Q Last year our roses died from an attack of Japanese beetles. We want to replace them with something else. We get afternoon sun, and they are in front of our windows so we don't want anything that would get too large. What do you recommend?
A I am assuming that you want something with color and that is evergreen as it is along the front of the house, but if you are plagued by Japanese beetles, I assume you live in the northern tier of our state. There are several choices. There are large selections of dwarf Abelia that have variegated foliage, will tolerate full sun and bloom with tiny white flowers all summer. You could also do a mix of some evergreen hollies and boxwoods but then throw in some deciduous shrubs like ninebark -- varieties with purple, orange or green foliage and white flowers in the summer; dwarf fothergilla with beautiful white flowers in the spring and outstanding orange fall foliage; itea with white flowers and red fall foliage; and dwarf butterfly bushes. If you don't live in the northern tier, several varieties of Loropetalum will do well in the southern two-thirds of the state. Check varieties because mature size will vary with the variety you choose.
Q We moved to this house in July and these Knock Out roses were in this bed [the reader sent a photo]. There are 20 of them and they are so diseased that we are going to take them out and replace them with something else. This bed is in the middle of our circle driveway and gets full sun all day. We are at a loss as to what to plant here. The man we are hiring to take out the roses has suggested replacing them with Encore azaleas but we aren't sure they could take the full sun. I was thinking maybe a dwarf maiden grass but not sure about that either. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We live in Batesville.
A I would not plant Encore azaleas in full sun in Batesville. In more southern climates without cold winters they can take full sun, but not where you are. An ornamental grass of any kind would take the conditions well, but it might be better to plant something evergreen along with it. Maybe a taller evergreen shrub in the center like a "Little Gem" magnolia or even a deciduous tulip magnolia for spring color, then the dwarf maiden grass around it with some daylilies or seasonal color around the edge. This will be the first bed people see when driving up, so adding color in various seasons would be nice.
Q Is it too late to prune my camellia? I forget which variety it is, but as I remember from 21 years ago when it was planted it is called "Candle Wick." It blooms from November through January. It does not need a severe pruning but is along a sidewalk and needs a little size control.
A It is not too late. I would say based on your bloom time that you are growing a Sasanqua camellia. While you often hear to prune immediately after bloom, sasanquas usually finish blooming in the winter when it is too cold to prune. I prune all my camellias (if needed) when I prune the azaleas -- after the azaleas bloom. Camellias will begin to set flower buds in late summer so as long as you get the job done by June you are good to go.
Q I have three Japanese holly bushes with red berries that were planted soon after we built our house 48 years ago. They are now 12 feet tall and 12 feet in diameter. They have grown up under the eaves and over the roof of the house. When the wind blows they scrape the house. Can I cut them back to a stump and let them sprout out again? I don't want to have to pull up the stump as it might damage my foundation. They are at three corners of the house.
A I don't think they are Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata) since they have black berries at maturity. Regardless of which type you have (there are more than 300 species) you have the wrong plant for your location. But if it took them 48 years to get that tall and wide, they should be able to be managed with annual pruning, since you don't want to remove them. Cutting them back that severely is not a recommended practice; normally no more than one-third of the plant should be cut back. Why not try cutting them back by half and then keep them trimmed annually? What is the maximum height you want? Hollies are tough plants and chances are fair that they will sprout back from severe pruning, but it isn't a guarantee. But don't you need something green where they are growing?
Janet B. 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
jcarson@arkansasonline.com
HomeStyle on 03/24/2018