new tree

Questionlast fall we had some trees planted. They came with felt wraped around the trunk. when should we take it off. was it there for protection or bugs or what? Answerwhat kind of trees, sometimes its there to pr

cutting back bushes

QuestionHi! I live in the Chicago area. I have a varigated weigela that was very overgrown with lots of dead wood inside the bush.I cut away about 50% and am wondering now if I took away too much.Did I harm it? I al

Holly Tree Disease

QuestionLarry I have three holly trees ranging from 20 ft to 35 ft. The leaves are turning yellow and falling off. There is also a greyish type mold on the bark. What do you recommend to help these trees? Thanks for

Hydrangea fertile/sterile flowers

QuestionHi! Hope you can help me out. I recieved a hydrangea plant as a gift last year. When it was given to me it had mounds of bright pink sterile flowers. Now it is flowering once again, however, it is flowering

Crab Apple

QuestionI live in Albany, New York. In my yard is an established crab apple tree. The age of the tree is 17+ years and up until last year, never had a problem with it. Last year we had a very cool,

Prunning Shrubs

QuestionHi Mark, I hope youre the right person, I didnt know which category this fell under. I have some young Boxwoods planted about 6-8 mos. ago. I dont know how to start pruning them. Ive read that I

trimming oleanders

QuestionI have some oleanders in my yard that look healthy but havent seemed to grow much the last couple years. If I trim them back will that help them get larger? The highest is 7 ft tall the others are smaller. T

boxwood pruning

Questioni have several large Korean and American variety boxwoods. they are now so large(15+) yrs old. how or can they be pruned back to reduce the size? i realize they will look dreadful for a yr.

Pruning Weeping Cherry

QuestionMark, We have a weeping cherry bush/tree that is 4 1/2 foot tall that we purchased two years ago. It has done very nicely but is now very full and needs pruning. We want it to grow taller.

I have a large hydrangea shrub...

QuestionI have a large hydrangea shrub that has only had two blooms the last two years. Any idea how I could make this large shrub produce more blooms? I have been giving it Ironite in moderation this ye

rhododendriums

QuestionI planted a rhododendrium in my front bed 2 years ago, and it has not flowered since the year I purchased. It has sprouted new leaves, but no flowers. It is about 4 feet in front of house and is

pruning Mugo Pine

QuestionMy wifes folks have a Mugo that is getting too big, encroaching on the sidewalk and invading the nearby Rhody. I know that pruning evergreens can be tricky. Any suggestions? Answerbest way is to pluck off t

Magnolia Alejandria

QuestionI planted two Magnolia Alejandria plants in March (I live in GA), and they were doing fine until recently one of them started looking puney and the leaves are droopy and fall off if you barely touch them. &n

hemlocks--fertilizer

QuestionHello. I live in Albany, NY (I dont know what zone that is). I had some 6 foot hemlocks put in last fall. I put down Hollytone the first week of April. The trees showed a lot of winterburn at the end of the

Planting Shrubs

QuestionHello, Hope this email finds you well. I realize that you are more of a southern plant expert however I thought I would give you a shot. I live in Toronto, Ontario Canad

Pruning -- a broken crepe myrtle

QuestionHello, Mark. Im so glad I found you, though my question is about Hopi Crepe Myrtle tree/shrub out of your growing zone. Please feel free to tell me to look elsewhere! I planted a Hopi Crepe Myrt

Two tone Japanese maple

QuestionHi, I recently saw a beautiful Japanese maple that was two colors at once. Half green, half red, it looked as though two trees were growing next to eachother. In fact it was just one. It was a small,weeping

Moving Shrubs

QuestionWhen is the best time/way to move a viburnum (leatherleaf, I believe) and a hydrangea (not sure which kind)? Both are well established plants but need to be moved b/c we are building a deck. Can

Evergreen shrub needles brown / dying

QuestionI dont believe drainage is the problem. The schrubs are located in 6 separate regions in the yard, some in the back, some in the front. The schrubs that are by themselves showed the problem initially, then t

0rleanders

QuestionI wish to grow orleanders in the Philippines. Can they be obtained there or in the United Kingdom. Also are they known by any other name. Any information on their growth propogation and availability would b