Dogwood Shrub Twig Blight: Prune and Fertilize

Four dogwood shrubs have blackening stems, browning, drying leaves. Possible fungus or insect? Diagnosis: twig blight (fungal). No fungicide controls it effectively. Management: prune out affected branches, keep well-wat

Cemetery Evergreen Browning: Spider Mites and Drought Stress

Six-year-old small evergreen (likely Alberta spruce) at a cemetery suddenly browned 4 weeks ago. Weekly watering and feeding. Landscaper suspected spider mites; spraying helped temporarily but browning returns. White spo

New Construction Landscape Failure: Compacted Soil and Mulch Volcanoes

Two-year-old landscape: one evergreen and one yew died with very moist roots. Mulch was 1 foot deep. Other plants (holly, dwarf pear, grasses) thrive. Full sun from 1 PM. NE Pennsylvania. Cause: compacted subsoil from co

Cedar Shrubs in Planters: Long-Term Care and Overwintering

Can cedar shrubs be kept in 5 cu. ft. planters indefinitely? Overwinter in unheated garage without light? Water in winter? Answers: Top growth can be pruned to maintain size, but roots will eventually outgrow the planter

Yews with White Substance: Mealybug Infestation

Yews turning dark, dropping needles, with white substance on stems and needles spreading to six shrubs. Diagnosis: mealybugs. These insects suck sap, weakening plants. Treatment: spray inside of plants with horticultural

Hydrangea Not Blooming for Two Years: Pruning Timing Critical

Two hydrangeas bloomed first year, then nothing for two years. Owner prunes and cares for them. Most common cause: pruning at wrong time. Hydrangeas flower on old wood; prune in late August after flowering. Fall or sprin

Renovating Overgrown Boxwood Shrubs: Gradual Pruning

Boxwoods grown into trees due to neglect. Owner wants to reduce size without removing them. Strategy: prune in stages, removing no more than 1/3 of growth per year until desired height reached. Fertilize in fall with low

Snowball Bush Leaf Scorch After Transplanting in Heat

Recently transplanted snowball bush (Viburnum opulus) in Maryland shows black leaf edges during hot, dry weather. Watered twice weekly for 20 minutes. Cause: drought stress. New transplants need daily watering in summer

Crape Myrtle Leaves Turning Red in Summer: Transplant Shock

A 7-foot crape myrtle planted two months ago in Hesperia, CA (high desert) shows leaves turning red daily in summer. Sprinkler irrigation, soil moisture adequate. Diagnosis: transplant shock causing premature fall color.

Potted Topiary Evergreens Browning from Top Down: Root Restriction

Two 4-foot, three-ball topiaries potted after a wedding: one died quickly, the second shows progressive browning from the top ball down. Regular watering in a hot, dry Pennsylvania summer. Cause: pots too small for root

Replacing Blue John Yew: Similar Cultivars

Nine Blue John yews are a garden focal point; two died and replacements are unavailable. Need a similar yew. Options: Taxus baccata Cheshuntensis has the same blue-green needles but a columnar habit. Better alternative:

Euonymus Hedge Sudden Decline: Scale and Heat Stress

Six large, 12-year-old euonymus bushes in Georgia are dying from the top down, worst in shade. Temperatures over 100°F with no rain. Diagnosis: likely euonymus scale infestation (check undersides of leaves and stems) com

Yew Hedge Dieback: Soil Contamination Suspected

A 35-year-old yew hedge has several dead shrubs clustered together; ends remain healthy. No obvious pests. Recommendation: test soil in the affected area for contamination. Check for past construction or spills. If none,

Burning Bush Beetle Damage: Identify Before Treating

SW NY. 2 burning bushes planted May. Copper beetles eating leaves. Dusted with Eight all summer; helped until recently. Fear loss. Suggestions? Beetle ID Critical Two copper beetles match: European chafer or viburnum le

Dwarf Alberta Spruce Browning on House Side: Causes and Care

Two dwarf Alberta spruces have healthy fronts but brown, thinning backs against the house. Holly-tone fertilizer didn’t help. Cause: combination of limited sunlight and reflected heat from the house siding. The back side

Hydrangeas Not Blooming After 15 Years: Pruning and Fertilizer Fixes

Two 15-year-old hydrangea bushes have lush foliage but no flowers for the past two summers. They previously bloomed profusely. Cause: likely incorrect pruning time or excess nitrogen. Most hydrangeas bloom on old wood; p

Newly Planted Sugar Maple Struggles in Clay Soil and Heat

A sugar maple planted 4–5 months ago in Mississauga, Ontario, shows wilting, browning leaves from the bottom up. Soil is hard clay; summer has been hot and humid. Neighbors trees look fine except a few nearby. Holes in l

Transplanting Mature Spirea Bushes: Step-by-Step Guide

Moving 15-year-old spirea bushes is challenging but doable. Spireas are tough and hard to kill. Best time: fall, when soil is warm but plants are dormant. Procedure: Prepare new holes: at least 2 feet deep and wide, for

Arborvitae Bud Worms: Identification and Control

A homeowner discovered moving buds on an arborvitae hedge; squeezing one revealed a brown-black worm. Two shrubs died within a week. Concern: will the pests spread to nearby 50-year-old spruces? The expert, not a tree sp

Rose of Sharon Transplant Shock: Silvery Leaves After Moving Outdoors

A rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) was grown indoors in a pot for years, blooming sporadically. After planting outside in a deep hole with potting soil and mulch, the leaves became droopy and silvery. The gardener fear