Question
We bought a house where I have two rose of sharons (one is white and the other is purple).  They are about 10 to 15 feet in height.  How do I get them to be more a bush instead of a tree.  Right now the white one is between a lilac and a crab apple and they are intertwined.  I am afraid of pruning them down to where I think they should be for fear I will lose them.

Answer
Hi Laurie,
Thanx for your question.  In many areas, a rose-of-sharon will develop into a small tree if it is not appropriately pruned just as other tree/shrubs like vitex and crepe myrtle will.  Keep the tops cut to the desired height and trim lightly around the girth and the plant will react more as a shrub than a tree but you have to keep the top pruned off.  I hope this helps.
Tom