Awesome Garden Questions Answered - It's all about the soil, winter watering, Holly in the garden

[@slane_design]

wow! 26 degrees and your in shorts? I am shivering watching you!

[@marleneegan-hm7lr]

Have we ever seen him in pants?

[@katiekane5247]

I'm in north Georgia and have 3 layers above and below brrrr

[@tOmMarzig]

I was going to comment the same 😅 🩳

[@josephhollandsworth1255]

My first thought, too... talking about the low temps while not wanting to let go of the summer clothing.

[@marleneegan-hm7lr]

@ 26 degrees is no joke!😂

[@Megabomberman87]

Thank you for the thorough answer to my query Jim!!

[@onetuliptree]

Thanks 👍

[@Mikhail-Caveman]

Thanks for another cool QandA! One of my favorite parts of the week!

[@susanprytherch2301]

Ty says much for the Garden Masters playlist videos! I’m thoroughly enjoying them.

[@katiekane5247]

Getting the watery sunshine on the porch with my old Molly. I've got a cheap heated throw because she's short haired but loves her porch time. I've blown leaves, put a Gardenia pot into a bigger pot with some leaves and nature's helper, massed everything under the porch. Please remember the wildlife when it's below freezing! If you've got to cut off berries, they look great as holiday decorations and when you throw them out later, more for the critters!

[@edwardmorton7246]

I start my Sunday mornings with a cup of tea and an episode of Garden Questions Answered. Such a great way to start my day. Relaxing and getting a little smarter at the same time. Thanks!!

[@judyluce3141]

Lemon Cypress... I just bought one at Trader Joes!! Planted in a pot with Pansies!!! Zone 8a Chesapeake, VA

[@stephaniesharkey3538]

I have done that too. It usually lasts about 2 yrs for me zone 8 GA love the lemon cypress, easy yo make s topiary too!

[@PatriciaNanAnderson]

I bought one at TJs many years ago. It became a 15 foot tree and overwhelmed the space it was planted in. I'm in Seattle, back then zone 8b.

[@passepartoot]

Also in Chesapeake. I planted my little Lemon Cypress in the ground after spending the winter in a planter. It took off in that year and the next. But the third year it died a slow fungal death. It was five feet tall. I believe the species can’t tolerate our humid summers and warm nights here in the coastal plain.

[@judyluce3141]

@ darn sorry to hear.

[@Yvonne_ennovY]

Thanks so much for answering my lemon cypress tree questions! I'll proceed with caution (soil amendments) since I have red clay. The screen is fairly diverse, so it will be a fun experiment - even if the cypress only lasts a year or so 🌲😊

[@mimleggette2886]

I love my weekly planner...thank u

[@sammysworld5485]

Hi Jim. On a Monday morning waking up to 26° 🥶 weather in early December is quite unusual for us too here in zone 7 Bayside Queens. Yet I’m with Holly, loving it. ❤

[@reneelarson2220]

The previous owners landscaped the front yard with mainly bermuda grass (almost 1/3 acre), then cut these annoying 20' circles in the middle of it for plantings. I would like to remove the grass between them (join the circles for a large contiguous bed). When and how? (When/how is the best way to get the bermuda out and amend the soil?) North GA, heavy clay.

[@mibwdw2018]

Hi, due to Hurricane Helene, I am having 2 fallen trees removed, along with several other very large poplar and sweet gum trees that are still standing. Question#1: if I don't have the stumps ground, will it cause lots more suckering? They already produce lots of suckers. Also thinking of having 2 large river birch trees trimmed up. They drop so many limbs and branches everytime the wind blows! Question#2: any advice on how much to trim? And could this cause any adverse affects on the trees or roots? Thanks, I really enjoy your channel!

[@mariebarnes416]

I had to laugh because you still have your shorts on.

[@douellette7960]

Jim- do you consider some diff things when winter planting deciduous shrubs/trees vs leafy broadleaf evergreens? Would like to plant some cleyeras in z8 this winter, prob in Dec. Would prefer not to overwinter in pots. Is there a risk of losing leaves espec if rootbound and I need to cut thru rootball to loosen?

[@segapena5033]

Out here in zone 9B northern CA we havent had overnight lows above 50 since late October. Its been in the low 40s, upper 30s all of November. Already had back to back 29 degree nights last week. Calendulas still sprouting and bloomin though.

[@JessJolene]

Hi Jim, thank you for these videos so helpful! Question: how do you overwinter your whales tongue agave especially when they are young and only in the ground for a few months?

[@vickiehogan6387]

Zone 9a…southeast Alabama here. We just had a night finally where we got a frost, but it didn’t bother our perennial foliage at all. If we keep at these temps (barely or right above 32), should I leave the perennial foliage or cut them back for the winter? Usually by now, a freeze has caused die back, but we have no good chance of those temps for the next two weeks 😳 We have mainly different salvia, Mexican heather (which usually comes back for us), aster, etc.

[@jordanyeager9220]

Are gladiolus and iris part of the same family? Will u incorporate a Texas Sage into the new garden (either shrub or tree form)?

[@thomasnoble1816]

Thank you for another great video. I went to a local public garden yesterday to look for winter interest. Most of what I saw was either something that I already have or invasive. I did note a number of what I think are purple anise. Given that I am in old 6B / new 7A NJ, can this be right? It seems like these plants were doing great far north of their native range.

[@luxuriousspaces4136]

When is the best time to shape a Boulevard cypress into a topiary, Zone 7? I’m starting over with a small one after having to remove the one that was about 10 ft tall due to several weather events. This new tree is growing fast & probably needs to be shaped throughout the year to more easily create the best topiary shape. I’ve been reluctant to do it in the heat of the summer but also now reluctant in the winter. I don’t want it to get away from me though in shaping it. Thank you.

[@AlisonMWyman]

I have a question about covering newly planted shrubs for winter. I am north of Atlanta, Zone 8A. I will be away for a week over Christmas. If the night temperatures will be low 20s and the days upper 30s to 40s, should I leave frost-protection blankets on for that entire week or leave them uncovered for the week to take advantage of the sun during the day? The shrubs were all planted this summer in extremely hot and dry conditions. I feel they were all a bit stressed even though I was checking them and watering deeply. I am trying to protect Wheeler's Dwarf pittosporum, Spider's Web fatsia, variegated pittosporum, Emerald Snow loropetalum, Purple Pixie loropetulum, and 5 camellia Japonica. I've also been covering my three radiance abelia. I know they should be plenty cold hardy, but I was worried about them having such a stressful and dry summer and fall and I thought I should maybe help them out the first winter until they are a little more established. Thank you!!!

[@LynnLouisePS]

Listen to you talking about the cold whilst wearing shorts! For shame! lol Signed, Indiana gardener. 😊

[@wmcovington1041]

Sorry, I am in zone 7. Virginia clay soil. Planted it in partial shade /sun.

[@marleneegan-hm7lr]

Planted what?

[@wmcovington1041]

I have a Green Arrow Alaskan Cedar tree that, I planted last spring at a part time property. The tall leader branch was turning brown. Now the browning is seeming to be creeping down further & further. Should I cut this brown leader branch off? Or strip the dead needles off?? What happens if you cut a leader branch off of a conifer tree?? Thanks!

[@RedCoin91]

Hi Jim! I saw in a previous video that you have an Acanthus mollis, I would love to have one, but I read everywhere it can be invasive. Are you having trouble keeping it contained? About the trademark names, here in France we buy 'Pierre de Ronsard' roses, in the USA they are sold as 'Eden' roses... I sure was confused finding out.

[@maryanne2666]

Would you recommend your woodchip method for prepping an area to be planted with grass seed? The area in question is small, sloping, currently mostly dirt, some areas covered in several inches of pine needles, and large visible tree roots. Some large trees recently cut down to create the open space, but still surrounded by large trees, so fairly shady. Zone 5 New England. Hoping to achieve a mix of grass, weeds and moss that I can just push the mower over. A low ground cover could be another option, but it’s in an HOA so need to check. I have access to mountains of woodchips. Thank you!

[@awillis4508]

What breed is Holly? Such a sweetheart

[@1108gsd]

Do you ever recommend using the free “mulch” that’s available at the county transfer stations? I’m in Pitt County, NC. I’m pretty sure it’s any and all yard waste. It’s free. Would it be a good way to jumpstart a large compost pile? Thanks!

[@jameshealy8402]

Hi Jim , I bought a 3 litre Redbud Eternal Flame . I opened package and l oose dry compost fell out with a Small root ball so I pulled out and put dry compost in bottom and topped it up watered it and decided to put on window sill in cold kitchen till spring, and it's come into leaf now , will this be ok or should it be asleep. ?

[@AnnPull]

Hi Jim Can golden falls redbud live in a container in zone 7? Thanks

[@douellette7960]

Jim would say rule of thumb is plant would need to be at least z6 winter hardy if grown in z7 and left in a container. It's listed as hardy in z5 so you're prob good there. Redbuds don't generally transplant well when older so you may want to put in ground sooner than later, or just keep potted up.

[@LinusCello75]

Hope to see you at MANTS on Friday (can you put me in touch with someone so I can get/buy Azalea Autumn Moonstruck; I can collect on the end of MANTS). Also, are there other Camellia azalea hybrids available in the US? I’ve been impressed with Camellia 'Xiafeng Relang' (Summer's Wind and Hot Waves).

[@burntorangehorn]

Isn't MANTS in early January? I had been thinking about going, since I live in the Baltimore suburbs.

[@LinusCello75]

Yes it’s the first week of January. Friday is the last day

[@mojavebohemian814]

Thank you. 6b here in northeast AZ, high desert. I will watch your zone 6 Playlist. Best large leaf deciduous tree? Large lot, lots of space here. 16 degrees F this morning, lol

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

I want to patent cultivars with goofy gibberish names!😅😂

[@virginiabaker2966]

Long pants.