Controlling Euonymus Scale on Golden Euonymus in Arkansas

Golden Euonymus dying back with small white specks on leaf undersides. Pesticides tried, wrong type. Diagnosis Euonymus scale. White specks = males. Females = dark brown clusters on stems. Treatment Timing: Early summ

Deer-Damaged Tiger Eye Sumac: Coppice and Cutting Rescue

Tiger Eye sumac (Rhus typhina Laciniata) in pot, planted out. Deer ate top, stripped bark off two main branches. Questions: (a) cut to 2–3″ + cage → regrow? (b) rescued foliage in vase → cuttings? Expert Assessment Bar

Rescuing Drought-Stressed Lilac in NE Ohio

3-year-old lilac in NE Ohio: rolled green/brown leaves with red edges. Extreme heat (90s), no rain. Watering but maybe wrong amount. Diagnosis Severe drought. Little-and-often watering fails. Lilac not pest-infested. E

Laceleaf Japanese Maple Decline in Oklahoma: Referral to Disease/Tree Experts

Laceleaf (Japanese maple) shriveled/brown at top, bark peeling. Trimmed brown leaves. Installed 2 years ago, did well until this year. Small town OK. Expert Referral Tree cultivation not this experts specialty. Recommen

Wisteria Seed Pods: Remove, Propagate by Layering Instead

Wisteria on fence has seed pods for 2 months. Pick now? Remove seeds? How to grow more? Seed Pods Remove them so plant puts energy into next years flowers. Seeds take 10–15 YEARS to flower. Not practical. Best Propag

Tupidanthus Care: Fertilizer and Brown Leaf Edges

Tupidanthus (tropical) grown in container or ground. Asks fertilizer and cure for brown, crumbling leaf edges. Fertilizer Container: Balanced liquid monthly in growing season. Ground: 2-inch mulch (compost/leaf mold) 2

Wisteria vs. Bougainvillea Maintenance in Palm Desert

Gardener loves 3×/year blooming wisteria, wants to replace bougainvillea with it in Palm Desert. More maintenance? Answer Yes, wisteria needs more attention. Standard: prune twice yearly: August: shorten side shoots to

Reviving Sparse, Weak 'Endless Summer' Hydrangeas in Michigan

Three Endless Summer hydrangeas + hydrangea tree, 3rd summer, planted by pros. Sparse, thin branches, ugly flowers. Never fertilized. Cut back twice in fall (thought itd thicken). Problems Identified Fall pruning = NO

Diagnosing Sudden Decline in 12-Year-Old Deodar Cedar in North Florida

30-ft Deodar cedar (12 years old) near Gainesville, FL: upper 2/3 rapidly browning, losing needles in past month. No cankers, bugs, webs. Expert Coach Dave Investigation Spider mites (not killed by insecticides): shake

Diagnosing Browning Emerald Green Arborvitae in First Year

4-ft Emerald Green arborvitae, planted 1 year ago, browning in middle, slight yellowing on west side (sun 10 AM–dusk). Lost one already. Local nurseries clueless. Expert Coach Dave Causes Overwatering: 1–2×/week, 10–15

Moving Oleanders to a Heated Sunroom for Winter in London, Ontario

Five 5-ft oleanders in pots, usually garaged for winter. Sunroom stays 40°F night/60°F day. Good idea? Expert Coach Dave Verdict Excellent idea. Oleander (Nerium) hates frost; sunroom = frost-free + enjoyment. Check dr

Overwintering Lilac Saplings in Toronto (Zone 5)

Two 1-ft lilac saplings in pots; planting spot not ready. Toronto zone 5. Options: plant wrong place, bury pots, or bring inside? Best Advice Keep indoors in unheated, frost-free place (garage, unheated porch). Light no

Overwintering Container Plants in North Georgia: Which Stay, Which Go

North GA gardener with containers: Pentas, Plumbago, Lantana, Portulaca, Begonia, Kalanchoe, Gardenia. Which survive outside, which come in, which are lost causes? Expert Coach Dave Breakdown Pentas: Remove or cut back

Arborvitae Bud Browning in Massachusetts: Likely Moth Larvae

Five-foot Dark American arborvitae planted 2009 in MA, now 7–8 ft. Some buds brown, fall off when touched. Dry, warm summer. Expert Referral Not a fern/pest specialist. Suggests AllExperts Pests category for moth larva

Diagnosing Inner Browning in Evergreen Shrubs

Evergreen shrubs browning from inside out. Insect, disease, or other? General Diagnosis (No Species Given) Main death causes: physical damage, disease/pest, extreme temps, old age. Long-lived evergreens → likely insect

Winterizing Holly Bushes in Midcoast Maine

First winter for male/female holly pair in midcoast Maine. Winterize? Mulch? Cover? Cutting berries for decor OK? Expert Coach Dave Advice Mulch 2 inches: reduces weeds, protects roots from frost, retains water. Cut be

When to Prune Rose of Sharon: Fall vs. Late Winter

A gardener asks if Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) can be trimmed in fall. Direct Answer: No, Dont Prune in Fall Prune only in late winter or early spring (February-March in most zones, before new growth emerges). W

Propagating Dwarf Burning Bush: Softwood Cutting Method

A gardener with a thriving dwarf burning bush (Euonymus alatus Compactus or Select) wants to propagate new plants from sprouts. They ask for the method and best timing. Propagation Overview Burning bush roots readily fr

Transplanting Burning Bush in Peoria, IL (Zone 5a): Fall vs. Spring

Peoria, IL (zone 5a) gardener removing pine, wants to move burning bush from shady back to sunny front. When? Too late this year? Bush is large. Expert Coach Dave Steps Dig new hole 1 ft larger than root ball. Get maxi

Red Clusterberry Decline in High Desert: Diagnosis and Treatment

A Mesquite, NV (high desert) gardener planted two red clusterberry shrubs (likely Cotoneaster spp.) five weeks ago. One is turning brown and dropping leaves. Night temps dropped to 40°F. They were fertilized once with Mi