Shrubs
Hydrangea limbs suddenly wilt and die
Q: Why would my well established oakleaf hydrangea that has been in the same spot for eight years and has always bloomed for me suddenly be dead? Last year many of the stalks seemed to be dying. This spring it...
Hydrangea wilts after planting
Q: I planted hydrangeas to spruce up my yard before putting my house on the market. They were getting along just fine for over a month and then they began to fade and wilt. A: The wilted flowers on your...
Donating Mahonia Bushes
Q: I have thousands of naturally growing mahonia bushes in front of my house in the woods. If you’d like I will donate them to you to dig all you want. A: Thank you, but I have plenty for now....
Want Some Mahonia Bushes?
Q: I have thousands of naturally growing mahonia bushes in front of my house in the woods. If you’d like I will donate them to you to dig all you want. A: Thank you, but I have plenty for now....
Arborvitae dry roots and proper planting
Q: Can you identify what’s killing my Emerald Green arborvitae trees? The trees would first get small patches of gray/brown needles. Then, the browning spreads until it consumes the tree. Can you identify what is causing this issue? A: It...
Azalea and Camellia – Leaf Gall
Q: The leaves on the ends of some of my camellia branches are swollen and thicker than the rest of the leaves. They are also lighter green. I’ve seen this on azaleas but not on camellias. Is it the same...
Hedge To Plant In Between Yards
Q: We are transplants from southern California. I want to landscape my grandson’s new home with a hedge in between his yard and his neighbors. He is twenty-one with no interest in gardening and I will not be around forever...
What Other Plants Can I Plant Where My Boxwood Was?
Q: I have a topiary boxwood that has succumbed to boxwood blight. I know one can’t replant a boxwood in the same site but are there other shrubs that I could put in the same place? A: Boxwood blight has...
When To Prune Butterfly Bushes?
Q: We have some lovely butterfly bushes that are getting too big for their space. When is the best month to prune them back? A: Butterfly bush responds very well to yearly pruning in the winter. Blooms on this shrub...
When To Cut My Lenten Roses Back?
Q: We have lots of very healthy Lenten roses and autumn ferns. My husband wants to cut off all the leaves and fronds from the plants. I think they look great just the way they are. Is there any reason...
Yellow leaves on Florida anise in spring
Q: The leaves on our large Florida anise shrubs are turning yellow and have black spots. What may be causing this? What can we do to address the problem? A: Good news! This is normal springtime behavior. Nothing to worry...
Paperbush (Edgeworthia) flowers hurt by early frost
Q: My paperbush (Edgeworthia) flowers were very small this year. I think the cause was the long, hot, dry summer at a time when they usually set their flowers for winter. A: I think the problem was caused by cold,...
Soft Caress mahonia problems
Q: I planted several Soft Caress mahonia shrubs last year. The plants appear to be dying now. I trimmed back the dead branches. I really like the look of these plants. A: “Soft Caress’ is an intriguing plant. Rather than...
Boxwood Alternatives
Q: I have a topiary boxwood that has succumbed to boxwood blight. I know one can’t replant a boxwood in the same site but are there other shrubs that I could put in the same place? A: Boxwood blight probably...
Planting lantana seed
Q: Do you know of a company that sells lantana seeds by mail? A: I found several places online that sell the seeds. I have occasionally purchased plants and seeds on Amazon, but on at least two occasions the seeds...
Oakleaf hydrangea has two colors of green leaf
Q: What are your thoughts about these unusual leaves? A: Wow, neat pictures! This is called a chimera. Basically, the bud that produced one of these leaves had a mutation in its cells, causing some of those cells to grow...
Want My Tea Olives To Fill In With Leaves At The Bottom
Q: I would like my 9-foot tea olives to fill in with leaves at the bottom half. How can I make that happen? A: This is tough. One option is to prune off the top of your shrub, which will...
Planting Shrubs After Spraying Roundup
Q: My house has a steep slope in one spot. It’s been covered in pine straw but weeds have been making their way through. After using organic herbicides to no avail, I sprayed Roundup Extended Control. Now, two weeks later,...
