A reader wonders if her smoke tree is ruined after it was sheared into an unnatural shape. Mari asks: When is the best time to prune my smoke tree? A problem occurred when my gardener decided to shear ...

), each year there's a big decision to make: to cut or not to cut. Cutting it back sharply – not just light pruning but whacking it off about a foot high, a technique known as stooling -- controls its ...

Most experts recommend that deciduous trees such as birch be pruned when they are totally dormant. All leaves should be off and the weather should be cold. If you wait until spring, you risk the tree ...

Pruning needs: Prune in late winter and early spring to maintain well-branched, rounded shape. Water needs: Low to moderate water and fast drainage. Snapshot: This deciduous plant, which can be ...

In our yard right now, there are three happy plants. These relatives all have a distinctive color of a very dark green hue. And, as the branches lengthen, a purple color sets into the sky. They are ...