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Shrubs/Questions Answered by Expert Gill Borchardt
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Weigela Wine & Roses | 1/2/2012 |
| Q: Gill. My name is Tim, and I live in Kingman, KS (zone 6a). I am planning on planting a Wine and ... A: First of all I have to offer you my most sincere apologies for not answering your follow-up ... | |
| Weigela Wine & Roses | 12/29/2011 |
| Q: Gill. My name is Tim, and I live in Kingman, KS (zone 6a). I am planning on planting a Wine and ... A: Trying to keep a plant that normally gets to 10 feet across down to 4 feet may take a bit of doing - ... | |
| Privacy shrubs | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: Gill, I am moving to a house fairy close to the street and would like to find a fast growing, ... A: It is actually quite difficult to find shrubs which don't have berries! But you could try a mix of ... | |
| mountain Laurel | 11/18/2011 |
| Q: I have not received a reply wondering if you received my question on bolting or strapping the base ... A: I did send a message yesterday - our messages might have 'crossed'. I'm sorry, but the question is ... | |
| Burning bush and glossy abelia plants | 10/22/2011 |
| Q: I have burning bush plants and glossy abelia along the driveway. They are about 4 feet tall and I ... A: Cut back your shrubs as you would normally do, but under the circumstances I think it would be ... | |
| Burning bush and glossy abelia plants | 10/17/2011 |
| Q: I have burning bush plants and glossy abelia along the driveway. They are about 4 feet tall and I ... A: You use the same method to propagate both these plants and Spring or early Fall are the best times ... | |
| Pussy willow | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: I live in South Eastern Pennsylvania, near borders of Maryland and Delaware. I have two types of ... A: If your pussy-willows [Salix] are the ordinary shrub or tree type, and you are not growing them for ... | |
| rose of sharon | 10/2/2011 |
| Q: problem: I have a buried line only about 20" deep & want to plant Rose of Sharons very close to it. ... A: You don't say what type of line this is, but I'm guessing that it's electric? Any shrub that grows ... | |
| Rabbits ate the bark off burning bushes. | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: This winter, that's what they did. I don't know what to do - cut them down now, or wait and see if ... A: If the rabbits have eaten the bark off all round the stems they will definitely die! Sorry! If, ... | |
| arborvitae | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: I live in massachusetts where the summers are not real hot however this past one was dry and very ... A: This could be due to an infestation of a moth larva, but this is not my particular area of ... | |
| Lilac Saplings | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: I have two lilac saplings that are about a foot tall & are still in pots. The spot they were to be ... A: I think at this size your saplings will be safer kept indoors this winter. Planting them out into ... | |
| hydrangea | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: I live in Michigan. I have 3 Endless Summer hydrangea bushes and I hydrangea tree. They were planted ... A: Hydrangea are usually very easy plants to grow as they don't suffer many problems with pests or ... | |
| wisteria or boganvia | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: I love my wisteria, it blooms three times a year. We have a home in palm dessert and would like to ... A: Wow - lucky you - a Wisteria that blooms 3 times in one year! It does usually need a little more ... | |
| tupidanthus plants | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: I wanted to know what kind of fertilizer to use and what to do when the leaves gEt like brown from ... A: I am not very familiar with this tropical plant, but my researches indicate that if this plant is in ... | |
| arborvitae | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a row of arborvitae and they are kind of overgrown and I would like to trim them. Can I trim ... A: Pruning any hedging plant will make it grow into a more dense plant -which is a good thing with a ... | |
| Wisteria plants, seed pods... | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: I have Wisteria growing on my fence and for the first time I have seed pods. They have been on the ... A: Yes, you should remove the seed pods from your Wisteria, so that the plant can concentrate all its ... | |
| lace leaf japanese shrub | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: My laceleaf looks like something is eating it from the top. I have already trimmed the brown leaves ... A: This sounds like a case of leaf scorch and there are many possible causes and as many remedies. ... | |
| Lilac bush | 8/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a lilac bush that I have had for three years. This lilac has rolled green and brown leaves ... A: As long as you haven't seen any pests on the lilac that might have caused the leaves to curl, then ... | |
| probably deer damage | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: I had a very handsome Tiger Eye Rhus typhina laciniata in a pot which I planted out when big enough. ... A: Oh dear!! If all the bark has been stripped from those 2 main branches, I'm afraid that they will ... | |
| how to take care of Golden Euonymus | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: Gill, We are not having any luck at growing healthy Golden Euonymus bushes.The problem is they start ... A: Any dead stems can be cut back to healthy wood and as the infestation seems to be really bad, I'd ... | |
| how to take care of Golden Euonymus | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: Gill, We are not having any luck at growing healthy Golden Euonymus bushes.The problem is they start ... A: This sounds like Euonymus scale insect. The white specks you see are the males - the females tend ... | |
| privet hedges | 8/16/2010 |
| Q: we live on Long Island in New York (zone 6 I believe) about 1/2 mile from Long Island Sound. We've ... A: Container grown plants can be planted at any time of the year as long as the ground is not frozen! ... | |
| Lilacs | 8/16/2010 |
| Q: I have two dwarf lilacs.I want to know how to get the best out of them.What can I feed them on and ... A: I don't usually recommend any particular brand of liquid fertilizer. As I'm sure you can ... | |
| Lilacs | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: I have two dwarf lilacs.I want to know how to get the best out of them.What can I feed them on and ... A: Lilacs are very easy plants. The need to be in a fertile, humus rich soil in full sun. Put down a ... | |
| otto luyken laurel | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I just planted four in May and now my second one is turning brown and the leaves are falling off. ... A: I don't know what you did wrong either. Usually laurel is a very tolerant and problem free plant. ... | |
| Cotoneaster 'Cornubia' | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to plant this tree/shrub approx. one meter from the closest wall (to be used to screen ... A: I don't think that the roots will affect the wall - in fact Cotoneaster can safely be planted ... | |
| Black Chokeberry Bush | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: We recently planted a black chokeberry bush in our backyard. We live in Northern New Jersey where ... A: This definitely sounds like powdery mildew and the weather conditions you describe - hot and humid - ... | |
| split in azalea | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: Our young azalea split at a "y" in the branches last winter. It did not split far to kill the ... A: I have never tried to 'mend' a broken azalea stem, but I have done it with fuchsia. Here's how: ... | |
| Hibiscus | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: Can you give be advice on how to look after the Hibiscus shrub please? A: Hibiscus needs to be planted in humus rich, well drained soil in full sun. Full sun is important to ... | |
| Hydrangea | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: I live in the US outside of St Louis MO. It is zone 5B-6. I planted the Glowing Embers last year. It ... A: OK - As the plant is looking healthy, I think what is happening here relates to the fact that this ... | |
| rose of sharon | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 beautiful rose of sharon but every day I have to rake up all the flowers that fall of. is ... A: It does seem very odd, and I still think it may be weather related. However, in the interests of ... | |
| rrose of sharon | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 beautiful rose of sharon but every day I have to rake up all the flowers that fall of. is ... A: Mmm - there could be several reasons for the flowers falling as they are. Rose of Sharon likes a ... | |
| deadheading??? | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: What is deadheading, and how do you do it? I think it has something to do with removing dead blooms, ... A: You are absolutely right about dead-heading being removing faded and fading blooms. On Azaleas you ... | |
| Planting | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: I want to plant a zebra grass. Do i have to remove the grass in the area i want to plant or can i ... A: I'd advise you to dig out the grass in the area you want to plant the Zebra Grass to give it the ... | |
| Hedge problem | 7/7/2010 |
| Q: Can you suggest how to get a hedge between my home and the neighbours under control again? Would ... A: I've had a good look at the larger picture you posted and I don't think that your hedge is dead, ... | |
| Dividing Emerald Gaiety Euonymus plants | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: We have several very large plants...Haven't been touched/trimmed/divided/transplanted in years. ... A: Euonymus 'Emerald Gaiety' is a shrub and therefore cannot be divided. However, plants can be cut ... | |
| olive bushes, never saw on | 7/3/2010 |
| Q: Insurance Co said our 2 25ft tall olive tress to close to house, had to be cut down. Couldn't afford ... A: This is quite a difficult question to answer. My first instinct is to say 'what a pity you didn't ... | |
| Crotons | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: Can crotons grow out doors in South Carolina. We do have some cold winters. I use to lived in ... A: Crotons do not like fluctuations in temperature and are damaged by cold. For this reason they are ... | |
| potted boxwood topiary | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a potted boxwood topiary that is approximately 2 years old. It has been doing very well ... A: This does sound like a case of over-watering! If the water can't drain away fast enough, the roots ... | |
| global blue spruce | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: i have a 5 ft blue spruce for approximate 15 yrs , for some reason it only has new growth on a third ... A: When you say you've 'over pruned' your spruce, did you cut into the woody part of the stem/branch? ... | |
| Golden Biota | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: We have deer in our yard most of the year. We just purchased A few Golden Biota--unaware that they ... A: Unfortunately deer will have a go at anything growing and they do love arborvitae, so the Golden ... | |
| wild wisteria | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: We have a 2000 sq foot area in the back of our yard covered with wild wisteria vines. Aside from ... A: If you don't want to use a weed killer and can't dig up the roots, the next best thing to do is ... | |
| hemlock bush | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: I had someone trim mine last summer and I notice they are now sparse and look like they are dying on ... A: Hemlock (Tsuga) is a conifer and they don't like hard pruning, which seems to be the problem here. ... | |
| General Question | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Gill, I sincerely appreciate you being here. I, too, am a volunteer but in Automotive Parts... ... A: Skip - Hi You can relax with you beer for the summer - in fact, I insist, as you'll be doing a ... | |
| REmoval of dead bush root from a granite cemetery monument | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a very old remains of a dead bush that root are still in the monument. Can they be drilled ... A: It can take years for roots to decay - as you no doubt know! You could use a solution of epsom ... | |
| General Question | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Gill, I sincerely appreciate you being here. I, too, am a volunteer but in Automotive Parts... ... A: Imagine, if you will, a Professor of English type spluttering into his/her cup of tea whilst ... | |
| "Pia" hydrangea | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I just put three 'Pia' hydrangea in the ground, and the sign at the nursery said they don't like ... A: Yes hydrangeas do like mostly shady conditions. If they are in full sun they will wilt during the ... | |
| red robin cuttings | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: can you tell me how to take a cutting of a red robin A: You need to take what are called semi-ripe cuttings in July/August. Semi-ripe means that the new ... | |
| General Question | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: Gill, I sincerely appreciate you being here. I, too, am a volunteer but in Automotive Parts... ... A: Yes, a list of plants names will be very useful - as you obviously appreciate, one size doesn't fit ... | |
| Hedge Roots | 6/17/2010 |
| Q: I want to get rid of a hedge line but don't want to disturb my 2 (concreted in) washing poles. Is it ... A: A solution of epsom salts or rock salt could do the trick. You can, in fact cut the stems down to ... | |
| scabby holly leaves | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a holly tree and its leaves have developed brownish scabs in the middle of the leaves --on ... A: This sounds like a case of holly leaf miner. If you look closely at the discoloured patches you may ... | |
| Rose Of Sharon Tree | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: If Rose of Sharon Tree is cut down to bark of tree will it regrow itself. The root of the tree is ... A: Ooh dear! The only advice I can give you here is to adopt a 'wait and see' attitude! It is just ... | |
| shrub advice, similar to Janine on 5/31 | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: My situation is exactly like Jeanines only I'm in New Jersey. Same thing: north side of house, dry ... A: When I read of your acid soil the plant that immediately sprung to mind was the Pieris. This is not ... | |
| forsythia bushes | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: Please advise if there is a way to kill forsythia bushes? I have removed part of the root ball and ... A: Ridding yourself of Forsythia is incredibly difficult - as you've already found. Getting rid of the ... | |
| Please recommend a shrub for my garden | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a small garden that is mostly shaded because it is on the north side of the house and under a ... A: There could have been a two-fold problem with your azaleas - they absolutely need an acidic soil. ... | |
| sweet olive | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a sweet olive in a container. It is about 3 feet tall with dense leaves. However it does ... A: As your olive tree seems to be perfectly healthy in all other respects, it may be that it just needs ... | |
| Diseased butterfly bush | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: Gil, my 2 year old butterfly bush has rust colored spots on it and also some of these leaves are ... A: This sounds like a case of fungal leaf spot, which can occur when there has been a prolonged period ... | |
| hydrandas | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: why is my blue hydrangea turning a green color A: Sometimes a blue hydrangea will go green in a very warm climate, but there is no definite reason why ... | |
| allspice carolina/calycanthus floridus | 5/26/2010 |
| Q: I have an allspice carolina, it has bloomed two years now and it is supposed to smell beautiful. ... A: You're right, this plant is supposed to have a lovely fragrance! Two thoughts - are you sure that ... | |
| hedge under pine trees | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I live in Nassau County, on Long Island in New York. I have a row of about 12 pine trees that line ... A: I don't think what you want is going to be possible. Firstly - the conifer roots will indeed be a ... | |
| transplanting a burning bush | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I read your answer in regards to transplanting a burning bush in spring before plant starts to grow. ... A: Yes, your husband can certainly transplant the Burning Bush now. As he is planning to replant in an ... | |
| mophead cyprus shrub | 5/16/2010 |
| Q: We have over grown mophead cyprus shrubs at our church. They are the ones with the yellow tips. How ... A: The general rule with conifers is - do not cut back into old wood! Look along a stem of the shrub, ... | |
| Leptospermum | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: I bought a plant called Leptospermum Pink Glory and I'm not sure if it's a bush or a tree. It was ... A: Some Leptospermums are trees and some are shrubs. From you description I would think that yours is ... | |
| Hardy boganvia | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: In my earlier question about bougainvillea I mentioned that I live just south of Austin,TX and that ... A: Ah - this makes things clearer! All bougainvillea are, as I said in my previous answer, half hardy ... | |
| Lilac Bush, new planting | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I am in Minnesota, southern part. We planted a new Lilac bush approx 2 feet high, it did well at ... A: You don't say how long ago you planted this lilac. If it was recently it might be that there was a ... | |
| Boganvia | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I live just 20 miles south of Austin Texas. Our summers often are very hot and winters often mild ... A: I'm assuming that you are measuring your temperature on the Celsius scale. All Boganvia (aka ... | |
| Forsythia | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I read a Q&A here from March about forsythia. My question is related. Our forsythia (in Toledo,OH) ... A: You could cut some back now for the sake of tidiness and do the main job when growth slows down at ... | |
| Rhododendron | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I live in Northern Ohio and would like to know if it is possible to grow a Rhododendron from a ... A: Initially you could put 3 cuttings in each 4 inch pot (measured across the top of the pot). Once ... | |
| Forsythia | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I read a Q&A here from March about forsythia. My question is related. Our forsythia (in Toledo,OH) ... A: As you probably read in the March Q&A, forsythia should be trimmed right after the flowers have ... | |
| Rhododendron | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: I live in Northern Ohio and would like to know if it is possible to grow a Rhododendron from a ... A: Yes, it is perfectly possible to grow Rhododendrons from cuttings. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late ... | |
| possible spray damage | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: recently sprayed yard for weeds using 2-4 chemical, i don't think i got any on the yew shrubs, but ... A: If there was a breeze when you used the spray it is possible that some of the weedkiller drifted ... | |
| transplanting burning bush | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: I LIVE IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS AND WANT TO TRANSPLANT A VERY LARGE BURNING BUSH. ABOUT 10'X10'. CAN I ... A: Although it is advisable to wait until the dormant season to move a plant, it can be done at this ... | |
| crape myrtle bushes | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: i would like to plant a crape myrtle bush in my front yard. i need to know if they have a fairly ... A: Crape myrtle does have medium to deep roots, so I don't think it answers your needs. However there ... | |
| Pyracanthas not blooming | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I live in Central Alabama, we have had a lot of rain this year combined with a lot of sunshine which ... A: I think that your pyracanthas have just taken a knock-back from the recent weather conditions. A ... | |
| azalia | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: when is it safe to transplant azalias..mine are in bloom now and have to be moved A: If your plants really have to be moved as soon as possible, wait until they have finished flowering ... | |
| Honeysuckle Shrubs | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: Do Honeybush Honeysuckle shrubs put out runners? What are the cons, if any, in this shrub? Also, I ... A: As you seem to have discovered, honeysuckle does indeed put out runners - sometimes up to 10 feet ... | |
| Landscaping for privacy with evergreens | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: Our new house is close to a road and we're looking for good options for year-round privacy that ... A: When a new garden is being started I always recommend that the owners have a really good look around ... | |
| Planting Apovades Near Existing Evergreen Shrub | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: Please assist me with a recent concern I have. There is what I believe to be an Evergreen Shrub ... A: The evergreen, which appears to be a conifer, looks healthy and sturdy, so as the two shrubs that ... | |
| Gill HELP - Plants dying from lawn weed killer! | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: Now I find myself needing urgent advice. On 4/28 at approx. 3pm I MISUNDERSTOOD a bottle of LAWN ... A: Oooohhhh dear - I think you have a big problem here! That's the problem with weed killers, they ... | |
| Tea Olive Shrubs | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: Sir, I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and am very interested in planting some Tea Olive shrubs. ... A: Theoretically, you can plant container grown specimens at any time of the year, as long as the ... | |
| Shamrock Inkberry ,"Ilex Glabra" | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I planted two Shamrock Inkberrys last spring. I now noticed that the green leaves have black spots ... A: This sound like black spot disease, which can be either bacterial or fungal. In its fungal form ... | |
| blue spruce shrubs | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: i have 2 globe blue spruce which are app 10 yrs of age. Should I ever prune these and if so hows7 A: Yes, you can prune your globe blue spruce to keep a nice shape. Just prune the current seasons new ... | |
| bad beagle | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: I know beagles will dig but I am having a heck of a time keeping her out of my hibiscus shrubs.she ... A: I wonder what it is about hibiscus that Cali likes so much! Anyway she's got good taste! How ... | |
| Small tree weeds in between shrubs | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: I live in NJ in the USA. I have a row of privet hedges and have some small maple and oak trees that ... A: Instead of trying to pull up the unwanted one or two year old saplings try scraping away the soil at ... | |
| Red Robin Shrub - dying? | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Last summer we transplanted a mature Red Robin bush from one part of our garden to another, over the ... A: Red Robin (Photinia) likes a moist, but well drained soil. It probably seemed to cope over the ... | |
| Identifying a shrub | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Tom Alonzo suggested that I refer this question to you.I had a shrub which died during the winter. ... A: It is usually very difficult to identify a plant from a written description, but - I think what you ... | |
| podocarpus nagi root system or suggestions | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: My condo complex needs to plant a row of tall trees to screen our courtyard. The roots of the ... A: Because most trees (except conifers) are not clothed with leaf down to the ground, I would like to ... | |
| Hydrangea | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: I would love to try an mop head hydrangea in my garden but we have a deer problem in our area. I ... A: Unfortunately deer will eat almost anything! I've known them devour a whole rose garden and that ... | |
| juniper bush | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: Is is safe to have a juniper growing about eighteen inches from the wall of a brick built house or ... A: I wouldn't recommend planting a Juniper close to a structure. The roots of this plant have ... | |
| shrubs to plant | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: We are trying to plant something dense and tall, 9 feet wide by 14 feet tall to hide a motorhome ... A: It seems to me that the Thuja occidentalis (also known as the Techny Arborvitae) may be the plant ... | |
| Snow damaged Arboirviti | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: Had a bad snow storm and the snow laid heavy on the Arboirviti and they are still leaning over what ... A: You don't say how tall the Arborvitae are or how far they are leaning over. If they are less that 6 ... | |
| gardenia shrubs | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I live in central Alabama. New leaves on gardenia are turning yellow with brownish spots on ... A: How long have you had this plant? Is your soil acid? Gardenia hates a lime (alkaline) soil and ... | |
| replanting a rose of sharon | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a white rose of sharon about 16 years of age..we live in Boston Massachusettts...........I ... A: Although you tell me the age of your Rose of Sharon, you don't mention how big it is. You see, the ... | |
| Camellia | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: How long does it take to root camellia cuttings under mist? A: As it is best to take cuttings from Camellia in late summer to late winter I would expect to see ... | |
| Emerald green arborvitae | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: How fast does this tree grow approx. per year? Also how much does a sky pencil grow per year? A: Your Arborvitae may grow an average of about 1 foot per year and the Sky Pencil (Japanese Holly) an ... | |
| How to prune a newly planted cherry blossom? | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. Based in Dublin, Ireland, I have just had a 4 year old cherry blossom tree ... A: The usual time to prune cherry trees (Prunus) is late winter or early spring, but I think you have ... | |
| Hemlocks | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: can i use all purpose miracle grow or miracid miracle grow on the hemlocks A: Tsuga (Hemlock) likes an acid to slightly alkaline soil, so I would recommend using a half strength ... | |
| moving an azelea in close proximity to a camellia | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I need to move an azalea bush that is in close proximity to my camellia-i figure the roots are ... A: Yes, I'm afraid that this makes a huge difference. I think that untangling the roots of the two ... | |
| Root system | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: ...I am wondering what kind of med size shade tree to plant in my front yard to block the sun during ... A: Trees are really outside my area of expertise, so I have done some researching for you and come up ... | |
| camellia sasanqua | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a camellia sasanqua plant in a pot.It has buds but not flowering. The same thing happenened ... A: This sounds like camellia leaf spot and can be treated with a spray obtainable from any garden ... | |
| When To Replant Arborvitae | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I live on Long Island (just outside of New York City). We had about 100 or so arborvitae planted in ... A: Usually I would say 'Plant in the fall', but under the circumstances it might be better to replant ... | |
| evergreen shrub root system | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I would like to plant some evergreen shrubs next to my house, both on the north and south sides. My ... A: As I'm not experienced in gardening at altitude, I've done a bit of research and have come up with a ... | |
| moving an azelea in close proximity to a camellia | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I need to move an azalea bush that is in close proximity to my camellia-i figure the roots are ... A: You say the two plants are in close proximity, but you don't say how close! But - it may be ... | |
| invasive shrubs | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I've got a line of invasive shrubs along the side of my driveway. I cut them down and planted some ... A: If you really want to get rid of these shrubs once and for all and you can't dig out the roots, the ... | |
| korean boxwoods | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: A few of my korean boxwoods have yellowing leaves. I fertilized them with evergreen fertilizer. I ... A: This could be just a case of winter scorch from cold winds. I suggest that you wait until the ... | |
| Lilacs in Memphis? | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I live close to Memphis, Tennessee, in zone 7a, with heavy clay acid soil. I planted four common ... A: Lilacs are puzzling creatures! - it is said that they don't like acid soil, but mine grows in a ... | |
| tipochina | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: has always grown beautiful each year, it is march here in Sydney, and everyday it droops heaps ... A: My feeling here is that you may be over watering this plant. It is always tempting to water a plant ... | |
| Sweet Bloom (Cytisus spachianus) | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: I live in Phoenix, AZ and need to know how much water this plant will require to stay happy. We have ... A: Cytisus needs to be planted in moderately fertile, well drained soil, preferably in full sun, but ... | |
| Forsythia | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: We live in the Atlanta, GA. area. Two summers ago I pruned our large stand of Forsythia back ... A: I think the only problem here is that you were a little too enthusiastic in your pruning! The best ... | |
| Lilac color be changed? | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a white lilac bush. I know that you can darken a hydrangea bush by adding old coffee ... A: No, I sorry you can't change the color of your lilac - white it is and white it will always be! ... | |
| photina | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: Our hedge grows every year but when the knew leaves grow out they get little blackish spots and the ... A: This sounds like leaf spot and, yes, is it a fungal infection. There are several things you can do ... | |
| Rhodedendron | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: Please can you tell me the best time of year to plant out a rhododendron from a container to the ... A: You can plant container grown plants into the garden at any time of the year as long as the ground ... | |
| Dying hedges | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: We have well established hedges bordering the front garden made up of 3 or 4 plants (I think box or ... A: Are (were) the leaves very small - about 1/2 an inch long? If so this sounds like box and the die ... | |
| Camellias | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 John G. Drayton Camellias. They have been planted now for more than 3 years and they aren't ... A: Camellias absolutely need an acid soil, and as your plants are not growing or showing any signs of ... | |
| Red Robin leaning | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: My red robin is approx 9ft tall and 7 ft wide and is a beauty. During all the snow, it started to ... A: I think this problem has been caused by a combination of wind, rain and snow!! It sounds pretty ... | |
| meyer lemon tree | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: My lemon tree has suddenly had several leaves turn yellow and fall off on one side. It has been ... A: I'm guessing that you are able to provide a temperature of at least 68 degrees F for your lemon ... | |
| Oleanders browning from a freeze | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I'm in Louisiana and planted my Oleanders in June 2009. They are dark pink, semi dwarf (growing 6 ... A: Unfortunately Oleanders are frost tender and yours have certainly suffered in this respect. The ... | |
| shrubs | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: what is a good shrub that grows pretty tall to hide neighbors junky yard can't afford a wood fence ... A: You choice of plant will depend on whether you want a tradition (formal) hedge or an informal one, ... | |
| flies and Manhattan shrubs | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: A friend in Tennessee is wondering how to keep flies off of her Manhattans. It happens mid-summer. A: Euonymus kiaulschovicus "Manhattan" (now there's a mouthful of a name!) has flowers that are very ... | |
| Sego Palm | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in Livingston Texas, which is 1 hour to the North from Houston. I have a Sego Palm that is ... A: I'm guessing that you mean 'sago' palm? If you do then here's the science! This plant isn't a palm ... | |
| Camellias | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a young Camellia Bush, which is 3 yrs. old. It has yellow blotches on the leafs on the ... A: This sounds like a case of powdery mildew which is caused by a type of fungus. If the infection ... | |
| Allamanda in trouble because of cold weather | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: I live in Central West Coast of Florida (Venice, Florida) I have three allamanda bushes, which I ... A: Allamanda is frost tender, but can survive short periods of just on freezing conditions. It sounds ... | |
| crepe myrtle | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know if crepe myrtle attract any kind of birds or butterflies. ANSWER: Hello Mary ... A: I've come up with four plants (besides the Crepe Myrtle) which I think may appeal to you: 1. ... | |
| crepe myrtle | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know if crepe myrtle attract any kind of birds or butterflies. A: There are many varieties of Crepe Myrtle from miniatures to some that grow into well sized trees. ... | |
| Alberta Dwarf Spruce | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: I'd like to find out how to care for the Alberta Dwarf Spruce. I just bought it potted for ... A: The problem with dwarf spruce is that it can grow to 20 feet high, instead of the more usual 80 feet ... | |
| Harry Lauder's Walking Stick - re suckers | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: The tree expert is on vacation but I thought you may be able to answer my question. I have a little ... A: The best time to prune out the suspect stems is during the dormant period, that is now to early ... | |
| Harry Lauder's Walking Stick - re suckers | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: The tree expert is on vacation but I thought you may be able to answer my question. I have a little ... A: What a lot of names this plant has! It's 'proper' name is Corylus avellana 'Contorta'! You already ... | |
| mimosa pudica | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: Do your know anything about the mimosa pudica. If so I would like to know what soil it needs needs ... A: Mimosa pudica comes in two forms - a mat forming bushy annual or a short-lived perennial (in which ... | |
| hedges | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: i recently had someone cut down my hedges in my backyard down to the ground. i live in new england. ... A: It is wise to remove the stumps one way or another. If they are left to rot of their own accord ... | |
| Encore Azaleas | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: I am considering buying Encore azaleas. I was wondering if they really do bloom as much as they are ... A: I've never seen an Encore Azalea in flower, so I can't vouch for its level of bloom. However, I have ... | |
| japenese boxwoods | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: A number of them in certain areas turn copper brown colored on certain branches, other ones, get a ... A: As you seem to have more healthy boxwoods in you new planting than unhealthy ones, and as those you ... | |
| trimming taxux yews | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: I have some 24 year old taxus yew shrubs that are taking over and would like to trim them back ... A: No need to panic about the pruning! Taxus should be pruned in Summer or early Fall. They will take ... | |
| White fuzzy stuff on bark and branches of oleander | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I brought my two potted oleander plants inside for the winter. I live in Bella Vista, Arkansas. ... A: I've been doing a bit of research on Oleander over the weekend and have discovered that one of the ... | |
| land scaping plants | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: when to fertilize and what kind and when live in illinois . the following ; ... A: Wow - this is quite a question! OK, first things first. As these are newly planted specimens I ... | |
| privet hedge | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a privet hedge about 4 feet from the side of the house. I keep it trimmed to about 6 feet ... A: Privet can be a bit of a brute because they are greedy feeders! but I have seen privet planted 4' ... | |
| Newly planted shrubs turning brown | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I live near Philadelphia, PA. A week ago I had several new shrubs put in by a landscaper. Among ... A: This is a bit of a vexed question! Firstly, conifers are a specialist subject, and I'm not an ... | |
| crepe myrtle | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: I planted three bushes this year. How do I protect them this winter. Cover with commercial mulch ... A: In cold areas it's never a bad idea to protect plants through the cold weather, especially during ... | |
| Crepe Mrytles | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I live in Austin, Texas and I have C.M. Trees planted in a shady area...The trees are 4 years ... A: Now would be good as the plants should be going into the dormant period. Although there is going to ... | |
| hydrangas | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: this year my plants got about six foot tall but four of them had no flowers and one had just four ... A: Did you cut them back hard last fall? That's the usual reason why these problem-free plants don't ... | |
| Arborvitae | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I planted 14 arbor vitaes in April at a house in Denver, Colorado. I mixed the existing dirt 50/50 ... A: First the soil - Arborvitae are really not too fussy about the soil type - so don't worry about ... | |
| Azaleas | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: When is the best time to prune azaleas? Is that also a good time to root the cuttings? Any ... A: The best time to prune azaleas is directly after they have finished flowering, by cutting back to a ... | |
| Dogwood trees | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: There are a lot of small dogwood trees coming up under my main tree. Are these good Can I replant ... A: You don't say how big the new dogwoods are, but they can certainly be transplanted. If they are ... | |
| planted arborvitaes; now browning a lot | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Greetings, I planted several, 5 foot, emerald green arborvitaes in the summer,and they have been ... A: Arborvitae need a moist, but well drained soil in full sun! It may be that you were not able to ... | |
| Prunning | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: HOW and when do I prune a Hydrangra Tree? A: This is one of those 'two schools of thought' questions. Thought 1 says prune now and Thought 2 ... | |
| Emerald Cedar Spraying | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Vancouver, BC, I have a nice row of cedars, 5 years old, 10 feet tall, growing like mad, well ... A: Spraying your Cedars with malathion will get rid of a pest called the Cedar Aphid, though as your ... | |
| arborvites | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I recently planted 4 small arbovites...about 3-4 ft tall...they are on the west side of my ... A: Arborvitae are generally fully frost hardy, but as these are newly planted I might be tempted to ... | |
| podocarpus | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: We planted a row of podocarpus for a back privacy fence. They look good, however, some of them ... A: Podocarpus are really trouble free plants, and you have been treating yours in exactly the right ... | |
| Inkberry holly. | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: Tips of leaves are turning black. They have the same texture and finish as the rest of the leaf - ... A: Holly trees are generally pretty tough plants, but it may be that they have been under quite a lot ... | |
| wintergreen boxwood | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: what is the best fertilizer and can you over water them. living in louisiana it is very wet this ... A: I've had sooo many questions about boxwood dying recently from all over the States. It's getting ... | |
| azaleas | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I just acquired 3 red azalea bushes someone uprooted because they didn't like them. The have soil ... A: These plants need planting now! The ground will still be warm from summer so the plants should be ... | |
| planting an aloe vera plant from one of it's leaves | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: How do i plant another Aloe Vera plant from the one that I already have? A: Aloe Vera are suckering plants - that means that they send out shoots just under the compost (or ... | |
| Pruning Globe | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: I planted globe shrubs 3 years ago and have not pruned them yet. Is there a guide to follow to make ... A: Pruning a plant to a specific shape can be difficult - but you may have a head start here. Your ... | |
| pruning shrub and hedge | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a Globe Blue Spruce - Picea pungens 'Globosa' that has outgrown its location and either needs ... A: Conifers as a whole don't take kindly to being pruned and wont regenerate if you cut into the 'old' ... | |
| orleander roots | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: I have an orleander very close to my pool. Some people tell me I should move them because the roots ... A: How long has the plant been there and how big is it now? There is one variety of Oleander that ... | |
| Tea olive bush | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a tea olive in a container for at least 4 years. It has never bloomed. Any suggestions? A: Tea Olive (Osmanthus) is a very problem free plant so I am guessing that the leaves on your plant ... | |
| techny arborvitae - full of bud. not densed | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: I have 4 techny arborvitae planted 2 years ago.all are 5' tall.. all of them are not dense; it is ... A: Arborvtae are very disease resistant and have few pests, but they have a very shallow root system ... | |
| camellia problems | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I have put my camellias in tubs to try to control the soil, but ALL of them have developed problems ... A: Mmm - Odd one this! If you are putting acid loving plants in containers you should really use an ... | |
| hydrangea | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I live in Dutchess county, NY. I have 3 hydrangea I have had them about 5 yrs, they have grown about ... A: From reading your question I don't think there is very much wrong with your Hydrangeas. I think it ... | |
| Taxus Yew | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: We removed a 10ft yew and replaced with a 4-5 ft Yew. The large Yew was removed as a result of ... A: The Taxus you removed would have thoroughly depleted the ground of nutrients for quite a distance ... | |
| Butterfly bushes & Lilacs | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: Good day Gill, I have two questions. 1. I just planted three butterfly bushes about a week ago and ... A: 1. - the butterfly bushes (Buddleia). You mention dead buds, not dead flowers, so I'm guessing that ... | |
| bronzing Green velvet boxwood | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: One year ago we had 24 Green Velvet Boxwoods installed for a south facing formal front yard look. ... A: As you are in Chicago my instinct says that this is probably damage caused by cold. If your front ... | |
| loropetulum | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased a loropetulum. I am concerned about how large it might get. Can it be pruned to ... A: Loropetulum grow to about 6' x 6'. They can be gently trimmed back after flowering, but heavy ... | |
| transplanting evergreen bushes | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: I have several 4' x 4' evergreen bushes that i would like to dig up and transplant to another area ... A: 4'x 4' - that's pretty big! There really is no easy way to dig up big shrubs - it's down to hard ... | |
| damaged arbs | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: 5 of my 15' tall arbs are damaged due to lack of water. Well problems...long story. They are ... A: How close to your Arborvitae are the trees planted? Conifer roots do spread out a lot to balance ... | |
| hydrangeas | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: My hydrangeas this year did not flower and the leaves were yellowish and curled. The edges were ... A: This is a bit of a puzzle! If your other Hydrangeas did well (although the blooms staying green is ... | |
| overwintering Gardinias | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I live in zone 6 and would like to save the nice Gardenia I got as a present. Advise, what do I do ... A: Leaves are probably dropping because the temperature is falling now, particularly at night, so take ... | |
| Althea Bush | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: I've alwaysed love the Althea Bushes ever since my grandmother planted hers. This weekend I bought ... A: You don't say what variety of Althea Bush you have bought, so take a look at the label which should ... | |
| overwintering Gardinias | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in zone 6 and would like to save the nice Gardenia I got as a present. Advise, what do I do ... A: Gardenia's are tender plants and wont survive a winter outside in an area which gets frost. ... | |
| hydrangeas | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: My hydrangeas this year did not flower and the leaves were yellowish and curled. The edges were ... A: I am finding this question a bit puzzling - what did you fertilize the Hydrangea with and how? For ... | |
| yellow smoke bush | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: This is the second season for my yellow smoke bush in full sun till late afternoon. It tripled in ... A: Yes I'm afraid that Sumac and Sumach are the same thing, just a difference in spelling. If you have ... | |
| yellow smoke bush | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: This is the second season for my yellow smoke bush in full sun till late afternoon. It tripled in ... A: Smoke Bush (Cotinus) is affected by verticillum wilt. The only way to be sure your plant is ... | |
| Veriegated Caryopteris | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a caryopteris divaricata which has grown far too large for the space it's in. Can it be ... A: Yes, your Caryopteris divaricata can be divided! The best time to do so is when the plant is in its ... | |
| transplanting yew/ evergreen shrub | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I tried to save what I believe is a yew shrub 3'x3' that a neighbor had pulled out and was going to ... A: I don't think there is much you can do to save this plant. The roots where probably badly damaged ... | |
| snowball viburnum | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: When and how should I prune my snowball viburnum in order to insure the most blooms in the spring? ... A: This particular viburnum blooms on old wood, i.e. the wood that grows this year will bear flowers ... | |
| Can I use pruning reciprocating saw blade to prune shrubs | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a reciprocating saw and was wondering if installed a pruning blade, Can I use that saw ... A: A pruning saw or blade is always the best and easiest way to go when pruning a shrub or small tree ... | |
| Privet stopped growing | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a privet hedge that's about 50 years old and borders three sides of our garden. It's about 70 ... A: The amount of trimming you've done each year is exactly right and privet is very long lived, though ... | |
| Pruning crepe myrtles | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: We have a crepe myrtle that is getting really tall, but is also growing out at the bottom. My ... A: Your husband could certainly remove the lower branches of the myrtle and make a very stately tree! ... | |
| Lemon Cypress Shrub Trimming | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: When is the best time of year to trim Lemon Cypress Shrubs? Mine are growing over the sidewalk and ... A: Ideally your Crypess shrubs should be been cut back in late spring, but if they are causing a ... | |
| hydranga | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: my hydrangea hardly flowered this year. the plant is 3 years old. I cut it back a lot last year ... A: I think the problem lies with the cutting hard back last year. It is necessary to prune hydrangeas ... | |
| Buddleias (Davidii not included in question) - do they spread ? | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: Do you know if Buddleia x weyeriana Golden Glow", Buddleia Salviafolia and Buddleja lindleyana are ... A: Well now - Buddleias have flowers and pollinated flowers will produce seed and given the right ... | |
| crepe mrytle | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: Is there a difference between a crepe mrytle bush & a crepe mrytle tree? If so, what? Thank you A: The difference tends to be a matter of height and form. A bush or shrub produces several ... | |
| Hydrangeas | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: My hydrangeas are in pots along side of my garage on the East side. they hav done wonderfully. but ... A: I'm guessing that you are feeding and watering your plants regularly, and if there are no signs of ... | |
| Evergreen pine pruning | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a larger, well established, evergreen pine 6 - 8 feet tall by 6 feet wide. I was wondering if ... A: Yes it is perfectly possible to cut out the bottom branches of your pine. Take off about 1/2 to 2/3 ... | |
| Hydrangia | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I bought an Endless Summer Hydrangia about a month ago. It was full of large blueish flowers. It ... A: I think that your Hydrangea may be hungry! At 4 feet high it really needs to be in the ground and ... | |
| BURNING BUSHES ARE DYING!! | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: My husband planted 7 Burning Bushes in our front yard approximately two months ago in May (2009). ... A: Generally Dictamus (burning bush) is a trouble free plant from a pest/disease point of view, but it ... | |
| Buddleja | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: how an when do i transfer my Buddlejas to my new garden. ANSWER: Dear Tracy Thank you for your ... A: Transplanting any shrub this big would be a major undertaking - and very hard work! If you decide ... | |
| Buddleja | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: how an when do i transfer my Buddlejas to my new garden. A: I need a bit of information from you before I can fully answer yourYou say you want to transfer ... | |
| Variegated Pieris | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: I bought and planted a variegated pieris 5/17/09 according to instructions. It gets early morning ... A: The first thing you need to do is check your soil type. Pieris absolutely need an acid soil! You ... | |
| no blooms on crepe mrytle | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: We planted a crepe last spring (it was just a tiny switch) the first season we got flowers, this is ... A: As your crepe myrtle seems to be growing well in all other respects, it may be that it just needed a ... | |
| rose of sharon | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: this year my rose of Sharon half only bloomed the other half seem like it wanted to sprout leaves ... A: If you havn't noticed any pests (aphids etc.) and you can't find any physical damage on the side of ... | |
| Crepe Myrtles | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: When is the right time to plant Crepe Myrtles and will it tolerate clay soil... which is the ... A: A plant supplied in a container can actually be planted at any time of the year (except deepest ... | |
| deer eating my newly planted forsythias | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: First off, thank you for taking my question and I hope you can help. I planted some new forsythia ... A: Deer can completely devastate a garden in no time - I know from experience! Your forsythia will ... | |
| Hydranga | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: My hydranga has grown hugh this year and had only a few flowers. Can it be split? A: It isn't usual to split hydrangeas. The best thing you can do with a big plant is prune it back ... | |
| Limelight Hydrangea | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a Limelight hydrangea shrub that was planted June 18,2009. The shrub is flowering and ... A: Hydrangea 'Limelight' is a panticulata type (in fact a new introduction from the Netherlands) - they ... | |
| techny arborvitae | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I have 8 six foot tall techny arborviitae planted at the back of my lot. They are planted about six ... A: Arborvitae 'techny' grows to 15 feet at maturity (which could take up to 10 years). At a planting ... | |
| Butterfly bush care | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: My butterfly bushes are getting yellow leaves at the bottom. What do I do? ANSWER: Hello Dawn ... A: From what you say I don't think there's really anything to worry about, especially if the rest of ... | |
| Hedging disease? | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a Laurel hedge that I cut in July its leaves are now curling and going brown can you help? A: I think the problem here is that you pruned at the wrong time of the year. Laurels should be pruned ... | |
| Butterfly bush care | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: My butterfly bushes are getting yellow leaves at the bottom. What do I do? A: I need more information in order to consider this one more fully - so: Which state are you in? Are ... | |
| Althea Bush | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: We planted one in late March of this year. All was going well with green leaves and full of life. I ... A: I think that too much watering may be a factor here - every other day is a bit too much for a newly ... | |
| shrub disease | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: I have pine like shrub. The type that has branches that are then shaped into balls. The problem is ... A: Would it be possible to post a picture of your shrub as it is very difficult to identify a plant ... | |
| Oleander | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: We have an Oleander bush that is doing quite well, growing, expanding, but it has NO blooms. Has ... A: I think the most likely explanation is that the aphids did a lot of damage before you noticed them. ... | |
| Althea | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: What colors do the double blooming varieties come in? I have purchased the purple and red varieties ... A: I have been thinking about this and I must say I am quite puzzled! Double flowers don't usually ... | |
| replanting | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: Last month I planted a Raspberry crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica), which just started to bloom & ... A: You can certainly relocate your Lagerstroemia Indica, but as it is deciduous it would be best to ... | |
| Althea "Rose of Sharon" | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: What colors do the double blooming varieties come in? I have purchased the purple and red varieties ... A: I've had to do a bit of research on this one! I believe that there is a double golden yellow with ... | |
| Shrub/Grass | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I'm in the Chicago area. We're planting several shrubs around the perimeter of our yard. My husband ... A: You husband has the right idea! Not only will the grass be difficult to keep trimmed around the ... | |
| privacy evergreen tree/bush?? | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I would like to put some privacy greenery along my property line...not sure what to use...I've ... A: Yes you can use arborvitae as a hedging plant, but you must choose your variety carefully as some of ... | |
| Hydrangea | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: I have several Hydrangea bushes in my backyard, and they are beautiful. I've noticed that the ... A: It sounds like your Hydrangeas have an infestation of scale insect. They are sap suckers and can ... | |
| sweet broom | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: I purchased three sweet brooms which were blooming beautifully at the time I purchased them in their ... A: Your brooms should have settled into their new garden home by now! These plants like a well ... | |
| arborvities | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: Another question...Will arborvities survive in the shade underneath larger trees? A: Arborivitea (which is what I think you mean) are conifers and grow very large (20+ feet). In shade ... | |
| arborvities | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you knew where I can find the most inexpensive arborvities in my area. How would ... A: The very best thing you can do is what you've done already - go online. Enter Arborvitea Suppliers ... | |
| butterfly busches | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: i'am just starting to grow these busches and want to know if i can plant them now or wait till ... A: You can certainly plant them now - just make sure that you water them regularly if the weather is ... | |
| Peking Cotoneaster | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could provide me with some information in reference to my Peking Cotoneaster ... A: Your planting position - not too sunny, but light - is just right for these plants. I think your ... | |
| Cuttings from Manhattan Euonymus | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a boatload of cuttings from Manhattan Euonymus that I brought to Va. from New Jersey in early ... A: You don't tell me how big your cuttings are or if they are an evergreen variety, so I'll assume they ... | |
| rose of sharon shrub | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I planted a rose of sharon shrub and its leaves look droopy. leaves seem to look silvery Is ... A: You say you just planted it outside after having the plant in a pot inside. I believe that your ... | |
| Hydrangia | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: Why is only one of my hydrangea bushes blooming? They others are full of greenery just no blooms? A: As one of your Hydrangeas is blooming I don't think the problem is too serious. Did you be any ... | |
| LIMELIGHT HYDRANGA | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE 3 LIMELIGHT HYDRANGAS. THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL UNTIL JUST BEFORE THEY BLOOM THEN THE LEAVES TURN ... A: Hydrangeas need a deep, fairly rich soil which, while being water retentive, also needs to be free ... | |
| rose of sharon shrub | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I planted a rose of sharon shrub and its leaves look droopy. leaves seem to look silvery Is ... A: Rose of Sharon (a variety of Hypericum) is usually pretty problem free! You dont tell me if your ... | |
| Arbivitas have worms in buds and are dying | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: While sitting on the patio surrounded by an arborvitae hedge my husband noticed that the buds on one ... A: I am not an expert on trees (I believe that your arborvitae is a conifer) and I can understand why ... | |
| burning bush | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: i live in the lower half of micigan and would like to know if i can transplat a burning bush this ... A: Not good news I'm afraid - burning bush (Dictamus fraxinella) likes to get its roots down and stay ... | |
| transplant spirea bushes | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: We would like to transplant 2 spirea bushes to a different area in our yard. I believe they are at ... A: OK - firstly, be assured that it's very difficult to kill a spirea! You don't tell me what variety ... | |
Gill Borchardt
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Can offer advice on various shrubs, i.e. where, when and how to plant, pruning, likely ultimate size of plant, preferred conditions etc.
Experience
Over 30 years of making gardens in various parts of the United Kingdom.
Education/Credentials
Diploma in Horticulture with Commendation
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