Shrubs are great for providing texture, color, structure, and variety to your landscape. But how long do shrubs last, and what can you do to extend their life? Generally, shrubs have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, but it depends on genetics, care, environmental stressors, and diseases or pests that may damage them.
In this article, we’ll cover:
How many years do shrubs live?
Shrubs have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, which is affected by genetics (how they grow, develop, and function), care, climate, and stressors like diseases and pests. Beyond that time, they may continue to exist, but their health will significantly decline.
As shrubs age and approach the end of their life cycle, watch for signs like:
- Sparse foliage: Shrubs lose their foliage density with age, resulting in a thinner canopy and more visible branch gaps.
- Yellowing or browning of the leaves: Leaves on an aging or stressed shrub may wilt and turn yellow or brown.
- Stunted growth: Shrubs nearing the end of their lives may grow slowly or stop producing new shoots and branches. This is due to a decline in the root system’s capacity to absorb water and nutrients. They also produce fewer flowers or fruits than younger ones.
- Branch dieback: This refers to the progressive death of shrub branches, starting at the tips and moving inward. Diseases, pests, or environmental stress may cause it.
- Brittle or hollow stems: This is another sign of aging or health problems in a shrub, indicating a loss of structural integrity and vigor.
- Vulnerability to pests and diseases: As a shrub ages, its ability to ward off pests and diseases decreases. It also takes longer to recover from damage.
What affects how long shrubs live?
How long your shrubs live depends on the type of shrub you have, the care you provide, and the elements they’re exposed to. Understanding these factors is essential to getting the most life out of your shrubs so they can add structure and visual appeal to your outdoor space.
Genetics influence how long shrubs live
Some shrubs are genetically built for the long haul; others are not. Genetics determine a shrub’s inherent longevity, disease resistance, environmental adaptability, growth rate, and reproductive habits.
If you want a long-lasting shrub, try one of these:
- Juniper
- Yew
- Boxwood
- Holly
- Rhododendron
- Azalea
Some shrubs – particularly those grown as annuals, biennials, or perennials – may only survive for a year or two. These include:
- Petunia (annual)
- Begonia (annual)
- Pansy (annual)
- Sweet William (biennial)
- Lavender cotton (perennial)
- Dwarf Azalea (perennial)
- Fuchsia (perennial)
- Buxus (perennial)
Shrub care influences how long shrubs live
Genetics play an important role in determining how long your shrubs last, but the care they get is just as crucial in determining their lifespan. Here are some things you should do to increase the lifespan of your shrubs:
- Water: For the first two weeks after planting, water your shrubs every day to help them take root. For the next 10 weeks, water every three days. Once the shrubs are established, opt for deeper, spaced-out watering sessions once or twice a week, letting the soil dry out slightly between each watering, but maintaining it moist. Give your shrubs about 1 inch of water a week. Watch weather conditions to adjust your watering as needed.
- Mulch: Layer some mulch around your shrubs to help with moisture retention, soil temperature regulation, weeds, and soil structure. As it decomposes, mulch provides the soil with organic matter needed for healthy growth. If you have newly planted shrubs, add mulch rather than fertilizer at this stage. Fertilizer boosts new growth, whereas young shrubs should focus on establishing roots.
- Fertilize: If your shrubs exhibit signs of health decline, don’t assume it’s because of a lack of nutrients. Test your soil before feeding your shrubs to know their needs. Once you know nutrient and soil pH levels, make the necessary adjustments according to the needs of your soil and the type of shrubs you have. Apply fertilizer from early spring to early summer and from late summer to early fall. Bear in mind that shrubs will absorb nutrients from nearby lawns or garden beds, so let your shrubs guide you.
- Prune: Prune your shrubs in late winter to early spring before new growth. Regular pruning impacts the health, shape, and size of your shrubs. Remove all dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Pruning isn’t just about your shrubs’ appearance: it’s about giving them space to breathe and absorb sunlight.
- Control weeds: Keep the area around your shrubs free of weeds, which compete with them for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Remove weeds manually, use mulch to suppress weed growth, or apply herbicide as a last resort.
- Monitor: Regularly inspect your shrubs for signs of stress, nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, or disease. Spotting issues early on can save your shrubs from major damage or death.
Stressors influence how long shrubs live
Various stressors can impact your shrubs’ health, growth, and overall well-being. Here are the most common ones you should know about:
- Drought stress: When shrubs don’t get enough water for longer periods, they exhibit symptoms such as wilting, leaf curling and drop, and an overall decline in growth. If you live in a drought-prone area, plant drought-tolerant shrubs.
- Heat stress: Due to continual exposure to high temperatures and intense sunlight, shrubs may experience wilting, a scorched or crispy look to the leaves, leaf curling, and reduced growth.
- Cold stress: If your shrubs are exposed to freezing temperatures for long periods, they may enter cold stress – especially if they’re not cold-hardy or if temperatures drop suddenly. You may notice frost damage, leaf discoloration or browning, branch deterioration, and growth problems.
- Wind stress: In wind-prone areas, shrubs typically suffer foliage, branch, or stem damage that can appear as scorched or split leaves, broken branches, and bent shrubs. Winds also can disrupt your shrubs’ ability to absorb water, leading to dehydration and slow growth.
- Natural disasters: Depending on where you live, your shrubs may be regularly exposed to wildfires, storms, and floods. This can interfere with their composition and structure, ultimately shortening their life.
- Soil compaction: When the soil around a shrub becomes densely packed (or compacted), it restricts root growth and reduces the movement of air, water, and nutrients throughout the plant. This can result in stunted growth and wilting, yellowing, or browning of the leaves.
- Transplanting shock: If you’ve recently moved your shrubs from one location to another, you may notice symptoms such as wilting, leaf drop, and a decline in health due to root disruption. You can minimize the effects by providing adequate water and nutrients during the transition period and minimizing root disturbance.
Shrubs, in general, will last longer if you live in a rural rather than an urban area. Busy cities are more exposed to pollution, traffic, and disturbances, whereas rural areas have more natural resources (water, beneficial insects, organic matter) and less human interference, leading to longer shrub lifespans.
Diseases influence how long shrubs live
At some point, your shrub may experience various diseases. Here are some common ones that affect shrubs:
- Leaf spot: Caused by fungal pathogens, this condition shows up as dark, moist lesions on your shrub’s leaves. These spots may grow and merge over time, eventually stripping the shrub of its leaves and leaving it weak.
- Powdery mildew: Can appear as a white or gray powdery growth on your shrubs’ leaves, stems, and flowers. It likes humid conditions and can weaken the affected shrub by blocking photosynthesis and contributing to leaf distortion and premature drop.
- Verticillium wilt: Affects many different shrubs and trees. It causes leaf wilting, yellowing, and browning, typically starting on one side of the shrub and gradually spreading to the others. If left untreated, this affection can trigger branch withering and cause shrub death.
- Fire blight: This disease targets shrubs in the Rosaceae family, including rose, pear, apple, crabapple, hawthorn, firethorn, and cotoneaster. It causes the leaves, shoots, and branches to wilt, turn black, and eventually die off. Fire blight gives the affected shrub a scorched appearance.
- Iron chlorosis is an iron deficiency in plants (including shrubs). If the shrubs cannot draw iron from the soil, their leaves turn yellow or white while the veins remain green. The condition results from overly alkaline soils, poor soil drainage, high levels of calcium or manganese, or simply a low soil iron content. While this is not a disease per se, it can still make your shrubs vulnerable to stressors.
To eliminate and prevent diseases, follow these practices:
- Remove infected areas such as twigs or leaves. Prune as needed or once a year, in late winter or early spring, to improve airflow.
- Fertilize according to your shrubs’ needs and soil type. Monitor your shrubs’ condition; you’ll know whether the fertilizer has an effect.
- Use a fungicide according to the disease and label instructions. If you’re unsure, discuss your options with an expert.
- Use a natural fungicide, including baking soda or neem oil. For baking soda, apply moderate amounts to prevent sodium-related issues in the soil. You can also use ammonium or potassium bicarbonate.
- Practice prevention. Plant your shrubs according to the soil, climate, and sun/shade availability in your area. Care for them: prepare the soil, apply fertilizer, water correctly, and monitor their health.
Pests influence how long shrubs live
Like all plants, shrubs are susceptible to pest attacks that can compromise their health and appearance. Some pests that can affect shrubs include:
- Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that love to feed on shrub sap. They’re often found on the undersides of leaves and can cause foliage curling, yellowing, or distortion. Aphids produce honeydew, a sticky substance that contributes to sooty mold growth and attracts other pests.
- Caterpillars are the pre-adult stage of butterflies and moths. They feed on shrub foliage, stems, or flowers. Some species consume the leaf tissue between veins, while others chew irregular holes in the foliage or create webs for protection. If left unchecked, caterpillar feeding can leave your shrubs looking bare and unhealthy.
- Scale insects may appear harmless, but these stubborn critters mean business when it comes to wreaking havoc on your shrubs. Though they don’t move much, once attached to your shrub stems, branches, or leaves, they’ll suck the sap out quickly. This causes yellowing, wilting, or dieback of the plant.
- Spider mites are microscopic arachnids that are also partial to shrub sap. They often cause stippling, discoloration, or bronzing of the foliage. They produce fine webbing on the undersides of leaves, where they reproduce rapidly in hot, dry conditions. Heavy infestations will weaken and strip your shrubs bare.
- Cutworms are moth larvae with a taste for shrub stems, leaves, and roots. Their feeding can cause wilting, stunting, or complete severing of affected plants. Cutworm damage generally happens in young shrubs and seedlings, often leading to plant loss or reduced vitality. Cutworms lurk in the soil or plant debris during the day and come out to feed at night.
- Root-knot nematodes are microscopic roundworms that infect shrub roots, causing them to swell and deform. They also impair water and nutrient uptake, leading to stunted growth and wilting.
To eliminate and prevent pests, follow these practices:
- Identify the pest(s) correctly.
- Use natural pest predators, such as lacewings and ladybugs, to control pest populations. You can purchase them online or at local garden centers.
- If that fails, use a chemical pesticide formulated for your pest type. Use chemicals responsibly and in accordance with the label instructions to prevent harm to your plants, pollinators, and the environment.
- Plant herbs and flowers that keep bugs away in the yard, use Diatomaceous earth, or make your own pest-repellent mixture with vinegar, essential oils, vegetable oil, or liquid soap.
- Maintain a healthy lawn and landscape: keep your soil healthy, fertilize right, irrigate as needed, prune, and monitor.
FAQ about how long shrubs live
How do I choose the best shrub for my garden?
When considering adding shrubs to your yard, think about:
- Whether the shrubs are deciduous (they lose their leaves in the winter) or evergreen.
- The shrub foliage color and how it complements the rest of your landscape. The options are endless, with colors ranging from green, soft blue, and yellow to red and almost black.
- The shape of the shrub. Here, you can choose between round, oval, spreading, weeping, arching, or compact to name a few.
- Whether they’re drought-tolerant or not (depending on where you live and the climate).
- Whether they’re deer-, rabbit-, or wildlife-resistant.
- Whether they’re native and are low-maintenance.
What’s the difference between a dormant shrub and one that is dying?
Here’s how to differentiate between a dormant shrub and a dying one:
- Think of the season. Shrubs typically enter dormancy once temperatures drop consistently and daylight hours become shorter. In contrast, a damaged shrub may appear unhealthy regardless of the season.
- Look at the leaf color and texture. Dormant shrubs have slightly duller or discolored leaves, but the texture remains intact and healthy. Dying shrubs have yellow, patchy, wilted, or scorched leaves.
- Check out the branches. Again, dormant branches have flexible and resilient branches (albeit without foliage, depending on the cultivar) that bend when manipulated. If your shrub is dying, its branches will be brittle and even have mushy areas, indicating decay.
- Inspect the roots. Healthy, dormant shrubs have well-established, firm, white or tan roots. A dying shrub’s roots are black, brown, or rotting, at which point the plant can’t absorb or retain water. To check the condition of the roots, gently dig around the base of the shrub, being careful not to cause any damage.
How do I check the root health of a potted shrub?
To check the root health of your potted shrub:
- Water the plant lightly to make it easier to remove from the pot.
- Holding the base of the pot, tip it to one side and carefully pull the shrub out, supporting the entire plant to avoid damage.
- Check if the roots are evenly distributed throughout the soil. They shouldn’t look sparse. Same as with an outdoor shrub, the roots should be firm and white or light tan. They shouldn’t grow in circles around the pot. While light circling is normal, tight circling may indicate the need for repotting.
Get help from a local lawn care pro
With their lovely foliage, flowers, and textures, shrubs can add visual interest to your landscape. But their lifespan depends on how well you maintain them and prevent stressors, which can be challenging.
If shrub care seems too much work, contact a local gardening pro for that magic touch. They’ll ensure your shrubs receive the care they deserve to last longer.
Main Photo Credit: maykal | Adobe Stock Free | License
