The myrica is a decent sized shrub - can produce a 10-12' spread so will become a huge chore to keep pruned to a 2' width. And I'm not at all sure will look very attractive pruned that severely. Same with the privet - not as wide as the wax myrtle for sure but too wide for the space available without very frequent trimming to keep the walkway walkable. This is a situation that cries out for bamboo - evergreen, fast growing with a range of available heights and able to maintain a very narrow profile. Depending on the specifics of the planting conditions you might not be very limited to species but any of the clumping bamboos will work beautifully and without problems. btw, your local nurseries are feeding you a line. No shrub will grow as fast as they describe immediately after planting, ideal SoCal climate or not. They need time to establish and develop a root system and that doesn't happen immediately. You could expect 3' tall shrubs to hit 6-7 feet in a couple of years, not a couple of months.

Steve ... The plant looks OK .. but get it out of that pot .. the box you bought it in is not meant to be a permenant container .. and it's been in their way to long. Check the the roots to make sure they are not growing in a circle .. if so pry them apart a bit before replanting. Also ... get rid of that nursery stake ... it will seriously wound the tree ... if you must restake use two stakes secured loosely to allow the tree room to move and grow without injury. Give the plant a good washing down once in a while .. that will help the dust problem. The temps you mention are no problem for this plant but they do get a bit weather beaten in winter and growth will slow or stop at this time. The plant can take a considerable amount of sun and do well in moderate to moderate heavy shade. At my home they do great growing as foundation plants on the north side of my two story home. Avoid reflected heat from patios .. walls or rock mulch. Use organic mulches around this plant. The best bet with water is to pry into the soil .. look for moist but not soggy conditions and a clean earthy smelling soil not rotten egg smell. The plant will do better in the ground but can be grown in large pots with drainage... about three times as wide as what you have now. Flush pots out once in a while to reduce salt build up. The main problem with this plant in deserts is iron deficiency ( yellow leaves with green viens 0 .. salt build up ( leaves with yellow then brown tips and edges ). They need decent drainage so watch water carefully if planted in the ground .. pry into the soil. All in all a tough plant. Try giving the plant a rest from pruning for a while. End of winter pruning is best .. light pruning anytime... be careful in summer ..pruning can expose shade leaves to sun and cause leaf burn .. ugly but not fatal. Good luck. Good Day ...

location always helps us .... im just throwing this out there ... but its winter for most of us.. are we sure thats 'new growth'.. as the title implies .. i understand you are much more temperate than i am [slight understatement there.. lol].... but most plants do slow down for winter ... if for no other reason.. the lowering of the sun in the sky ... etc ... i almost wonder if that is late fall growth that didnt harden off properly.. .or some such ... i tend to agree .. its a potting thing ... and that they should adjust once in mother earth ... it sounds like the advice from the seller was pretty close to spot on .... and i hope they would guarantee them thru fall.. so you could return them if they dont ... i see you have a good drip line there.. i also use it ... and i hope you are using it properly ... new large transplants need deep thorough watering.. until they settle in ... and that could mean hours of drip irrigation to get it deep ... you might want to dig some small holes .. 4 to 6 inches deep .. next to the root gob you planted.. and insure there is water.. down where the roots are .... as compared to light surface watering which might not be enough for a large transplant ... ken

no reason it shouldnt... how fast is takes..might depend on where you are... it isnt a perennial.. so it might take a year or 3 to get back ... ken ps:i would say take the pruners away form mom.. but on the other had.. any help in the garden is better than a sharp stick it he eye.. so suck it up if one plant is mangled... im sure youve done worse.. lol ..