Poaky, I believe ornamental- being the key word- describes fruit trees that are grown for their looks and not the produce. The peach might get a few measly peaches, maybe, but they are not grown for harvesting. Brandon, I don't spray anything. I try to situate everything for the best growing conditions and hope the bugs fight it out. I might spray Sevin spray (no dust) in the evenings when the Japanese beetles are rampant, but that's it. I don't put anything on the lawn either and if I kill weeds, it's individually. Still, I have the best looking grass on our street. Not sure why!! I have one Yoshino cherry that is 10 years old and seems very healthy- and big. I have lost a few trees to my neglect- not watering in severe drought- and one crab, Sugar thyme, to either drought or disease, not sure. Otherwise, I don't think I have lost anything to disease or bugs. We have only been here 11 years and I plant a tree or two each spring so they don't have a long history. I guess I will give it the best I can and hope for the best. i appreciate your replies.

You're so funny, Marilyn.. this is Indiana -- the highway dept grows grass where it's flat and crown vetch where it's steeply sloped. That's it. Ladybird did your state a huge favor in the 60s, believe me! We get a lot more rain than you get, so it's not like it will be *that* dry. I just didn't want somebody to say hostas or something. I want it to look like the pictures here on the forum, but I have a feeling their cottage gardens are more well-planned than they let on... Maybe white hesperis, cleome, and milkweed. That would be awfully pretty in pink and white. A little scent from the hesperis will be nice, too. Is white hesperis seed I should look for in the seed exchange or bite the bullet and order it? Lime

The only hosta I intentionally have more than one of is So Sweet. Others I have duplicates of: Irish Luck, because I thought the other one was dead Bridegroom, same reason. Dancing Queen, same reason. "Big Blue" because I divided it. Blue Mouse Ears because Cleo (my dog) mauled it and Blue Cadet and I couldn't determine which pieces where which hosta when I repotted them. All of the above will go in one pot when I repot this spring. Night before Christmas because my neighbor gave me hers when she moved to assisted living. I'll keep both. I'm thinking of splitting my oldest So Sweet and will keep all three. It's in about the biggest pot I can handle and it aesthetically looks like it's too big for the pot. It does not have that nice round shape anymore. It did well, though. I bought another Minuteman because it was so gorgeous I couldn't resist. I had a smaller one and a Patriot. Not sure whether I will keep all three or not. I'll wait and see how they do. I still have two Frances Williams I intended to re-home. I think I will try them one more season and see if an acidic fertilizer will help their looks. bk

The most beneficial pruning involves eliminating crossing, inward growing, and rubbing branches....and that's it. When those branches are pruned, they need to be cut to an outward growing branch. A nicely formed crape will need very little, if any, pruning. That will open the plant to improved sunlight penetration and air circulation which is always good for flower production. Topping, chopping is never a good idea.