Frequently asked questions

4 - Q : What should I do? Will the shrubs survive?

As a tree assessment specialist, I can tell you that your neighbour is responsible for the damage to your plants. If you want to be reimbursed for the damage, you should call an assessor who will determine the value.

I cannot promise that your shrubs will survive because I do not know the severity of the damage. Some of your shrubs could be regrown from suckers: cut them down to about ten centimetres from the ground before the leaves appear in the spring. During the summer, select the most vigorous, straightest shoot and destroy the terminal buds on the other shoots. These shoots should be cut off at the base the following spring. You won't know how much damage there is until the spring thaw. Since the root system has not been damaged, I think your sumac and lilacs, properly pruned, could be healthy again in a few years.

Jean Lamontagne