Winter Garden Tips

Shrubs Planting, Selection, Pruning and Care

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Shrubs Planting, Selection, Pruning and Care

Along a Fence

We just put this fence in at the end of this last summer. I need some plant ideas to put in along the fence line. Perennials would be best. Also I have wet dry spots in certain areas. Right now there are only hostas under the cedar tree, 2 peonies, and a butterfly bush. Can you give me some ideas?

Amur Maple

About 10 years ago we planted Amur maple shrubs along the back fence in our yard for privacy. Not quite sure what to do with them now, all the foliage, is at the top and they no longer provide any privacy. Also, they have a lot of dead wood. How do we prune them to give us privacy or should we replace them with some kind of evergreen shrub?

Arborvitae

I am looking for a hardy, fast growing, disease resistant Arborvitae type bush to screen my semi shaded lot line. I have read about a Thuja ‘Green Giant’ that seems to be a miracle bush and is hardy in Zones 5 to 8. Do you think this variety, recommended by a South Carolina grower, would be a good choice in the Mequon, WI area? Do you know of a source to purchase about ten of these measuring at least 4 feet tall?

Arborvitae

It’s November, is it too late in the season to fertilize Arborvitae evergreens? How would you suggest helping browning evergreens come back to health?

Attracting Birds

Are there any small trees or shrubs that produce berries that will attract birds to the landscape in the winter months? Also when is planting time for trees?

Attracting Birds

Most of the trees and plants on my lot were cleared away when the home was built, so there’s nothing left to attract birds or other wildlife. Can you suggest some fast-growing plants?

Azalea

I would like to plant Azaleas. I know that they require an acidic soil. I was considering adding sulfur. How much should I use?

Bamboo

I recently saw you on Morning Blend and you were talking about a bamboo. Is it hardy to zone 5? Can you tell me more about the plant?

Bamboo

I am interested in growing bamboo. I have looked at a couple of sites on the web and there are some types of bamboo that are winter hardy. Has anyone you know tried bamboo in the Milwaukee area. I live in New Berlin, WI.

Beneath Black Walnut

Will butterfly bush, lilac, dogwood, or other flowering trees and shrubs grow under a black walnut tree. The tree branches are within 12 feet of the proposed planting bed.

Beneath Oak Trees

I live in Forestville, CA. Can you recommend shrubs and flowers that will grow under the shade of our large oak trees? I don’t want to plant anything that will interfere with the trees’ roots.

Bird and Butterfly Garden

I have a very large evergreen tree in my backyard and I would like to have a bird and butterfly garden in that corner. What will grow under and around this tree that will attract birds and butterflies?

Boxwood

I understand that fall is not the best time to plant boxwoods in the upper Midwest, but the price was so good at the nursery I couldn't resist buying 27. I've carefully mulched them and put up a 3-foot burlap windbreak. Is there anything else I could do to keep them alive? Would covering them with leaves be an okay idea?

Boxwood

We put in 6 boxwoods this year and now would like to know how to care for them over winter. We live in the country (zone 5), they are on the west side of the house, there is a woods across the road but we still get some wind. I understand boxwoods are to be protected from the wind for the first couple of years. So what do we do?

Brighten Up the Shade

I have many large trees in my yard. I would like to add some ornamental trees or shrubs to brighten this shady portion of my northern Midwest landscape. Any suggestions?

Bristly Locust

A friend of mine had this bush growing in his yard. He said it sprouted next to where he piles loads of compost. The leaves have 11 to 13 leaflets each, and the young stems have pliable thorns all around. Can you tell me what it is?

Burning Bush

Will deer leave burning bushes pretty much alone if we plant them in our backyard? There are plenty of apple orchards and cornfields in our area.

Burning Bush

We have a burning bush in front of our house (east side) which has grown way too large. A couple of years ago, we pruned it in spring to shorten it, but the new growth for the rest of that year had very small, pale leaves and looked quite unsightly. Fortunately the next year it looked fine. Now it has grown as large or larger (height and width) and we need to do something. Any advice you could give us about the timing and methods for pruning a burning bush would be greatly appreciated.

Burning Bush

I'm working on re-landscaping my home and want to line the property with burning bushes. Is fall an opportune time to plant burning bushes or should I wait until spring? If I would purchase the plants this fall, should I keep them indoors until spring and then plant them.

Burning Bush

I live in the south and think burning bush plants are lovely. Can you tell me how to order one?

Butterfly Bush

Do butterfly bushes do well in Wisconsin?

Butterfly Bush

I bought a butterfly bush last summer, planted it and watched it do quite well. Now I'm not sure what to do when spring arrives. I live in northern Illinois. Do I prune and if so how?

Butterfly Bush

Our St. Mary, Ohio winter has been extremely mild this year. I do not trim my butterfly bush back until early spring. The problem is, it has produced new leaves that grew, wilted and died this winter. This has happened about 3 times. It now has another batch of new leaves on. Should do anything to help it survive this winter?

Camellia

We have a beautiful camellia bush that we would like to move. It’ s about 5 feet tall. When is the best time to move it? And, should we cut it back regularly?

Chaste Tree

It was an especially good year for flowers here Texas. I was really taken with the blooms of the Chaste Tree. Can you tell me more about this beauty?

Clove Currant

I have a bush that blooms in the spring with small yellow flowers and fills the air with a wonderful cinnamon fragrance. Do you know what this is?

Containers

I have several small trees and evergreens growing in large plastic pots on my patio. What should I do with them for the winter?

Continuous Blooms

I would like to plant shrubs in my Laredo, TX yard so that I have continuous blooms year-round.

Crape Myrtle

Do I bring in my crape myrtles, in one gallon pots, in for the winter or do I plant them? They are about 24-30" high and I live in zone 5.

Cuttings from Shrubs

We may be moving and I want to take cuttings of some of my favorite shrubs if possible. Is November too late to try? Most of them have dropped leaves already, is there a way to do it indoors?

Daphne

We transplanted three Daphne shrubs to our garden. Now, it looks like only one will survive. Can you give us some advice about how to transplant these fragrant shrubs successfully in our Midwest garden?

Desert Garden

I’ve just about given up trying to cultivate in the alkaline soil of the Utah desert where I live. What will grow in these dry and windy conditions? I’d especially like to plant fruit- or nut-bearing trees that will attract birds.

Dry Shade Around Foundation

I have an area on the east side of my home in NW Iowa that is covered by our roof eaves. I don't want the garden to have anything too tall in it as it is right in front of some windows. The area is about 4' wide by 12' long. The last 4' of the long way does get a bit of sun... I did see something called a "yew" that I really liked and if that would work, I'd like to include it with other things.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce

I have two dwarf Alberta spruce growing in large plastic pots. How should I keep them over the winter in my Minnesota garden?

Edible Ornamentals

I have a small yard but want to grow a small ornamental plant with edible fruits. Can you recommend any?

Evergreen Border

Short of moving we need to plant a fast, tall, evergreen border between ourselves and a "sloppy" neighbor. Could you recommend a bush or shrub that is fast growing and survives in clay soil?

Evergreen Hedge

We have a very well established, and nicely shaped evergreen hedge. It has red berries in the late fall. We keep it pruned to the original rectangular shape it was in when we bought the house. I want to make it about 6 inches shorter. The established wood is very thick and hard to cut. Will I kill it if I try to make it shorter? If not, what time of year should this be done? And lastly, how would I go about cutting through the old wood?

Expanding Buds

The buds on many of my trees and shrubs have started to swell earlier than normal this spring. I am worried that a cold snap will kill these plants. Will these plants grow and bloom this year?

Fall Color

What causes the leaves to turn colors in fall? Is it the temperature, the shorter days or lack of or too much rain?

False Cypress

Are evergreens supposed to be tricky to grow? Last fall I planted two small false cypress bushes in my yard (zone 5), watered them as needed, mulched and added a little soil acidifier for good measure. Despite these efforts, the evergreens are both clearly dying. I have noticed similar problems in my newly developed neighborhood. Should I give up on evergreens?

Fertilizing

We planted quite a few shrubs and a couple of trees last fall. When should we start fertilizing and pruning? We want to keep them healthy and help them grow.

Flowering Quince

Can I prune my Quince bush that has grown over 6 feet tall and has no shape? It blooms during the winter and in the summer is full of leaves.

Flowering Shrub for Shade

I am looking for a flowering shrub for the north side of my home. I have Annabelle hydrangeas that are doing fine but want some additional shrubs for added interest.

Forsythia

What’s the correct way to trim my forsythia?

Forsythia

My forsythia is overgrown. When and how far can I prune it back?

Getting Extra Plants Through the Winter

Help! I took advantage of all the great clearance pricing at my local nursery. Now I have more plants than I know what to do with. How can I get the many perennials and shrubs I purchased through the winter so that I can plant them in the spring?

Hardiness Zones and Plants

What exactly does "Hardiness Zone" mean, and can I plant a specimen with a lower rating than my zone? For instance, I live in southern California, which is zone 9-10. Can I plant a Tatarian dogwood, which is recommended in zones 2-7?

Hedge

We are looking for a fast growing hedge to provide privacy between our yard and the busy road in front of our home. Someone suggested willows, what do you think? Any other suggestions?

Hedge

I have an area that is full sun half the day, and the soil is sandy. Can you recommend a hedge that is compatible with dry, sandy soil for a northern Midwest garden?

Hedge

Is there any way to salvage a sickly looking hedge that is bare at the bottom?

Hibiscus

Should I be pruning my hibiscus in the spring or fall?

Hibiscus

We saw a Hibiscus acetosella growing at a local botanic garden and just loved it. Can you tell us more about it?

Hibiscus

How should I overwinter my hibiscus?

High Altitude

I moved into a new house in Leadville, Colorado and inherited a yard full of rocks. Not to mention, I’m also dealing with high altitude, extreme temperature fluctuations and drought conditions. Please give me some advice on what plants would thrive in these conditions.

Holly

Are there any holly plants that are good for zone 5?

Holly

How can I tell the difference between male and female holly shrubs? I’ve recently learned I need to plant both in order to get berries.

Holly

I have a holly bush on the east side of my Milwaukee house. I have lived here for 11 years and in that time it has grown very large and is now starting to look sprawling and the inside is looking woody. Can I cut this plant back?

Honeysuckle

Why is the bark coming off my old honeysuckle bush?

Hydrangea

The flowers of my hydrangea are no longer blue but pink. What does this plant need?

Hydrangea in Containers

I live just outside Chicago. In late spring/early fall I had  purchased two hydrangea bushes and planted them into two separate pots.  They are fairly large pots. I did not know at the time that they were  bushes. The plants grew beautifully in the pots all summer and were very  decorative. How can I store them for the winter, so that I can once again have them in pots for the spring/summer of next year? Do I need to prune/cut back the plants, and how  much? The plants are  blue/purple in color and have full heads of blooms.

Hydrangeas in Pots

I planted two blue hydrangeas in pots. They are quite large and doing well. What should I do to keep them alive over our extremely cold winter?

Juniper Windbreak & Screen

I would like to plant a windbreak this spring but have 4 special requirements that the plants have to fit into. I would like an evergreen, something deer resistant. I know nothing is deer proof if the little guys are hungry enough. I’d like something that doesn't need to be pruned or shaped and has a small base when full grown. The lot line is very narrow on one side of our property.  My Dad had an evergreen with small thorns on the branches. It had a nice pyrimidal form. I don't have a sample of the tree to identify it because he removed it because it was growing into the gutters and rubbing them when the wind blew. If you can suggest something that has berries for the wildlife that would be the bomb. The wind blows like the dickens over our property and we would like some privacy from the neighbors.

Late Season Color

What flowers are in season in the Milwaukee area in the month of November? Why I ask, a November 10th wedding.

Late to Emerge

How can I tell if my butterfly bush and hardy hibiscus are dead? I cut them back in late winter but have yet to see any signs of growth.

Leggy Hedge

My wife and I built our house in 1984. We planted a hedge of honeysuckle and lilac along the East border for privacy. It's now leggy and sparse and some main branches are 4" to 6" in diameter. Can I take this down to the ground, rent a chipper and put the waste down around the pruned plants?

Lilac

My neighbor has the most beautiful deep purple lilacs I’ve ever seen. Can I take a cutting and root it?

Lilac

My great-aunt gave me a cutting of her lilac shrub that blooms profusely. I planted it years ago in our yard and it has yet to produce flowers. How can I get mine to bloom?

Lilac

Is there a way to keep cut lilac blooms fresh? When I bring mine in the house and put them in a vase, they begin to droop after a day or two.

Lilac

My lilac bushes are 15 feet tall. Is there anyway to cut them down and still have them bloom? I want them about 5-8 feet tall.

Male or Female

How can I tell a male plant from a female plant?

Mockorange

I’m trying to learn a little more about a spring blooming shrub I have growing in my yard. My neighbor told me it is a Mockorange.

Mugo Pine

I have 6 mugo pines growing together and crowding out my other plantings. How much can I prune them back without causing damage?

Peanut Butter Shrub

Have you ever heard of a plant called the peanut butter plant? Supposedly, the leaves smell like peanut butter? My daughter-in-law received one from a lady that lived in Tennessee. Can you tell me more about the plant and offer any tips for how to find one?

Planting Near Black Walnut

I have black walnut trees along my lot lines. What other plants & bushes will grow near these trees? I need to plant more coverage along the lot line.

Plants For Wet, Soggy Sites

Do any flowering plants withstand wet and soggy ground? I have an area in my yard that’s perpetually wet—even during dry spells—and the weeds that grow there are a real eyesore.

Privet

My Privet hedge has become too tall and leggy. I would like to cut it back and allow it to start over. How and when should this be done?

Pruning

When is the proper time of year to prune shrubs?

Pruning

What equipment do I need? And does it need to be sanitized?

Pruning

How often do I need to prune?

Pruning

What are some proper pruning techniques?

Pruning

What shrubs require pruning?

Pruning

When we moved to a different home, we discovered the shrubs hadn’t been trimmed in years. How can we get them under control?

Pruning

I forgot to cut down my shrubs before they got buds on them and now they do! Can I still cut them down quite low as long as a few buds on each stem are left?

Pruning

When is the best time to prune shrubs?

Pruning

When is it ok to prune rhododendrons. What about other shrubs that might not be flowering ones?

Pruning Evergreens

It’s November, is now a good time to prune my evergreen shrubs? They are starting to outgrow their spot in my yard.

Pruning Potentilla, Forsythia & Spirea

When is the best time to prune potentilla, forsythia and spirea?

Pruning Tools

I am a new gardener and need to invest in some pruning tools. What are the best types to buy?

Pussy Willow

I planted a weeping pussy willow 1 ½ years ago. It is spreading on the ground instead of growing up. Should I trim it back or transplant it?

Rabbit Damage

The rabbits ate the bark off the top branches of several of my bushes. Do you think we can save the plants? The bottom 12 to 18 inches is free from damage.

Rhododendron

We’ve shared cuttings of our rhododendron with friends, but they’ve ever been able to get them to grow. How do you start a rhododendron from a cutting?

Rhododendron

We bought a rhododendron last year. We covered it with a rose cone for the winter. When I removed the cone in spring the leaves were falling off and the buds looked dead. If I cut back the bush, will it come back this summer? Or normally do you leave it in a pot and bring it in-doors over the winter?

Rhododendron and Azalea in Winter

I have a rhododendron (Zone 5) and azalea plant in pots on my 2nd floor balcony. What special things should I do for them for the upcoming winter?

Rhododendron

I have two Rhododendron plants I need to get ready for winter. I know that I have to cover them for winter but do I need to cut the plants back before doing that? If so, how far back?

Rose of Sharon, Althea

I want to move my Althea (Hibiscus syriacus) to a different location. Is it safe to transplant it in midsummer?

Rose of Sharon, Althea

I have many seeds from a beautiful Rose of Sharon. I would like to plant them but I'm not sure if I should plant them outside or start them inside in a pot.

Shade Tolerant Shrubs

Is there any type of Arborvitae that can be planted in the shade of 30-40 foot tall American Linden trees? I have beautiful Lindens, but they are all trunk. I would like some screening from the neighbor’s yard. Any suggestions of evergreens and/or shrubs that can tolerate shade would be appreciated.

Shrubs for Screening

Do you have any suggestions for a screening shrub that will tolerate medium shade in zone 5?

Shrubs for Screening

We live in a pine forest, have a nice lawn and a large perennial garden. We would like to plant some shrubs as a screen on the east side of our home next to the driveway where we pile snow for the winter. The hydrangeas that are growing there are doing fine but not tall enough to create the privacy we need. Would lilacs do well here? We do not want anymore evergreens. Do you have any suggestions?

Siberian Elm

I have Siberian elm hedges and have been unsuccessful in getting the cuttings to grow. Do you have any suggestions?

Small Scale Shubs

My wife and I would like a low-maintenance backyard and were thinking of planting shrubs. Can you suggest some smaller varieties, about 2 feet tall, that aren’t evergreens and would work in our Liberty, IN yard?

Smoke Bush, Smoke Tree

We have several smoke trees in our yard. Only one of the trees has flowered and produced those fluffy flowers. How can we get the others to produce the “smoke”?

Snow Load

How can I prevent the snow from crushing my shrubs?

Snowball Bush

We planted a snowball bush 2 years ago. It blooms nicely in early spring, although the blooms are fairly small, but the show doesn’t last long. I’ve seen several other bushes in town that are still blooming into July. What can we do to extend the life of our blooms?

Sound Barrier

Are there any plants I can grow in front of my fence to create a sound barrier?

Strawberry Bush

I have fallen in love with a plant called Strawberry bush growing in my neighbor’s yard. The reddish-orange fruit lasts through late winter. Can you help me give it a botanical name and tell me how to propagate it?

Sumac

I will be planting wild sumac in my landscape this fall. I used it in my last garden and really loved the tree's shape and lines, and the color in fall was unbeatable. The only problem was it sent up suckers everywhere. What is your opinion of the wild sumac?

Sun-drenched Slope

I live in Zone 5. What are some good choices of groundcover that will give us the best results for covering a sun-drenched slope?

Transplanting

I have a forsythia and a lilac that I would like to move to a different location. Would it be harmful for them to be moved now, in midsummer? They have been in place for 3-4 years. I can't keep them where they are and I thought since they are still small I could cut them back, transplant, water them very well the rest of this season and they would take root in their new location. What would you think?

Transplanting

When is the best time to prune and transplant viburnum and a crabapple tree? They are both about six to eight years old.

Tree Peony

I was given a tree peony 5 years ago that consistently produces beautiful pink flowers. Like most of the other peonies I have in my flower bed, several starts come up from the ground (possibly from the root) every year. Can I transplant these “starts” without damaging the original peony?

Tree Peony

I have a Japanese tree peony with eight inch diameter silky white single and double flowers. Are Japanese tree peonies suppose to die back? Mine die back to the ground every year. I thought it was suppose to be a tree. Am I mistaken?

Unusual Plant Behavior

I live in Central Florida and we were hit with three hurricanes a couple of years ago. After they came through, I noticed some unusual plant behavior. We have a large mock orange bush that only blooms in spring. Many leaves were blown off and weeks after the hurricane, it bloomed in December. Could the hurricane have anything to do with the unusual bloom time?

Viburnum

Should I prune my dwarf cranberrybush viburnum? If so, when?

Weed Barrier

I recently purchased a home that has wood chips around the trees and shrubs. The previous owner did not lay a weed barrier under the chips and we have grass and weeds coming through? What product can I use to control them? Should I put weed barrier down before adding more chips?

What to Cut Back

As a new gardener I get confused trying to decide what to cut back in the fall and how far back to cut. The plants I am most concerned about are the hydrangeas, hibiscus, a variegated Fallopia and a dwarf Little Henry Sweetspire. I also have fountain grass, which for the first time I planted in the ground rather than a pot. Can I cut this back to re-grow next year and how far down do I cut?

Windbreak

I would like to plant a windbreak this spring but have 4 special requirements that the plants have to fit into. Let me tell you what they are and I'm positive you will be able to help me. I would like an evergreen. Deer resistant. I know nothing is deer proof if the little guys are hungry enough. Doesn't need to be pruned or shaped. Has a small base when full grown. The lot line is very narrow on one side of our property. My Dad had an evergreen with small thorns on the branches. It had a nice pyrimidal form. I don't have a sample of the tree to identify it because he removed it because it was growing into the gutters and rubbing them when the wind blew. Do you know of any tree that fits my description? If you can suggest something that has berries for the wildlife, that would be the bomb. The wind blows like the dickens over our property and we would like some privacy from the neighbors. I hope you can help us.

Witchhazel

I recently read about witchhazel that said the plant had yellow blooms and leaves in fall. Mine blooms orange early in the spring and has the most beautiful yellow leaves in the fall. Do I have something other than a witchhazel?

Witchhazel

I recently heard you on Public Radio. I missed where I could purchase a common witchhazel. Can you help?

Yew

I have a spreading yew that was damaged (some branches burned) by a wood chipper parked next to it. Would it be best to trim the dead branches out now or later or just leave it as is and hope it fills back in the spring?

Yew

I have an overgrown yew planting. A friend said I could cut it back severely and it would recover. Is this true? Is fall a good time to prune it back?

Yew

My yews are overtaking my walkway. I remember reading that they can be pruned mid summer. Is that right? How much can I prune off?

Zone 5 Garden

What, if anything, do I do as far as winter care for the plants that I bought and planted in my zone 5 garden this year in May? They include Royal Burgundy barberry, Green Velvet boxwood, and Russian sage.