Q.Sunshine Ligustrum died after many years.
My parents planted about 6 Sunshine Ligustrum bushes in front of their home after it was built in 2011. Every year they looked absolutely beautiful, but for some reason after this previous winter they did not revive. All 6 bushes are pretty much dried up. We live in eastern Nebraska which gets very cold in the winter, but these have survived each season very well. What could have caused them to all of a sudden die? We did not get a lot of moisture this past winter and a bit of snow. It got cold as usual. Could it be that all over the country it was the coldest April on record? My parents are also wondering how difficult it will be to dig them up? Thank you!
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Yes, I do believe this to be the cause. You are right on the edge of where most species will survive. Any colder than this will risk the life of the shrub.
As for digging them up... This depends on the size of the tree, or rootball. It will almost always require heavy equipment.
If they are completely dead, then as they break down it will get easier to remove them.
