What To Do With These Azaelas ?
We moved into a house last year that is 15 years old. The former owners didn't take thoughtful care of their house or yard, and we are doing heavy renovations throughout. Although I have a good sense of direction and "vision" about most of what I want to do, I am having an inner struggle about the row of azaelas across the front of the house.
The Situation:
In the front of the house there is a row of 7 or 8 azaelas planted very closely together (like 2 ft apart). They are very tightly grown into each other, and are sheared to about 2 ft high, in a roundish shape. They are squeezed between a walkway (which is in front of them), and a hedge of yews behind them. So, a yew hedge, with an azaela hedge in front of it, and a sidewalk in front of that. All very tight and close together.
I hate seeing the azaela's there, because I feel so sorry for them... their artificial, shorn, tight, "hedgey" shape; and their being squeezed into such a small area. Also, they face full west --- very hot sun that is intensified by the reflection off the front of the house (which is right behind the yew hedge).
My Dilemma - What to do with them??
The conditions they are growing in is so inappropriate for them, but I can't see how I can transplant them because of how intertwined they are - roots below, and branches above. I think it'd kill them to try; and then I'd be killing them in the name of "helping them". (??!!) I can let them grow a little "freer" than the artificial shape they are in, but not much more --- their simply isn't the space (sidewalk in front, yews behind).
I have a lovely, tall tree canopy shade in my back yard --- if I could get them back there, they'd be so happy!
I did try last fall to try to take out every other one and let the rest grow freer, but again --- they were too intertwined to do that (well, it seemed like they were --- I couldn't separate branches or roots from their intergrowth).
They will be blooming in another month or so, and after that I am going to do whatever I decide to do.
What can I do?
~ Try to move them, and see if they die or not?
~ Just rip them out, assuming they wouldn't live through the trauma of transplanting?
~ Leave them - even tho they are in a torturous spot for them (after all they've been there all along already). They are pretty healthy looking, despite their artificial shape and difficult situation.
Any other ideas??? I welcome all your thoughts.
Miss Mary
Zone 7
missmary - 6b/Central MarylandOriginal Author
pamelaq_2007
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morz8 - Washington Coast
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missmary - 6b/Central MarylandOriginal Author