Since this was asked twice, please see response in the other thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: Other Thread

Thank you -- I did read that thread before posting, and realize I probably should have waited before shearing them. In my situation though, I sheared them immediately after planting so will I have other issues regarding say shocking the plant?

See my response in the other thread.

Brandon,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! That is exactly what I wanted to know. Maybe I'll be able to sleep tonight. I'm rather new at gardening and think I learned my first lesson: Ask questions FIRST, not later.

i would NEVER plant anything in august for highest odds of success ...

i would never prune anything for 2 years.. as every leaf is a food making machine for new root growth ...

that is a perfect world ... and is all about aiming for 100% success ... for a newbie ...

if you planted PROPERLY ....

if you watered PROPERLY ...

if you mulched PROPERLY ...

odds are the pruning will have little or no effect on success ....

but i will not say there will be no harm.. until i know all the other .. MORE IMPORTANT variables were addressed .... PROPERLY ....

does that make sense .... ????

in other words.. if you planted it improperly... the pruning wont be what hurt it ... if you dont water properly.. the pruning wont kill it... if you didnt mulch it... pruning wont matter ...

if you did all other things proper.. QUIT worrying about a bit of pruning...

good luck.. and next time think about delaying until sept cools off a bit.. just to hedge [get it.. like a pun.. lol] your bets ...

bottom line.. make sure the other stuff is taken care of.. and forget about a little snipping

ken

Thanks Ken. We had new dirt delivered and mixed it into our beds. We dug the holes twice the size as the root ball and mixed in a little peet moss and sprinkled some miracle grow/water mixture. Put in the shrub--keeping 1/4 of the top of the rootball showing. Filled it in with dirt and watered. Today it was very hot, but I didn't water them since they were just watered at 9 pm the night before and they called for rain in the afternoon. It did rain pretty good, and tomorrow will probably rain as well.

I do have a question about watering them.... The man at the nursery said water them every 3-5 days. My neighbor says every day. What's your opinion? Also, if I use a water wand, how long would you say I need to spend on each shrub? The nursery directions aren't specific regarding a water wand, but say with a slow trickle of the hose you should spend 10-15 minutes on each shrub. I have 32 to water.... good Lord! I'm assuming the water wand will not be as time consuming, but just want a general idea on how much I should give them.

Lastly, I noticed a white film on the bottom leaves this afternoon after the rain. It rubs right off.... my neighbor thought it was just dirt, but of course I'm thinking mildew??? Goodness, they were beautiful and healthy when we got them and they were just planted last night, I can't already have a mildew issue could I? Thanks for taking the time with this newbie :)

"We dug the holes twice the size as the root ball and mixed in a little peet moss and sprinkled some miracle grow/water mixture."

When you plant shrubs/trees, NEVER improve the planting hole (especially not with peat moss) and NEVER fertilize newly planted plants.

why did you leave 1/4 of the root ball exposed????

go cover it up immediately ...

then we need to consider replanting them

you water a plant.. when IT NEEDS WATER ... that would involve extending your index finger.. walking across the yard.. and inserting it into the soil.. and watering.. when the soil is dry or hot ....

hot damp soil will be dry in a day or two ...

how long.. in between waterings.. is a function of the mulch ... and soil drainage ...

what is the soil under the new soil??? clay???.. is that why you bermed???

the white stuff is either a mildew.. or since straight from the nursery.. foliar food or some type of spray they used ... since they are recent transplants.. already stressed.. i would not increase stress with more chemicals ... though if PMildew can be properly ID'd .. I THINK you can use baking soda ... these days i much prefer to ignore such ....

ken

These are the directions I got from the nursery (one of the most reputable ones in Cleveland) and followed them to the tee....

I just talked with the man at the nursery, and he said I did everything right (he suggests adding peat moss because here in Cleveland we have a lot of clay in our soil) except I shoule have used plant starter (if anything) rather than miracle grow. He still says the rootball was planted properly, and that planting the rootball too deep is a sure way to kill the shrub. He thinks the film is just residual spray from the nursery (not his---but his suplier.) This is so frustrating...everyone in the industry has a different opinion about what is the right way to do something. I'm ready to just give up, pray and hope for the best at this point.

By the way, I think I didn't explain myself well regarding the root ball. I mean I planted them 1/4 of the rootball above ground level when I dug the hole, then covered it with dirt. The rootball is under dirt now.... none of it is exposed.

JoAnn/Joan,

First, update your member profile so I will know what to call you (-:

Ken is correct (as he is most of the time) and a little hyperactive (as he is most of the time). LOL. It's generally not a good idea to amend the soil when planting shrubs and trees. There are exceptions to that, but this doesn't appear to be one of them. Adding peat moss to your backfill inside a clay planting hole increases drainage problems and wet/dry extremes. Your normally reputable nurseryman is just plain wrong if he advised doing this.

Ken's also correct about watering based on conditions you find when you test the soil. The nurseryman may also be correct about this IF he is very familiar with your soil, climate, and weather conditions and has taken those into account. Go with Ken's advice and don't chance the guy from the nursery being wrong again.

I will attach a link below to what I think are good planting instructions. If you have questions after reading them, please email me if I don't catch your question here!

Here is a link that might be useful: Planting a Tree or Shrub

Thanks so much... And it's Joanne :)
I think I am done asking the nursery man questions about planting. Taking up 32 shrubs and replanting them is not an option for us--- my dh would never do it and would say I'm crazy since we "followed the directions that the nursery gave us..." I know better for next time, and will just have to pray that all goes well with them. Only time will tell. Thanks again for the advice---next time I will ask here first instead of later.

hey!!!!!

are you dealing with cahoons?????

i have a friend in avon .. in that famous OH clay ... HE DOES ABSOLUTELY EXACTLY LIKE YOU DID ...

since there is no drainage with that clay ... he raises them...

he does amend.. much to my confusion ...

and he is very concerned about drainage.. as you should be ...

if you bought from a high end nursery .. you should have a warranty .. and you SHOULD follow their directions .... so as to not void said warranty ...

i am glad you took our info.. AND TALKED WITH YOUR SELLER ... having our info.. gave you the ability to have a good conversation with him ... unless it was richie.. and then.. lol ...

anyway .. your concerns about a little pruning.. are not part of the bigger picture here ... do NOT worry about that part ...

you HAVE to worry about the clay.. the drainage of that clay.. and how you properly water in and on that clay ...

the key.. since you dug a clay cauldron is that you dont fill up that cauldron with water.. and that water stands there rotting the roots for the rest of the year. ....

dig a small hole.. or insert finger.. and let the root mass NEARLY dry before you water again ... roots need air.. as much as water .. w/o air.. the roots will die ...

good luck

ken

OMG It IS CAHOONS! LOL--and yes, it was Rich (the owner) I talked to! So funny. Well Ken, thank you so much for your help---I'm checking them daily, and they are still a bit moist. Will follow your instructions in regards to watering! Thanks again,
Joanne :)