Trees/Shrubs
Question: What is the best food to use this spring for young shrubs planted last fall?
Answer: A. The best fertilizer for shrubs planted last fall would be 6-8-6 all-purpose fertilizer. It's a granular fertilizer with an organic base. Work some in around the base of the shrubs, water it all in, and that should be sufficient for this year.
Question: We have two large cedars in our front garden that are turning brown - is this normal - should we cover them - is there some nutrient they are lacking or have the caught some disease?
Answer: There was an awful lot of browning on the "inside" of cedars this fall. This is a completely natural phenomena, called flagging, that they go through every year. If the browning was on the inside, and not out to the branch ends, it's likely OK. We had dozens of calls about this very thing in September and October. Make sure the ground is well-watered before it freezes, so there is moisture available to the cedars if they need them. Fertilize with an evergreen fertilizer in spring, and they should be fine.
Question: My cedar trees have seed on them. Sould I cut them off. Also how long to I water the cedar?
Answer: When cedar trees get many seeds, it is a sign they are in stress. The reason for the stress has to be determined by the process of elimination. It can be due to a lack of correct nutrients in the soil, so amend the soil with nutrient rich material. It can also be due to excess or too little water. Check your drainage. They do like a substantial amount of water, but not to sit in a pool of it. You can water them up to freeze up to give it protection from drying out over winter. Yes you can cut the seeds off, but this is only to make them more pleasing to look at.
Question: What kind of fast growing shade tree can we plant and when is the best time of year to do it?
Answer: Some fast growing shade trees are
Maples
Catalpa
Willows
Poplar
Birch
Ornamental Plum
You can plant anytime except in extreme hot weather, spring or fall is recommended.
Question: My cedar trees are turning rust colour, what can I do to correct this problem?
Answer: There are a multitude of reasons that can stress out your cedars, therefore it is difficult to say in your case. Some of the common reasons are: not enough water; poor drainage (water pooling); insufficient nutrients; mice or other rodent eating roots; lack of air circulation; & chemical burn from improper use of fertilizers. Anyone with this problem is welcome to bring a sample of the cedar branch that has turned colour into the store & the staff may be able to determine a cause for you - sometimes it is evident, others times not. Otherwise it is a process of elimination to get to the root of the problem.
Question: I have a rododendron that does not seem to be doing too well. What type of food should I be giving it and how often?
Answer: Rhododendrons like to be planted in an acidic soil. This is a bit of a problem in the Okanagan as the majority of our soil is alkaline. This can easily be ammended by adding some peat soil, which is acidic, to the soil around your rhodo. We do also carry a couple of fertilizers that can be used with your rhodo. I would recommend our Art Knapp's Rhodo and Azalea food and this is a good time of year to apply it. If you are still having problems, bring a couple of leaves in and we can take a look at them to see if there is anything else that may be causing your plant to not do so well.
Question: I would like very much to plant a Hydrangea and understand that the red mopheads do take sun. Can you confirm this?
Answer: Actually the mophead hydrangeas prefer some shade from the afternoon sun in our climate. In a west or south exposure the foliage can get scorched, particularly if the shrub is located against a fence or wall where there is reflected heat. Some dappled shade is ideal for them, and they will take morning sun just fine as well. Our alkaline soils do, however, tend to make the red and pink varieties especially vivid in colour.
Question: I have to move a peony. When should I do this and are there any special considerations. I understand they DON'T like to be moved. Also, is there any location it would prefer in our Okanagan climate?
Answer: You can move the peony at any time preferably not when it is blooming in the spring. You were quite correct they do not like being moved and will not bloom for a least a year after moving. The other important consideration is that they don't like to be planted too deep, try and plant at the same depth that you take it out. Since they bloom in spring you can place them in mostly any location but remembering that here in the Okanagan the sun from 1-3 gets really hot and maybe a part sun, part shade location would be best.
Question: I would like some suggestions on any type of evergreen that can be planted in pots getting morning sun only
Answer: I would suggest Taxus (Yews) as a good evergreen for a shady location. There are both upright and columnar, and spreading varieties available. You could also use Emerald cedar, although the growth may become a bit looser depending on just how much light there is available. Make sure, however, that the container is large enough so that the soil doesn't freeze completely during a cold winter. For an evergreen I'd recommend an oak barrel (half wine barrel) size as a minimum.
Question: What trees or shrubs in the six to ten foot range can I leave in large planters or pots on my patio all year long?
Answer: A.You can grow shrubs in containers, but you must make sure that the containers are big enough to keep the plants watered adequately,big enough to allow them to stay in there for a few years without becoming
rootbound, and big enough so that there is enough soil volume to keep them from freezing solid in winter. Use a planter box soil that drains well enough. If everything else is OK there are a lot of shrubs that will grow. Stay away from broadleaf evergreens like rhododendrons and pyracantha though. You could use standard forms of shrubs like lilacs, hydrangea etc.or larger flowering shrubs like hibiscus, butterfly bush, burning bush or forsythia.
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