I noticed this morning that one has begun to discolor pretty badly on the lower leaves, so take that into consideration later when I snap photos. I tend to remove as much damaged foliage as I can during the season and it doesn't seem to bother them. The plant doesn't look as nice that's all. One thing to keep in mind about hollyhocks, they prefer poor soil and thrive on neglect. They pop up in the most unusual places around here, and no need to fertilize. They don't care for it. At least that's been my experience.

Gorgeous! I see that you have many of those big hosta in containers. Do you repot them frequently or just keep them in the same container for life? I'm starting to keep mine in pots for various reasons and I'm still unsure about how to maintain them long term.

There will be much better airflow between the plants after trimming. Lack of air circulation can lead to a greater amount of windborne diseases. Also, you'll be allowing more light to the plans because they you will reduce the amount of shade they are giving each other. I trim my tomatoes all the time. They are MY tomatoes, I an not THERE gardener. With trimming I still have more tomatoes than I know what to do with. I agree with above, your rows are too close if you're not going to trim. Next year Zigzag the plants in wider spaced rows. In my garden the plants are zigzaged in rows four feet wide with about four feet between rows. I need to maneuver and not feel claustrophpbic in that environment. This year I further reduced the amount of plants I grow, and of them, at least half are deteminates. I will still have way too many toms but I will have far less work. T

karate Sorry. I don't know how to post pictures. Maybe soon? I have asked a young person to show me the ropes. Ha. I'm in OH. Our woods is small but it has always been a mess. And we've lived here 20 years! The job just seemed overwhelming. I've had it cleared a few times, and it reverts to junk in a years time. Poison ivy, grapevine, and lots of black cherry ... and pear. Ugh. One part of the woods is about 100' x 25' on the side yard. The first 50' overlooks the neighbors roofline. (I want to block that with hemlock and remove the blue spruce that were put in 5 years ago.) The the next 50' abutts deeper woods that is "visually" ours. Behind that first 100'? is another piece of land running another 100' x 50' sited on a slope. That also abutts woods that we "visually" own. We are starting to work on the slope now. Up on top is a big wild cherry that will stay, hickories, and a few other nice trees. The rest? are big old scotch pine and austrian pine leftover from a Xmas tree farm years ago. HUGE. And not my favorite. Now there are dozens of pine volunteers on the slope that are approaching 8'? high. I'm hesitant to clear them ... because I don't have a replacement plan, yet. For the time being, they give some structure to the slope. Otherwise, there is a noxious weed rose running all through the slope, more poison ivy, thistle.. BUT ... there's crown vetch, wild impatiens, and other weeds that I think I like, for now. Plan is to edit it day by day. I have real good yard help right now, or this project would not be on its way. What a relief. Finally. I will definitely be back here to post pics ... as soon as my young tutor gets me on track. Re forsythia? That's similar to my dilemma with the volunteer pines. I don't want them long term, but for now? They at least take the eye off the solid weed hill. Once we get a little further along on the slope by removing the wild rose bushes? I may consult a landscaper. Maybe have some BIG flat rocks layed into the slope? Hemlocks along the property line where we need some screening. Get some Maxima rhodos in? Have you considered some sweetbay magnolia? or the native rhodo "Maxima" that blooms in late June/July? The trick is doing the clearing ... and THEN getting a plan into action so that the whole area doesn't revert again. It's going to be a test, for sure. I'll try to get some pictures posted in the next couple of days. ML