high bush cranberry bush - Ask Extension
About 10 years ago we planted 3 high bush cranberry bushes. We trimmed them the best we could the first couple of years, but eventually the root grew...
Knowledgebase
high bush cranberry bush #866867
Asked May 03, 2024, 10:26 AM EDT
About 10 years ago we planted 3 high bush cranberry bushes. We trimmed them the best we could the first couple of years, but eventually the root grew thick like trunks. There is some new growth, but they haven't bushed out. Two of the three stumps are dead, but one is still alive. Could you suggest what to do? We liked them because they created a barrier that framed our small yard. They are next to the road so in the winter they get plowed in with snow and some road salt. Thank you for your time. Iris
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
Good Morning Iris,
Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service.
Road salt may have killed your shrubs. Based on your photo, it appears that the shrubs are just a few feet off the pavement. If the local snow removal buries the shrubs in snow and road salt residue, they will not survive.
Here is a link from the U of M Extension Yard and Garden website: https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/effects-deicing-salts-landscapes
You might consider planting new shrubs a few feet further away from the accumulating snow.
Good Luck!
