Ask the Master Gardener Questions of the Month

By Linda Dodds, FoxIsland.net's Master Gardener

Name: Debbie
Date: 02/21/02
Question: I just recently moved into a house. The yard is very confused. So, we are trying to organize plants, trees and flowers. We have a fairly nice rhododendron that is hidden in our yard. We want to transplant it to our front yard so that it gets more light and it will be on stage. Anyways, I was wondering if you have any tips on transplanting a 4 foot tall rhody that has been growing for about 5 years. What is the best time of year and do I need to do something to the soil before we move it? What about digging it out? How do I not ruin the roots? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer...Sincerely, Debbie Palumbo

Debbie,
You can transplant the rhody any time now to June. The earlier the better time it will have to be established before the heat of summer. Try to get as much rootball as possible (to the dripline would be perfect). Don't bury it any deeper than it is growing now. Dig the hole twice as wide as the rootball and really mud it in. Place a little fertilizer in the hole, water it in and cover it with a little soil before putting in the plant. Pack the soil in wel to prevent air space and keep soaking it. It should do just wonderful.

Linda

Name: Bill Daley
Date: 02/09/02
Question: I have been struggling to keep my photenias going. I think I have finally conquered the mold. As far as fertilizer, should I be using miracid or regular fertilizer. Thanks, Bill

Hi Bill, Where do you live? Do you know what zone you live it? When you mentioned mold, it gave me the idea that perhaps the photenia are in either the wrong place or the wrong zone. They thrive with lots of sun, good circulation and can handle pretty dry situations. You also may be over fertilizing them. Just give them a good shot of manure or fish fertilizer in the spring.

Linda

From: "Hope Brewer"
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002

Hi Hope,
Willows can be fine except a couple things to remember: They have water hungry roots that will search out your septic or water lines looking for moisture. Think about how close they will be to any water pipes and are they in an area that you can frequently water.

Name: Ann Holder
Date: 02/03/02 
Question: Are there any magazines dedicated to gardening in the Pacific Northwest, west of the Cascades? We're building on Fox Island soon & I want to start reading & planning. Thank you

Hi Ann,

Sorry I've been putting off returning your email. I actually thought I may find some good books to tell you about at the NW Flower and Garden show in Seattle. To be honest with you, I was so focused on attending workshops and buying seeds and stuff, I forgot all about looking and there were some hugh book booths there. I guess the best resourse would be the Western Sunset Garden book. Both Peninsula Gardens and Rosedale Gardens have quite a few books. Also, once your settled in your new home you may want to attend on of the Sand and Soil garden club meetings. Then on May 4 plan on attending the plant sale at the community center. It's hosted by FICRA and Sand and Soil and Fox Island Garden clubs. It's a great place to find out what your neighbors can gow so much of they have enough to share with others. Then on May 11 we will have a garden tour just of some of our wonderful Fox Island gardens.

Oh - welcome to the island. Let me know when you arrive.

Linda 

Name: Dee Dorning, North Carolina
Date: 02/03/02 
Question: I live in the Sandhills of NC zone seven. I want to plant Leyland cypress for privacy border. When would be the best time? How far apart. What type of fertilizer?  Any instructions would be helpful. Thanks, Dee

Hi Dee, I hope that the Leyland Cypress will be planted a long way from your house. Do you know that they can grow to 40 ft?  If that is okay with you than go ahead and plant them as soon as you can. Like any other transplant, be sure and dig the hole twice as big as the rootball. Fertilizer can be sprinkled in the hole, covered with a couple of inches of dirt before placing the plant in and then placed in the hole and watered well after. They will grow to their hearts content.
Linda

Name: LaVerne Thornton
Date: 01/26/02
Question: Can Leland Cyprus trees be pruned to shorten and or shape them?
LaVerne

When people ask me about Leyland Cypress as a hedge, I usually try to convince them to not plant them. They can grow to 40 ft and become way to tall for their intended location.

You can trim the Leyland cypress just at the tips. If you need to take any large amount off them, you may want to consider replacing them with something else.
Good luck, Linda

Name: Sandra Grammer
Date: 01/28/02
Question: This is only January 28th and my tulips are sprouting and also hyacinths are popping up. Can I did up the hyacinths and pot them for the inside. Thank you
Sandra

Don't panic! Your bulbs will be just fine right where they are. The blossoms will not be effected by the weather.
Linda

Name: Dianne Schilling, Hammond, Louisiana
Date: 12/26/01
Question: I have never grown a Leland Cypress - I would like to grow it in a pot to keep it for each Christmas bringing it inside to decorate. We live in Hammond, Louisiana.  I purchased one about 1 1/2 feet tall - so it is very young. The questions I have: 1) Can it be grown in a pot  2)Do I keep it indoors (house is very bright) also have a screened in back porch that gets the morning sun  3)general upkeep. Thanks for your help.  As a little girl from PA we had the same tree until I left home at 18 - Daddy would wrap it (blue spruce) in burlap (the roots) and put back in the ground until the next year. Today the tree is still living and beautiful. Thanks again - Dianne

Hi Dianne,

I don't think a Leuland cypress is your best bet for a potted Christmas tree. It grows to about 60 ft in the ground and would have to have some major root and branch trimming to keep it in check. You could use it for the next year or so and then transplant it permanently in the ground. It can take almost any type of soil and soil condition - just don't forget about how large it can grow!
Linda

Name: Matt 
Date: 11/08/01
Question: I'm having trouble with my Japanese Maples. I've planted them where they would receive the least amount of sun, but they're still getting burned. Is there some type of sunscreen spray to keep them from getting sunburn? 

Matt,
I don't know where you live but if you are bell south email address, you live in in an entirely different area than where I do. Do other Japanese maples grow in your area? Perhaps it is much too warm a climate for them to thrive. You may be better off replacing the tree with one better suited to your location - and - no, there is no sunscreen available for plants.
Linda

Name: Julia Taylor
Date: 11/03/01
Question: Where to begin? We have a house under construction on Fox Island to be completed midwinter. There is nothing but what appears to be lifeless sand subsoil on all the stripped area of the lot (most of it) Help! Where do we begin? Do you bring in topsoil? Bring in that municipal compost stuff? Do you till in the additive or just lay it on top? I don't think the builder will supply any help. Any suggestions are welcome! We have been avid gardeners in the past (prior to parenthood) and hope to be again. I know the foundation is critical. I am especially concerned about drainfield areas that cannot be turned in the future.

Hi Julia, 
Welcome to Fox Island! I know you will enjoy living and gardening here for many years. All you need to do is start with a plan. First of all, find out how much your contractor is willing to do for your landscaping. Will he put in a sprinkler system, a basic grass and beauty barked shrub area? Does his price include both front and back yard? 

As a realtor who works a lot with new construction I have a few tips for you. Look first on your contract with the builder to see what he has included in the sale. Usually what they do is pretty basic but at least it is a good beginning. Some builders will just give you a landscaping budget and you can spend it any way you choose. Find out how much top soil and what kind the landscaper will use. For beds and raised gardens, mushroom compost is a great additive. If the additive is just a little top soil, you may want to pay to have more plus compost brought in. Otherwise roots won't have a place to grow to. 

When the landscaper puts in plants they sometimes just plop a gallon size plant into a gallon size hole. If you can possibly work with them, try to see that the holes are dug twice the size as the plant and that the roots are untangled and fluffed out. Areas that are not to be landscaped by the builder still should have a long range plan. Decided if you want to plant vegetables, fruit trees, perennials or? Then start working the soil with compost and good top soil so if will be ready to go in the spring.

The garden clubs have a plant sale the end of April so look forward to getting some great plants at fantastic prices there. Everything from shrubs, herbs, vegetable starts, trees to perennials.
Linda

Name: Marty Kramer 
Date: 10/14/01
Question:  I have three pruning questions regarding Daphine burkwoodii somerset:
1. Are the nodules on the branches buds? 
2. How far can I prune back? 
3. Can I prune or pinch back to improve ramification? 
Respectfully, Marty

Marty,
The nodules are the end of each years growth. You should never prune any shrub back more than 1/3 of the plant at a time. Where you do, make the cut at a nodule where you would like the plant to branch out. You can also try some cuttings to see if you can get them to root and start new plants. Use a cutting about 3 inches long. Take off all except a few of the top leaves and dip the moistened end in root tone. Put the cutting in perlite and see if you can start some fragrant plants to share with others.

Name: Sara Schroeter 
Date: 10/12/01
Question: Several of my spring blooming plants are blooming again. They were all planted last spring and most of them did have blooms then. They include purple gem rhodies, daphne "Carol Mackie" and a couple osmanthus delavays. What's up?  
Thanks for your help!

Sara,
It's not unusual for plants, especially shrubs, to get confused on when they should be blooming. It could be a combination of weather and fertilizer that has caused it to happened. Just enjoy the blooms as it shouldn't hurt the plants at all.

Name A. R. Chew
Date: 10/3/01
Question: We live in the Piedmont, NC, and have recently purchased a home with wonderful landscaping and four very mature, tall Leyland Cyprus. It appears that probably all four Cyprus are being affected by something that is turning the branches brown - one tree is looking very bare and I notice that pruning had been performed on some major limbs. This may be a canker or other disease about which I am unfamiliar. Do you have an opinion about the disease that may be in progress and what, if any treatment. 
Thank you. A. R. Chew

Leyland cypress are very susceptible to honey fungus.  To be sure, take a sample of it to your local horticulture extension service for diagnosis.
Linda

Name: Nadia 
Date: 09/28/01 
Question: I am so confused. I am getting many different answers for this problem. I planted 10 Leyland Cyprus trees for a privacy screen in the backyard; they supposedly grow 2-3 feet per year, is this correct? also, I was told red tip photenia is better and grows faster, is this true? I hope I spelled it correctly, because many pronounce differently. Can I plant the red tip between the cyprus? thank you Nadia

Hi Nadia,
Leyland cypress can grow up to 60 ft. so they can be overpowering as a hedge eventually. Unless they are over 10 ft apart, I don't think I would recommend planting photenia between them. Think about how high you want your hedge to grow. Perhaps photenia, which also is a fast grower, would work better for you.

Name: Nick Pacello
Date: 09/17/01
Question: We are considering planting Leyland Cyprus because of the size and privacy they will provide around our pool. But we have a few questions. First, the area between our fence and the pool decking is only about 7feet wide. Will that be enough space and should I be concerned about the roots causing and problems to the concrete decking or the concrete pool in the future. Secondly, I know the Leyland likes water, the area we want to plant is always moist even when it does not rain. Can the Leyland prosper in that environment.
Thanks Nick

Nick, 
Even though Leyland cypress is used extensively for hedging, it is unsuited for all but the largest of sites. It can grow to 65 ft within 20 years. It does well in moist soil though however many other hedging plants do also. 
Linda

Name: Sheila
Date: 09/09/01
Question: We have a Leland cypress tree. I just noticed that at one spot there is some sticky sap. Is there a problem with this young tree and if so, what can we do? Thanks.

Sheila, Sorry it has taken me so long to give you a response.  Leyland cypress is susceptible to honey fungus.  Try spraying it with a fungicide now and again in the spring
Linda

Name: Todd Smith
Date: 09/01/01
Question: I live in upstate South Carolina. I am planning to transplant several Leland cypress trees in the fall. The trees are currently about 4 feet tall. Please advise me on the best transplanting method. I have gotten too many different opinions on how to transplant these. I would greatly appreciate and trust your advice. Thanks.

Todd,
You are correct in waiting until fall to transplant your cypress. Just be sure to get as much rootball as possible. Dig the holes twice as wide as you need to and plant the cypress at the same depth as they were originally planted. It is very important to water them in well to fill up any air space after filling in the original soil. You may need to give them extra water for the first year until the roots are well established.
Linda

From: Carol Dansberger 
Date: 9/3/01 
Question: Hi, My Leyland Cyprus has a bunch of brown tips on the ends of its branches.  One of the brown tips has been used to form a cocoon which hangs from the tip of the branch. I opened the cocoon and a fat grub/worm about 1-2" long was inside. Someone told me this bug could kill a Leyland Cyprus, is this true? What is this infestation/disease and how do I control it's spread and stop any further damage? 

I live in central Maryland. Thanks for answering another Leyland Cyprus question, Carol  

Hi Carol,
Leyland cypress are susceptible to honey fungus. Take a cutting and take it to a local nursery or a Master Gardener to determine exactly what is on the plant. Don't spray it until you know for sure what the problem is and what is the recommended treatment.