Shrubs & Evergreens

I planted 5 chokeberry bushes to attract birds to my backyard. The bushes are loaded with berries but I do not see any birds eating them. Could I pick and freeze the berries and put them out during the winter?

What success rate would I have if I transplanted 1 year old knock out bushes? They are large, probably close to 3' by 2'.

My Weigela bushes are doing so well they have outgrown the area in which they were planted. How successful would transplanting them be? They are 3 years old, about 4' x 4. Do I cut them down to the ground and then dig them up? Your help is appreciated.

Do evergreens need sun or can they be planted close to a large tree next to a home?

I’m not sure what triggers the questions but, for some reason the end of summer brings questions about pruning. The question is, “Can I prune now?” The best answer is, “Depends." But for the most part late summer or early fall is not the best time to prune.

During early fall I would only recommend two types of pruning cuts be made. Those cuts would be to remove dead or dying plant tissue, or to remove a hazardous limb. It does not matter what type of plant — tree or shrub. Dead plant tissue is dead, so it must be removed and safety always comes first. Outside of these types of cuts, fall is not a good time to prune.

I couldn't resist the temptation to buy a crape myrtle from Lowe's in Lee's Summit for $7.50 today. I know it's taking a chance since they aren't suppose to be hardy to our Zone 5, but I'm not investing much money to try it. I bought the Lagerstroemia indica 'Country Red'. What do you mean in earlier articles when you say it is root hardy? If they aren't hardy in our zone, why do so many homes have 8 or 10-foot tall beauties blooming every year. Surely all these shrubs aren't getting winter protection! Are they getting more hardy or has our climate changed that much?

We have a large evergreen "shrub" on the north side/front of our home. It has grown like crazy this year (lots of bright green sprigs all over); however, it is beginning to look rather unruly. When is the best time to trim and how far back can I trim without causing permanent damage? Thanks!

The recent question regarding crape myrtles has me wondering which varieties do well in the Kansas City area. I always thought Kansas City was on the border, zone wise, for having success with crape myrtles. Is it true that those who have success with crape myrtles have found a microclimate in their landscapes?

I have several Crape myrtles that I planted this past fall that have been blooming like crazy this summer. My question is: now that a number of the blooms are dying off, what do I do? Do I prune the bush to encourage new growth for the fall?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Should I be concerned? It has been thriving all spring and summer, and this week the leaves have begun the change to fall color.

I have 3 Weigela bushes and they are doing very well but they are so large they are crowding out my knockout roses. Can the Weigela bush be shaped and/or trimmed?

My evergreen shrubs are looking burned out in spot's. They're usually in very good shape, but a few weekends ago we trim the hedges some what. And since then we have had a good 3 days of rain & also several short afternoon showers. We need all the rain we can get in Georgia, with the drought we're in, it's been an non stop issue since last year with this drought. And we're a strict water usage, so I water my yard & shrubs as much as I can, which is usually once a week. Anyway I notice last night while taking my dog out side for nightly bath room trip that my evergreens look a little dry in certain spots, there's dried up leaves in each shrub and I thought that maybe it was loose leaves from the trim we recently gave the shrubs. But that was not the case. The over all of the shrubs looks really healthy, but I do see a difference. We have St. Augustine grass in our yard & we have a section near the drive way that's gotten bare over the last 2 yrs it's a walking path that seems to get taking to get to the porch, but the bare section has gotten larger. I have tried everything that I know to get my grass to grow back & it's not working. I have heard others say that I need to losing the dirt around the roots to help the grass to grow back, they mention something about the roots being smothered. I have no idea what they mean or how to do that. I am so tired of reading articles on line trying to find out more on this subject, I believe others have called it cultivating the ground. Do you have any advice? Keep in mind I cannot afford a lawn service, I do my best with what I have and that's me. Please keep in mind I am just a mom & house wife and I don't know a whole lot about gardening and so forth, so please explain so I can understand. Any information would be greatly appreciated, words cannot express my gratitude.

I am starting to plant more shrubs in my yard to attract birds. I have planted many chokeberry and dogwood shrubs. What would be another option to plant next to a chokeberry?

Can you help me decide where to plant my newly acquired Kerria. I had a sunny location in mind when I purchased the plants. I did some reading on line about it's growing culture and have read that it prefers a shadier location and will even grow in full shade. I have seen Kerria growing in a shopping center parking lot facing the west with absolutely no shade. I'm confused now. Can someone share their expertise with me?

Why does my variegated dogwood shrub have black/brown spots all over it. It did last year, too. I planted it as an ornamental-if its always going to look like this I'll remove it.

Dennis--
I was planning on planting some Forsynthia's cause someone told me that they could be used as a hedge row. I know they spread out pretty good. How far should I plant them apart to make it look right and for them to form a hedge.
Frank in Tongi

I planted a Fat Albert Spruce this spring as part of a landscaping project. Although it thrived early on with new growth, etc., it seems to be struggling now. The bottom needles are falling off and the upper branches are drooping.

I suspect that it is getting too much water and not enough light, as the location is not optimal from a light, soil, and drainage perspective. Is this your thought also? Whatever the cause of its problems, is there anything to do to save it?

Thanks.

Dale

I was told when I moved to KC from the east coast that blue hydrangeas don't grow well here and to stick with Annabelle. Obediently, I planted a couple of Annabelle and they're doing well. Not blowing my socks off though. I still covet the gorgeous blue hydrangeas of the eastern seaboard.

Then comes this week. Suddenly, everywhere I go in KC there are masses of beautiful blue hydrangeas, not only as foundation plantings on the protected sides of houses but in beds in the middle of yards, alongside driveways, in places that look like they get full sun all summer and no cold protection in winter.

I have 2 mature fothergilla bushes on the south side of my home, one on each side of the steps to my back porch. They are around 10 years old and both matured to about four feet tall and about as wide. This spring the one on the east side of the steps (still southern exposure) had fewer blossoms and scant leaf production. When I scraped it with my nail a couple weeks ago, it had some green underneath, but now the twigs seem more brittle and all leaves have dried up. It doesn't appear to have moisture problems or insect signs. The other bush, it's twin, is doing fine and has hearty leaves on it.

I would appreciate suggestions for types of a small evergreen holly that will do well in our zone 5. It's use will be ornamental only. Thanks for your input!