My question is - is the garden totally ruined now, with no hope of some of it surviving and producing, or is there still a chance we may get something out of it after all?

By the way, I planted it along the fence in the back, and didn't really know what the neighbor's yard looks like on the other side, but I did some nosing around, and it looks like they have a weed patch on the other side of the fence, and the ground slopes downward toward their side of the fence, so water probably runs down the slope and comes over into my garden.

Anne Clapp: Too much rain is a lot harder to control than too little. Vegetable gardens need to be planted in an area with good drainage - and if that is not available you garden in raised beds so the soil around the plants is higher that the ground. Tomatoes are easily damaged by too much water so I would pull out any plants that are completely yellow. The beans are usually forgiving so take a wait-and-see attitude on those. You may also want to replant the beans. Yellow crookneck squash sometimes recover but you may want to replant a crop for late fall. The Zucchini are fairly hardy squash and may recover.

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Question: Anne, I have about 10 Layland Cypress and they tend to turn brown/yellow from the main stem out to the branches during this time of year. They were healthy when planted about 6 years ago, but now they're not that green and I'm a little concerned that they will not make it? I've put organic fertilizer around them, have mulch and rich soil in these areas. They're also well drained. The bark seems to be a little on the grey side and there is a little sap coming from the main stem? I'm wondering if they have a major problem and if it's something I can't fix? What other option would I have? Can I just get some new Leylands and start over? Will the same thing happen again? How should I avoid it? I do not water them at night either. Thanks, Rick

Anne Clapp: There seems to be a disease called Passalora needle blight or Cercosporidium needle blight that is affecting Leyland Cypress in North Carolina. The symptoms you describe are similar. You may want to call your local co-operative extension service horticultural agent to see if they have information on the disease.

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Question: Greetings Anne, I am a North Carolinian transplant and now live in Memphis,Tenn. I am a novice gardener at best and when my brother gave ma several gardenia bushes for my birthday i was estatic! they are planted on the wester side of my house with lots of afternoon shade...they get watered daily as it is very hot here already (97 degrees today).. I have noticed some of the leaves turning yellow with brown or black spots and today i found many small flower buds had fallen off of the bushes. i have 2 miniature gardenias, a double bloom "mystery" and an august gardenia...also, as some of the lower branches have blooms so heavy that they rest on the ground and rot before they can bloom, would it help these blooms to stake their branches up off the ground until they open?.Help me please these bushes are every wonderful childhood memory i ever had all rolled up in their wonderful scent... i dont wish to lose them.

Anne Clapp: Gardenias are a good southern plant that loves hot weather and sun. A Pine straw mulch under the stems of a trailing gardenia will give some protection to the stems and blooms. The yellow leaves with spots may be nothing more that the older leaves of the plant turning yellow before they drop off. It is not unusually to see almost half the leaves on a gardenia turn yellow in late spring and early summer.

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Question: Anne, Help! I have three Madame Iaasac Pierre bourbon roses that I am losing to spider mites. Nothing I do seems to be working. I have kept them well watered and have sprayed with Immunox and Orthenex. Is there a better spray that may control the spider mites? I have never not been able to get this under control until this year. As always, thanks. Tony D.

Anne Clapp: Sometimes using a strong water spray on the plants to wash the red spider mites off will help solve the problem. You also may want to change insecticides; just be sure the product contains a miticide. I like the Bayer insecticide for a change of pace from Orthenex. I think insects do build up a resistance to some pesticides.

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Question: Anne, I had to relocate 5 Hydrangea's late last Summer (3 Niko blue's 2 of which have bloomed in the past, and 2 Kaleidoscope Hobella's which have never bloomed). The plants vary in height from 2' – 3'… I was so concerned about moving them but they all did very well throughout the winter and have leafed out and nicely, two of them (the Niko's) have begun blooming one of them sporting huge blooms more that 10” across… it is beautiful. However, it appears that I didn't research well enough before the move. As the weather is warming up I realize that I must have chosen the wrong location! I planted them on the West side of my home which is watered regularly by landscape irrigation but receives no morning sun, only afternoon sun from about 12:30 to 3:30… at which time they suffer severe wilting of the leaves as well as the blooms. Once the sun falls behind the trees it takes a couple of hours for them to recover, the leaves and small flower buds perk back up but the large full blooms stay drooped… I can't image that it would be healthy to try to move them to the East side of my home while they are in bloom, but I fear the hot summer afternoon sun will seriously and permanently damage them. Should I tough it out and hope for the best then move them in the fall??? I have also noticed some yellowing and brown spotting of the lower leaves (not sure if this is a moisture issue, a fungal or an insect problem…..) Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank You, T.R. of Apex.

Anne Clapp: The yellowing and brown spotting on the lower leaves of the hydrangeas may be spider mites. They have been very active this year. Hydrangeas really do not like hot afternoon sun but they will survive. They probably do need to be moved but I would wait until fall to transplant them. Just keep them watered if we have extremely hot days and no rain for a week or so.

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Question: I have a pink magnolia "jane". It was planted this past spring. The leaves have all fallen off and it looks like a bunch of twigs sticking out of the ground. Is it dead? Lisa S.

Anne Clapp: It does sound like “Jane” is unhappy. Use a penknife or scrape the bark with your fingernail to see if the stem is still green just under the bark. You can also trim a short stem and see if there is a circle of green tissue just under the bark layer. If there is still green wood on the plant make sure it gets watered and maybe the plant will recover.

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Question: Hey Anne: How can you protect your crape myrtles from Japanese beatles. I tried a product called Sevin that I used to spray them, but they keep coming back. Please help me. Thanks...

Anne Clapp: Sevin does kill Japanese beetles when it comes in contact with them but there are always lots of other Japanese Beetles waiting to come over for a snack. There does not seem to be anything that discourages them from visiting your yard. Some people do use the beetle traps – but the lure brings beetles in from all over the neighborhood and they can do a lot of damage before they crawl into the trap. I have decided to sprinkle Milky Spore powder on the lawn areas at my place and kill the overwintering larva. That does cut down the population quite a bit. Your put out the Milky Spore in August and water it in. It is a bacterial disease that lives in the soil for about 15 years and kills off the beetle larva.

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Question: Hi Anne, While visiting our son and daughter-in-law in Austin, Tx over the weekend, we were sitting around the pool under a large Crepe Myrtle. Continuously, we were feeling what felt like a fine mist falling on us the entire time. Someone said it was some type of bug, but we saw no signs of any type of bug, and there was no evidence of anything. Do you have any idea of what this could be? Thanks, Pat

Anne Clapp: It could be something as simple as water condensation from the pool dropping from the leaves or it could be honey dew secreted by small aphids on the leaves of the plants. If the leaves get a black sooty coating later in the season it is probably aphids.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have been searching the internet to find out how to control voles. I keep running across advice to use Rozol Rat and Mouse Killer Pellets. Could you please tell me where I can purchase this product. I live in Maryland and have been unsuccessful in finding it. I have had friends who live in the south look for it without any success. I am willing to have it shipped to my home if I can find it. Thanks so much for your help. Thanks so much. Debbie

Anne Clapp: Rozol is widely available in North Carolina - independent garden centers, Walmart, Ace Hardware, Home Depot and Lowes all carry it. It was available early this spring in similar stores in Northern Virginia. Remick Green is a similar product that is recommended in Virginia as vole control; it is harder to find in this area but it is carried by Southern States Farm Supply.

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Question: Our church has an outside shielded(3 walls) prayer garden with 4 c.m. trees. They are turning black and covered with small fat spiders with short legs and plenty of cobwebs. We live along the coastal bend in Texas City, Texas where it is very humid and summer temperatures average 95 degrees. Any suggestions? Bob V.

Anne Clapp: The black material is sooty mold produced by aphids and the cobwebs are probably from spider mites. A lightweight horticultural oil spray should take care of both problems but your extreme heat may make it difficult to spray during the summer in Texas as the label usually says not to spray when temperatures are above 90 degrees.

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Question: I want to turn my pink hydranga blue. How much aluminum sulfate should I add and how often? Also, a friend said putting coffee grounds at the base of the plant would do the trick. Is that true? If so, again, how much and how often? Thanks, Barb

Anne Clapp: Coffee grounds are an acidic compound but they are not acidic enough when they decompose to affect the soil pH. The amount of aluminum sulfate you need will depend on how alkaline your soil is. I would start with one-half cup. You usually find that the pink hydrangea will not turn to a true blue shade; it may be a purple flower.

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Question: Hi Anne, I live in N. Raleigh and have a large area of Monkey Grass in my yard. The leaves are turning brown and you can easily pull the grass out. I think I have root rot. Could you recommend a treatment. Thank you, Dave H.

Anne Clapp: Could it be that the brown grass is freeze damaged or just old plant material that did not get pruned off and removed in the early spring? The other solution might be using an herbicide to get rid of weeds in the area earlier in the spring.

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Question: How do I control the spread of day lillies? They grow wild on our river bank, but they are taking over and choking out the myrtle, which was planted for erosion control? Cutting them down before they bloom doesn't seem to do any good. HELP!

Anne Clapp: The upside to your problem is that daylilies are a wonderful erosion control. They have a good root system that stabilizes soil very well and they spread rapidly to fill spaces. I have always recommended daylilies as erosion controls plants. They are called ditch bank flowers for a reason. To the best of my knowledge there is not a way to control the spread of daylilies other than digging them up.

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Question: I have two bradford pear trees in the front of my yard. Today, I just notice a bright orange powder that looks to becoming out of different parts of both trees. Some of my neighbors bradfords are doing the same thing. Is this a disease and if so is there anything I can do to cure it.

Anne Clapp: Usually orange colored powders on plants are a sign of the fungal disease "rust". In most cases there is no real cure and the disease does not kill the plant. I do not know what type of rust fungus gets on Bradford pears or what the alternative host plant host might be. In the case of cedar-apple rust, the fungus spends part of its life cycle on the cedar tree and the other half on the apple tree. The best control is usually to get rid of the alternative host - in your case any cedar trees in the area.

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Question: I have wax myrtles planted along my driveway. They are approx. 3 yrs old and about 8 feet in height. After several days of heavy rain, the branches are hanging down. Do you have any suggestions about pruning and correcting this problem. Thank you, Alfred L.

Anne Clapp: As tall as the wax myrtles are after such a short period of time you may want to cut the plants back to a point where stems are at least a quarter of an inch in diameter. Do not give them a fertilizer containing nitrogen but you may want to use a little phosphorus, such as super phosphate.

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Question: Hi Anne, I recently planted an aquilegia 'winky red & white' and suddenly the leaves have squiggly white lines on them. I've not been able to identify via the web. Do you know if this is a fungus and what I can do to save the plant? Thank you! Karen

Anne Clapp: The problem you describe is an insect called a leaf miner. There actually is an insect inside the leaf making those marks. As soon as aquilegia quit blooming you can remove the affected foliage and dispose of it so the insects do not reappear next year. I just cut the stems back to the ground. Aquilegia will put on new foliage during the summer so the plant is not harmed.

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Question: Dear Anne, I have two crepe myrtles that develop powdery mildew every year about this time. Short of cutting off the affected areas, is there an environmentally safe spay that can be applied. I have a variety of annuals and perennials blooming under or near these trees and they seem to be unaffected, and I want to make certain whatever I spray will not damage or kill these plants. Thanks for your help.

Anne Clapp: There is a chemical spray called Immunox that works well to control powdery mildew on dogwoods and crepe myrtles. It is approved for consumer use and should be as safe as any other product on the market. It does not have any harmful environmental effects precautions on the label. Crepe myrtles develop powdery mildew when nights are cool and there is not enough air movement around plants.

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Question: We live on the border of some woods and have to contend with deer eating our plants and shrubs. Are Leland Cypress vulnerable to deer? Thanks, Jocelyn

Anne Clapp: Yes! Deer seem to eat Leyland Cypress – and in fact when they are hungry they will try most anything. Good luck.

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Question: Dear Anne, I have a spiked liked leave bulb plant, that can be left out year round, gets a tall stock on it and huge white flowers, but I have no idea what it is, the leaves at almost sharp and stringy like. Do you have any idea as to what this could be. Its bulb is more root like than bulb. Any thoughts would be appriciated. Thank you, Dawn R.

Anne Clapp: It might be a member of the iris family. Why don't you see if one of the local garden shops can identify the plant for you?

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Question: I have recently planted a kimberly fern in a pot on my deck. It looks to be dying. I have read that overwatering is a common problem. Could you please tell me how much water and how much sun it needs. And is there any way to rescue it?

Anne Clapp: I don't recognize the name of a plant called a Kimberly fern but most members of the fern family are shade loving plants that like a soil that is evenly moist. They don't like to grow in standing water.

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Question: Walking my yard this evening, I noticed what looks like "spit" on every one of my leland cypress.What could this be, and how do I treat it? The trees are so tall that I wonder about how to treat. Also a number of the trees have small brown tear-drop shaped growths that look like bundles of needles that are attached to the limbs, also very high up.

Is there a careful way of transplanting a dogwood that was planted way to close under a leland? It's blooming beautifully now, but is crooked and blocking a gate.

My peony was planted when the trees were very young, but is now in between two of them. Do I need to bring it out into the sun or does it like shade? When is the right time to divide it?

Anne Clapp: The ”spit” is an insect called a spittle bug; they are unsightly but usually do not cause damage to plants. The eggs for the insect overwinter in the limbs of the trees and can be smothered with a dormant oil spray during the winter – but on tall trees that is difficult to do. The “bunches of needles are bag worms and they can defoliate the tree. They bags can be pulled off by hand o you can have a landscaping service spray to kill them.

It would be hard to move the dogwood after it is blooming size without harming its roots or the roots of the plant it is growing too close to. If you try to move it do so after it looses its leaves in the late fall – and keep it watered throught the winter after it is moved.

Peonies like full sun and definitely resent being transplanted. They sulk and don't bloom for about two years after you move them. It is a plant that really likes to grow undisturbed for many years. A large clump of 25 year-old peonies is in its prime. If you must divide it, do so in August.

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Question: We just planted 15 cypress trees in the state of maryland...and they are turning yellow from the bottom up...one is completly dead..I am afraid the others are gonna turn that way also...i do believe they have had ample enough water and we even put some miracle grow on them...is there anything else we should do???? Thank You: Jennifer O.

Anne Clapp: I understand that there are several problems with Leyland Cypress this year. When a tree starts to die from the bottom up it is usually a sign that there is something wrong with the root system. Many times this is because the roots were compacted in the pot at time of purchase and they are not in good contact with the soil in the planting bed. Roots on a plant should be spread out in the hole at the time of planting and soil placed over them. The new soil should be watered around the roots as the plant is put in the ground. Newly planted evergreens need to be watered weekly until they are established. They do not really need fertilizer until the plant starts putting on new growth and would prefer a slow release fertilizer rather than Miracle-gro.

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Question: I have several camelias in my yard and would like to know what is the most effective way for propagation.. I would like to take cuttings as it would be easier than air layering but am not sure it would be the best way. Thank you, Sarah H. from Florida

Anne Clapp: Camellias are very easy to propagate from semi-hardwood cuttings. As soon as the new green growth hardens in the summer the cuttings may be made. The growth is at the stage when you can bend the stem and break it.

I use a 4 to 6 inch cutting if there is enough new growth; you may use a shorter cutting as long as you have three leaves on the stem. I make a diagonal cut across the bottom of the cutting making sure it includes the area of a leaf node because that seems to produce roots more quickly. Use a rooting hormone and a rooting mixture of about half damp peat moss and half sand. Most cuttings will strike roots in about eight weeks although some cultivars are slower. They will need to be grown in pots for two years before they are of a size to be put in the ground.

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Question: Hello Anne, Have you ever heard of centipede grass carrying a powerful odor that can penetrate the house. We just recently purchased a home with both centipede grass in the front and back yard. The seller did not take care of the lawns, and we have brown patches, very compacted grass, and I must say due to the hurricane season we did get a lot of rain. If so, what can we do to remedy this problem. This same odor is all around when I walk in the yard.

Anne Clapp: Centipede lawns are recommended as a drought tolerant grass, and they will rot out when there is too much moisture present. Decaying plant material may be the cause of both the brown patches and the odor. I suggest you contact the cooperative extension service office in your area to see if they have information on problems residents might be having with centipede lawns in your area.

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Question: Hi. My husband dug up some bulbs at a house that was being torn down and we do not know what it is. It has a flower that is bright red on the top half and yellow on the bottom.the flower is cone shaped and has a very long and thick stalk. It drips a sticky liquid and attracks hummingbirds. The leaves are like that of a daffodil. The red part of the flower has long rounded petals and the yellow part under the red is like thin stmina like. Do you have any idea what it could be. Someone said it is called a red hot chili pepper stick or cone. I would appreciate any help. We do not know if it needs sun or shade. A friend of mine got a bunch of them for Mothers Day. Thank you, Dale

Anne Clapp: I think your plant is a Kniphofia, popularly called a “Red Hot Poker”. They are becoming a popular landscape plant and a favorite with flower arrangers. It is a sun-loving plants that needs very little care.

Question: I recently bought a habiscus tree for cheap since it already looked pitiful. it didn't come with any care instructions, & the leaves keep dropping off. any tips? also my mom has a big lilac bush that won't blossom any tricks to get it to blossom? thanks.

Anne Clapp: My best tip is not to buy a cheap plant that looks pitiful – especially if you have no idea how to take care of it. Most hibiscus need a lot of light and moist, but not wet soil. Some are cold hardy – but others are not. Some are large plants, others are relatively short.

As for a non-blooming lilacs – check the fertilizer that is being used. It does not need much nitrogen but it does appreciate some phosphorus – also some lime if your soil is on the acid side.

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Question: For mother's day my husband gave me calla lilies, and I love them, but I don't know a lot about plants. So...

1. Can I keep them as a houseplant or do they need to be planted outdoors?
2. I live in Missouri and it get's hot and humid here this time of year. How often should I water them?
3. Should they be kept in indirect sunlight if indoors?
4. How much room do they need in a pot?

Thanks for your help! - L.T.

Anne Clapp: In your area of the world calla lilies will not live in the ground outdoors all year round. It is a plant that needs a lot of light to bloom well - and the foliage is attractive for many months. My mother kept hers in a clay pot when she lived in southern Indiana. She put the flower pot in the ground in May and left it there until the first frost was predicted. Then she dug it up and brought it inside for the winter. The foliage died down and the pot was left in the garage. The plant needs to be watered weekly during its growing season.

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Question: If I want to keep my Leyland Cypress at a 16 - 20 foot height, how does one go about doing that? They are now about five foot tall and quite slender. Thank you.

Anne Clapp: The only way to keep Leyland Cypress at a 16-20 foot size is by pruning. When the plant gets about 12 feet tall some people will prune out the central leader of the plant to reduce the height of the plant. The plant tries to grow another adjoining limb up to keep the shape of the plant but it usually ruins the symmetric shape of the plant.

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Question: The leaves on my leland cypress are turning yellow and they start at the bark and work out to the end of the branch. They do,t have bag worms on them, so any advice you can give me on this problem would be appreciated. Thank You.

Anne Clapp: I am seeing a lot of brown Leyland cypress around this area. Several of the ones I have looked at closely are planted too deep in the ground. They should not be any deeper than the top roots were in the container when you bought them. Another problem seems to be lack of water during the first year the plants are in the ground. They do need at least one inch of water a week and if we don't have rain the plants need to be watered.

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Question: My brother-in-law fed his two year old dogwood Holly Tone and now it looks like it is dying. It did bloom, his thought it was not growing fast enough? Can you help him save this tree? To me it looks like shock. I am far from an expert but I was reading your web site and thought maybe you could help out. Thanks.

Anne Clapp: Holly Tone fertilizer should not damage a dogwood tree unless you use an awful lot of it and don't water the plant. Young dogwoods do need shade from the afternoon sun , a 3 inch layer of mulch over the root system and water when we have a dry spell.

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Question: Hello, I need help ! I'm trying to get rid of my Monkey grass. It has gotton out of hand can you please tell me how I can do this. Thanks, Carol B.

Anne Clapp: Welcome to the land of out of control monkey grass. It spreads both by underground roots and seeds. You can pull it out when the soil is moist but you do have to be sure to get all the roots. Spraying with the chemical RoundUp will kill it. Spraying in May is usually a good time because the new growth picks up the chemical quickly. Be careful not to get the spray on any other plants because it will kill them as well. If you get most of it killed you can usually pull the remaining clumps when the soil is wet.

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Question: Hi Anne, We have bushes in our back yard (some type of evergreen) about 12 ft. tall and they are infested with cottony white spots all over the branches and leaves. What is this and how can we treat it? Thanks, Carina

Anne Clapp: I think you have an infestation of white cottony scale. It is an insect that is difficult to get rid of. Smothering the insect with a horticultural oil spray does help, and using one of the systemic insecticides (Bayer and Ortho both sell one) will help control the pest. Read the label very carefully before you use any of the products so you know their technique for getting rid of scale.

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Question: Dear Anne, We have a beautiful dogwood tree in our backyard. Over the four years we have lived in this house the tree became healthier looking just by watering and fertilizing regularly. It bloomed its best this past spring. But, we also noticed that the trunk is getting rotten leaving large holes. When we tried to clean it out, the bark and part of the inside fell into pieces. Even though we did not see termites, that's what we suspect. The tree is still standing, but we are afraid it will continue to deteriorate. Can a trunk of a tree be mended? If so, how? Myrna from Tennessee

Anne Clapp: The damage on your dogwood tree is probably from a wound to the plant that was made several years ago. It could have been a squirrel, damage from an icestorm or any number of other accidents. Termites usually do not nest in living trees but there are beetles that might come to the damaged wood after it starts to decay. The best thing to do is clean out the diseased wood and spray the area with a fungicide. The tree usually heals itself by growing a protective layer over the wound if the wound is not too large. In some cases the wounded area is too large and the tree eventually dies.

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Question: Dear Anne, I enjoy hearing you on WPTF Radio and only learned of this site when visiting my son in California.[We can't get Channel 14] He has the largest Cally Lilies growing in he western side of his yard, I have ever seen. The plants have never been divided. My question is do you Divide Cally Lilies and how? I do have a few in my garden western Johnston County. Also, the roses here in the Salinas, Calif. area and farther north of Calif. have the largest blooms, what can I do do make my roses blossoms grow big? My son has planted gardenias in large pots which are placed in a flower bed attached around the house. It gets some sun in the front yard and sun most of the day on the south side of the house and afternoon sun on west side of house, where the Cally Lilies grown. The lilies are planted in a mixture of potting soil and Miracle Grow for flowers. Does he need to add acid and what kind of commercial acid can he buy? - A Tar Heel visiting Salinas, Calf.

Anne Clapp: My calla lilies get divided as soon as they come out of the ground in the spring because they don't like to get divided in my clay soil in the fall. In sandy soil in Johnston County you can probably divide them in the fall and replant them immediately. There are a few varieties that will get quite large in this area if you give them shade from the afternoon sun. A little fertilizer when they first come out of the ground also helps.

You are right about the roses in California. They are the same ones we grow here but the climate is milder and nighttime temperatures are a bit cooler. The plants don't get cold damage ( and seldom have blackspot) so the canes grow larger and produce larger blooms. We can't grow them that large in our area of the world!

If your son is growing his plants in a potting soil mixture it probably contains enough acid for any plants he might be growing so you don't need to worry about an acid fertilizer. The Schultz fertilizer for acid loving plants and the Scott fertilizer will both work if you really have to use one.

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Question: I live in Raleigh and have read that oleanders in our zone need to be kept potted and brought in during the winter. We brought it into the garage (with sunlight) this past winter, and it survived just fine. The plant is now blooming, however many leaves are falling off. My husband is worried it is dying. Is it? Or is that part of the natural cycle? Is it normal for its leaves to fall off after rain? Or do I need to be adding something? Or did I add too much? I did add composted manure this spring. I can't remember if I added some super phosphate. I might have. I bought my oleander last year and noticed that there was a good leaf drop each time it rained, but then it did better during less rainy periods. My husband wants to know if we should plant it in the ground on the sunny side of the house.

Anne Clapp: Oleanders will grow in protected areas in Raleigh. It will be happiest on the south side to get lots of sun and it needs to be close to the house for protection from the cold. A lot of leaf drop in the early spring is natural and the plant does lose leaves occasionally during the summer. You notice the drop after a rain because the weight of the rain and wind speeds up the process.

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Question: Anne, How and when do you transplant a rhododendron that is less than three feet tall and wide. Is the procedure the same? Also, I have another rhododendron that is on the verge of growing too big. How do I go about pruning it to keep the size manageable? Thank you for your advice, Roxie T.

Anne Clapp: Rhododendrons get transplanted the same way camellias do – but they can be more finicky about being moved. To keep a rhodie small pinch off the new growth candles at the end of the branches to keep it compact. When you prune it cut the plant limbs back to a place about ¼ inch above a place on the stem where a series of branches has grown before.

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Question: Anne, I have a Yoshino Cherry Tree that was planted last August. This spring it bloomed and was covered with flowers and then beautiful green leaves. In a matter of one hot day the leaves have shriveled up and turned brown. Is this tree dying. It seems to be a direct blow from the hot day that we had. What can I do to help it? Thanks, Crystal

Anne Clapp: The damage to the leaves on the Yoshino could be from a sudden hot spell, but most heat damage will wilt the leaves and they will recover the next day. I would check the base of the tree for damage from insects or rodents such as voles that may have hurt the plant. Another source of the problem could be chemical damage – from weed killers or way too much fertilizer. Make sure the plant is kept watered when it is hot

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Question: I have just transplanted a fig bush about 3 weeks ago and nothing has happened yet. Any advice? Thanks, Curtis

Anne Clapp: Keep the fig plant watered and fertilize it lightly in early July when it wants to put out late growth.

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Question: Hello, Anne! My family and I are in the process of buying a home near a busy road. What type of tree would grow quickly and provide privacy and noise control year-round? We need to plant a hardy variety that do not need a lot of tlc. Thanks, Amy

Anne Clapp: I would recommend several varieties of trees – tulip poplars, red maple, pine, Zelkova, sweetgum and bald cypress are fast growing. Only the pine is evergreen. Leyland cypress is fast growing as is Thuja plicata (also called Arbovitae). All are hardy plants that have few problems as long as you keep them well-watered the first year they are in the ground.

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Question: A week ago today we planted some laurels and hollies and we have been watering them daily since we have not had any good rain in Maryland. We've noticed that the leaves are turning yellow. Since I'm not much of a gardener what could be the problem. Thanks!!

Anne Clapp: They may be getting too much water. Laurels and hollies do not like wet feet – but they do like moist soil to get started. Newly planted shrubs need about 1 inch of water a week until they get established. A good deep watering is usually better than daily watering.

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Question: Anne, I have a Nuccio's Gem Camellia that is two years old. It is doing beautifully but I find that I need to transplant it. How and when do I best accomplish this? Roxie T.

Anne Clapp: I think camellias are easier to move in the fall – October or November when it is cooler. Dig the plant with a wide rootball – at least as wide as the plant. The roots should not be that deep in the ground in two years. Replant the camellia at the same level in the new hole and keep it watered once a week if it does not rain.

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Question: Anne, I just recently planted daylilly's about 2 weeks ago and the tips are turning yellow. What am I doing wrong?

Anne Clapp: I think it is probably a case of too much sun and not enough water. Unless you remove some of the foliage when you plant daylilies this late in the season they can get scorched. Just cut off the burned tips and keep the plants watered.

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Question: Anne: We live in Louisville, KY and have noticed a fairly serious white fly infestation on our 6-ft. Rose of Sharon. While I intend to apply insecticidal soap I am worried I will not kill off the entire population. Our home is in an area of the city that experiences an intense ladybug population in the fall and also a winter with numerous temperatures below freezing. My question is this: if the soap doesn't kill the whiteflies, can they survive the ladybugs and the winter? Thanks, BJW

Anne Clapp: Lady Bugs and cold weather help control white flies but they don't get rid of them. Try one of the yellow “sticky traps” to attract the white flies. I make one with a piece of yellow plastic that I smear with Vaseline. When it gets covered with white flies I wipe it off and reapply the grease. In the early spring next year you may want to spray the Rose of Sharon with one of the oil sprays like Volck or horticultural oil. It smothers the insects that may have over-wintered on the plant.

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Question: Ms. Anne Clapp, We fertilized our black-eyed susans by mistake with fertilizer for acid-loving plants. Will this hurt or kill them? What is the best fertilizer for black-eyed susans? Thanks, Faye from Maysville, Georgia

Anne Clapp: As long as you didn't put too much fertilizer out they should be just fine. Black eyed susans really don't need much fertilizer and as long as it is a formula for blooming plants they seem to be happy.

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Question: Anne, I planted a Camellia in a wooden box filled with potting soil. The box is located under an eve near the front door of my house. The plant does not get rained on but receives water from me. Almost all the leaves have fallen off the plant. They turned brow before falling off. There were tiny black bugs on top of and under many of the leaves, however, many of the leaves that fell off did not have any insects on them. Although the leaves fell off, the buds did produce flowers...very odd to see blossoms on branches devoid of leaves. Leaves are trying to grow on the bare braches but they don't seem to me able to grow enough to produce a leaf. I sprayed the leaves with an insecticide (top and bottom of the leaves) and have rid the plant of these invaders. However, the plant only had about 20 percent of the leaves it had when I planted it. I did not plant the plant myself. A gardener did it. I don't know if there are stones under the soil or if the box has a hole in the bottom to allow drainage. However, I have stuck my finger in the soil and it is not wet I water the plant about once every 10 days.

What do you think is killing the camellia? Should I pull it out of the planter and plant a new one? Should I remove the soil to see if there are stones and a hole in the bottom? If there are no stones and if there is not drainage hole, should I drill the hole and put some stones in the bottom of the box before I replace the potting soil? The box is about 2 feet by 3 feet and about 2 feet deep. - Vic B.

Anne Clapp: Camellias grow quite well in a container if they have enough nutrients and water in the soil. When a plant is not healthy it does not have resistance to insects so I would imagine that the insects you see are the result of a plant that was sick to begin with. I would take the plant out of the soil to make sure the container drains well. It does not need layer of rocks at the bottom. Use a good quality potting soil that has pine bark, sand and peat moss. Amend it with phosphate and cottonseed meal because the plant will be in the container for several years. Make sure the plant is not planted too deeply in the soil. The damage you describe could be from planting the camellia too deeply; the roots should not be any deeper than they were in the nursery pot.

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Question: Dear Anne, I had a clematis armandii for many years in deep shade. I recently bought a new one and planted it in the sun. (the label said sun/part sun). After a few days it looks awful! The leaves look burned. Do I need to dig it up immediately and plant it in a shadier spot?

Anne Clapp: In the south Clematis Armandii is much better off living in shade to partial shade. Leaf burn is the sure sign that it is getting too much sun. Move it as quickly as possible and be sure to keep it watered all summer to get it established. Good luck – with a beautiful plant!

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Question: I really need your expertise on the subject of irises. Two years ago I replanted irises that my Mother did years and years ago. They did beautifully last year, but this year some of them did not bloom. Please give me the benefit of your experience and knowledge concerning what I might do the remainder of the season to enhance their blooming next year.

Thank you so much. Really enjoy your programs and all the wonderful information that you give your dedicated audience. - Sarah in Fayetteville

Anne Clapp: Heaven knows what iris are doing this year. Some of them are blooming their heads off and some are sulking. The plants need sun for good bloom and slight changes in sunlight can alter blooming habits. Soil fertility can also be a problem. I lime the iris bed each year – and I add some super phosphate to the bed in the fall. A little composted cow manure in February does supply a little nitrogen for some early spring growth. I don't like to use chemical fertilizers because I think there is too much nitrogen and that seems to cause root rot on the plants.

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Question: Two years ago I planted two weeping youpons. They are growing tall, but spindly. How do I get them to fill out and become fuller? Would it be safe to top them? - Wanda

Anne Clapp: Weeping youpon holly does have a rather spindly growth habit. Plants in full sun are usually less spindly than those that are in too much shade. Are you sure your plant is getting enough light? Topping trees always makes them weaker and more subject to growth problems in their old age so I usually advise people to avoid it at all costs.

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Question: Hi. I have a large indoor yucca tree which has gotten too tall for my home. Is there a way I can trim it down without killing the whole tree? - Shauneen

Anne Clapp: You will have to find a new home for your Yucca tree if it is too tall for your home. It is not a plant that can be cut back to a shorter plant.

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Question: I have a question about a camelia bush that was given to me a couple of years ago.

It was planted in a sunny location in amended soil (peat moss). It appears that half of the bush is dying. Turning brown and not all of the blooms are opening. I try to remove the fallen brown blooms from the area and prune the dead wood out of it. I know have some twigs that are appearing at the base of the plant. I assume they are new growth. I also have a large number of little sprouts growing in the same small bed area. I am not sure what they are. Do camelia bushes sprout new plants this way? I am rather new at this type of gardening. Anything that was beyond planting a bulb each year is more that I know. I am learning though. Thanks for any information you can give me. - Dawn

Anne Clapp: Camellias do like being planted in the shade rather than in a sunny location. The twigs at the base of the plant are new growth and I think the little sprouts may be where camellia seeds have sprouted. You may cut them off at ground level or pull them up. Picking up the blooms and cutting off dead wood are the right things to do. Some of the buds may not open because they have cold damage.

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Question: Hello Ms. Clapp: I have a problem with 4 or 5 of my Leyland Cyprus trees (out of about 14 trees in my yard) which could not be addressed by any of the local nurseries with a proper solution.

These trees were about 5 to 6 feet tall when they were planted in our yard in 2003. Unfortunately, they were hit by the storm “Isabel” and some them got uprooted and had to be re-planted again.

The growth of the plants have not been very healthy from the time they were planted. Especially three plants have lot of browned out leaves which eventually fall out leaving the branches bald. The branches do not grow back with leaves. In two trees, the main stem has bald branches right at the top of the tree. I tried spraying insecticide for Mold and other bugs, as available from a local nursery and Walmart, but there has been no improvements.

The soil in which they are planted is kind of hard clay under the top soft surface.

Questions to you:

1. Do I trim the bald branches to let new growth come up?
2. What medicine I need to apply to these plants to revive them?
3. Any tips for care of these trees

Thank you in advance for your kind help. With Regards, Pavani

Anne Clapp: I think when the trees were uprooted some of the roots dried out and the branches were damaged. Once the limb has lost all its needles the limb should be cut off at the trunk of the tree because it will not form new needles or leaves on that limb. There is not a spray that will improve the health of the plants.

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Question: I want to move my crepe myrtles. Can you tell me when is the best time of the year to do this?

Anne Clapp: I think it is easier to keep them healthy if you move them in September or early October when it is a bit cooler. You can move them in January but they do have to be watered more frequently during the spring and summer.

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Question: Anne, I have just recently discovered that 5 holly shrubs are infested with scale. I've seen three different kinds on one shrub and it also appears that I have several acubias with scale as well. What in the world do I do to save these plants. I know that scale are armored and difficult to kill. HELP!! Also, is there such a thing as scale resistant plants? If I have to replace them, what would you suggest planting?

Anne Clapp: The chemical combination that seems to do well in killing scale insects is dormant oil spray to smother the scale and Cygon, a systemic insecticide that will kill the scale as it feeds on the plant. The directions are on the Cygon label.

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Question: A Yoshino cherry tree was planted in our back yard by developers five years ago. The trunk increases in size, but the branches do not grow. The tree blooms well, but the tree is looking strange with an ever increasing trunk with a dwarfed top. What is the problem? Thanks.

Anne Clapp: The same plant genetics that produce weeping Yoshino cherries and dwarf plants will produce the condition you describe. The condition may change with time but it is not very likely.

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Question: Hello, I have 2 beautiful tomato plants to put into the ground. My husband has built me a large box for them. The directions on the plants say to plant 80% of the plant in the ground. Does that mean to plant some of the green limbs under the soil? Thank you, Tomato lover in Maryland

Anne Clapp: Yes. As long as you leave the top two sets of leaves on the plant out of the ground you can put up to 80% of the plant in the ground. If the plant was purchased as a large plant, more than a foot tall, I would not put that much under ground because it would take too long to produce a good root system.

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Question: Hello Anne, I have a very large Lord Baltimore Hibiscus which I planted last spring(2004). It grew to about 4' with very thick trunks (3). It produced gorgeous flowers almost 10'' across. There was no sign of disease etc. at end of Fall. This year it is just sitting there with no indication of any "awakening". I thought it was a perennial. Am I wrong? Is it too soon for it to start putting out leaves? Is it dead? I planted it in full sun, in moist, well-drained soil and basically protected from heavy winds. I live in Pamlico Co on a creek near Pamlico Sound.

Anne Clapp: Lord Baltimore is supposed to be hardy in this area although it can be very late to break dormancy in the spring. I do not cut anything back on the plant until I see green leaves start to show – which can be mid to late May in my Raleigh yard. It does not like wet feet and if the ground where it was planted stays wet in the winter the plant may have frozen. It needs moist soil but does not like standing water.

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Question: Hello Anne, I'm trying to find a trailing ivy geranium called Crocodile. It is really noted for its leaves. I live in Campbellsport WI and would like to find a nursery with in a 50 mile radius. Thank you for taking the time to read my email. Hope to hear from you. Judy R.

Anne Clapp: I cannot find a source in my references. Sometimes specialty plants are available from mail-order nursery sources. At one time there was an International Geranium Society, mainly California residents, with a street address of 4610 Druid Street in Los Angeles, 90032. You might also check with the horticultural specialist with the Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service.

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Question: Hello, Please give all info regarding Lantana, Mrs. Huff. I desperately want to keep this plant going thru the years to come. I need instructions for year-round care. Do I mulch prior winter. In general, what is the best food for this and other blooming plants. Thank you, Jewel A.

Anne Clapp: Lantana Miss Huff has come back for the past 5 years in my garden. The plant is cut back in the spring after it begins to show new green growth and leaves. Do not cut it back until you see it has started to break dormancy. Fertilize lightly after you cut the plant back. I prefer to use organic fertilizers like plant tone but a chemical fertilizer for blooming plants (one with a high middle number) will work. The plant does not need fertilizer during the summer. You may cut stems during the active growing season but by September you quit trimming or cutting the plant. Allow all the stems to remain in place until the following spring. Mulch the ground around the plant with a two inch layer of mulch for the winter.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have rooted gardenia cuttings in water. Should I transplant them in pots first rather than in the ground. The plants are 8 inches tall. Do I fertilize at planting or wait a while. What is best location? Thank you, Jewel A.

Anne Clapp: Put your water-rooted cuttings in a pot with a good quality potting soil. They will develop a new set of roots more adapted to life in soil. The plants will need to be watered well during the repotting stage. I would not fertilize the plants until they have been in potting soil for at least four weeks. By fall the plants should have a root system that can survive being planted in the ground. You will need to give them a little extra winter protection their first winter in the ground.

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Question: I live in Sarasota, Florida. I have a beautiful large Hibiscus Plant near the Garage and entrance way - it upset my husband and said it was in his way so he just cut it - I mean really cut it down it looks just horrible, no leaves left at all, the Month is April - do u think it is ruined - shall I pull it out and plant something else or do u think it will grow back and if so do u know the amount of time it will take and what should we do. Thank you so much for replying. M.Wagner

Anne Clapp: Your plant may survive its pruning. It is a fast growing plant and should start to put on new growth soon. I would fertilize the plant with a little liquid fertilizer for blooming plants to encourage growth.

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Question: Could you tell us how to prune Rhodies? Helen O.

Anne Clapp: Carefully! Make your pruning cuts back to a leaf or stem where there is a small growth node. Your pruning cut should be about ¼ inch above the growth point. To keep rhodies more compact you can just break out the new growth bud on the stem tips each year to keep growth in check.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have a lucky bamboo plant and it has 3 main stalks (2 straight and 1 curly) I was wondering if I need to cut or prune the stalks with leaves to continue the branching process. Thanks. Justin

Anne Clapp: Each one of the stalks is actually a single plant. Each stalk will put out a side shoot at the top of the cane and that new cane will continue to grow longer. The plant does not branch.