I've just moved into a nice neighbood where one is expected to
keep the grass cut and prune the bushes.
Any suggestions on how to trim them?

I don't know what kind they are, but they have small leaves and
the bushes are shaped round with flat tops. There are several
right together and they are 4 feet from the house.
Questions:
1. Do I keep the bushes seperate or let them grow together?
2. How do you know which to trim and which to let grow wild.
3. It would seem to me, after a time, the bushes grow "woody"
right up to the very edge of green and it is hard to cut this
thick wood with an electric trimmer. Do I then need to prun
some of the thicker branches so I get some regrowth of more green
and easily pruneable vegitation?


Also, my yard has a grass? weed? in it that I would like help
IDing. It has a braided like base, that is stolon like. Then it
puts up a single stalk that is "Y" shaped with fine black stuff
on it. I don't know if it is a weed or a type of grass.
Any help most appreciated.

SH

Steve wrote:
I've just moved into a nice neighbood where one is expected to
keep the grass cut and prune the bushes.
Any suggestions on how to trim them?

I don't know what kind they are, but they have small leaves and
the bushes are shaped round with flat tops. There are several
right together and they are 4 feet from the house.
Questions:
1. Do I keep the bushes seperate or let them grow together?
2. How do you know which to trim and which to let grow w
3. It would seem to me, after a time, the bushes grow "woody"
right up to the very edge of green and it is hard to cut this
thick wood with an electric trimmer. Do I then need to prun
some of the thicker branches so I get some regrowth of more green
and easily pruneable vegitation?


Also, my yard has a grass? weed? in it that I would like help
IDing. It has a braided like base, that is stolon like. Then it
puts up a single stalk that is "Y" shaped with fine black stuff
on it. I don't know if it is a weed or a type of grass.
Any help most appreciated.

You're starting from scratch and will have a lot of questions. You can
do it piecemeal on newsgroups with people guessing what you have from
sketchy descriptions, or you can go to your local library and get a
book which will identify your shrubbery and how to prune it. The
latter option makes far more sense.

R

Any suggestions on how to trim them?

I don't know what kind they are, but they have small leaves and
the bushes are shaped round with flat tops. There are several
right together and they are 4 feet from the house.
Questions:
1. Do I keep the bushes seperate or let them grow together?
2. How do you know which to trim and which to let grow wild.
3. It would seem to me, after a time, the bushes grow "woody"
right up to the very edge of green and it is hard to cut this
thick wood with an electric trimmer. Do I then need to prun
some of the thicker branches so I get some regrowth of more green
and easily pruneable vegitation?
Also, my yard has a grass? weed? in it that I would like help
IDing. It has a braided like base, that is stolon like. Then it
puts up a single stalk that is "Y" shaped with fine black stuff
on it. I don't know if it is a weed or a type of grass.
Any help most appreciated.

Look up Bahia grass in Google Images. It has a Y-shaped seed head. If that
is it, you can google on the web for care suggestions. I think other
grasses also have this shaped seed, tho, including Bermuda grass. In a
sense it doesnt matter what the grass is. If you like it, mow, fertilize,
and water it. It will love you for the care.
Re the bushes, if you are new to gardening, suggest you get some info from
your neighbors, local-specific gardening guides, and from the county
extension office. If that doesnt appeal to you, try letting the bushes grow
together laterally - they will know when to stop on their own. And trim
often to keep foliage looking nice. Many bushes can be trimmed practically
forever without getting woody, but it depends on species, and it must be
done often to keep the shrub from looking scraggly..
If the bushes bloom in the spring, it is best to do the trimming right after
the bloom, as early spring pruning could remove the buds that later become
flowers.
Also, rec.gardens is a well attended newsgroup, and there are some keen
gardeners tuning in, with generally good advice.