I have shrubs that keep dying in the front lawn -- what shrubs could I buy that would last longer?

Veronica EXPERT May 18, 2008

Shrubs are pretty difficult to kill time after time. It sounds like there's a major problem that you need to figure out before planting any more.

The most likely problems are either too little water or you're planting shade- loving plants in sunny areas or sun-loving plants in shady areas. Newly planted shrubs need to be watered every two or three days for the first couple of weeks and then once a week after that, if there's no rain for one week.

Plant that have too much shade for the type that they are get weak and spindly over the time span of a few months and yellow leaves. They usually die out over the winter.

Plants that have too much sun for the type that they are get sunburned leaves that brown and it looks like it's shriveling up.

Without knowing much more, it's hard to recommend shrubs that you can't kill. If you're still puzzled as to why your plants might be dying, I'd dig up one of the dead shrubs and take it into a garden center so they can tell you what is going wrong.