Gardening and Horticulture - What plants are these, and what's wrong?

I bought my house 4 years ago, and it had these types of plants:

- http://www.gregsalter.ca/images/plant_green.jpg
- http://www.gregsalter.ca/images/plant_red.jpg

Then last year, this happened to one of the green ones:

- http://www.gregsalter.ca/images/plant_green_sick.jpg

And now this year something else is happening to the red ones:

- http://www.gregsalter.ca/images/plant_red_sick.jpg

Three questions:

1) What kinds of plants are each of these?
2) What's happening to them??
3) What should I do???

Thanks in advance
Greg

#1. What your pic exhibits are evergreen shrubs that have outlived and outgrown their space and purpose. If you check closely, you will likely find bagworms on your juniper and possibly the arborvitae. The shrubs are over crowded and surrounded with plantings, all of which are competing for moisture and nutrients and have succumbed to disease due to stress. You have a beautiful entry, and it's time for a makeover.

If you DIY, that's great because everything needs to be pulled out, the soil tilled, a soil sample done so you can determine what amendments need to be made before planting new entry plants. A general rule of thumb is that taller plants go at the corners of the home or just beyond and the plantings near entry are low in height. Keep in mind that most foundation plantings should be replaced and updated every 12-15 years or so. Drive through your neighborhood, and you will likely see the original foundation plantings for your era neighborhood. There's nothing like a good updating of the landscape to add value to your home. It pays off at time of resale.

If you are up to the DIY removal that can save you a few dollars, but you should likely consult with two or three landscape designers about new plantings. Whether you can afford to hire the landscape designer to do the work or not, you need the design. Tell them up front that you want a design that can be done in stages, whether they or you do the job. Renewing the landscape in stages is much easier on the budget. If the landscaper can not tell you how large plants will be at maturity and how far apart they should be placed and what care and maintenance is involved in each, this is not the landscaping company for you. These questions are extremely important.

#2. Looks like a pink magnolia and a couple lovely mounding Japanese maples. There is a green shrub between the two maples. If you are happy with this arrangement and it suits you in your landscaping plan, then remove the green shrub lost between the two maples and let them have their way. The definition of a weed is 'any' plant that's growing where you do not want it. And, that could be a lowly little plant we generally call a weed, or it could be a shrub, or a very large tree. If it's growing where it's not needed or wanted it's a weed! Get rid of it!

#3. See #1 above. The gutter/downspout system at entry was not visible. With overcrowded conditions or dumping of runoff from roof, gutters, downspouts could have created overly wet conditions in this area. Plants will not tolerate wet roots because they need oxygen. Plants will also not tolerate drought if in competition in overly crowded conditions and/or if they simply do not get enough water.

#4. The Japanese maple is not one of the two in #2. This darling tree is surrounded by diseased evergreens that are a height that will continue to exceed the height of the maple. Very poor planning. Everything needs to go. Look at the picture. Bed is not maintained. It's neglected. No mulch. It's likely the tree suffered from drought, due to failure to water and mulch to conserve moisture.

You can get soil samples done through the Coop. Ext. Agent office and learn all the ins and outs of growing and maintaining your gardens and landscape. Soil amendments should not be a guessing game.

There are many varieties of Japanese maples. Most are hardy to -20 degrees. It gets cold in Japan, too. In Japan, these trees are understory plants, thriving in dappled sunlight. Few diseases or insects affect Japanese maples. Drought is their number one enemy. Everything in your landscape needs at least one inch of water a week if it does not rain. This means deep watering so roots will grow long and strong in search of water. Soaker hoses are a great way to water the landscape. Water seeps in slowly and deeply. A good way to know if plants need moisture is to stick your finger in the soil at least once a week. If soil is dry, plants are thirsty. Water long and deep. Do not overwater.

I'm sorry, but what you present to us in your photo essay is a neglected and older and overgrown landscape. Like humans, landscape plantings have a finite life span. With proper nurture that life span can be extended. With the knowledge to choose the right plants for growing conditions and planting and spacing with size at maturity and proper maintenance, you can be a successful landscape gardener. Sorry, but you are too late and it is time to start over.

Get to know your plantings intimately and what makes them happy. Learn everything about them and love and nurture them like you would your significant other, a child, or best friend. Make your local Cooperative Extension Agent your best friend. This individual can provide you with landscaping, plant info, and everything info under the sun about maintaining your lawn, landscape, garden, etc. The service is free and paid for by our tax dollars. For example, you have a plant disease, take the plant to the Agent's office to be sent off to the state lab for diagnosis for free and recommendations for what to do! Can't brag enough about our community Extension Agents. These are the pros. Their work is well-grounded in research with labs at their finger tips. Our tax dollars pay for these labs and these people. Go forth and seek info.

Everywhere I've ever lived, first thing I do is get a local library card and then go call on the local Coop Ext. Agent. Every Growing Zone is different. You simply can't go to a big box store and purchase a plant. They bring them in by the truck load and you have no knowledge nor they if they are suitable to the conditions of your growing zone.

If you have the time, enroll in the Cooperative Extension Agent's Master Gardener Program if they offer it in your area. If you can not, perhaps your significant other can. You will never regret it.

I am a very old Master Gardener and probably should go back for a refresher course because the Dept. of Agriculture's ongoing research programs and research continues to evolve. If you do not have time to become a Master Gardener, at least you have this important research resource near you.