I wouldn't amend the soil with anything. But, I agree with Price a mulch would be good. Perhaps instead of buying high priced manure by the bag, you could "curb shop" for lawn clippings and leaves. That's what I use on my blackberry patch. It adds a lot of fertility. The worms take it down. Just don't allow fresh lawn clippings to touch the canes, it'll burn them. If you want it to look good, add some wood chips on top.

There are 3 "seemingly dwarf" firebushes on the market, andt he nursery trade has butchered the names/ID of them all. There is a natural-formed dwarf of the native florida firebrush. I've not ever seen a botanical listing for it (although I've seen it written as 'Nana') other than a common name "dwarf firebush" and the typical Hamelia patens. Another smaller firebush also called dwarf is the African Firebush (really from Mexico) as Hamelia patens 'Glabra' (this is the only legit name). Then, there is the Firefly Bush, a forced hybrid, that grows to about 5-6' and stays compact and very flowery. It seems to have characteristics of both the African Firebush and our native, so I wonder if it is a cross with the African with the natural dwarf form of our native. Tropiflora in Sarasota likely has Aloe ferox. They too would have Alcantarea, but perhaps at a sharp price!

Make sure it is well mulched with about 4" of the stuff past the drip line. The shrub should be going dormant by now so little care is needed. Just remember to water if it is a dry winter and the ground does not freeze. Under those conditions, one watering every two weeks or so should be enough. Happy holidays, mkx3! Luis

I agree that solid privacy fence is probably the best option, even if he/she just does that one section of view. Another thought of mine was to plant a tree like swedish columnar aspen. My initial thought was that you can keep it narrow at the base and then let it grow wider near the top, but this probably wouldn't work, since near the bottom is where they want the privacy and these trees are somewhat just bare trunk near the bottom. Cedars wouldn't work as well, unless perhaps thuja occidentalis 'degroots spire' cedar but even then it would take a while to gain any height (not to mention expensive to try to make a hedge out of many of them, might as well buy a section of privacy fence). Maybe lattice and an aggressive yet dependable vine like virginia creeper? Dropmore honeysuckle? The only downside with any vine is that in early spring, late fall and winter there would be no leaves so poochie would be able to see through. Hard to believe he/she doesn't bark when he just hears the kids as opposed to seeing them. I'm no dog trainer but perhaps the owner has to get involved and start scolding him when he growls at the fence? Somehow make him understand the kids are not in his territory? I wonder if he's one of those dogs that's just left outside alone all the time, which can lead to behavior problems too. Anyways, I hope there's a solution as I can't imagine it's pleasant for the kids to be growled at in their own back yard, nor for the neighbors who probably listen to the dog barking. Glen