Street Tree Planting Seasons Long Island: Evergreen vs Deciduous

Preferred Windows Evergreens: Late Feb – mid April. Deciduous: Mid March – May. Reason Evergreens need earlier root establishment before summer heat; deciduous can wait until spring growth begins.

Killing Shrub Roots for Tomato Bed: Round-Up Safe for Vegetables

Method Spray foliage with Round-Up (faster root translocation). Or cut stumps, spray stumps. Soil Safety Round-Up chemically inert once in soil. Safe for tomatoes after absorption.

Prickly Pear Control: Herbicide Not Diesel

Safe Method Diesel contaminates soil. Use Round-Up or Natures Glory (non-selective herbicides). They kill roots and become inactive in soil.

Holly Leafminer vs. Leaf Spot: Diagnosis and Treatment

Bird Nesting Myth Birds do not bring fungus. Landscaper incorrect. Two Real Causes for Yellow/Brown Spots Holly leafminer: Tunnels in leaves. Check with light. Systemic insecticide early spring. Holly leaf spot: Airbor

Leaf Drop on Mature Photinia 'Red Robin' – Salt Damage Suspected

Diagnosing Decline in an Established Red Robin A 10-year-old Photinia dropping leaves despite healthy-looking new red growth may be suffering from delayed saltwater flood damage (past 2–3 years). Root injury from saline

Red Tip Photinia Growth Rate and Pruning for Privacy Screen

Growth Speed Photinia grows 8–24 inches/year. Fertilize spring to maximize. Pruning Strategy Do not prune until desired height reached. Let establish first.

Meyer Lemon Frost Damage and Scale: Oil and Fertilizer

Frost Damage New growth appearing = good sign. Frost damage is likely. Scale Insects Brown oval bumps on branches = scale. Suffocate with horticultural oil. Combined Care Horticultural oil now. Fertilize for frost rec

Removing Unwanted Shrubs: Round-Up or Dig Out

Two Methods Round-Up: Spray foliage, wait for death, dig out. Herbicide inert in soil. Dig out live: Maximize root ball, move quickly if replanting. Timing Any time for kill; dormant season for transplant.

Holly Bush Dying: Scale Insects or Winter Injury

Two Likely Causes Scale insects: Cottony masses on stems/leaves. Suck sap → death. Treat with horticultural oil. Winter injury: Cold desiccation. Both Need Heavy fertilization to strengthen and encourage new growth.

Planting Red Maple for Shade: Spacing and Soil Tolerance

Spacing Plant 15–20 ft from house for canopy spread and root safety. Soil Maples adapt to almost any soil, including black clay. Water consistently after planting.

English Laurel Aphids: Sticky Leaves, Soap and Oil Treatment

Diagnosis Yellowed, sticky leaves = aphids (honeydew). Check undersides. Treatment Spray horticultural soap and oil. Fertilize to speed recovery.

Transplanting Large Loropetalums: Fall, Big Root Balls, Drip Irrigation

Timing Mid to late fall (dormant) for 4-ft, 4-year-old plants. Root System Roots extend 2× branch spread, 12–15 inches deep. Dig accordingly. Prep & Aftercare Fertilize weeks before move. Pre-dig holes. Water religiou

Serviceberry Shrubs Not Leafing Out: Patience and Fertilizer

Normal Timing Amelanchier (serviceberry) leafs out later than many shrubs. In MD, may be weeks away. Action Fertilize now. Wait 2–3 weeks.

Variegated Dogwood Dieback: Wrong Pruning, Anthracnose Risk

Landscaper Error Cutting dogwoods to ground was wrong. Never prune below 12 inches. Fertilize heavily this spring to force regrowth. Red Spots = Likely Anthracnose Dogwood anthracnose is serious. Spray fungicide at leaf

Lemon Tree Sooty Mold: Aphids, Horticultural Soap, Professional Spray

Cause Black residue on leaves/fruit = sooty mold on aphid honeydew. Aphids on undersides. Treatment Horticultural soap/oil from nursery. Mix per label, spray with sprayer. If tree too large: hire tree spraying company.

Boxwoods Sudden Browning: Winter Salt or Cold Damage

Diagnosis All boxwoods browned simultaneously in spring after winter = deicing salt in root zone or extreme cold/ice. Remediation Water heavily to leach salt below roots. Heavy spring fertilizing to spark recovery.

Boxwoods Hacked to Stumps: Rejuvenation Pruning Recovery Takes Years

What Happened Employee cut boxwoods back 1 ft, leaving no foliage. This rejuvenation pruning forces regrowth from bare wood. Recovery Timeline Several seasons to full recovery. Fertilize spring and fall with balanced f

Holly Bush Turning Brown After Winter: Winter Damage Recovery

Winter of 06-07 Was Hard Holly with brown spots, then total browning, leaf loss. Many evergreens were damaged that winter. Revive It Fertilize with balanced fertilizer in spring. Water deeply during dry spells. Mulch 2

Snowball Viburnum Never Blooms: Pruning Time and Fertilizer

Two Fixes Stop fall pruning. Pruning after July removes next years buds. Prune only late summer/early fall. Use low-nitrogen fertilizer in fall. High N = leaves, not flowers. Leaf Color Early leaf drop before fall col

Dogwood Tree Won't Bloom: Wrong Sun, Too Much Nitrogen

Two Fixes Dug-from-woods dogwood in full sun, 5 ft tall, no blooms. Nearby one blooms fine. Move it. Dogwoods are understory trees—they need filtered sun or part shade. Full sun stresses them. Fertilize with LOW nitroge