Q. My builder planted a row of Leyland cypresses in an
area of my yard that stays damp. As a result, they all died from root rot. What kind of
tall screening plant will survive wet soil?
Q. I have a concrete well in my backyard. There is a wild
maple tree growing next to it. Would it be a good idea to pull out the tree-roots and
all-before it affects the well somehow? I have already had my share of well woes.
Q. I want to landscape a large portion of my backyard.
When would be the best time to plant shrubs and trees-in the fall or in the spring?
Q. I'm considering planting a 'Little Gem' Southern magnolia in a large
planter in my garden. Can you suggest a good soil mixture? Do container-grown trees need
any special care?
Q. When is the best time to prune crepe myrtles? I have two near the
house that are getting too tall.
Q. Two of our crepe myrtles have buds at ground level but no signs of
life higher up. What should we do?
Q. My Southern magnolia is about 10 years old and 25 feet tall. It has
never bloomed. What is wrong, and what can I do to correct it?
Q. My crepe myrtle was blooming when I bought it last year. This summer,
it had no blooms whatsoever. It gets good sun, and I haven't pruned or fertilized it much.
What's the problem?
Q. I am presently collecting seeds from our Southern magnolia tree.
Should I dry them before planting? Is it necessary to remove the red coating? Should I
plant them in October or wait until spring?
Q. Is it okay to clip the old blooms off crepe myrtles now?
Q. My Norfolk Island pine has grown steadily over the years and is now an
inch from the ceiling. I have no other place to put it. Can it be pruned?
Q. My 6-foot-tall sago palm has developed multiple heads. Instead of the
typical sago form, it looks more like a shrub. Can anything be done to restore it to an
orderly appearance?
Q. Our Norway spruce was 2 feet tall when we planted it in 1985. It's now
at least 50 feet tall and smothering the six English heathers I planted around its base at
that time. Should I dig up and move the heathers? Would that damage the spruce? Or should
I remove some of the tree's lower branches?
Q. We have a large silver maple in our yard about 10 to 12 feet from a wide path.
Last summer, we noticed tree roots had begun to surface. Now there are dozens of 2-inch roots across
the path, making walking uncomfortable. What can be done without removing the tree?
Q. There are pea-size balls hanging on my crepe myrtle's branches. Should I cut
them off so it will flower?
Q. When is the best time to prune camellias? How should it be done?
Q. High winds recently brought down two of our large 'Bradford' pears. A
tree specialist informed us that they had root rot and that our other trees would suffer
the same fate. Is this true? If not, what can be done?
Q. We have baby crepe myrtles sprouting in our yard. How can we move
some to new locations and kill the remaining ones?
Q. I need information about plants that like lots of heat and also grow
in wet soil.
Q. I have several wild dogwood trees that need pruning. What is the best time of year to do this?
Q. Nothing seems to grow in the shade of two large water oaks in my front yard. Can
you give me a few suggestions of things I could plant that would give this area some
color?
Q. I have large flowering quince bushes that do not bloom. They're growing in sun and
get plenty of water. Any ideas to make them bloom?
Q. Is there any way to deter the thousands of water oak acorns from sprouting in my lawn and
garden beds?
Q. I have tulip poplars and dogwoods in my yard. Lately something has been chewing off the
ends of the branches 3 to 4 inches from the tips. I am afraid I won't have flowers or
shade this spring. What's causing this, and how can I stop it?
Q. We're building a house on a lot without any trees. Can you recommend some fast-growing shade trees that we could include in our landscaping plan?
