Shrubs & Evergreens

My blue spruce which is over 30 foot tall and at least 15 feet wide is developing some dieout on branches starting from the inside. That is, branches are turning brown. This tree is almost 20 years old and has always been healthy and beautifully shaped. Should I spray with a fungicide?

I have a small Blue Star Juniper I would like to transplant. Can I do it in the spring, or should I do it now? Also, I had 3 Morning Light miscanthus grasses that have reverted to something nondescript and unattractive. Is this common? Should I try to replace with same thing or is there a better choice?

I noticed all 5 of my chokeberry bushes have no leaves on them. There are many berries but not one leaf. Disease or normal?

American beautyberryFrom blogger Mary Nemecek:

Arguably one of the most striking berries of fall is the rich, deep violet fruit clusters produced by American beautyberry bushes. American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), grows in sun or part shade. It can range up to 3-5 feet, with a spread of up to 5-6 ft, although the ones in my yard maybe reach only half that size. The beautiful fall berries will attract songbirds and the foliage can provide wildlife cover.

You can also add me to the list of creatures attracted to this bush. I wander out to them

I would like to relocate 3 mature weigala bushes. Should I trim them down, dig them up, and transplant or wait until spring?

A staff member at Powell Gardens suggested that we consider planting a Fig. Would a Hardy Chicago be a good choice for KC? Thanks.

Zebra swallowtail on new Blue Chip butterfly bushFrom KC blogger Mary Nemecek:

If you love the beauty and wildlife benefits of butterfly bushes, but you’re not thrilled with their size or invasive tendencies, you may find ‘Blue Chip’ an exciting introduction.

‘Blue Chip’ is a dwarf butterfly bush developed by Dr. Dennis Werner, director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University and a plant breeder in the NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It is the first in the Lo and Behold buddleia series which will feature compact, low-growing plants that set very few seeds. Typically its size will be 2-3ft in both height and width.

My yews are prominent and overgrown. They're squared too. Instead of cutting them way back and waiting for years for them to grow back, what would happen if I just cut back a couple sides at a time so at least some of it would look okay?

Rose of Sharon Blue SatinThis week Dennis Patton praises the Rose of Sharon -- and offers some tips on how to tame it. To read more, click here.

My friend has a Rose of Sharon that has hundreds of buds that look ready to bloom but few do. My understanding is it does this every year. The plant looks healthy including the foliage. It is about 5 feet tall. I'm not sure about overall sun exposure but I would guess no more than a few hours per day based on the mature trees in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, she didn't know the variety. The flower has a maroon throat and the rest is a very pale pink. It appears the flower is approximately 1.5" in diameter.

Anyone have any thoughts as to why the plant is not blooming?

Hydrangea 'Limelight': Hydrangea 'Limelight' seen here growing in full sun has been a great performer over the last three growing seasons. The hardy shrub is a fast grower, attracts bees and has even been host to a hungry hummingbird.

I have a Star Magnolia that is about 5 feet tall. It was planted in April of 2007. I need to move this shrub to a new location. Will this be a difficult job and when is the best time of the year to do the move?

One of our Allegheny Viburnums is blooming for the second time this season. It had set buds that I thought were for next year, and now suddenly, they're opened up. So the shrub has beautiful red berries from last spring's blooms, and new blooms. What will happen to these blooms whwn they don't have time to produce berries, and would it be a good idea to trim them off? Why would they be blooming again so late in the season? (I know...the weather!)

5 year old multi-stemmed Japanese Tree Lilac leaves get twisted and misshapen every year. It is only slightly larger than when planted and has only flowered the last 2 years and not well. It was planted as a feature specimen but has never performed well and looks scraggly with suckers a frequent problem. Is this normal and if I replace it what would be a great feature small replacement tree or large shrub for full sun on a northeast corner?

3 early June transplanted inkberries have struggled to survive and became heavily defoliated on the lower part of the plant. Watered them plentifully, put on root stimulator and they did send out new top growth. Now almost August and lots of remaining lower leaves are yellowing and dropping. Should I consider them a loss and replace?

I have noticed a powdery mildew on one of my larger lilac plants. Do I need to do anything?

By DEAN FOSDICK
For The Associated Press
Blooms may be losing some luster among cash-strapped gardeners weeding out nonessential spending. A practical option is investing in an assortment of low-risk, high-return shrubs.
Few plants can return so much for so little attention as shrubs, which are long-lasting, colorful, cold-hardy, fast-growing, drought-tolerant, pest-resistant and utilitarian, and also deliver multi-season interest.

Anyone tried Boulevard Cypress? I have an area under a Autumm Purple Ash tree that I have limbed up. Would that be a good spot?

I have a young lilac bush that looks worse for wear. It is less than one year old. The leaves are curled, scorced, and brown. Is this from the intense heat?

Our next door neighbor has exactly the same problem as we do -- Leatherleaf 'Allegheny' Viburnum has just suddenly collapsed and looks like it can't survive. Both were planted in Spring 2008. Both did fine all year, bloomed nicely this spring, and then began to turn a pale green all over. The whole plant showed symptoms all over -- there was no progression from top to bottom or stem by stem. We have two other Alleghenys in the same area as the dying one, and they're doing beautifully. Do you have any suggestions as to what might be happening here?