Solving Problems with Shrubs in Michigan
The landscape of your yard can change just by adding a few shrubs. Many homes have shrubs planted all along the perimeter of the home. They make a great way to add depth and dimensions to your home without changing the landscape completely. Unfortunately there are some problems with shrubs in Michigan that can cause them to grow improperly, spread too quickly, and even die. I’ll go over some of the common problems that plague shrubs in Michigan so you can be sure your home’s shrubs are happy and healthy.
Solving Problems with Shrubs in Michigan
When you notice your shrubs start to lose leaves and not fill out like they should you need to figure out what going on with them. If the plant is starting to lose leaves and wither you need to take action before it’s too late and you need to replant new shrubs to take their place. Sometimes figuring out what is happening to the shrubs can be difficult. One thing that you’ll want to rule out initially is wildlife. Make sure the neighbors dog isn’t using your shrubs as a restroom. Or wildlife like deer eating the leaves of shrubs which is quite common with some shrubs in Michigan.
Once you’ve ruled out wildlife then it may take a bit of investigating to figure out what’s going on. If you’re experiencing problems with only one shrub as opposed to an entire section then it may just be a weak tree shrub that is happening. Just replacing the shrub may solve the problem. But if you’re concerned about other problems occurring here are some things that you can check to ensure the shrubs around your home stay healthy
Check for Insects on the Plant
Insects can do a lot of damage to plants especially if they are feeding on it. Inspect the plant and see if there are insects that are feeding on the shrub. Look at the leaves of the shrub and see if they look like they are partly eaten. Many ants will cut parts of the leaf to take back to their beds. You can also check the ground around the shrub and look for insects. It’s likely if the plants are being attacked by insects then you’ll see many of them around the plant.
If you have insects attacking your plant it’s important that you protect the plant before they spread to other parts of your lawn. There are many chemicals and products available to kill many of the insects that can kill shrubs and other plants. Just make sure it will not harm the shrub and the product is safe on your particular shrubs.
Check the Soil and Find Out if it’s a Mineral Problem
If you’re noticing a spread of shrub problems at your home then you may need to check the soil in the areas that are giving you problems. You can grab some test strips from Amazon and check the levels in your soil. Having an improper level of pH in the soil can cause the shrubs in Michigan to wither and even die eventually. There are other testing measures to you can check also which includes moisture level and more. Check different areas in your yard and compare them. How are the problem areas different than the areas that are thriving. This can really give you some insight as to what the problem is.
Your Shrubs May Have a Disease
When you notice a tree start to lose leaves and wither down it could be because of a disease. It’s difficult to determine the cause sometimes when the shrub is attacked by a disease. When this happens there usually isn’t much you can do for the tree or shrub. Sometimes it’s best to remove the shrub from the others before insects move the problem to other shrubs. This is very difficult to determine and it will usually take a trained professional and a few tests to know for sure.
If you suspect that your shrubs are being attacked by a disease it’s first best to rule everything else out before you come to that conclusion. Make sure it has plenty of sunlight, minerals and such in the soil. And make sure insects and wildlife are kept at bay. If your shrubs in Michigan are still having problems you may want to contact a professional landscaping company in Michigan.