Preen...the active ingredient is...or used to be Treflan. You apply it every 6 to 8 weeks and water it in...or rake it in. You will have problems eventually with the rock over the Typar. Small debris will build up in the rocks and the Typar will keep it from becoming part of the soil below and you will have weed growth in the rock on top of the Typar. Shredded bark or wood is always a better choice. I would wonder about the dogs sleeping in the mulch that's treated with preemergence before it's well watered i though...I would keep them out for several days aftere applying. Linda C

Thanks for the suggestion. I do have an area that I want conifers and will definiately consider the Arizona Cypress for that! They would go on the north side of my property and it is okay if they are all the same type of tree and evergreen. But for the south side of my property I am needing decidious for sun in the winter and during the winter the wind doesnt blow much along that side. It only blows from the south or south west in the summer (when they would be in leaf). I am hoping for fall color in the trees on the south side (with the original post was about) and variety in form, like columnar and wide heads for shade with different colors. Thanks!

Another thing to consider is the soil pH. If it's too high it could inhibit flowering. Are the azaleas in an area where lime has been applied, such as next to the lawn? A soil test sent to VA Tech will tell you if this is a problem. Your local cooperative extension office can tell you where to get the test kit. It's much more reliable than the inexpensive kits you can buy at the store. Have you pruned them at all? I don't know when they set buds for the summer bloom but I've only done some selective pruning on mine. I'm in zone 7 near Richmond and mine bloom sporadically all summer with a full flush of blooms in spring and again in fall. I've had them for 9 years this month.

Both are just beautiful.... Thank you for sharing... Carolyn