Several of us like the shape of the redbud, just as it is, and I'm one of them, icadem. I wouldn't even be staking, but make the necessary accomodations with the limbs as it encroached on the siding. OP, mature height of yew is rather dependent on what one you planted. Most get whomping big if left to grow to their natural form and that's what I am dealing with now on the property I mentioned. They're practically to the windows already and how long have they been there? Yes, you can prune them and that's what I am addressing. They are located so close to the foundation, that allowing them to assume any sort of natural conformation will not be possible. This is how shrubs with nice shapes end up not even vaguely resembling what you started with and usually they are victims to tip-pruning. The centres go bald from shading, and when you start to clip back severely, it opens up large, gaping holes. It usually fills in when the new growth comes on, but each year you can take off less as the shrub matures and then you are in to pruning out whole limbs. More typically removal. Not an issue if you don't plan on being there long-term, but it'll be an issue to someone down the line. Do you happen to know which one you planted?

sounds normal to me... done hundreds that looked just as you described .... trees have been around millions of years... and are extremely resilient .... if you don't kill them with too much love.. or benign neglect ... get them in the ground ASAP .... even all in one hole to hold them over .... water well at planting ... and water properly for the rest of the season ... proper watering is letting them ALMOST dry between waterings and then watering deeply ... and letting them dry again ... insert finger to 6 inches and test your soil to find out how water moves through your soil ... a good bed of mulch around each tree will keep the soil cooler and reduce weed competition as well as keeping the lawnmower and weed whip away ... timing is about right for my zone 5.. maybe you should have done this a few weeks earlier in your zone... but you should be fine.. next year ... you should water them in drought ... then they should be free range thereafter ... just provide good water.. skip food, unless a soil test indicates your soil is lacking something... and prune them in year three, after they get themselves sorted out ... right now.. more leaves means more energy productions means more roots means faster vigor ... we can start shaping them in a year or two .... good luck ken

Hi Chris.... It's really surprising- my room is 15'x15' and our electric bill is only $45 more than it was 2 years ago pre-plumeria. Electric is a lot less expensive in the NW than in the rest of the US though, and fluorescents are nicely efficient. It's a bummer about the plastic pink but I got some amazing news about the Penang Peach I've been coveting. The proverbial window opens :-) Thanks for your kindness. Nancy

It will have some texture variation, because of the hand-applied nature of stucco work. The color variation here though could also be that it's still drying. It does take a while.