LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, January 16

Plants Get Old Too

One of the most common reasons for the decline of trees and shrubs in the landscape is due to old age. Trees and shrubs have average, predictable lifespans. For example, Oaks and Camellias* are long-lived (200+ years!) but Flowering Cherries and Poplars are naturally short-lived (30 years). Stressful urban environments can further shorten the life of a plant. People tend to think that once planted, a woody ornamental shrub or tree will live indefinitely, but this is not the case. 

Plan for routine maintenance and sometimes for rejuvenation pruning, but don’t expect trees and shrubs to have an infinite lifespan.


*Camellias 600 years of age are recorded and centuries-old Oaks :-)