Shrub Waiver

[mpickel]

Would you make a client sign a wavier if they wanted you to cut back their shrubs so far that it would leave them bare or kill them? I have already pruned them, but they want to take about 50% off.

[JZap]

No, just explain to them it's not recommended and that they are taking a risk of losing the shrubs by doing so. Of course depending on what kind of shrub you're talking about it might not be an issue.

[mpickel]

They are Indian Hawthorns and Silver King Euonymus. The Hawthorns are a good height at around 3', the Euonymus are at about 5'. They want them both down by half, but I have already told them its not recommended. They are insisting, but I have a gut feeling if they died then they would blame me and want me to replace them. It was a spring clean up that I hand pruned all the shrubs back about a 1'. They paid the deposit, now they are taking the stance that if I don't cut them down further then they won't pay the rest.

[JZap]

That severe of pruning should really be done late fall-early winter IMO. Regardless, I'd cut the shrubs like they want them and collect... don't overcomplicate things. You've expressed your professional opinion to them and recommended against it... you did your job. Cut it down and collect.