juniper trees

[flowerlover]

We have two juniper trees we planted over two years ago at the front of our house on either side of the sidewalk, almost right outside the front door. One is much taller than the other, and we cannot figure out why the difference in size. The shorter one looks healthy. Can anyone give ideas why one is a foot and a half shorter than the other one, and how to get the shorter one to catch up? It is an average width sidewalk, so the soil coudn't be that different on each side, could it? Both should be getting the same amount of sun, too.

[Tony M]

flowerlover-
Here are a couple of thoughts. Check to see if the support stakes they sometimes use at the nursery are removed and it does not have a rope or tie around the trunk of any kind. Check to see if one is planted too deep by scraping the soil aside to expose the root ball. While there, check the moisture level between the two. Inspect the tree carefully for insect damage. How old is the house? I've seen new houses where the painters dumped an old bucket of paint and the landscapers planted a shrub right on top of it. Found out when we dug the dead shrub up. If all else fails, you can trim the larger shrub until the smaller one catches up.
Tony

[flowerlover]

Thanks, Tony! I will check for those things.