Stuck in the lawn
I’m not a big fan of planting shrubs in front lawns. When I walked by this house I was a bit cranky because my car died at a nearby mall and I had to walk home. But still, planting in lawns is sketchy.
This Hydrangea paniculata is obviously flowering so there isn’t an emergency, yet. But we know that grass is a tough competitor, which means that this hydrangea isn’t growing as vigorously as one planted in a bed. At best you’re looking at status quo.
One fix is creating a tree well which accomplishes several things. It pushes the grass away and allows the tree well to collect water; and it also allows surficial roots to collect nutrients.
Use an edging shovel with a straight bottom to cut away the turf. The tree well should be several inches deep; if you can break an ankle on it, it’s done correctly. Make sure the tree well is clear of grass chunks and soil isn’t piled up against the trunk.
Stop the machines!
Without an established tree well accidents will happen, even if you’re a landscape professional. I know it well from experience. And why do we care? Because slashing the bark stresses the shrub and, done repeatedly, it can kill it.
The poor hydrangea has to deal with competition from grass and spend precious resources on damage repair, instead of growth.
I could see the damage from far away but I still took a close up picture.
Now I know that rabbits, deer and the sun can also cause bark damage on young shrubs but my money is on lawn care machines getting too close.
Conclusion
You’re obviously free to plant anything you want at your house, anywhere you want. But I know from experience that shrubs and trees planted in lawns don’t grow as well. Grass is a tough competitor and lawn care machines cause damage.
Damage leads to stress and possibly death. And instead of a healthy, growing shrub, you get an average specimen. At best you can hope for status quo.
If you must plant in your lawn, create a tree well, even a small one. This will alert lawn care people to stay away from stem tissues.
