Azaleas should only be pruned immediately after they complete their blooming period. But I’d plus like to use some plants/landscaping to do more.

QUESTION: “I have a laceleaf weeping Japanese red maple. It seems that a lot of garden enthusiasts are really beginning to think about spring, judging by the volume of e-mailed questions arriving every day. A mild 5/10/5 slow release fertilizer applied in a ring around each plant with an additional 2 applications at 6 week intervals. When clipping back an entire branch for shaping, don’t clip flush with the trunk; leave a tiny nub (about ¼ inch out). – Mary Jo Warren

ANSWER: Late winter/early spring is a great moment to do that as the plants have died back to the ground and you don’t have branches/leaves to contend with. Early spring (just before your perennials start to leaf out) is good to start with a first application of fertilizer (especially whether not adding in aged manure/compost mixture). Should I prune it and whether so when?�?

ANSWER: I have one plus and regularly prune it in March while the weather is still cool and it has not leafed out. My first inclination is to go with a fountain of some kind, so the water sounds will override the traffic sounds.

You can plus follow with some mulch at that duration to keep the weed populations down. Late bloomers will need an additional application in late summer. whether you have a question or a comment, drop me a line at steve@landsteward.org I’ll do my best to reply quickly with a personal reply, and some of the Q&A’s will seem in that column or in my newsletter. Clipping flush with the trunk will leave a larger wound on the plant making it more susceptible to disease and fungus. Mix aged manure/compost (I really like the Black Kow type available in 50 lb bags at most hardware stores.) into the top portion of the soil, not disturbing

the root systems. On mature plants, you should be able to prune them back about 1/3 of their size. Be certain to always water after fertilizing. Send your questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to steve@landsteward.org and for resources and additional data, or to subscribe to Steve’s free e-mailed newsletter, visit www.landsteward.org

I’m not certain where you are located but you might want to look at something like the cedar green giants. Depending on where you are located, you may want to prune in February or March. next, on the inside of that “living fence,�? you could add some interesting flowering shrubs.

The Plant Man is here to help. What would you propose?�? – Carol Evans

ANSWER: A fountain might be a good notion for an alternate “sound source,�? but you may still want some kind a growing barrier to baffle the traffic noise. Broadcasting the fertilizer will additionally work as lengthy as it doesn’t land on any leaves or in buds. So, I’m looking for ways to lessen the annoyance of the traffic noise.

QUESTION: “I’m moving next week and my new house has everything I wanted except it’s a little closer to a 55 mph highway that leads to the only mall in town than I would like.

QUESTION: “When is the best moment to prune crepe myrtles?

QUESTION: “I enjoy your column and Web site and have learned a lot. I have a huge perennial garden and was wondering how you add compost, fertilizer, black dirt, etc when the plants are so close together and I can’t work the soil for fear of disturbing the plants. plus, when is the best day to trim azaleas?�? – Chad Cornelius

ANSWER: Crape myrtles bloom the best on new growth, so prune them in late winter or early spring.

Clip out all of the dead branches/limbs as well as any that are touching or crossing by each other.