It's a matter of personal preference. You prefer little meatballs, hubby prefers a natural shape. You two can "rock paper scissors" to decide who wins or just let it go.

To me meatballs only belong on the wing table… What are you trying to accomplish with trimming? Do you want them to look more formal or fuller?

I'd prune a bit. They grow slowly, so I'd do a very light pruning. You can always do more later.

Hallett & Co, I definitely want them to look more full. They’ve always looked leggy and kind of sad to me. Maybe I need to plant small perennials in front of them to help fill the space in the bed instead?

I would not prune them.

They’re small enough to easily transplant. Do you have a sunnier spot somewhere?

I’ve been growing dwarf Yaupons for over 30 yrs (Tx) in every condition known … they do take longer to mature in shade. And when yours do grow, they’re going to grow over the edging.

I’d move them and plant something that prefers shade.

Jilly, I could move them to a west-facing full sun location. What would you recommend putting there instead? It gets zero sun from Spring to Fall, not even dappled. I wonder if Beautyberry and Turk’s Cap would be ok…I’ve only had them in part-shade, never full-shade.

Lindsay, what area of Texas are you in? I’m in D/FW, the alkaline soil side.

Both of those you listed might work, but I was wondering if you wanted year-round interest? Is it a front bed, or otherwise focal one? Will you be expanding the bed?

Jilly, I’m in Tarrant Co. I’d prefer year-round interest…just not sure what evergreen would thrive in the shade. It is a front bed!

Thanks for all the great ideas, Jilly!! I would have loved to have nandinas here. That’s what I’d have planted in this bed. I am thinking of putting annuals around the yaupons, like you suggested, so I don’t have to transplant them and then it’ll look better for at least part of the year. Maybe as the yaupons grow I can expand the bed, and incorporate some more perennials…and also I love this bench idea.

I actually have a bird bath to the left of this picture. Luckily that part of the yard looks better. There’s a bigger bed over there and it’s more developed and also gets some morning sun so supports planting a wider variety of things. Growing in shade has always intimidated me…whenever I’ve done it before I’ve just grown Nandinas, and some ground covers. This is a good opportunity to try some new things though and make it look cute. And I agree, with this crazy heat we’ve been getting I’m becoming grateful for any shade.

I am in DFW & just sold my home of 28 yrs that was in the middle of heavy woods. You could also grow Grape Leaf Mahonias, Standard Nandinas, Holly Ferns, & Acubas. These are all evergreen & would look good year round. You could then plant in front of the evergreens things like Impatients, Coleus, green leafed Begonias, & Caladiums. These are all annuals that do very well in the shade. Ajuga is a good ground cover for the shade.

Thank you, girlnamedgale! As soon as it’s safe I’m going to head to the nursery and will look for some of these.