Green Mountain Boxwood for Raised Foundation Planting

Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus Green Mountain) for raised foundation: Evergreen: Yes, all boxwoods are evergreen. Habit: Upright, pyramidal; 5 ft tall × 3 ft wide. Foliage: Retains year-round; bronze tint in severe winte

Rooting Dwarf Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus 'Compactus') Cuttings

Propagate dwarf burning bush from softwood/semi-ripe cuttings: Timing: June–July (semi-ripe) or late spring (softwood). Cutting: 4–6 in., remove lower leaves. Rooting hormone: Powder (Hormex #1 or #3) or gel (Clonex). M

Cape Jasmine (Gardenia) Dying in Succession: Nematode Suspected

7 Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides) planted 3–4 ft apart from cuttings. Dying one by one from end of row over time. Microscopic worms (nematodes) suspected. Likely Cause: Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) Microsc

Pruning Overgrown Pittosporum for Interior Density

15-ft Pittosporum (likely P. tobira or P. tenuifolium) thinned in center; dead wood removed. Goal: greener interior. Pruning Strategy Thin crossing/rubbing branches to open canopy. Shorten long side shoots to encourage

Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo) Invasiveness and Fence Safety

Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo) in yard; 5–6 ft tall near fence. Concern: invasive roots damaging fence. Invasiveness Listed as invasive by Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC). Spreads by seed (birds) and suc

Identifying a Maple-Leaved Hedge in Burlington, Ontario

Hedge in Burlington, ON (zone 5b) with maple-like leaves, reddish seed clusters, 10–12 ft tall, sparse below 4 ft, thin trunks. Likely ID: Amur Maple (Acer ginnala) Grows 12–15 ft (compact forms 4–6 ft). Reddish samaras

English Boxwood Decline in New Planting: Clay, Blood Meal, Vinca

7 English boxwoods (10 in.) planted April in Zone 7 VA (Orange County) in amended hardpan clay. Morning shade/afternoon sun. Blood meal applied June. White vinca planted between. Boxwoods dying: leaves lighten, yellow, b

Carol Mackie Daphne Tree Hardiness in Wisconsin

Carol Mackie Daphne (Daphne × burkwoodii Carol Mackie) is a variegated shrub (3–4 ft). A tree form is likely a graft onto a standard. Hardiness Shrub form: Zone 4 (–30°F). Grafted tree: Hardiness depends on rootstock; o

Selling or Donating Large Boxwoods

Homeowner wants to remove 5 large, healthy boxwoods (foundation planting) due to smell; prefers not to kill them. Options Local independent nurseries/landscapers: Often buy mature, well-shaped boxwoods for resale or job

Crepe Myrtle and Butterfly Bush: Pruning and Transplant Timing

Raleigh, NC (zone 7b): Established crepe myrtle + 5 new plantings; butterfly bush in wrong spot. Crepe Myrtle Established tree: Prune mid-summer (after current seasons growth finishes) to shape. New plants: Plant in spr

Choosing a Hedge Trimmer for 120 ft of Cedar Hedge

Homeowner has 120 ft of 8–10 ft cedar hedge; 16 Black & Decker trimmer died. Considering 24 dual-action model (cuts 3/4 branches) vs. standard 22. Recommendation Standard 22 single-action trimmer is better for this use c

Eliminating Invasive White Mulberry Tree Near Fence

White mulberry (Morus alba) in central Oklahoma resprouts vigorously after cutting; now 15 ft with multiple 4-in. trunks threatening fence. Effective Control Cut stumps low (near ground) during active growth (spring–sum

Wisteria Pruning for Flowers: Twice-Yearly Regime

Wisteria (UK, zone 8–9) needs two annual prunings for optimal flowering: Summer (July–August): After flowering, cut back current seasons whippy side shoots to 5–6 buds (about 12 in.). This controls size and encourages f

Pruning Hydrangeas: Timing and Technique

Prune hydrangeas in early spring before growth starts. Use the 1-in-3 rule: remove 1/3 of oldest stems to ground each year. Identifying Old vs. New Wood Old stems: Darker, rougher bark; thicker; may have peeling bark. N

English Boxwood Decline: Management and Replacement

English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens Suffruticosa) shows yellowing, dieback on half the plant after drought stress from broken sprinkler. Suspected English Boxwood Decline (complex of fungi: Paecilomyces, Volutella, Macro

Crepe Myrtle Covered in Spanish Moss: Pruning and Moss Control

30-ft grafted Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) in Jacksonville, FL (zone 9a) covered in Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides); only tip growth; never pruned in 15+ years. Bushier 20-ft specimens also unpruned but moss-free. Sp

Azalea Chlorosis in California: Iron, pH, and Drainage

Azaleas in Central Valley CA (sandy loam) show severe chlorosis (yellow leaves, green veins). Iron supplements failed. Rhododendrons nearby are healthy. Diagnostic Steps Soil test: Check pH (azaleas need 4.5–6.0), iron,

Training PeeGee Hydrangea into Tree Form: Grafting Required

PeeGee Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora) is a multi-stemmed shrub. Tree-form specimens are grafts—the shrub is grafted onto a standard (straight trunk) of a different rootstock. Options Purchase a grafted tre

Arborvitae 'Golden Biota' Dying in Shade: Diagnosis

25 Golden Biota arborvitae (6 ft) planted in NJ (zone 6b) in shadier spot; browning by fall, dead by February. Nearby older arborvitae in sun thrive. Primary Suspect: Insufficient Light Arborvitae need ≥6 hours direct s

Privacy Screening for Large Lot in Hayward, CA

27,000 sq ft lot in Hayward, CA (zone 9b/10a) with iron fence; needs fast, cheap, low-maintenance privacy screen with variety (evergreen, flowering). Recommended Approach Consult local nurseries (2–3) for consensus on b