Hi Melissa -- did you ever get that email I sent you about digging a swale to capture rainwater on a hillside? I'm working on a similar project (slowly) and thought of you. Fundamentally I agree with you. It's best to grow plants that want to grow in the conditions you can offer them. I have a couple exceptions. You mentioned blueberries. I just adore blueberries. If you stick to the newer southern highbush varieties such as Misty, Oneal, and Sunshine Blue you may have better luck. Sunshine Blue in particular is said to be a little more tolerant of higher pH. Try a raised bed filled with compost, wood chip, and peat as a growing medium. I'm experimenting with the same mixture, some soil and sulfur added, dug as a trench in the ground. It is too soon to tell, but so far all but one of my blueberries are growing well and not chlorotic. I did lose one, but think that I lost it to hot dry weather when I was away. They do need water. I don't begrudge it to food plants. My other exception is that I planted a couple of avocado trees because Tom loves them so much. I'm not convinced that I'm going to be able to make them happy, but we're giving it a try. After killing about two dozen rhododendrons, I've given up on them. I have two left. One under the redwood trees actually looks reasonably happy. The other, alas, is on its way out. I do so love rhododendrons. At least I have roses! And apples. And plums, and figs, and citrus. Really, so much does well here that it is silly to sigh for the few plants that won't thrive for me. It means that when I go garden visiting and see favorite plants I cannot grow well, I have the special thrill that comes from seeing the less accustomed beauty. Rosefolly

Greenlarry, as I said, I see it a lot where I live. And it's almost entirely wild trees. If you look at this time of year they stand out more as they start to colour. Did you look at the link I posted? bboy - I'm surprised you didn't see many hedges. Cornwall has a distinctive traditional hedge style of its own, grown on top of stone walls. I can't think where you were looking. Did you stay on main roads or did you get out into the country? Perhaps you were up on the moors where they use stone walls rather than hedges. If you look at a satellite photo of S England you will see mile after mile of hedgerow. I live in SW England and I promise you there are lots of hedges and lots of field maples in my area. Pretty much every field has a hedge around it since most farming here is meat and dairy. Hedges are less used in arable areas. I have several very old specimens in my wood which exhibit the burrs much prized by woodworkers.

Welcome to New England and to the forum. Many areas of the UK are really chalky (alkaline), which some of these plants prefer, and most of NE is acidic. Those are generalizations, though, at least one regular here gardens in alkaline soil, so a soil test is really useful. I grow all of the plants listed except wisteria - too rampant for my small yard. My camellias barely hang on, but I'm still trying - one has survived for a few years but non have thrived (so far!). That may be the one plant on your list that would not survive in zone 5 (I'm in 7, on Cape Cod); a few of the others might need some winter protection.

i would give a recent transplant at least a year ... to become established .. before i would start cutting off energy making machines .. otherwise known as leaves ... it needs all those leaves to row the roots.. to become established ... in the meantime.. it will start taking on a better shape on its own.. which will make future pruning easier.. as you will be able to see where its going ... a more natural shape .. part of what is probably bugging you.. is that its shape was dictated by the grower .... for ease of shipping.. etc ... patience ... ken