Why Hydrangeas Fail to Bloom: Common Pruning Mistakes

The Likely Culprit: Improper Pruning If your hydrangeas grew six feet tall but produced few or no flowers, the most common cause is hard pruning in fall or early spring. Most hydrangeas (especially bigleaf types) bloom o

Transplanting Crepe Myrtles: Timing and Techniques for Success

Best Time to Move Crepe Myrtles In Austin, Texas, late fall to early winter—when the plants enter dormancy—is ideal for transplanting crepe myrtles. This reduces transplant shock and gives roots time to establish before

Why Newly Planted Shrubs Turn Brown and How to Save Them

Understanding the Problem Youve invested in beautiful new shrubs—arborvitae, Alaskan cypress, Japanese Hinoki cedar, and dwarf Alberta spruce—only to watch them turn brown within days. The landscaper insists youre not wa

Will a Privet Hedge 4 Feet from the House Damage the Foundation?

Assessing Foundation Risk from a Nearby Privet Hedge Privet (Ligustrum) is a vigorous feeder but rarely damages foundations at 4 ft distance. Many examples exist of trouble-free plantings at this spacing. If concerned, i

First-Year Care Calendar for New Landscape Plants in Illinois

Fertilizing and Pruning Schedule for a Mixed New Planting Newly planted boxwood, burning bush, dwarf Alberta spruce, weeping cherry, and golden cypress likely received starter fertilizer at planting. No further feeding u

Mealybug Infestation on Indoor Oleander

Treating Mealybugs on Overwintered Oleander White, cottony deposits on oleander stems and trunk indoors are classic mealybug signs. Control with insecticidal soap or malathion (follow label). Apply thoroughly to all surf

Renovation Pruning for Overgrown Yews (Taxus) and Japanese Holly

Hard Pruning Old Yews and Hollies Taxus (yew) tolerates severe renovation pruning in summer or early fall. Cut stems back to 1–2 inches above old wood using sharp bypass pruners (for stems <1 in.) or a pruning saw (large

Reviving Stressed Japanese Boxwoods After Planting

Transplant Shock in Newly Planted Boxwoods Coppery or yellow-margined leaves on some Japanese boxwoods (Buxus microphylla var. japonica) while others thrive suggests transplant shock, not disease. The fact that potted re

Encore Azaleas in San Diego: Bloom Performance and Soil Needs

Are Encore Azaleas Worth It in Southern California? Encore azaleas rebloom sporadically through the season, but their success hinges on acidic soil (pH 4.5–6.0). Test your soil first. If alkaline, amending is difficult a

Killing Hedge Stumps After Cutting to the Ground

Stump Removal Options for a New England Hedge Row Leaving stumps to rot risks honey fungus, which can spread to nearby plants. Two effective methods: Digging: Excavate stumps and major roots (labor-intensive; consider h

Growing Mimosa pudica (Sensitive Plant) Indoors and Out

Cultivation Guide for the Sensitive Plant Mimosa pudica is a short-lived perennial (evergreen in frost-free zones) or annual. Its leaflets fold when touched. It thrives in moderately fertile soil, full sun to light shade

Identifying and Removing Reverted Stems on Harry Lauder's Walking Stick

Managing Reversion in Corylus avellana Contorta Harry Lauders walking stick (corkscrew hazel) occasionally produces straight, vigorous stems—reversions to the species normal growth. These differ in color, twist, and leaf

Caring for a Potted Dwarf Alberta Spruce as a Reusable Christmas Tree

The Limits of Container-Grown Dwarf Alberta Spruce Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca Conica) eventually reaches 10–12 ft, not the 20 ft sometimes cited, but it still outgrows containers within a few years. In Torontos c

Crepe Myrtle and Other Plants That Attract Butterflies and Birds

Wildlife Value of Crepe Myrtle and Alternatives Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia) flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Taller varieties provide nesting sites for birds. For a school garden in Athens, GA,

Will Allamanda Bushes Recover After a Florida Cold Snap?

Post-Freeze Outlook for Allamanda Allamanda is frost-tender. After cutting back dead stems, the only action is to watch for new growth as temperatures warm. If shoots appear by May, cut back to a healthy outward-facing b

Saving a Freeze-Damaged Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) in Texas

Assessing Cold Damage on a Sago Palm Sago palms (actually cycads) tolerate brief dips to freezing but suffer in hard freezes. Brown, dead fronds will not drop cleanly—they rot and can invite disease. If lower fronds rema

Managing Flies on Manhattan Euonymus

Why Flies Swarm Euonymus kiautschovicus Manhattan The small, inconspicuous flowers of Manhattan euonymus attract pollinators—especially bees—which inevitably draw flies as well. This is a natural ecological interaction;

Fast-Growing Hedge Shrubs for Privacy Screening

Choosing a Tall, Inexpensive Hedge for a Property Line For a quick, dense screen, consider these options: Formal Hedge (Requires Regular Trimming) Privet (Ligustrum) – Fast, hardy, tolerates poor soil, semi-evergreen. G

Recovering Oleanders After a Hard Freeze in Louisiana

Post-Freeze Care for Oleanders Oleanders are frost-tender; hard freezes in the low 20s (°F) can kill top growth. The only remedy is patience: wait for warm weather and watch for bud break. Pruning Timing Once new buds ap

Troubleshooting Leaf Drop on an Indoor Meyer Lemon Tree

Reviving a Meyer Lemon Losing Leaves Indoors A Meyer lemon near a sunny window and a heat register may suffer from low humidity and rapid soil drying. Citrus needs ~75% humidity, consistent moisture, and monthly feeding