t really control this, but you should know that it can decrease the lifespan of your shrubbery.
A lot of the above can be avoided to help a shrub live a long life, but there may be a time when you just have to let it go. Luckily, unlike trees that are costly and complicated to remove when they are old, a shrub can be pretty easily replaced.
If you have a shrub that need trimming or even removal after living out its life, contact us today to see how Advanced Tree & Shrub Care can help.