loropetulum

QuestionI just purchased a loropetulum. I am concerned about how large it might get. Can it be pruned to stay maybe 4 ft wide and 5ft tall? I am putting it in a landscaped area....dont mind it gett

bronzing Green velvet boxwood

QuestionOne year ago we had 24 Green Velvet Boxwoods installed for a south facing formal front yard look. Installation was in Aug. 2008, in the winter the shrubs were very bronze, and after carefully watering

Butterfly bushes & Lilacs

QuestionGood day Gill, I have two questions. 1. I just planted three butterfly bushes about a week ago and have been watering them daily. Do the dead buds get removed or do I leave them? Also, since I just pl

Taxus Yew

QuestionWe removed a 10ft yew and replaced with a 4-5 ft Yew. The large Yew was removed as a result of driveway widening. The replacement did not take, we planted in Spring (same spot) and it has turned yellow, brow

camellia problems

Question Hi Gill--I live in Carmel California where the soil is very sandy and quite alkaline. I have put my camellias in tubs to try to control the soil, but ALL of them have developed problems over th

techny arborvitae - full of bud. not densed

QuestionI have 4 techny arborvitae planted 2 years ago.all are 5 tall.. all of them are not dense; it is full of bud. some of leaves are yellow in color. can you pls tell me what is the reason.. how can

Tea olive bush

QuestionI have a tea olive in a container for at least 4 years. It has never bloomed. Any suggestions? AnswerHello Kathy Thank you for your question. Tea Olive (Osmanthus) is a very problem free plant so I am gue

orleander roots

QuestionHi, I have an orleander very close to my pool. Some people tell me I should move them because the roots will grow out and could go through the foundation of the pool. Some tell me they are fine.

pruning shrub and hedge

QuestionI have a Globe Blue Spruce - Picea pungens Globosa that has outgrown its location and either needs to be dramatically pruned into the dead inner growth - or replace the plant... Did I mention it is beautiful

Pruning Globe

QuestionI planted globe shrubs 3 years ago and have not pruned them yet. Is there a guide to follow to make sure they are round? Also, what about graphting Japanese red maple? Taking branches off t

planting an aloe vera plant from one of its leaves

QuestionHow do i plant another Aloe Vera plant from the one that I already have? AnswerHello Rosie Aloe Vera are suckering plants - that means that they send out shoots just under the compost (or garden soil if th

wintergreen boxwood

Questionwhat is the best fertilizer and can you over water them. living in louisiana it is very wet this time of year. our boxwoods are turning yellow and appear to be dying. AnswerHello Stevie Ive had sooo many q

Inkberry holly.

QuestionTips of leaves are turning black. They have the same texture and finish as the rest of the leaf - just the color change. They have not had additional fertilizer.They are at the top of a slope so they probabl

podocarpus

QuestionWe planted a row of podocarpus for a back privacy fence. They look good, however, some of them about 3 or 4 have turned yellow like if they were burned. I have also used a fertilizer once a month and h

arborvites

QuestionI recently planted 4 small arbovites...about 3-4 ft tall...they are on the west side of my house...for the winter months, do I need to wrap them in burlap for some winter protection???? thank you Answ

Emerald Cedar Spraying

QuestionVancouver, BC, I have a nice row of cedars, 5 years old, 10 feet tall, growing like mad, well watered. Do these need to be sprayed and if so, when, and with what? I have sprayed them every spring with malath

Prunning

QuestionHOW and when do I prune a Hydrangra Tree? AnswerHello Carol This is one of those two schools of thought questions. Thought 1 says prune now and Thought 2 says prune in the spring! There is a 3r

planted arborvitaes; now browning a lot

QuestionGreetings, I planted several, 5 foot, emerald green arborvitaes in the summer,and they have been progressively turning brown on inside ,one is browning on oneside and inside.I recently seen some other

Dogwood trees

QuestionThere are a lot of small dogwood trees coming up under my main tree. Are these good Can I replant them and when should I do this? AnswerHello Betty You dont say how big the new dogwoods are, but they can c

Azaleas

QuestionWhen is the best time to prune azaleas? Is that also a good time to root the cuttings? Any instructions will be very helpful. Thank You AnswerHello Betty The best time to prune azaleas is directly after th