Shrubs
Best Time To Fertilize My Shrubs And Trees
Q: Can you tell me when the best time to fertilize my shrubs and trees would be? A: The rule of thumb is to do it during or just before vigorous growth starts. So now is a great time to...
Pruning Edgeworthia
Q: We put these edgeworthias in three years ago. One of the plants is six feet around but the other one is huge! We are not sure how to prune these amazing shrubs. A: Edgeworthia is a great shrub but...
Loropetalum – Yellow leaves
Q: Our four loropetalum bushes seem to have something wrong. They stay wet where they are planted, especially with all the rain. Just planted last year. A: Loropetalum is a tough shrub but, like a lot of woody plants, it...
Rabbit Damage to Holliy
Q: I planted five Nellie Stevens hollies two years ago. They grew very well last year and looked good this fall early winter. I was gone Jan-Feb, but when I returned I noticed all the leaves on the lower 1-2...
Yaupon Holly – Severe Pruning
Q: We have twenty-year-old weeping yaupon hollies that are getting too tall. We prune 2-3 times a year but they are getting harder to prune. Can we cut them back to below window height? We’ve already had to remove two....
Flowering Tree Or Shrub That Can Take Full Afternoon Sun?
Q: Is there a dogwood or any other small/medium flowering tree or shrub that will tolerate full afternoon sun? A: Kousa dogwood or any of its varieties grow great in full sun. It is one of my favorite trees to...
Oaks Took Out Some Of My Shrubs – Will The Shrubs Grow Again?
Q: We had two enormous oaks in our front yard taken out and several mature azalea, ligustrum, mahonia, and elaeagnus shrubs were damaged. Most are coming back from the roots Will the new growth produce good-looking shrubs eventually? A: I...
Can I Start Gardenia Bushes By Planting Seed Pods?
Q: Can I start gardenia bushes by planting seed pods? A: Gardenia seed pods are easy to spot in winter because they are typically bright orange or red. Each one contains several small seeds. You can try germinating them indoors...
Best Way To Prune Redtips?
Q: I have inherited a yard with thirty-foot-high redtips that tower over the driveway. I would like to prune them back so they grow into a short bush. What is the best way to do this? A: Generally speaking, if...
How Can I Prop My Fig Bush Up?
Q: My fig bush was so heavy with figs they pulled the limbs almost to the ground. Can they be propped back up? A: One of the ways that edible fig plants (as well as other species of fig) compete...
Why Won’t Red Tips Grow In Atlanta?
Q: I saw a big healthy red tip photinia hedge outside the Royal Automoble Club in Epsom, England. If red tips will grow in England, why won’t they grow in Atlanta? A: Photinia will grow here fine, with regular maintenance....
Fertilizer Recommendations
Q: Most of the bushes in my yard have fertilizer recommendations of 10-10-10. For many years I’ve used liquid 10-10-10, mixing it with water from my rain barrel, but I can not longer find it. What do you recommend instead?...
How Do I Tell The Sex Of My Yaupon Holly Bush?
Q: We have several five-year-old yaupon holly bushes. They seem to be healthy but have never produced berries. I have read that there needs to be a male bush nearby, but how do I tell what sex I have? A:...
Second Fertilization With A Kelp Product
Q: Following a pruning of our camellia hedge the professionals did a deep root fertilization and recommended a second fertilization with a kelp product. What do you think? A: The use of biostimulants (including humic substances, seaweed extracts, and beneficial...
Are Butterfly Bushes Invasive?
Q: On your website you write that butterfly bush is a good plant to attract butterflies. While that is true, the Georgia Department of Agriculture says butterfly bush is showing signs of becoming invasive. A: I know that other states...
Butterfly Bush – Invasive or Not
Q: On your website you write that butterfly bush is a good plant to attract butterflies. While that is true, the Georgia Department of Agriculture says butterfly bush is showing signs of becoming invasive. A: I know that other states...
Butterfly Bush – Spider Mites
Q: My four-year-old butterfly bush is starting to die. I am perplexed as it has been a great performer. No pests or mildew seen. A: Is there any chance of herbicide or other pesticide applied nearby? The twisted leaves reminds...
Rose Bushes – What To Spray To Kill Weeds Around Them?
Q: What can I spray to kill weeds in and around my rose bushes without hurting them? A: At a big box store I recently saw a sprayer that had a conical shield attached to the spray wand. The label...
