Emerald Green Arborvitae from Home Depot Struggling: Water Deep, Mulch, Test Soil

Four 7-ft Emerald Green arborvitae (Home Depot, cheap) planted near fence, full sun, Omaha NE (alkaline soil). Root balls rock-hard. Watering daily + Osmocote. Saving them? Daily Watering = Shallow Roots Switch to soake

New Japanese Yews & Dwarf Blue Spruce Browning: Check Drainage & Pests

3-week-old planting: Emerald Spreader yews + Dwarf Globe spruce. Browning/yellowing, especially yews. Drip irrigation, no fertilizer, 90°F, 6 hrs sun. Why? Likely Overwatering / Poor Drainage Pattern (yews worse) sugges

Pruning Magnolia Shrubs: Timing and Selective Method

When to Prune Magnolias (shrub or tree forms) should be pruned after flowering finishes. This avoids removing next years buds. How to Prune Use selective cuts: remove crossing, dead, or overly long branches first. Step

Evergreen Hedge Brown on Neighbor's Side: Herbicide Drift?

29 evergreens (yews?), 28 yrs old. Bottoms brown only on neighbors side. Neighbor hates them. Grass also dying there. Cause? Help? Herbicide Drift Strongly Suspected One-sided browning + dead grass = lawn herbicide over

20-Year-Old Althea Tree Dying: Whiteflies or Rain-Driven Disease?

Texas. 20-yr-old althea (12+ ft) suddenly dying bottom-up. Was blooming. Whiteflies on nearby plants. Heavy rain month. High yard spot. Save it? Likely Whitefly + Rain Diseases Whiteflies suck sap → weakening, sooty mo

Meyer Lemon Winter Damage in Cold Climate: Shelter & Feed

8-yr-old potted Meyer lemon (standard), east TN. Winter temps to -7°C. Near eaves, NW face, full sun. Blossom drop, black tips, small fruit, yellow leaves, fruit shriveling/moldy. Frost bite? Fertilize now? Meyer Lemon

Rubber Tree Roots & Sewer Lines: Invasive Risk Real

Large potted rubber tree (Ficus elastica) moved outside as privacy screen. Water dept says roots will destroy sewer line. Likely? Yes—Ficus Roots Are Aggressive Rubber tree is invasive in warm climates. Roots seek moist

Transplanting Blue Rug Juniper & Crape Myrtle in Atlanta: Wait for Fall

Atlanta, GA. Move 2-yr-old Blue Rug junipers & crape myrtle (too big for spot). OK now or wait? Summer Move = High Risk Heat + transplant shock = likely death. Wait until fall (cooler, rain). If Must Move Now Water he

PJM Rhododendron Sudden Wilt: Phytophthora Root Rot

PJM rhodo (planted fall, bloomed spring) suddenly wilted—leaves curled, mostly green. Nearby PJM fine. Fertilized with Miracle-Gro azalea feed 1 wk ago. Extra water no help. Cause? Phytophthora Root Rot = Fast Kill Soil

Spider Mites on Dwarf Spruce: Kid-Safe Oil Spray

11-year-old. Small dwarf spruce had brown needles at purchase; now all brown needles gone. Internet says spider mites. Cant use chemicals. Help? Vegetable Oil Spray = Safe Suffocant Mix 1 tbsp vegetable oil + 1 quart wa

Hibiscus & Oleander Not Blooming: Pruning at Wrong Time

Florida. Mature oleanders & hibiscus green but few blooms. Oleanders especially sparse. Hibiscus buds drop. Whats lacking? Pruning Removes Flower Buds Both bloom on new growth. Spring pruning = cutting off that years fl

Transplanting Lilly Pilly: Psyllids & Hydrogel Help

Two 2-m Lilly Pilly (Syzygium) in semi-shade, sandy coastal soil. Move to full sun. Raised leaf lumps—what are they? Survival tips? Leaf Lumps = Psyllids Psyllids (lerp insects) cause galls/bumps. Treat with labeled ins

Barberry Dieback: Multiple Causes Need Pro Diagnosis

Rural western NJ. 10-yr-old red/variegated barberry: one has severe dieback, irregular brown leaf spots/holes, no pests seen. Deer possible? Deer Unlikely to Cause This Pattern Dieback + leaf spots = leaf blight, enviro

Shamrock Inkberry Browning: Spider Mites

Pinehurst, NC. 9-yr-old Shamrock inkberries (Ilex glabra Shamrock) turning bronze/brown, dying. Insecticide 2× no help. Save them? Bronze Leaves = Spider Mites Classic symptom on inkberries. Mites are arachnids—insectic

Hydrangea Flowers Turned Green: Soil pH Fix

New England. Hydrangea had blue flowers; after planting turned green. Moved to sunnier spot, added lime. Will blue return? Green = pH Transition Zone Blue requires pH 5.0–5.5 (aluminum available). Pink requires 6.0–6.5.

Texas Sage Declining: Too Much Water

12 Texas Sage (Leucophyllum), 6 yrs old. One died (leafless sticks); others declining. Sprinkler 2×/week + begonias underneath. Suggestions? Texas Sage Hates Frequent Water Native to arid regions. Twice-weekly sprinkler

Gardenia Flower Deformities: Thrips Control

San Diego. Gardenia Veitchi in large pots, drip irrigation, monthly acid fertilizer. Spring blooms perfect; summer/fall blooms twisted/deformed. Thrips present. Systemic pesticides used. Help? Thrips = Deformed Buds Thr

Paulownia Saplings with Brown Spots: Likely Leaf Spot Fungus

Royal Paulownia saplings (Baton Rouge, LA) develop brown spots on lower leaves → yellow → drop. High heat/humidity. Photos show progression. Phyllosticta, Sphaceloma, or anthracnose? Diagnosis: Fungal Leaf Spot Symptoms

Finding Hershey Red Azaleas: Older Cultivars Replaced

Gardener in Meridian, MS needs to replace 20-year-old Hershey Red azaleas but cant find them in southeastern nurseries. Reason: newer, more disease- and insect-resistant cultivars have replaced older ones. Look for moder

Crape Myrtle Not Blooming: Pruning and Sunlight Issues

Crape myrtle planted June 2006 bloomed well, but no flowers by July 2007 in Long Island, NY. Full sun, healthy leaves. Cause: spring pruning removed flower buds (crape myrtles bloom on new wood). Also, high-nitrogen fert