Sign in or register to personalize your experience
Articles from our resource area experts.

Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts

Trees and Shrubs

Last Updated: March 26, 2008 | Related resource areas: Gardens, Lawns & Landscapes

Trees and Shrubs | Selection | Planting | Maintenance | Problems


Crabapple tree


  • The links in the navigation box are your gateway to learning more about trees and shrubs. Begin by clicking "Selection."


Trees and Shrubs content reviewers share their expertise with eXtension's Gardens, Lawns, and Landscapes to provide consumers and the green industry relevant, up-to-date, fact-based, and reliable horticultural information.


More information:

ornamental shrubs, ornamental trees, trees and shrubs

Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts

Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.

Comments

Subscribe to this page's comments

JoAnne Skelly on 02.19.08 at 05:02 PM
I'm with Coop Ext in northern NV. I'm testing eXtension "ask the expert" for an article I'm writing. What crabapples do well in Carson City NV?
JOE RUGGIO on 02.27.08 at 01:48 PM
WE PLANTED A NUMBER OF EUGENIA SHRUBS FOR A BORDER LAST YEAR. WE NOW ARE LOSING MANY BRANCHES (LEAVES TURNING BLACK). COULD THIS BE A DESEASE OR LACK OF NUTRITION?
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 09:03 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Chuck on 02.28.08 at 05:01 PM
I have a River Birch tree that sheds it's leaves in the summer. Right now it looks like the tree is budding but I'm getting a lot of dead branches falling off. As for the leaves in the summer....they are green then turn yellow and fall to the ground. I constantly have to rake the leaves in the summer just hours after cutting the grass. The tree is about 10 years old and approx. 30 feet tall. I want to keep the tree as it is on the front of the house and blocks the afternoon and evening sun. Also, I have Bremuda grass that isn't doing well in the area just adjacent to the tree. A couple of years ago I trimed the tree up approx. 12 feet to allow the sun to get to the grass......any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Chuck
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 08:40 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Tony on 02.29.08 at 04:27 PM
Hello, I pruned my cherry trees yesterday for the first time since planting them last season. My main concern is I cut the end of the branches about 3 inches off above a bud but removed a cluster of buds at the end of the branch, was this ok to do. Thanks
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 03:16 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website
Charles Stanley on 03.01.08 at 08:27 AM
Oue trees were damaged by an ice storms. Limbs as large as 8" came down. One silver maple was topped. We had hard maple, memossa,redbud etc. Trimming advice.
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 02:43 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website
linda anderson on 03.02.08 at 05:55 PM
WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS BEST TO TRIM BIRCH TREES IN CALIFORNIA. IS A TEMPERATURE BELOW FREEZING A DANGER TO JUST TRIMMED BIRCH TREES?
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 01:29 PM
"Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website"
Debrah Skyberg on 03.02.08 at 06:12 PM
Hi, we have a Haden Mango Tree that we thought was alternate bearing and it did for awhile but now it is constantly producing smaller fruit and they don't seem to come to full size or ripeness. We haven't been able to harvest those beautiful fruits that we used to get. Does it need Pruning? Fertilizer? Please Advise. We live on the Big Island in Kona Acres on the West Side of the Island. Thanks
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 01:29 PM
"Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website"
victor on 03.04.08 at 01:29 PM
I LIVE IN RI MY ZCODE IS 02886,I HAVE FRUIT TREES,WEND CAN I PRUNING MY TREES? CAN YOU HELP?
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 01:29 PM
"Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website"
Ed DeBaggis on 03.06.08 at 01:23 PM
Our current landscaper (arborist) prunes all of our trees at once. They just pruned our trees this week. He is also suggesting that most of our trees be pruned every year and this is becoming a huge expense. I'm looking for professionals to advise us about pruning our olive, jacaranda, ficas, palms and eucalyptus. How can they flower and bear fruit if he is pruning and trimming them now. Thanks Ed
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 01:29 PM
"Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website"
Toni on 03.06.08 at 05:09 PM
Last year we had a difficult time with grasshoppers eating our new evergreens, blue spruce & grand fir. They ate quite a few of the needles. We sprayed the trees several times last summer with an insecticide for trees and that kept them off somewhat. The trees look damaged, do you think the needles that were eaten away (large bare spots) will survive?
Nick Broady on 03.06.08 at 08:07 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website
Kim Barr on 03.06.08 at 11:37 PM
My ficus tree's leaves are turning yellow and falling off very quickly. I have not over watered it or not watered it enough...at least I don't think so
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Bruce Hegel on 03.09.08 at 04:26 PM
We have very large oak trees with large dead branches. With the weather and recent wind storms, we are afraid of branches coming down and doing damage. What is the right time of year to top these trees to remove the dead branches and extend the longivity of these trees? We live in NJ.
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
cheryl doyle on 03.09.08 at 05:22 PM
best time to cut back a butterfly bush
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Donna Dynes on 03.09.08 at 05:50 PM
Hi, can you help---we just had a big ice/snow storm, it uprooted my bautiful Cypress tree, it was planted 4 yrs ago and is about 12', now it is laying on the ground,( we live in Ohio) what can I do ????
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
bob brown on 03.10.08 at 04:29 PM
when should prun your crepe myrtles, and how much
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Margaret on 03.11.08 at 02:28 PM
We live in Virginia. We have a four year old birch tree by the house the has several little "sucker" branches coming out of the base of two of the trunks. I'd like to prune the smaller branches from the base of the trunks so it looks more like a tree instead of a huge bush. When is the best time of year (I'm zone 7) and how should I do it? Please and thank you for this advice. Also, I only have a work email address so please don't add me to any mailing lists.
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Joyce Manus on 03.12.08 at 03:24 PM
I did not have a chance to have my Crepe Myrtle trees pruned in the fall. Is it ok to Prune them now? If so, how much can be safely pruned off? Thank you!
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Jackie Krug on 03.12.08 at 07:38 PM
When is the best time to trim a burning bush? We live in IL. And, what is the best way to trim. Ours are huge and I would like them shorter.
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
John Rider on 03.14.08 at 06:34 PM
What do I do to prune and shape a bush which appears like a cedar and pine mix. It has needles but no trunk. Fifteen limbs come out of the root system. It has a radius of about eight feet, and is about eight feet high. We live in western Oklahoma.
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:53 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Jim on 03.15.08 at 02:57 PM
Hi, I have 3 apple trees which have never been pruned. How can I bring them back to a manageable size? Thanks
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:54 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Mark Brown on 03.15.08 at 05:58 PM
I have a 12 year old weeping cherry tree whose bark is curling and has dark amber growths that look like plastic. The tree is budding. What is this and how do I treat it? Thanks very much.
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:54 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
david getlin on 03.15.08 at 08:33 PM
hello.......it's march 15th here in ramsey,n.j....can i prune 3 branches from my japanese maple.......if not, would you suggest marking the limbs and pruning in late summer....thanks.....dg
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:54 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
chris smith on 03.16.08 at 03:23 AM
We live in Ga and wonder what kinds of trees have white flowers on them, besides the red buds and bradford pear tree. Also can you tell me when to fertilize our new red bud, peach and apple trees. We are new to planting trees. Thanks
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:54 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Bobbie Mandell on 03.16.08 at 06:50 PM
correct way to trim white swan olive trees? Lower branches I know but trimming up the sides like you would a shrub? Thanks Bobbie in Surprise, Az
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:54 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Bea Binford on 03.17.08 at 02:59 PM
I have a very large pear shaped shrub that is quite bent over from rain/snow & ice. The back of the shrub hat faces our porch does not get the sunlight and has dead branches on it. However there are are very small green leaves on one or two of them. Should I cut it down o try to save it?
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:54 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Mike McCallister on 03.18.08 at 01:02 PM
My front flower bed stays pretty damp and gets no direct sunlight. I need to plant some shrubs to replace the poor dying things the previous owner put in. What might I choose? I'm in Bloomington, IN, 47408
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:54 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
tait cortez on 03.18.08 at 01:07 PM
is it ok to transplant japinese plum trees in the spring
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:54 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Paul R. Metz on 03.18.08 at 05:01 PM
Two questions: What is pruned on a Harry Lauder walking stick? I have vertical suckers growing off branches on my Viburnum. The tree is well established (8 feet tall and wide). Should they be removed?
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:55 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Lisa Herrmann on 03.18.08 at 08:05 PM
any help with trimming back an umbrella tree?
Nick Broady on 03.21.08 at 03:55 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
herb on 03.22.08 at 12:26 PM
I live in Northwest Arkansas and have several non fruit bearing trees - cherry, peach, pear and plum. When and how often and how much should they be pruned?
Nick Broady on 03.25.08 at 01:23 PM
Thank you for your interest in the website, but in order for your question to be routed to the appropriate experts, you need to use the "Ask the Expert" function. This is located immediately above the "Suggestions/Comments" area on the website. --eXtension Staff
Henry on 03.25.08 at 05:36 PM
I have some shade trees that I would like to trim up. The trees have been in the ground now for approximately Four years. The trees are about 12/15 feet tall. How mnay side branches can I remove. I was told that, I can remove up to 1/3 of the foliage?
Roger Servat on 03.26.08 at 05:25 PM
I had some Leyland Cypresses planted last fall. One of them died back form the top. The bottom seems healthy. Can I prune the top and will it grow taller?
Herbert Doubek on 03.27.08 at 01:50 PM
I am looking for a small to medium Height (25-30 ft.) deciduous tree for Northern Kansas

Post a comment about this topic

Please keep comments on topic. To ask a question, please use Ask an Expert. All comments are held for moderation. Comments that include profanity, personal attacks or other inappropriate material will not be posted to the site.

Did you find this page useful?

Current rating: 2.2

5 ratings. what is this?

not useful
very useful
 1  2  3  4  5

This resource area was created by the:

Consumer Horticulture

community

Copad_horticulture
 

Find an Extension Office

Enter your zipcode to find your local Extension office:

Resource Area Feeds

In This Resource Area

Resource Area Tags

beef cattle corn cotton industry disasters diversity entrepreneurship family caregiving fire ants flower gardening flowers herb gardens herbaceous plants horses horticultural pests human-wildlife relations indoor plants integrated pest management master gardener ornamental shrubs ornamental trees parenting personal finance plant diseases and disorders plant selection plant-insect relations science science education soil fertility trees and shrubs vegetable and herb gardening vegetable gardens weeds wildlife damage management