Annie, what kind of spirea are you looking for? I have the solid green that I know I have some babies and the variegated green and white that I'd have to check. I'm afraid the drought down here has taken it's toll on a lot of plants, shrubs and trees. The spirea I have is a shrub that people use to make a hedge. Just want to make sure that's what you want as plants are called by different names in different areas. :O) Thanks Lynn

I have a Cub Cadet BC509. It comes with a string head and a brushcutting blade. It is a 4 cycle engine so you do not have to mess with preparing the gas oil mixture, and more importantly the gas does not evaporate and leave the 2% Oil to mess up the gas jets, and other critical areas of the fuel system. Once you pump the gas through the system it starts as instructed. It cost $230 or about the cost of other brands of string trimmers in the same class. I use it for all trimming jobs in my 3/4 acre yard. I performs well as a string trimmer around the flowers, house, and similar areas. Change to the Brushcutter blade and you have a weapon to attack those tall grasses, small shrubs, and low hanging limbs. I use mine routinely to cut back the 4' weeds on a vacant adjacent lot, cut blackberry brambles, greenbrier, grape vine, poison ivy, and other brush that collects around the yard and in the woods immediate to my lot. It can accidentally cut of a 3 foot tall holly tree that you did not intend to cut down, and the small pines that come from nowhere. Based on my experience with the Cub Cadet BC509, it would quickly take care of things like pampas grass, and other ornamental grass.

I just bought a new "Cloud Nine" Switch Grass. But it doesn't seem to look right in the spot I picked out for it. I'd return it to my nursery, but it's already in the ground. I still have the receipt and plant label for it. It's described as "A strong growing blue switch grass, with clouds of airy flower clusters August to November. Metallic blue foliage turns to yellow, orange, and red in fall. Bloom time: White flowers in late summer. Light Preference: Full sun. Hardiness: Zone 4. Mature Size: height (6-8') spread (4'). Divide in spring. I can send you photos of it as well - just contact me. I'm looking for a Japanese Silver Grass that'll grow somewhere in the same height range: 6ft. Thanks! Bobby

Fungus is best prevented rather than treated. So you'll want to start early next year, maybe mid-April and keep it going through the summer. Headway G is great but very expensive so I would suggest looking into purchasing propiconazole and azoxystrobin in gallon jugs to use. They will pay themselves off in 3-4 apps(vs Headway) and then you'll have fungicide to use for many years.