Q The daffodil bulbs were planted after we bought them at a daffodil event last spring and planted at that time, as we were instructed. This year they came up but they look like strings and did not bloom. We have fertilized and have good drainage. Any suggestions?
A If the bulbs were small or did not get the required six weeks of green growth after bloom last year, they won’t bloom this year. Fertilize them now, and let the foliage die back.
As small as the leaves are, it may be another year before you have a blooming size bulb, so be patient.
Q I would like some suggestions as to what to use to replace a dying camellia bush. The camellia is 8 to 10 feet tall and was beautiful until last year, when it started to die. I think the last few hot, dry summers and lack of shade are causing this - plus not enough water. Originally it had some shade but over the years the surrounding pine trees were removed and now it is in full sun most of the day. I would like to replace the camellia with something that would eventually grow to about the same size, and I would prefer something that blooms and can take a lot of sun.
A There are a few plants to consider. A viburnum would be nice - several varieties to choose from, but they are deciduous, dropping their lives in the winter. There is the doublefile viburnum with white flowers but no fragrance, or the Judd or Burkwood viburnum with highly fragrant blooms.
You could also use a Chinese redbud, which is covered in blooms in the spring and is more a large shrub than a tree. Another option is vitex, which has beautiful summer flowers.
All of these are deciduous but take full sun and bloom nicely. There are also some great loropetalum varieties that are evergreen and bloom well in full sun; they come in a variety of sizes.
Q I have a gardenia bush that took a hard hit this winter. It has a lot of brown, dead-looking leaves and branches. Some branches have leaves that are part brown and part green. There are also green leaves close to the main stem. It is about 5 feet tall. I live in Jonesboro. Do I trim it, cut it back or leave it alone?
A You are definitely not alone. By now most plants are starting to put on new growth, and you can begin to assess what is truly dead and what is just burned back.
I have some gardenias with burned leaves but the stems are fine and could possibly still bloom. I have others that are burned severely back by one-half or more. Gradually start pruning out what you know is dead, but remember that gardenias set their flower buds at the end of the growing season and if pruned - by man or mother nature - will not bloom this season.
Q We have a bridal wreath spirea that is “infested” with honeysuckle vine and some greenbrier. It is bloomingwell but it looks a little rough. It was here when we bought the property 10 years ago. We want the plant but are not sure what to do.
What would you suggest?
We have room to move it if necessary.
A Let your spirea finish blooming and then begin to clean up.
Remove as many of the vining weeds as possible and thin out up to one-third of the older spirea canes. Then lightly fertilize. This should reinvigorate the plant. I am not sure moving it would help, since you would probably be moving vining weeds as well. Honeysuckle and greenbrier are tough weeds to kill, so keep after it. Unfortunately, anything that could be sprayed to kill the weeds would also kill the spirea, so it is a manual task.
Janet Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Write to her at 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or email her at
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