Comments list started on 26 January 2001.
Last post on Mon Jun 20 20:01:16 EDT 2005

Hi Sharon,

We can't tell from here, of course, but they don't sound like happy plants. The best thing to do is to get in touch with the place they came from and find out the best way to proceed. Barring that, at least find out from them if the trees they sold you are really outside hardy to your zone. I would have thought not, but I am really not familiar with that far north. Your nursery or garden center would know for sure. And outdoor trees do not really do well inside, in case you have them there. If they are hardy that far north, planting them outside in the good earth is the best thing you can do for them. You can do it now as long as you can get them plenty of water on a regular basis. If they are pot bound, you may have to tease the roots loose and out so they can stretch their little feet and grow.

Good luck with them. -Barb

I live in zone 5. I planted 2 dappled willows in large pots last year, and they grew just fine. Now that summer is almost here again, I see very little leves growing on just a few branches. Can these be saved ?

Good

To Kenny Charlton,

Hi Kenny, Yes, Lelands will do ok in shade. At least as well as they would anyway. For a number of factors, you might be better off planting other things, but the shade won't do them in.

Barbara Custis

Can Leland Cypress grow in an area that is mostly in the shade?

Hi

Just passin' through checking guestbooks. Thank you for your patience.

Mom

Hi Amy,

Cryptomeria should do it for you. Fast growing, good root system and good coverage. They'll grow in the neighborhood of 4 feet a year. That depends on what else is going on where they are, ie; high winds, drought, etc. Plant them about 15 feet apart and water them 2 to 3 times a week for the first 6 months. A good soaking, of course. Adjust this according to rain.

Hope this helps. Good luck in your new home.

Barb

Hello, Barbara!

We are buying a house near a busy road. What type of tree will grow quickly and provide privacy and noise control year-round? We live in the western part of Virginia and need to plant something that does not require a lot of tlc.

Thanks, Amy

Hi Lesley

Barbara Custis says to tell you she'll call you.

Ann Devletian

Hi Andrew

Well, if your bean plant still has a set of leaves on it, it likely will still be set to go. If it does not, sorry, it might not make it.

Gotta love vegies, good luck

Barb

I just phoned you from Pa. You were not in. How's Phil feeling by now? We are thinking of visiting Tangier Island. Would like some advice from you concerning that & the 4th of July and where to go for great fireworks. If we do go there - would you two be free to spend some time w/ us? Waiting to hear from you...............Lesley

i have a bean plant that was about 5 in. tall. it broke in half and is not about 2 in. tall. will it grow back or will the plant die?

Cool!!!

To Keith Edwards,

Hi Keith,

It sounds as if you have a beautiful spot there. Sorry about your pines. Hopefully the others will soon be large enough so that the wet ground won't hurt them. Bald Cyprus might not be the best choice for a screen affect. They do lose their foliage in the winter and would then be 'see through'. More Arbor Vitae would work or even some Cryptomeria. What might be a good thing to do is to dig the planting hole a bit over deep and put in some sand before replacement. This will help them a great deal with drainage.

Good luck,

Barb

Hello, I live in Gilsum New Hampshire. My property is on a high ridge, lots of wind and open space, but it is also situated over a shelf with natural springs running a few feet down across the property. I have transplanted a row of ten white pines to build a visual barrier, but only five have survived the second year. The ground is wet, often saturated and soil is mixed with clay and loam. I have supplemented with Arbor Vidas that are doing well. I am planning to plant bald cyprus in the spots where the white pines died. Doald cyprus lose their foliage in the winter? Do you think this is a good choice of tree. Also, do bald cyprus lose their foliage in the winter?

Thanks,

Keith Edwards

Barbara,Thank you so much for the info on my hydrangea!!You are a jewel:) I think I will take a picture and send it to OSU and see if the recoganize the problem.Thank you again for your time.Mary

Hi Mary,

It doesn't sound good. Actually Oregon is a bit out of our baliwick. Your best bet is to take a leaf and any other odd signs around you can find to your local extension office. They are real plugged into whatever, bug wise, that is happening in their area. Look for signs elsewhere in your yard so you can tell them that, too.

Good luck, Mary,

Barb

Hi Angela,

Try it and let us know how it does. It's doubtful, though. When it appeared to work, there might have been unnoticed factors going on. That said - if that effect is what you want, try planting 'Endless Summer'. That's what it looks like and it's a very nice plant.

Have a beautiful summer,

Barb

I do hope you can give me some insight to what the problem is with my hydrangea.It is about 10 years old and has all but stopped looking even halfway decent!!The stems look dried and the leaves that they do have on them are short and curled with dry edges.Last summer the leaves had brown dots all over them.. I live in Southwest Oregon.Its Not to far from the Pacific but far enough that we don't get the cold winds...fog yes.Thanks for your help.Mary

I just recieved a hydrandra and was told to water it with rusty water so different colors will bloom from the same plant.Is that true? Do you have any other suggestions that will add different colors to the same plant. Thank You Angela

To Danielle:

Hi Danielle, This is not good, Danielle. Sounds like dead soil, or getting that way. Work in some good compost or manure. Remember, chicken manure needs to have aged for a couple of years ideally. It's too hot. Horse manure can be applied right away. It won't burn. Turn 'whatever' in really well. If that doesn't help, and you might want to do it anyway, buy some earthworms and give them a new home. Do that after you do some of the soil preparation I mentioned.

Hope this helps, ~~~Barb

To Connie Wynne:

Hi Connie, Trim hydryngea, as with almost all flowering schrubs, when they finish blooming. Do no more then necessary, though.

Good luck, ~~~Barb

To Merle Hayden:

Hi Merle, Best guess - try a florist in your area and see if they have any ideas.

Barb

Hi, I live in Massachusettes, and I have a veggie garden. For the last 2 years I have not seen any earth worms at all when I turn over the soil for new planting in the spring. Is there a reason for this? thank for any advice. Danielle

How and when do you trim back Hydrynga?

My Mother-in-Law is looking for some Ming Aurelia - we have not been able to find any, can you tell me where to get some? Thanks

Hi Ken,

Well Ken, how sad. Yes, winter was strange. Here's the thing - not much at this point that you can do. I know you are frustrated, but nothing you can do is going to help much. You may well have to replace them. You have basicly two ways to go from here. You can relax and bide your time and see if any make it. While you're 'biding', consider damage to the appearence of the ones that do make it. For 'looks', that needs to be considered. Or you can replace them with Cryptomeria or Arbor Vitae. These will work well for you. They look great and are much hardier, with a better root system. They get planted the same way, spacing and all.

Good luck, Ken, and we're sorry it turned out this way, Barb

We live in Long Island, New York and recently planted 32 leyland cypress 6ft each. We planted in October with the recommendation from our supplier. Unfortunately we had a rough winter and it looks like many of them are turning brown. one or two seem to have started to lose their needleswhen you touch the plant. What is going on?? Are they finished or not? Should we replace them or will the rejuvinate themselves? We are frustrated , we do not know what to do, spray? fertilize, replace them? We need your advice?

We do, indeed, understand seaside gardens. Where we live and work everything's a seaside garden. (smile) What type of help do you need?

Barb

help on seaside garden

To Cheryl Parker-Thomas,

Hi Cheryl, Poor staghorn. Is he getting too much sun. They do like a bit of shade. Could be too much fertilizer, too. Don't know, I'm not there. If you have done anything new, of course, that could be it. So maybe fall back to the way things were.

Wish you the best, Barb

Mr./Ms. Email - Hello,

Sorry, but ming arealia plants don't really fall into my sphere of knowledge. Seems like they seem to do well if watered when the soil is dryish to the touch but not hard dry if that's understandable. I do know that folks who have transplanted theirs into a new container thinking to give it room, have not had success. These plants like to be cosy in their pots - not too much extra room. Don't know if this helps.

Good luck, Barb

the leaves on my staghorn is turning brown, what am i during wrong!

"I have a ming arealia tree (inside) and it is starting to loose bunches of leaves. I have had it for about 9 years and this is the first time I've had problems. How often should it be watered? fed? Thank you."

Hi All,

I'm back in town.

First let me say this to 'Pat' and 'from email', I agree so the answers can stand. And, Pat, Yes on the blooming Sasanquas.

To Linda: About your Staghorn, by all means take pups, bunches of 'em. And let the fern go to the beam if that works for you.

Thanks to all for your patience, Barb

I have a staghorn fern that needs to be divided. It weighs about 300 pounds. It is growing through lattice work and an entirely new plant which is huge, is growing on the other side. My question is, do I split the entire thing apart or just start taking pups and making new plants? I would prefer to leave it large and hang it on the beam above.

Hello All, It is 25 February and Barbara has been away on the annual buying trip. Sorry, it may be a while before she can answer. Based on what I know, I can 'wing' some things.

PAT: We, too, are in zone 7. I have not cut my butterfly bush back yet. But I've watched it and the weather and I'm going to do it TODAY! It will likely get cold again, but this should not hurt it. I know absolutely nothing about November blooming Sasanquas. I'll check with Barb when she gets back. Thanks Pat

EMAIL PERSON: If it's a ming aurelia, Barb would tell you, as she has other people, that it is not her field of knowledge. She would hesitate to advise, not wanting to do harm. I would not give my cats access before finding out for sure. If it is the potted commercial form of Bonsai, sometimes erroneously known as 'ming' trees, I can tell you this much. Chances are real good that it is safe, but at best they will not hold up to much chewing on so best to protect it anyway. Most are trees, some are vines. But impossible to know without seeing a picture. Good luck with your gift.

Ann Devletian

I was given a plant I know only as a "ming" plant or tree. I heard there is a ming aurelia, is there a tree also? I have two cats and is either the plant or tree poisonous to animals? Thank you so much.

I live in zone 7. Is it too late to prune butterfly bushes? Also, is now the time to severely prune November blooming Sasanquas? Thanks!

Hi Mike,

Well, you nailed it - stop all fertilizer. Give the hydranga another season before you worry. All that extra nutrition will have to work its way through its system before it gets back to normal. AND hopefully this will also take care of the color situation as well. Hydrangea are funny about color.Keep fingers crossed.

Barb

Hydranga blooms have reduced to about 1/2 in size due to last year fertilizing with Miracle Grow. Also the previous blooms were large and were blue with pink centers, now they are either pink or blue.

The Miracle Grow did make the stems and leaves grow well. Have tried to trim some by thinning to see if would help but to no luck.

Any ideas. Mike

To John Love,

Hello John,

Sure do. Tell the gentleman to come by the Custis Farms office right next to us. He needs to fill out an application. We might be able put him to work. We are sorry for the family's loss.

Barbara Custis

To Karen Johnson

Hi Karen,

Your daisies like to be kept on the dry side. Also check for fungus - dust with sulfer to be sure.

Good luck

How do you keep Gerbera Daisies in the winter? I live in zone 5 and brought them inside and planted them in pots. They are not looking very good and we still have 3 months before I can put them back outside. Thanks for any help you can give me.

GOOD AND INFORMATIVE, I LOVE IT, NICE SITE INDDED. GUY MEN WAKA PASS.

Hello Barbara Happy New Year to you and your family. Barbara, an unfortunate incident occured down in Cheapside. Two days after Christmas, a family was burned out. Fortunately no one was hurt, and there were no children involved, however, the wife is ill and the husband is without work. They managed to get temporary living quarters in Cape Charles. Do you have need of additional help, or perhaps you know of someone or a company looking for help. This gentleman is open to any kind of labor. Whatever you can do would be appreciated. Thank you, John Love

Hi Paul,

Well - I guess that does look pretty scraggly. I do have to say that evergreens don't much like their tops cut off. They tend to make their own decisions and form two tops. That also looks strange. And it would be hard to work on them that tall on a continueing, up close and personal basis. That said - what have you got to lose? If it works, Great! If not, it probably won't look too much worse and the only other 'cure' would be to cut them out anyway. The trees, I mean.

Good luck, Barbara

Hi Darlene,

I'm sorry, but I'm not the person to ask about house plants. I could give you a best guess and it might be wrong. You should check with a nursery that specializes in indoor plants. Or try asking at a florist's shop. They deal in house plants and likely know the folks in your area that know the right things to do.

I wish I could help and wish you all the luck for rescuing an old plant and giving it a caring home.

Barbara

We have a well established Leland Cypress hedge. The problem that I have is that there is a great variation in height between some trees. Some are 10 feet taller. Am I able to trim these to even the height and train a branch to become the lead for the tree?

Barbara, I purchased a schefflera at an estate sale. There is no way of knowing how long it was left to grow wild. The branches are any where from 3 to 4 ft long and most of the leaves are either in the middle or near the top of the branches. Not many leaves at the bottom. The branches are so long that they have twisted one way and then the other. We have put a couple of stakes in the pot and tried to stretch the brances to see if they would start growing upwards. I truly would like to save it and have the branches cut back. But, I am not sure how to cut them back and how far down to cut them. Any suggestions? Thanks for any help you can provide. Darlene

Hi,

Don't mind me - just passing through checking guestbooks to make sure they're in working order. Thanks

Mom

http://www.NotYourMothers.com

Hi Cheryl,

You don't say what kind of cyprus it is or in a pot or outdoors. It's hard to say. My advice would run from; if it's a Leland - throw it away and start over with some other kind, to; if it's a Bald cyprus - it's a natural, seasonal thing. My overall feeling is to water it properly and leave it alone. If it is a Bald cyprus, they grow in the Southern swamps and require a good bit of water. You want to avoid cutting off the top, if at all possible.

Good luck, cyprus are very nice trees.

Barb

I recently bought a cyprus tree and have underestimated the ammount of water it requires. The very top has dried out. It is a very small tree. I just didn't know if I should leave it alone and water it properly, or if I should cut off the dried bits at the top. Which is the better answer to revive the dried part of the tree? Thanks for your time and wisdom. Cheryl

Hi Danny,

Wow, San Diego, what great weather you have. BUT, I'm not sure about your trees. Sorry about the wind. The very best thing for you to do is to call your local agriculture extension service. They would know exactly what Maples do the best where you are. We are all the way over on the East Coast and we might not get it right, but they will know exactly what will work.

Good luck on your Maple. They are so beautiful.

Barbara

i want to plant a maple tree in front of my house in north county san diego. i am about 5 miles in from the ocean. i live in a new community and the tree they planted in front of my house 2 years ago fell over from the wind last night. it is almost never windy here.

when is the best time to plant a maple tree and what variety of maple would survive best and be the most colorful in the fall?

last night we had a big wind thank you,

danny belt.

Hi Jackie,

Your plant is adjusting to a different temperature, but it also sounds like it maybe too dry. Try misting the leaves. It would be even better if you could keep it somewhere cooler, like a garage, so that it may have the cooler temperatures it needs to go dormant.

Good Luck ~~Barb

I purchased a 1 year old nikko blue hydrangea plant about 2 months ago. This was in the fall and the plant had no blooms on it just a lot of large healthy leaves. I got it bare root and potted it right away. It was doing well on my front porch up until a week ago. I live in a colder climate and knew that until the plant was large enough I would have to keep it in a large pot and bring it in during the winter season. After 2 nights of temperatures reaching below 32C I brought it indoors and placed it by a window that gets morning sun. The leaves have stayed green but they are drying out from the edges in . The leaves on the bottom of hte plant are worst and are now completely dry; they crumble in my hand. The majority of the leaves are also starting to curl in. There are also a few small brown spots on some but not all of the leaves. Every day 1-2 leaves fall off the plant but I can see small leaves coming in also. I do not have any pets, I have do not see any aphids. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I really do not want to loose this plant. Thanksfor your help

Hi Brian,

Stop watering and don't put in any fertilizer. The horse manure will do its job. Good stuff, doesn't burn. But this year has been so wet, your hydrangea bushs have gotten plenty of water. My fear is that they've had too much and that's the problem. Root problems are next to impossible to fix. Best thing to do, as long as you haven't seen any little pests on the bushes, is just to leave them alone. And, Yes, we do know that it's the hardest thing to do.

Hope this helps,

Barb

Hi Troy?,

Well, maybe a tiny bit. Try this next time. Put a couple of drops of household bleach in the vase of water. After 3 days or when the water gets cloudy, whichever comes first, put in new fresh water and add a couple more drops of household bleach. Keep doing that.

Good luck,

Barb

Barbara, My wife and I live in northern Delaware. Two weeks ago we planted two Hydrangea bushs. They had blooms and still do but the leaves towards the bottom are turning yellow. A year ago we amended the soil with horse manure and top soil. We have been watering every other day. This past weekend we went away for two nights and when we returned my wife noticed the leaves. If it rains of course we don't water. Would a shot of Hollytone help? Is there something we can do to save these? Thanks for your help...

DOES SUGAR PROLONG THE LIFE OF CUT FLOWERS.

Hello Randy, Wow, you do have a problem. We never recommend Leland Cyprus. It is not too hardy and has a lot of drawbacks, including a shallow root system. It seems, from your description, that you do get morning sun and a good bit of it. Anything that you could plant really needs good sun or the lower branches start dying off. In your situation, perhaps Cryptomeria might be your best bet. Even so shade is your enemy. But it growns fast and is thinner than some other things so would be better. It might be a good idea to plant a couple and see how it goes. If you are here for the long haul, you have time. Might as well do it right the first time. Watch your sun patterns and miss the long shade spot times as much as possible. If you do decide to plant them, about 10 to 12 feet apart works. They are nice looking, hardier and fast growing. Really hope this works for you, it’s quite a challenge.

Barb

From email, edited for space and privacy: Hello, Barbara, I would really appreciate your advise on something: we bought a home in which the back yard is directly adjacent to the back wall of a public building, which is almost 50 feet in height. The lot is 150 long. The back of our house is about 80' from the back of the school. We live 4 1/2 blocks from the ocean and the soil is somewhat sandy when you get to a depth of 6-8 inches. There is a 6' high solid wood fence on our west side. Privacy is an issue.

Can you recommend any evergreen varieties that can grow really tall and as fast as possible? Someone suggested Leland Cyprus to us. We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again,

Randy

Hi Kathy,

No problem. Impatients will grow there, as will Hosta, Ferns and Lumia. Also, good for shrubs are Hydrangea and Camellias.

Hope this helps, Barb

The back part of my house gets no sun at all. There are alot of trees to block all the sun. What are some shrubs ( if any ) that will grow with little to no sun. Will impatients grow in this area (just for color)

Well Anne,

Good question. Actually, snow is a very good insulation for plants. Why don't we err on the side of caution here because I don't know some things about the circumstances. For instance, I don't know if it's acclimated to the outside ground and was dug up just for you. Don't know if it has lived its life in a pot. Don't know how old it is.

It might be a safe thing to just put it in a garage or pouch for the winter. Add some cover, tarp or whatever, around and over the pot if it's really cold where you put it. Keep it watered and getting sun. And plant it out come Spring.

Good luck,

Barb

Hi Barbara. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada, which I believe is Zone 4. A friend just gave me a beautiful gift of a Dappled Willow in a pot. She says I can just plant it right out into my garden now, and it will be fine over the winter. I'm not sure that I believe her - it is October 13 and the daytime highs are around 17C right now, with some morning frosts and night-time lows of around 10C. The snow will be flying in another month. What should I do? Should I keep it in the pot over the winter and plant it out in the spring? I'm particularly nervous as I have read that this particular shrub is a zone 5 or 6 for hardiness, and our winters up here can get very cold and we always get a ton of snow.

If I do have to keep it potted over the winter, could you give me some advice as to how to care for it? There seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there about this shrub.

Regards and thank you,

Anne C. Toronto, Canada

Hi Cathy.

Try cutting them back now and NOT in the spring. You might just have been a little late last Spring and removed blooms in the bud. Also, try no fertilizer this spring. Of course, if there are dead winter stalks to be removed, no problem. Just resist the temptation to cut. Of course, you may also want them to rest a year with no pruning, just to give them a break and a chance to recover.

Good luck on your Barbies, ... Barbara

I moved to a house that had a small garden in the front(north) in a low cement wall. There are three beautiful hydrangea there that have blooms as big as a volleyball and are barbie doll pink. I was told to cut the whole bush back every year. I did last year and had great luck. This year I trimed last fall and in spring and one shot of fertilizer(I was told fall was wrong). This year I had NO blooms, only nice green leaves. Did I prune incorrectly? Should I cut it back now or wait until nearer the fall frost? I live in Chicago. Thanks!

Hello Cathy,

You surely can do that. It works great. Grandmas rule!

Take a cutting off not too old growth. Peel the bark off the lower half of it. To improve your chances, dip that end in a rooting compound. Pick a shady, sandy spot on the North side of the house, stick it in the ground, peeled side down and put a mason jar over it. North and shady helps it not to over heat and burn. Sandy encourages a nice, fine root structure. In fact, add some sand to make sure there's enough. Try to get some clean sandbox sand because you don't say where you are and your roses might not be used to salt. And sandbox sand has been tumbled so it's not too sharp.

Happy planting,

Barb

Hello Jutta,

First of all, let me say right up front, my primary field is not house plants. That said, one thing pops into my mind, water. Perhaps someone new started watering the plant and gave it too much. I don't know but that would explain the leaves changing color. And then the supervisor had it repotted. This added another problem. It is my understanding that Aurelias as a species do not care for a lot of room in their pots. It seems that they would actually prefer to be a bit potbound, not completely, of course. This is the only thought I have about this. As I said I'm a long way from knowledgeable about Aurelias. But I do hope this sheds some light.

Barb

My grandmother once told me that I could take a rose and stick the stem in the dirt, place a glass jar over it and it will root. She since passed away, so I have no one to ask the right way to do this.

Dear Barbara,

one of my supervisor has an Aurelia (chicken gizzard s.th.) plant in his office that he received as a gift from his wife back in 74. It started not looking so good and was repotted in fresh dirt in a bigger clay pot and given Miracle Grow - and instead of all these efforts all of the leaves of that beautiful plant are slowly but surely turning yellow. What can we do?

Hi Sy,

Thanks for writing and for waiting patiently.

You can cut them back by up to half after your bushes flower. But if you're going to do it, do it NOW. Don't wait any later. After March, you can go back and cut out the winter stalks.

Hope this helps,

Barb

When is the right time to prune a hydrangea bush? How much should be pruned?

Hi Alan from New York,

Best thing I can tell you about your lilac is to take a soil sample to your local extention office or better, a local experimental station. We are getting early fall signs here, too. Could be the rain and the storms.

Your hydrangea problem is probably too much fertilizer. So, stop fertilizing. If you are not adding fertilizer to the soil, it would seem that a soil sample from there would also be in order. Might be too rich.

Hope this helps, ~~Barb

I have a lilac that's leaves are turning redish purple it is only August so somewhat early for fall, why is this and is it dangerous to the plant. Also I planted a hydranger 2 years ago and it gets nice green leaves but it does not flower, what can I do? I live in New York.

Here's a quote from an earlier posting on preserving blooming hydrangeas. It might help you. Hope so.

Quote, Snip off a bloom - no leaves. Put it in a couple of inches of water and go on a 3 week vacation! Don't panic! and snip off some of the bottom of the stem and put it back in the water. Before you go, put the vase, glass or whatever, out of direct sunlight. Hydrangea fade easily. And be careful when you get back, dried hydrangea are very brittle.

Something you might consider. I sometimes think that one of the things that makes them droop sometimes is leaving leaves on the stem below the flower. Don't leave any on, just the bloom and see if that helps. ,end quote

Good luck, Barb

I would like to preserve blooming hydrangeas for centerpieces and arrangements. What is the best time to pick them from the plant and what is the easiest and best process? I recently picked some in peak bloom, hung to dry in dark, dry area, but they seem to have shrunk and shriveled.

Ah Jac,

My first thought was to tell you not to worry about it, but just to be sure I double checked about your Annabelle. You don't have a problem, hon. Your beautiful hydrangea is doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing. The specs on that variety say it comes in green then goes to white then to apple green and then to brown. You should have the brown blooms cut off. If you paid less then that expert in the farmer’s market, you got a bargain. This variety is becoming more and more sought after here in the East. People love it. It’s gorgeous. Relax, love your hydrangea and smell the roses. And if you live anywhere near Maplewood, come smell our roses. They are 40 percent off for our mid summer sale.

Happy blooming, Barb

My Annabelle hydrangeas are beautiful in the Spring and early summer, but by the middle of July they turn a lovely shade of green - which they shouldn't do. I have received no answers from the Master Gardners at the local farmers'market, except for the one expert who said he had just paid forty-five dollars for a green hydrangea. I've put the chemicals the nursery suggests but they still turn green-just as they were when they first blossomed. What's wrong?

Hi Amelia,

Well, yes. do cut it out. Or take out and replace the whole tree. Which you may have to do anyway if some of them don't make it. Better to wind up with two heads than none. After the cut one gets some growth, you can always do some carving and get back to one head. Might take some work, though and not always successful. You might want to just go ahead and replace them depending on how many there are that don't look like they'll make it. Take some notice of why they don't seem to be doing well before you replace so the same problem isn't repeated. Is there a parasite? Are a few trees in a low spot, feet wet or poor drainage. You know, think ahead and trouble shoot.

Hope this helps,

Barb

I planted 21 Alberta Spruces around my property this Spring and they all sprouted new pine buds and appear to be taking well, however, I noticed they all have a lead? branch? at the top that seems to be the starter branch for next years new height growth. Some of these lead branches have green pine needs on them with bud heads that appear ready to sprout for next season, but with others this lead branch is brown, appears dead and the bud heads are brown. Should I trim this lead off? or leave it and see what happens next season. I'm afraid if I trim it, I'll wind up with a two/headed Tree.

Thanks for your help

Hello Maryland hydranga person,

It soumds as if there is too much fertilizer involved. So don't fertilize. This forces foliage at the expense of blooms. But if you haven't fertilized then perhaps it's a soil imbalance. Check with a local nursery. There is a fertilizer that boosts the nutrient necessary for bud formation. We have little need of it here, so I don't remember the name. Your local nursery person will likely know it.

Happy blooming, ~~ Barb

The answer to all is yes, pick and spray. And hope you get it in time. If the worms are beyond reach, there is the old thing of a pole and burning them off. But this takes care and you might want to have a professional deal with it to prevent further damage to the tree.

~~ Barb

Hi,

I live in the North East part of Maryland. I have a hydranga that is about 3 years old. This year the bush really took off and about doubled in size. It also looks green and very healthy - but - there isn't a flower on it! What do you suggest?

Thanks

Hi Barbara,

We have a privacy row of Leland Cyprus about 7 years old. Only one of them has become infested with the bag worms. We really hate to replace this tree since the replacement one will be a different size from the others and we really need the trees for the privacy from the adjacent busy street. Is it possible to save this tree? It is still pretty green, but not as much as the uninfected trees. If we were to pick off the bag worms and then spray this tree and all the others with diazanon would this work? thanks for any help you can give us.

Hi Dana,

By all means, do the trellis thing first. And yes, do it well. Those babies can get really, really heavy. Make it metal or good, solid wood from 6 to 8 feet tall. Make it attractive 'cause it'll show 'til it's covered by the climber. My personal recommendation it to make it about 18 inches in front of the wall so it gets air around it and the likelihood of mildew is cut considerably. Just fasten it to the wall with struts or the like.

Good luck, ~~Barb

Thank you for your kind words, Galina. Yes, you can take a cutting off your Hydrangea now, Take it off new growth. About the transplanted one that isn't doing so good - well.... Make sure that one has good drainage, half a day of shade at least and NO fertilizer for right now.

Hope this helps, ~~Barb

Hi Barbara, I live in Michigan, and I am just starting to garden. I bought a climbing hydrangea for the side of my house, and I am wondering if I should put a trellis behind it from the start. If so, I read that they get pretty big and heavy. What size trellis should I put there. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Dana

Hello everybody and thank you Barbara for this site. It helps.

I took in spring two small bushes of Hydrengea 5 years old to a new mini garden, cuted them before in the fall. One started to flower the first time, but another seems not so live. What I could do to improve it? Or better to take a new one? Can I cut one wooden branch and to put to water to give roots now?

Best regards, Galina

Hi Mary,

The easy quick answer is - yes. Gee, I wish all the answers I give were as easy and as quick and as welcome. AND, I'm really happy that you like our site.

Thanks for asking and good luck, Barb

Can I propagate Hydrangea like a rose, with a new growth cutting in rooting powder in a pot in a plastic bag for awhile, and then acclimate slowly...?

I live on Vancouver Island, BC and I enjoy your site!

Mary

Hi Michael,

Thank you, Michael. Sometimes I feel like I'm preaching and nobody's listening. 'bout all you can do is to cut out the dead branches. They are not going to hurt the trees, they'll just look bad. Do realize that lack of air and sunlight may very well eventually affect the trees as a whole. Seldom does one part of an organism suffer alone. You might want to start systematically replacing them. But I would come out from the privacy fence. Even my favored Cryptomeria wants sun and air.

Good luck ~~Barb

Hi Mickey,

Cut those Mums back. You can do it now. Keep 'em cut back. They keep blooming from the wood. Just remember - don't cut them back after July 4th. That makes an easy date to remember. You probably aren't going to see results this season. But next season they'll look good if you keep at it. You don't say where you are, but I'm assuming they are annual where you are 'cause that's pretty much everywhere.

Happy pruning ~~~barb

Hi Heather,

You can prune them now, no problem. Prune off the lower branches and just shape the rest to suit you. The willow family is pretty amiable and forgiving.

Have fun ~~ Phil

Barbara; If I had only read your advice 6 years ago when I bought my house I would have panted Cryptomeria rather than Leyland Cypress. Instead, I planted a row of 24 Leylands along a privacy fence. I live outside of Atlanta, Georgia in a place that apparently has excellent soil (nothing I put in the ground fails to thrive here.) However, the fence is blocking sunlight and air circulation from the lower braches of all these trees. While the lower limbs are dying off rapidly, the remainder of these 20 foot tall trees are very healthy. Is there a danger to the rest of the tree due to the conditions present for the lower branches? Is there anything I can now do to prevent loosing the trees? Thanks for any advice. Mike

My bushes of mums are sepearating and spreading themselves out...they look terrible...I tried to tie them to hold them up but they started to break...what causes this and what can I do to keep them from doing this...are they lacking a nutrient....I feed them fertilizer or miricle grow.... thanks, Mickey

I planted 3 Dappled Willows last spring. This year they have at least tripled in size. How would you recommend I prune them to keep their shape and size under control. I am not concerned with heigth, rather width.

Thanks, Heather

Hi Susan,

Well, not sure. Could be spiders, could be bag worms (which Leyland's are prone to). If bag worms and only a few, you can pick them off and burn them. If it's lots of worms or is something else, make a call to your local extention office. They can tell what it is and what is legal where you are to get rid of them. Call soon before they get ahead of you.

~~ Phil

Hi Teresa,

How nice. Cut your blooms anywhere from 6 to 12 inches. The buds will reset, don't worry. You can cut just the bloom or you can include some leaf. If you plan to dry them, don't cut ant leaves with the blooms. I suspect that this is one of the things that causes them to droop before they dry out.

Happy cutting, ~~ Phil

Hi John,

Hard to say. House plants don't like repotting much. They don't like pots that are too big. A little root bound doesn't hurt. I know that sounds crazy. Could be that you got the soil mix a little off. Could be the new soil is not all the way through the root system (gaps left). Could be some of the root system was damaged in the repotting. Temperamental little (or large)suckers - house plants. Check with a local florist and see what they recommend. They care for them all the time.

Good luck, ~~ Phil

Hello, I have Leyland cyprus which has sacks of small bubbles. This is the first time we have had them. What are they and how do we get rid of them! Susan Woodstock Md.

I was given a hydrangea plant for Mother's day. I will be planting it today. How do I cut fresh flowers from it to display in a vase? What part of the flower do I cut. Will this effect future blooms? Thanks

I have a schfflera plant that is about 10yrs. old. I repotted it in a larger pot about 1 month ago, now the leaves are turning black and falling off. (any suggestion would help greatly)

Thanks

i have a schefflera that is about 10years old, i repotted it in a larger pot appro. 1 month ago , now the leaves started turning black, and falling off. (any ans. would help)

Hi Barbara,

It's bit late now for the Lilac shrubs to bloom. You don't say how old they were when planted, but you should be getting a bloom or two by now. Make sure they are getting plenty of sun and if you are fertilizing - stop. Fertilizer is the likely culpret if the shrubs are otherwise healthy.

Here's a trick for Bromeliads. Put them in a bag with some apple slices. There's something about the acid reaction that brings out their best. It doesn't always work, but at this point, it's sure worth a try.

Let us know how it works out for you ~~~~ Barb

Hi Peter,

Good to hear from NY. Well, every four days is fine to water - give them a good soak. If they're on a bern. they should be getting good drainage. Use the fertilizer according to label directions, that's fine. Now, when you need to replace these, try Cryptomeria or Arbor Vitae. Hardier, sturdier, with a much better root system. And they will serve the same purpose.

Good luck with this group ~~~~ Barb

Hi Barbara -

I have two questions.

My white Lilac shrub has not bloomed since it's been planted 3 years ago. How do I get it to bloom?

I have several Bromeliad plants, but none have the pink flower that blooms out of the center. How do I get these to bloom?

Thanks for your help,

Barbara

I have a row of 24 6' Leyland Cyprus plants in my partly shady/sunny backyard, adjacent to my back fence, standing up on a 2-foot berm. These are replacement plants, as the winter destroyed my Leyland Cyprus plants from last year. Could you tell me what I need to do to optimize the chances of these plants' survival and thriving, in terms of watering frequency, hollytone, etc? I have a soaker the snakes each plant. Thanks.

PM Great Neck, NY

'Snip off a bloom - no leaves. Put it in a couple of inches of water and go on a 3 week vacation! Don't panic!! and snip off some of the bottom of the stem and put it back in the water. Before you go, put the vase, glass or whatever, out of direct sunlight. Hydrangea fade easily. And be careful when you get back, dried hydrangea are very brittle.'

Something you might consider. I sometimes think that one of the things that makes them droop sometimes is leaving leaves on the stem below the flower. Don't leave any on - just the bloom and see if that helps.

~~ Barb

Hi Marcus,

Ming Aurelia is pretty much out of my area. However you might try calling around to florist shops and florist suppliers. A lot of times they have the larger potted plants, especially in the larger cities. If that doesn't work, try giving a call to some of those services that provide and maintain green areas for office buildings, like indoor landscaping.

Good luck ~ Barb

Hi Kay,

I say - whatever worked, do it again! Put the iron things, nails - whatever, in the soil (you don't want to hit them with the mower), but farther out this time to allow for the extra root growth. Now if you want to get chemical about it, use sulfur. This should put the blue back in it's checks.

~ Barb

Hi Sissie,

Snip off a bloom - no leaves. Put it in a couple of inches of water and go on a 3 week vacation! Don't panic!! and snip off some of the bottom of the stem and put it back in the water. Before you go, put the vase, glass or whatever, out of direct sunlight. Hydrangea fade easily. And be careful when you get back, dried hydrangea are very brittle.

Have a good time on your 3 week vacation ~ Barb

Hi Susan,

Well, yes, pretty much nothing is going to grow there. It's not just the 'piney' soil, it's also that there is too much competition for water and nutrients. Try planting vinca. It's a ground cover but does get 18 to 24 inches high.

Happy planting ~~~Barb

Barbara

I recently moved to Portland from the east coast and am searching for a grower of Ming Aurelias. If you would be so kind to point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. I will go as far as Southern California to Seattle. Thank you.

please tell me how to dry hydranea flowers. THANKS

Dear Barbara, My hydranea was orginally pink and I put a lot of iron objects around it and it turned blue for several years but has since gone back to pink. What can I do to make it blue again? Thank you, Kay

Hi Alf,

It's so good to hear of people doing things like this. Kudos to you guys - it isn't cheap and it isn't easy! And this the right age to help kids learn the important things. And, for sure, hands on is how they learn.

Let's see -- Marigolds are great and so many colors. And they might even help keep bugs out of the rest of the plants. Sunflowers are good. Seeds can be eaten and the birds like 'em, too. Hyacinthe beans - and the hummers love the plants (orange), too. All the mints are good. The children will really like the chocolate mint. But remember, plant the mints separately and perhaps in containers, because if you don't that's all you'll wind up with 'cause they'll spread and take over.

What you might do is to get up with a local nursery and explain what you are doing and why. They might offer some ideas, some help and maybe even some donations. It would be good advertizing for them. Remind them that these kids have parents and will see the notes on the plants when they visit.

Good luck with this and 'hats off' to you ~~~Barb

Hi again, Julie,

Good for you. Hunters Rule!!! That's the same theory behind used cat litter.

Sounds like you might have a drainage problem with your daisies. Improve your drainage and just in case tiny creatures have invaded them, dust with sulfur powder.

No problem, good luck !! Barb

Hi Phyllis,

Good question. Depends on what it started as, purple being part blue and part pink. If it is one of those big 'mophead' Blue Nikkies, for instance, sweetening the soil some might pink up the color a bit. If it's already pink, just a touch of suflur might put some blue in it. There are all sorts of varities nowadays, it's hard to say. Play with the soil and see what happens, that's what I'd do. But if you don't feel adventurous, call your local nursery and check out the already purple ones they have on hand. Ask them how to keep it that way. Many of the newer varities can't be swayed in their color.

Have a good time with it ~~Barb

Hi Barbara,

Plant it out now, good drainage, in the shade. Good for you on remembering the 'acidic soil.

~~Barb

Oh Cecile, What a shame.

Plant it outside in the sunshine, water it and hope for the best. No fertilizer for a week or two, too strong. Good drainage and talk to it. Good luck. Get a new miniature white rose bush and put it in the pot (wash the pot well and put it in the oven for 20 minutes at low heat, maybe 250%)to kill off any bacteria/so forth. Hope your daughter doesn't notice or that she forgives you. And for your next vacation, 'Don't leave home without it'.

~~Barb

We live close to a road and years ago we planted pine trees out in front of house near the road. Now they have gotten tall and getting very old. I have tried planting things under them but nothing grows. Someone just told me nothing will. Is that true? If so, what would be fast growing? I still want to see landscape as we look thru the trees but to have some privacy. Don't want leland as we have them down the side of house. Thanks

Dear Barbara (from email)

We have set up a sensory garden at our Menphys Nursery. We have put in herbs in but what i would like to put in is some plants with color in them. But the only problem is the children are Two to Five Years of age. The with Special Needs and are in wheelchairs. We have made Raised Beds so the childern can touch the plants and if they eat it will not hurt them. So i would like your advice on what plants we can use.

Hope you can help ~~~Alf

Barb (from email)

I live in NE Alabama how can I turn my hydrangas purple?

Thanks Phyllis

Thanks for your wonderful advice. I have solved my rabbit problem nicely with fox urine bought at a store that sells hunting supplies. A friend who hunts suggested it and voila - no more nibbly bunnies! Since you are very knowledgeable - I have another question. I hope I am not being too greedy asking so many... :-) * how come my newly planted Gerbera Daisies look awful? They are in full sun, get plenty of water but have wilty looking leaves. I cut off the spent blooms and have removed some of the bottom leaves that were almost dead. I have fertilized and still they look awful. The ones in containers look much better than the ones in my flower beds. Any thoughts? THANKS AGAIN!! Julie

From Barbara (email)

I received a hydrenga plant for mothers day. The blossoms have all fallen off. When would be the best time to plant outdoors. I live in Wisconsin. I have made my soil acidic because I want the flowers to be blue. Thanks

hi barbara...my daughter gave me a miniature white rose bush in a pot for mother's day...it's beautiful...or was...i went on vacation for 9 days and when i came back, it's got dead leaves and looks awlful...what can i do?

GOOD AND GARDINER, BARBARA, I LOVE YOUR SITE, GREAT. OMO WAKA PASS, NWE EDO DON WAKA SEE MAGAS.

Well Julie,

Rabbits are a problem. We have the same with deer. My first thought is get a dog (|:)) You could try sprinkling cayenne pepper powder. Call the pet shop and see if the dog or cat spray they carry works for other small mammals. You could also try used cat litter. See what works for your rabbit is all I can say.

Good luck ~~ Barb

Hi Rex,

Well, like in Jurassic Park, nature has a way of having the final word. It's a really tough thing to do. Concrete comes to mind. Dig down past the grass roots, discard and cover with nursery plastic. Poisons are risky, they have a way of finding their way to where you don't want them. Almost anything you might use is, by the very nature of 'nature', temporary, even concrete. You might try a combination of methods. Dig down and discard, saturate soil with a mixture of 1 gal. vinegar + quart water + 2 cups salt. Don't know how much area we're talking about here - might need to double this. Then put down black plastic. This might be really tough depending on where you live. In a desert - not too difficult, on the eastern seaboard - next to impossible to accomplish. Good luck ~~ Barb

Hi Michelle,

I wish I could help, there are so many. It does not even ring a faint bell. And we sort of specialize in roses - of all kinds. Good luck ~~ Barb

Note from webmaster: I may be able to get back to you on this. Give me a couple of days, don't give up yet. ~~ Ann

Hi Barb ~ Thanks for your advice regarding my climbing hydrengea. Now I have another question. I have a nibbly rabbit that visits my backyard. He is cute but he has eaten the tops of my petunias, pansies and more upsetting my new and young dappled willow shrub! I read on line that blood meal may help. We have walked about the perimeter of our fence and have covered any holes - but of course he digs under that! Any advice on keeping this bunny at bay? Julie

Hi, Barbara. I'm looking for an inexpensive way to completely sterilize my soil so that NOTHING will grow, so that I can build the yard into a rock-water sculpture with only potted plants, or those otherwise isolated from the ground, so that nothing will EVER grow through from the ground underneath. How can I do this without using something illegal, such as deisel-fuel? thank you Rex

Hello Barbara, I was doing a search for a rose bush that my friend has...a beautiful wine colored rose named for Boeing's 747 I believe. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Have you heard of this rose and would you happen to know if it is still available? Thank you for any help you might be able to provide.

Hi Mario ,

Oh how sad. Japanese Maples are beautiful. I'm not sure what you might have in NH that we don't have here. If here, I'd think maybe those pill bugs. They abound here if there is poor drainage. But the very best thing for you to do is to get right in touch with your local extention office. They will know what's around and causing those symptoms. And be able to tell you what to do. I wouldn't wait to call them. Hopefully it is not too late.

Hope this helps ~~~ Barb

Hi George,

Plant that new baby now, George. I would say to plant it on the shady side of the house, in well draining soil and mulch well. But, does northwest PA put you by a salt lake? If so, some shelter from winds from that lake may be in order.

Hope this helps ~~~ Barb

Hi Julie,

Yes, a trellis would have been the thing to do. They do pretty well climbing, but as they grow their weight is heavier than their little fingers - tough without finger holds. Can you sort of get one behind it now? And just arrange the branches through it. It will take over fron there.

You're very welcome ~~~ Barb

Hi, My Japanese Maple Tree appears to be dieing. She is not that old. Leaves started turning last year far too early. We have already lost one entire branch/ large root. She is still alive, but more of her leaves have not returned. Only half of the tree has come back. I don't know if I can save it, but I would love to try. We thought maybe bugs at the roots, seems to be tiny bugs there, soft too. The leaves have a dull hazy look to them as well. What can I do? Thanks, Mario

Barb

My wife received a hydranea plant for mothersday.when is the best time to plant it outside? We live in northwest pa. by the lake.

Thanks George

Hi Barb,

I live in Ontario Canada. A few years ago I planted a climbing hydrangea against a wall at the side of my house. It is planted in a very shady area that faces west. Should I have provided a trellis to get it going? It is still not climbing the wall, but is spreading out over the garden. How can I train it to climb the brick wall? Thanks for your help! :-)

Hi arbor vitae person.

Plant when you can water. period. No one can quote you guaranteed success. But as long as you can make sure your new arbor vitae get regular water, they should be fine to go in the ground end of June. Soak them well. not just a token. And if you water in the evening less will evaporate and you can safely water the foliage as well.

Have a good trip, ~~ Barb

Although I'm told spring is the best time to plant arbor vitae, what is the cut-off period to ensure success? I'm told I only have a couple weeks left to plant but I'm taking a trip and will not be able to have them watered. If they are not watered for 2-3 weeks will they die? If I wait until I return @ the end of June can I still plant w/ a guaranteed success rate? If not, do I have to wait until next spring?

Hi Joe Ann,

You can do the 'upside down in dark place' thing. Or you can do what seems easier to me. Just put them in a vase with water. Let the water dry out of them. Period - that's all there is to it. Be careful, When they are dry they are very brittle. Keep them out of the sun or they'll lose color. Keep them out of water and wind. Hydrangea are not the best flowers to use dried, but they sure are pretty.

~~ Barb

What is the best way to dry hydranga flowers? Thank you

For Gerry, Hi

It’s an ornamental (DO NOT EAT :0 ) and to keep that beautiful color it needs full sun. It needs to be outside and looks great in window boxes and hanging baskets. Be sure to keep it away from the youngsters. Little ones think a potato is a potato – not good. No, not morning glory. Hope you enjoy your sweet potato, they are fun plants.

~~ Barb

For Jeannie, Hi

Move your Hydrangea in the winter when they're dormant. Ideal place for them would be the north side of your house in dappled shade. Water them well and mulch. Fertilize them around April 1st. Good luck with them and we hope this helps.

~~ Barb

Barbara, I bought a sweet potato vine and I'm not sure if it's an ornamental plant or if it's a vegetable plant. I didn't get a planting guide with it so I'm not sure what to do. It's a burgandy color. Is it in the morning glory family?

I live in northern Va. I have two hydrangas that I would like to move. Just wondering when is the best time of year and any other advise you might have.

Thanks!! jeannie

Hi Brenda,

Give it a decent amount of water. Hydrangea like water, but they don't like their feet to stay wet. So be sure the drainage is very good. Put it where it gets AM sun and PM shade. Hydrangea can be happy on the shady side, but they do need some sun. Mulching it wouldn't hurt. If you plant it now, give it a little fertilizer in about 6 weeks. A little lime once a year will help keep it pretty and pink.

Hope this helps ~~ Barb

Hello. We live in Northern Mississippi. Over the years we have killed many hydranea bushes, we plant them in the spring they live through the summer and don't come back in the next spring. I have a pink one and need to know the best place to plant it and care for it so we will have it next year.

Hi Cindy, thanks for the email

Could be a number of things. The best thing to do is to get in touch with your local extension agent. They will know what is going around your area right now and they will also know the best way to get rid of it in your area.

Good luck ~~ Barb

We live in Eastern Maryland and just recently planted some Leyland Cyprus trees about a month ago. They are about 3 feet tall. We have noticed some brown spots on the lower parts of some of the trees. Do you know what may be causing this and what we can do to stop it. We have had rain at least once a week since we have planted them. Thanks for you help. Cindy