Dwarf Burning Bushes

The burning bushes were an original addition to the backyard landscape in 2005. A total of 12 were purchased (gallon size, $4 apiece). They were moved around quite a bit in the first few years, but have recently settled-in to more permanent locations. The bushes hold-up well to being transplanted, even if it's not the best time of the year to be moving plants around. In addition, dwarf burning bushes are fairly drought tolerant. All of the original bushes are still thriving today.

March 2005:

This will be the first year that the burning bushes have filled-out into a nice looking naturalized mass planting (without any gaps between the bushes). Pruning is done about one month after the last leaf falls. The bushes facing the house keep all of their lower branches, whereas the bushes that border the path around the rock island bed have all of the lower branches removed (to show more of their interesting bark and twisting trunks).

May 2007:

The burning bushes are fertilized each spring and fall with a general purpose (ironite plus) fertilizer. It seems to help them retain more leaves during dry weather, and keep leaves longer after they turn red in the fall. The mulch depth is about 4" around their driplines, and slopes inward toward each bush's trunk. All mulch is kept about 1" away from the trunk of the bush to prevent rotting (and disease from the rot).

April 2009:

Dwarf burning bushes grow to be about 10' tall (non-dwarf varities reach 30'). Regular burning bushes grow quite rapidly and are considered to be highly invasive. Dwarf burning bushes are slow growing and very well behaved. CG's burning bushes average about 4' tall in their fifth year of growing. They tolerate clay soil quite well, and also require thought-out pruning to keep the slow-going growth directed where desired.