Cedar

February 3, 2018

I read your IN THE GARDEN weekly and love it! I live in NWA, Fayetteville area, I would like to plant an evergreen screen that will have West exposure. Suggestions?

There are a number of possibilities.  You could plant either a one variety hedge or a mix of evergreens for more diversity.  Choices include: hollies (Nellie Stevens, Foster, Burford or American holly are some choices), some of the smaller southern magnolias (Little Gem, Bracken’s Brown Beauty or Teddy Bear), and some needle-type evergreens include cryptomeria, Green Giant arborvitae or Eastern red cedar.

November 28, 2015

I had two trees removed from my back yard early last summer; a Bradford Pear (Fire Blight) and a Maple (Slime Flux?)  Now I'm looking for replacement trees. I really don't need shade as this is in the East yard, therefore, I would prefer something not to exceed 20 - 25 feet tall.  I'm leaning towards a holly but will consider other evergreens. The soil I'm dealing with is heavy orange clay.  In fact the Maple I removed had a lot of surface roots. Thank you for any suggestions? 

The maple would have probably had surface roots even in decent soil—that is the nature of maples.  I am assuming you want something evergreen.  Some options include:  Little Gem magnolia, Foster holly, Burford holly, deodara cedar, cherry laurel or one of the larger junipers.  If it doesn’t have to be evergreen, I love the sweetbay magnolia or even one of the tulip magnolia trees, redbuds or dogwoods.

(May 2010)

I have two tall cedar trees that have been infested with bagworms every year. I have been able to pick most of them off...but I cannot reach the ones up high. I know that is the best way to get rid of them. I have read that Talstar One if applied in May can also be effective. Talstar contains Bifenthrin. Do you have an opinion about this treatment? Thank you.

There are numerous insecticides to choose from including bifenthrin (trade name Talstar). You can also use the organic Bacillus thuringiensis (BT, Dipel, Thuricide) or carbaryl (Sevin) or Orthene. The key is to apply the insecticides according to label directions now through mid June when the bagworms are in their juvenile stage and before the individual bag or sac is constructed which protects them from insecticides and predators. Bagworms are usually active from mid May through mid June in central Arkansas. Once you see dried bags in late June on, the only control is hand-picking.

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