Fast growing shrubs for Zone 5b?
gabbythecat
4 years ago
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Van Zelst Inc
4 years agoSeabornman
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Can I manage a zone 6 or 5b rose in zone 5?
Comments (29)Dcrosby, You may be right at the edge of zone 5/6. Check the map here. If you are still zone 5, you just need to do some winter protection. It should be fine. Climate affects disease susceptibility. In dryer, more arid climate like AZ or CA, they don't have to deal with fungal disease like we do here in humid East Coast. When you read people's recommendations, you want to see where they live. Different climate gives different results to the same rose variety. Spraying for roses every week or every two weeks is not my kind of fun (anymore). I didn't even want to smell the blooms after I sprayed the bushes. Now I don't spray, most of my roses esp. Austins look naked by mid summer. Here is a link that might be useful: MA new plant hardiness zone map...See MoreBamboo in zone 5B Fort Collins Colo
Comments (1)Bruce- Very interesting. I think you are having good success in such a tough environment. The first thing that came to my mind was that you should experiment with a protective wrap...but I see you're ahead of me there. So, please report back in spring. One other thing I've heard of that might work for you is to bend the culms over to the ground, if you can do that without breaking them, and cover them over with a tarp, weight the tarp at the edges with rocks, and put mulch on top. The only other thought I have is to put a big pile of mulch at the base of each one in the fall and see if that helps with growth/recovery. One thing about the runners, mowing down the shoots does prevent growth above-ground, but it does not stop the runners from expanding below ground. You might want to practice rhizome pruning, where you chop down around the perimeter of your bamboo once or twice a year: what you chop through will die in the ground and not spread further. Anyway, I appreciate your post, and wish you luck. Here is a link that might be useful: Winter protection video...See MoreShrub ID zone 5b
Comments (1)Barberry (berberis). Although not a listed plant on this side of the country, can be considered invasive in some of the Eastern states, you may want to check its status in Pennsylvania...See MoreShrub ideas for zone 5B
Comments (2)Thuja occidentalis AKA arborvitae if you don't have deer. There are cultivars with a range of heights. Two I have are Sunkist and Techny which will stay in your size range. Lindera benzoin AKA spice bush has really early tiny chartreuse flowers and bright yellow fall color. Clethra won't get very much over 4' IME, but has late summer blooms. Red-twigged dogwood (also available with either variegated leaves or gold twigs) has several larger sized selections. Be sure to check the height of the cultivars you are considering. Betula migration 'Little King' AKA Fox Valley river birch is a dwarf version that should stay within your size range. It is often grow with several stems, has nice bark, and has good yellow fall color....See Morefloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years agoVan Zelst Inc
4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years agoChristopher CNC
4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agojemdandy
4 years agokitasei
4 years ago4bubbies
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
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sah67 (zone 5b - NY)