Great Garden Questions from Subscribers - Selling Your House is Easier Than Removing Pampas Grass

[@mitzi605]

Holly's painting looks just like her, so sweet.

[@BackyardFlorida]

I live in Tampa and I'm so looking forward to Fall and cooler temps!

[@paulacothren3591]

The painted rock is amazing. What a beautiful gift!

[@staciejackson7497]

I love the planter too.

[@boyt0mmy]

Yes. Would work great as a background prop like the planter.

[@katiekane5247]

I skipped two years of planting Calibrachoa because of bud worms but couldn't resist this year. I can't see the worms but can't imagine it's anything else. If I cut them way back, do you think they'd flush out again in 8a/7b north Georgia? I've had them overwinter in containers and this is a big container. What else could be getting the blooms? Another container has the same variety and they're unaffected. Doesn't seem to affect the double bloom variety. They're usually very nice in the fall and they're well rooted in, not ready to give up on them

[@annadam]

any chance you'll ever travel internationally to tour gardens? If so, the botanical gardens at Christ Church and Wellington New Zealand are well worth a visit.

[@brentroberts3114]

What do you think 12:15 about putting down 6-12” of wood chips to prepare for planting a wildflower mix directly in the wood chips once they start to break down?

[@garyschoolcraft4797]

Hey Jim, I bought an Oakland Holly online that had the central leader cut (assuming to get it in the box). How is it going to affect its growth?

[@Collington23]

Hi Jim, I have a sport coming out of my variegated bougainvillea that has golden-yellow leaves with red-leafed new growth. How can I propagate this shoot? Is it something I can save and make a new variety with?

[@Collington23]

Zone 9b central FL

[@susananderson9756]

if you can griffin to hold still for a photo! I can do him as well !

[@JimPutnam]

That would be awesome. I'll try next weekend

[@susananderson9756]

@@JimPutnam good luck ,..he's a moving terrier target!

[@HoustonKeith72]

Hey Jim. Question I’ve been losing sleep over. I know you don’t really grow them, but I’ve tried roses this year. Here in Houston 9b the thrips have darn near broken my heart with the damage they’ve caused. I have resisted spraying because I want to create a space friendly for pollinators. I have a lot of pollinator plants also. What’s your opinion on systemics v spraying for a rose bush? Like a drench. Does that help isolate the negative impact? Trying to figure out some way to make it work. Thank you.

[@katiekane5247]

I've given up on roses. Systemic treatment means everything that sucks on, munches on or visits the flowers will be harmed. The pollinators won't know to avoid them.

[@heathermcelroy7171]

I have to agree with Katie Kane, anything that feeds on the roses after using a systemic will be affected.😢

[@saralee848]

I'm curious his answer on this also :)

[@LinusCello75]

Try EarthKind roses? Also since you’re in Houston, check out the Houston rose society. Gayle Hammond was just on the RoseChat podcast.

[@jennifergreene8891]

Good morning Jim and Stephanie. The painting of Holly and the painted pot are so WONDERFUL! 😍 I am so glad to hear that you will be doing another live chat in the future... I really enjoyed it. 😊 Thank you for another great Q&A.

[@myredrose45]

How thoughtful of the person that painted the rock with Holly, so talented. The hort tube planter is just as awesome. Thank you, Jim and Stephanie 😊

[@1grzswald]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I'm a gardener in the tidewater area of Virginia. I take care of the gardens in Historic Yorktown down by the York River. Your information is invaluable. I appreciate you ☺️

[@saralee848]

Hi neighbor!! Nice to meet the person who takes care of that!

[@sallymoore-zz9rb]

Hi Jim, love all your videos! I have a request… I rarely hear you mention whether or not a plant will tolerate much wind. I have a garden that gets a lot of winter wind, and none of my garden gets full sun, thanks to large oaks. Mostly I’m interested in knowing about evergreen shrubs. It’s hard enough to find shrubs for part-shade, so I’d like to know which ones will also handle cold wind. I’m in SW Virginia, and just became 7B. Thanks so much for the great informational videos!

[@staciejackson7497]

He will probably answer, but also, you can apply an anti desiccant to broadleaf evergreens in the fall to help with cold wind damage.

[@irma_brenton]

Good beautiful morning! Thank you Jim & Steph! 🥰💃🏻🫶🏻

[@tomp6744]

I am trying to establish a native garden bed, but I have a large issue with bermuda grass creeping in. How do I work to keep it out and allow the native plants to spread by seed?

[@Flower_hoarder]

💚Lovely Rock 🪨 Lovely Flower Pot‼️🌳🪴💚

[@rachael2502]

I live in 8a Georgia. Many of my perennials look really bad because of our recent lack of rain. They aren’t dead, but have some browning. Is it okay to go ahead and cut them back?

[@katiekane5247]

I'm struggling with the same in north Georgia. It's really best to let them die back on their own but I've had to cut some of mine, not to the ground yet though. We need rain SO bad 😔

[@GardeningSpirit]

"she's probably right" = she's right. 😇😂

[@paulacothren3591]

Love that!

[@terrivance8750]

Absolutely! 😁

[@trishferrer8209]

Yay! Happy Fall!! 🍁🍂✨ I love my Sunday mornings with you. Just tuned in, let's go!😊

[@ShamballaCenter]

Maybe, with all your industry connections, you can appeal to some of the larger growers like Monrovia, PW and Ist Editions, to make some changes to the plant tag system. 😊

[@joydavis4087]

Thanks for the great video. Question, regarding cryptomeria yoshino variety, would you explain topping these trees? At what height would you want to top them to keep the lower growth full. And would you top them twice or perhaps more for a thicker screen? TY❤😊

[@lisaanderson9550]

Hello Jim, I need your help. Can I prune my emerald green arborvitae, to size control it. I’m in zone 8A Dallas Georgia.

[@BlairBrown-Missablairica]

Had to sit down upon hearing that someone….. purchased…… sweet gum ball trees. 😮 May the gods bless and keep you well. If you want more for free, and are local to Charlotte…. hmu.

[@staciejackson7497]

Do you have the ‘slender silhouette?’

[@-HughJass-]

I HATED raking those things up from my old neigbors' tree. Made it impossible to walk barefoot in my grass. And those gumballs would shoot out the side of the lawn mower. So many better trees out there.

[@joydavis4087]

Sweet gum trees are prolific in my yard as well. I pull them out like invasive weeds.

[@cece_marie]

Great Q&A today! The thoughts on "maintainable at" and soil life are two topics that have been dealing with a lot recently. Love the rock and pot! Yes, that's def Holly's expression!🤩✨ (FWIW she always comes across as 'thoughtful' to me💚 )

[@saralee848]

Zone 6b, Ohio. Planted gardenia, snow flurry camellia, and rejoyce leucothoe in fhe spring in part shade to part sun. Gardenia and camellia are already dead, but other plants next to them are fine. Leucothoe did okay but look a bit chlorotic. Wondering if the ph is too high for broadleaf evergreens. Its about 6.8. I did add some acidifier, but not sure it helped. Also not sure if the ph was the reason for the camellia and gardenia demise. I want to replace the camellia and gardenia with encore azaleas, but afraid they'll also die. Would you try it?

[@karenmoring8217]

Thank you for answering my question Jim! ❤

[@ramgiberson7180]

Hello 🙏 everyone, happy gardening, sunflower 🌻 🌻 🌻.

[@jordanyeager9220]

Would u ever considered visiting/filming at the RHS Chelsea flower show? Any plans for putting window boxes on your front windows?

[@teinahenderson4182]

Hi Jim and Steph! Always enjoy your videos. I’ve learned so much. Question 🙋🏼‍♀️ I’m in zone 9a California Sierra Foothills; it’s very hot in summer. Fire country. I have a Little Gem Magnolia planted in a round raised bed - about 8’ around. It’s been planted there for about 3.5 years… and it’s just never very happy. Spindly, leaves are small and edges are brown. The soil is rich and I’ve put drip irrigation on it… the tree was planted here in memory of my son, so I’d like to try and save it… please help if you can 😊

[@robydoan3961]

Jim, I have two Foster hollies on each side of my front porch steps and I have let them get too tall. They are now around 8 feet tall, and I would like to reduce them to around 5 feet. Would it be too drastic to cut them back that much? Thanks in advance for your help.

[@staciejackson7497]

Hello. Did you show your Screen Play Holly in your recent garden tours? I watched each one and I don’t recall seeing it. How much has yours grown so far? Thank you

[@thekarltonkrill]

Question: Midwest zone 5b. We hired a landscape company to plant a mixed hedge of shrubs. Mohican viburnum, miss Kim lilac, some boxwoods, and bobo hydrangea. After 4 years none of the shrubs have thrived and they have not put on any appreciable growth. By this time of the season they have dropped most of their leaves and that is the case again this year. This is an area where the yard was leveled by filling in with clay excavated from a pool installation. Turns out there were no soil amendments added and the installation was done in very wet conditions. I finally had a professional soil test done and the results indicate I have a phosphorous deficiency and only 2% organic matter. The recommendation from the test is to add 0-45-0 triple phosphate. My question is “How would Jim Putnam approach this? Add synthetic fertilizer to give the struggling plants a boost, then try to work some organic matter into the soil over time? Do I need to keep adding phosphate over time, or will one big application ‘fix’ things going forward?” We’ve got a lot of time any money invested in these sad looking shrubs, and would hate starting over, but I feel like we should have tilled the whole area prior to planting. Should we try working the soil around the shrubs? I should note we’ve added a few inches of arborist chips along the way, but it has yet to do much to alter the hard clay beneath.

[@MyraMurphy-zw1ey]

I had a serviceberry tree planted early in December last year. I’m a little disappointed it hasn’t filled out more. It still looks “anorexic”. Am I wrong in assuming it would have gotten fuller this year? I’m in Cary,NC

[@jameswomack8465]

Good morning and safe travels!

[@jillbruce3624]

Waiting for cooler temps in SE Florida. Almost everything in my garden is toast with the exception of the weeds. Always love your Q & A. The rock with Holly on it is beautiful.

[@terrivance8750]

Jim, Steph, The painted pot is lovely. Ya'all should definitely use it...but INdoors. 😊

[@markandrews5481]

i tell people all the time to visit the local gardens and see what you like ,,,, don't go by i say or what i like but determine for yourself what you want to grow and what you can grow by visiting the botanical gardens.... however,,,,,often times the inner city gardens can grow things that us in the country 30 miles outside the city cannot grow.... i'm trying to grow muhlenbergia dumosa which the Atlanta botanical gardens has a big one growing and i have killed several of them even though i'm just 30 miles south of the ABG... it is frustrating because i admire that plant alot but it just doesn't seem to be able to grow out here in the country.... oh well.....

[@deedeewohler3726]

I just watched your video where you cleared your paths. It hit me….WHY am I pruning plants and hauling everything to the trash when I can tuck them in the garden! Boom! Easier pruning! Thank you for finally opening my eyes!

[@michaelmalone8742]

Question that we are hoping you can answer in a Q&A: We are replacing an old Bradford pear in a rather shaded location by a large river birch... We would like to plant a redbud in its place. Looking at flamethrower variety or vanilla twist weeping variety. Both sizes would be appropriate but just wondering your thoughts about them. Looks like the flamethrower would be more colorful, but that's not a huge issue for us. Thinking that the trunk and interesting shape of the vanilla twist might be more interesting in the winter. Thanks so much! We are totally enjoying the week-by-week gardening series!! So glad that we purchased this.

[@sterlgirlceline]

❓❓❓I just had a 4-5 foot retaining wall built and a LOT of dirt (I think it was 2-3 dump truck loads). brought in to level my back yard. The contractor used a large machine (driven back and forth for around a week) which compacted the soil. I live in zone 9b, about a mile inland from the coast, so my soil is sandy. I tilled the soil, with just a dinky home machine (I tried renting one but it was too large and powerful for me to handle) , and the soil is still compacted not far down below. Is there any hope for this situation maybe over time being that my soil is sandy? Do you have any advice? I have just defined my garden beds (per your Learn to Garden series). I am so upset about this, as I have been looking forward to making a beautiful, new garden back there ☹️💧

[@michaelcrawley8221]

I’m in west TN and I’m seeing tons of dying trees in my area. Elms are being eaten by EAB. Oaks are taking a hit from wilt. Crepes are black from bark scale. Ornamental trees (JM, cherries, crapabble) seem to be dying way sooner than they should. Sassafras is not fairing well. I have cut down lots of weeping willows in my tree company due to them dying recently. Redbud bark streak is slaughtering the redbuds. Dogwood is obviously not hardy here anymore. I could go on. Not too many people seem alarmed by this trend but me. Is it my being paranoid or is it something more?

[@dianebright9366]

Really enjoyed seeing this episode with your lovely gifts! You are so appreciated by many. ❤ Question for Zone 7: I have a 5 inch hydrangea cutting from spring with 5 sets of leaves. Very green and healthy. Has been on my windowsill. How should I treat this cutting as we are entering the colder seasons? Start adjusting it to outside? Repot? (Thank you in advance if you answer this question.)

[@Nikki_38]

Zone 8b Georgia. When do you plant tulips, daffodils, alliums, and hyacinths bulbs? Also if buying bulbs from big box stores do each of these need to be refrigerated and for how long?

[@DavePlouffe]

These always make my Sundays better! I do have a question and perhaps a video in itself. Do you (or Steph) have any favorite garden books?

[@nancystevens1306]

I recently had a small paver patio installed right behind my house. I have a beautiful sasanqua camelia that has been living in a pot that I'd like to plant beside the patio. It is currently about 20 inches tall. Should I be concerned about the roots damaging my patio or would you think it would be safe to plant close to my patio? (Zone 8B/North Carolina) Thanks so much for your content. Always informative.

[@jillnorris8252]

I have just discovered what appears to be leaf scale on several plants on a hedge. Plants include Camillia,illicium, sweet betsy bush, gardenia, viburnum and a Japanese maple. I’m in southern Johnston county, NC. Help! How do I treat this and what could have cause this sudden outbreak?

[@Collington23]

Hi Jim, I have a question this week regarding marginal plants in containers. I have a dombeya walichii ‘seminole’ in zone 9b central FL. It’s a tropical, winter-flowering shrub that somewhat resembles a hydrangea and is beautiful. It’s been thriving in a container this summer but I want to make sure it flowers in the winter. Any tips on how to make sure it flowers reliably but doesn’t get cold damage?

[@someguy5927]

I have a dwarf carolina cherry laurel hedge that gets a fungus each fall and drops leaves. I'm pulling them out, but need a replacement that won't get the same spot. Thinking podocarpus, Holly, loropetalum, would any of these pick it up? CA central valley zone 9b

[@wendyh3297]

Jim I've been waiting for someone to ask this question and nobody is. How in the world did you have was it 600 people over 2 Days in your garden? How did you keep them moving? Was there a time frame for each person or each group? There must have been people running into other people at the crossways of your path s.

[@bonniejackson7476]

Hi I have a sweet talker viburnum that’s 3 years old. Unfortunately it’s not doing great in a semi shaded area. Not much growth in all these years. Should I move it in late fall/winter? Zone 8a NC? Thanks

[@joycearthur5244]

I have a China Girl Holly to plant for one that died, I heard someone say if in cold climate should wait until spring to plant. What is your advice? I’m zone 6B, n. KY. Thanks.

[@frandavis8687]

I planted 7 Slender Sillouette sweet gums 9 years ago in a wedge shape with three Japanese maples at the point in some really hard clay soil (but I made good holes). They are very tall now and have grown into very interesting shapes. I have not pruned them in any way except to limb them up to about 3'. The top dropped on the one in the middle, but it looks cool anyway. I just love them all. I don't even fertilize or mulch them!

[@randymayor9975]

Watched your yard clean up of last week where you were having to scale back the tremendous growth that occurred during your three week absence. I don’t remember that I saw anything about your chaste tree. I single that out because I’m dealing with too much of a good thing with a vitex ‘shoal creek’ where its aggressive growth is taxing my ability to keep up with it. It suckers so constantly that it’s impossible to maintain a tree form, and despite the fact that it’s healthy as a horse I think I’m going to pull it up. As I recall they have a very aggressive root system so I’m not looking forward to that project. Btw, what kind of shape was your chaste tree in?

[@bloomhappy]

Glad you're all back home with us in Raleigh! What would you recommend to ask the landscapers to plant at our neighborhood's entrance instead of pansies? The deer really enjoyed them last year. ( I know deer will eat anything once they're really hungry, but the pansies were gone the day after they were planted! 😅)

[@patriciamcgonigal2688]

I would like to plant a few chindo viburnum in large pots while I figure out final spots next Spring. In 8a metro Atlanta. Would they be ok in pots over winter here??

[@KsuDC]

Zone 7A (now 7B) in Northern VA with clay soil. I've ordered some fruit trees, and the nursery tells me that for peaches and cherries I should put a layer of sand or rocks at the bottom of the planting hole, in order to avoid root rot. Then fill in the rest of the hole with amended native soil. What are your thoughts on that approach? Does that really help or will it just create a clay pot with constantly wet sand at the bottom? Thank you!

[@whatsup848]

We need a climbing vine under the shade of a deciduous tree. Very small amount of sun at the end of the day and on the dry side. Any suggestions? Thanks Jim.

[@susanelmes-d6r]

I recently put in a viburnum Nudum winterhur. I read that to get good fruiting i need another plant, but it was not clear whether i needed any other viburnum that flowers at the same time or another cultivar of a viburnum Nudum (like brandy wine). I have two other viburnums nearby.

[@Alex-sun7]

Hey Jim thank you for helping so many people with your videos I have been gardening for a while but learn few things here with you too…thank you I have a question do you get burn out from doing this at any moment in the year?😂I do In August too hot 🥵

[@thomasnoble1816]

On your post trip cleanup, did you find any mildew or other issues arising from low air circulation combined with the rain?

[@dylan8285]

Those slender sweet gums, tulip poplars and the Kentucky Coffee trees I been seeing alot in newer plantings here in southern MI. Interesting how some of these more southern native trees are becoming more popular in northern states

[@deedeewohler3726]

When is the best time to buy seed for starting in the Spring? I don’t want to buy too early in case I get old seed.

[@donnajoy6951]

😊 welcome to Texas (Dallas) - thanks for the rain today!

[@timgarner1957]

Six weeks on da road..bet it's nice to be home! Love the live Q&A ..

[@DamonHart]

I've seen people burn pampas grass down and it comes back like a champ

[@1.crazy.redhead]

Does ash from burnt leaves help in the flower beds in any way?

[@shymo6242]

Is asclepias tuberosa invasive?

[@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

Very helpful Q and A thanks!

[@JennJenn9]

Holly doesn’t look sad to me.. she looks pensive 🤔and wise!

[@staciejackson7497]

I can never smell my Osmanthus! Darn it

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thanks Jim. 🌺💚🙃

[@elynndrake]

Very intimate- eye to eye.

[@yonettethomas6270]

Many thanks!

[@kimberly6123]

Jim, this past week I saw the new movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”. Today, while listening to this video, there were times when I thought I was hearing Beetlejuice himself. It’s a compliment. I love him. 🤣

[@susananderson9756]

glad you like it!

[@jordanyeager9220]

Beautiful job! ❤

[@sheila1961]

What a lovely gift!

[@maximo7813]

Question - We just got a truck load of tree mulch from our neighborhood power company. How do we prepare the tree mulch and how soon can I spread it ?

[@jeaninecelayeta3370]

Love your show ❤