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Hi Greg, I have 11 mature white pines (about 40 yrs old) which were erroneously topped down approximately 6-8 feet by a tree pruning company! -áObviously we were shocked and we immediately confronted the tree company. -áIn your expert opinion can you let me know whether a) although contrary to our wishes this is an approporite pruning tehnique for mature white pines and b) whether the trees will ever be able to regain their symetrical "Christmas Tree" like shape. -áPresently this line of majestic trees have been flattenned on top resembling a giant white pine hedge! -áAn arborist from the company suggested that through continued "training" of a main offshoot from the cut trunk it would be possible to regain the tops. -áNot only does this seem impossible, I imagine such a procedure would be a very long (and expensive) endevor that might only be accomplished by an expert. -áIn your experience, can a process like that successfully be accomplished? -áAnd how many years would that take? Thank you.
I wish I had better news for you. What the arborist told you is, in theory correct, but is usually more successful on young trees. It certainly can be tried and, as you guessed, will take a lot of work and years to accomplish. I hope if this company did this by mistake, they are willing to sign a contract that they will do this procedure at their expense to you satisfaction over how many years it takes. Good luck.
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Greg, I'm lucking to have extensive pachysandra and would like to propagate some to other areas of my property.-á Can you tell me the best time to cut the plants and if I should root them in a flat or go directly into the ground with a rooting hormone. Your tips are invaluable and we really enjoy your Thursday visits. Dick Gad
Hi Dick, Thanks for the compliments. My Thursday visits with Mike, KC and all my friends out there are one of my most favorite things to do. You can actually pull up plants with the roots and simply transplant them into the area you want. Be sure that the new area has soil that has been well worked and or covered with top soil and use a "starter" fertilizer or 5-10-5 at half rate mixed into the soil before planting.
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Greg: -á -á Yesterday, we removed the deer netting we covered our plants with in the Fall to hopefully save them from the deer.-á Needless to say, with the bad winter the deer managed to eat just about all. -á -á My question is do I cut the bushes back?-á They ate, inkberry's, azelea's, spiria's, boxwood's, even the norway spruces were trimed by them.-á Some of the damage is only one sided, some is just off the top.-á What do I do?-á It looks like Charlie Brown Landscaping.-á Just looking for some help on whether to leave the bushes or trim them. -á -á I do have one item that they did not touch, they worked all around it. It is a blue spruce tree.-á We planted three last summer along with the norway spruce and the deer did not even touch the blue spruce.-á It looks like I'll be planting more of the blue spruce. -á -á Thanks for any info. Have a great day. -á -á Suzanne
Hi Suzanne, The only reason to cut your plants back is for shaping reasons which is not really necessary. The deer have already done sufficient prunning. I would feed them with a 5-10-5 and next winter, in addition the fencing, I would also use a deer repellant such as Hinder. Blue spruces are usually pretty good because the needles are hard and sharp. Watch out for the new growth this spring, however. It's much softer and deer have been known to snack on it a bit.
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Hi Greg, -á -á Dozens of crows are roosting in a large tulip tree next to our garage and driveway. They are using our garage, driveway, and cars as their latrine. I am wondering if you have any suggestions as to how to drive the crows to another tree away from the driveway. Regards, Dick Huffield
Hi Dick, One of the tricks that may work is to put up bird feeders. I know this sounds crazy but actually the crows won't use the bird feeders but Grakles will and if you attract grackles they will naturally chace crows as will mocking birds and a few other smaller varieties.
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Hi Greg: I have a large diffenbacia (large leafed plant - leaves have white markings).-á The plant has gotten so tall that it now hits the ceiling.-á Can I cut the top (large stork) and re-plant in the same pot.-á The base of the plant is not very full and it would be nice to have another shoot grow up.-á I've purchased rooting hormone.-á I'm just not sure if this will work.-á-á
You can easily root that cutting with rooting hormone in damp coarse builders sand and then plant it in the pot. It can also be rooted in a vase of water.
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Greg: This question concerns my lawn, which happens to be the worst looking one in the neighborhood.-á There is a high ratio of weeds to grass, many bare spots, lots of moss, and the soil is a hard clay.-á We have lived in our house for 7 years, and in that time, all I have done to lawn is mow it.-á The time has come to take action and reclaim my yard.-á Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated.-á Thanks! Michael Bilello
Hi Michael, You can get rid of most of the weeds with a product called "weed-B-gone." If, however, you think you need to redo the whole mess then I recommend spraying the entire area with roundup, wait 10 days, mix a healthy compliment of compost and gypsum to break up the clay, rake it out smooth and reseed with a mix of 1/3 turf type rye, 1/3 Blue Grass, and 1/3 Fescue (approximate %'s).
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Hi Greg We have a lawn about -+ of an acre. Last year we noticed this green ( darker than the lawn ) stuff growing in different areaGÇÖs of our lawn. It actually looks like a Douglas Fir branch, and itGÇÖs spreading quickly. Can you tell me what it is, and what, if anything I can do to get rid of it. Thanks for your help Best Regards Milton & Pat Vila
Hi Milton & Pat, It's hard to identify from your description but it is most certainly a dicotolydon so use a product called "weed-b-gone" according to label directions.
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Dear Greg, -áMy guestion to you is how would you trim an overgrown crown of thorns it stands about 3 ft tall and still going its touching my hanging plants is there some way to stop it from going up and just spread out instead . -á
You can close your eyes and go for it. It should come back nicely.
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hi greg i have a fairly large collection of bonsai trees. i have a cryptomeria which is between 50 &; 70 years old which is getting very sparse. it gets new growth on top every year but the lower branches are bare. can i prune it drastically or do you have any other suggestions. thanks brian brady
The most important thing to remember is your bonzai's need humidity, humidity, humidity, especially in winter. You can prune back any dead wood and hope for regrowth. Good luck.
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Could you please let me know what plants I could plant outside my house that the deer will not eat. Plants that I have been told that the deer do not eat, have all been eaten!-á Thank you, Regina Belloise,
Hi Regina,
I'm reminded about that infamous line from "The Graduate." "Plastics!" Seriously, there aren't many. Daffodils work well and some of the viburnum. You'll need to aquaint yourself with deer repellant and use it often. Wish I had better news for you. Good Luck.
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Hi Greg, -á -á Have a ficus plant (tree?) about 4 ft high, dropping leaves like crazy, but there is new growth at the top. In a window with sunny, but filtered light.-á What should I do?-á Feed it, cut it back? Thanks/mel cherry
Your ficus is dropping leaves because the conditions have changed or you have moved it. It will settle down after a while and re grow new foliage. They do this every time conditions change.
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can i water my plants with laundry overflow water? will it damage my plants?
Laundry water, also called "gray water" can be fine as long as you use biodegradable detergents.
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We are building a new house and are planning where the garden will go on our wooded acreage.-á The only level area that we know of at the moment is the septic field space.-á Can people eat vegetables that are grown over the fields?-á We don't want to poison anyone by mistake.-á Actually, we don't want them, or us, to even have to wonder if we're going to feel weird.-á What do you think?
I wouldn't grow vegetables there. There is the concern of bacteria as well as heavy metals that will go down the drain.
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Dear Greg: I put the Epsom salt solution on my rose bushes.-á Is it good for any other trees, shrubs or plants?-á I enjoy listening to you on the radio. Thank you, Jennie
Hi Jeannie, Thanks for the compliment. I also use 1 Tbsp of epsom salts (magnesium) per gallon of water on my pepers with great results.
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Greg, I never got around to cutting back the big canes on my climbing rose this winter.-á Should I just "let 'er rip" for the season, or can I still tame it a bit?-á Thanks in advance for your always-sage advice!-á Cathy H.
Hi Cathy, You can cut any dead wood off as well as cutting it back a bit. I wouldn't do drastic pruning until early next spring.
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