The recommended organic spray for late blight is copper. The prices for copper are astronomical on account of copper just costs a lot right now. Last year as usual I grew my tomatoes from seeds. Hearing about late blight, I tried an experiment with straw mulch for my big tomatoes, which is one recommended response. I had my cherries in pots. My neighbor bought his tomato plants. When the blight hit, his plants all dropped dead in a period of two days. My straw-mulched plants didn't do too well, since I was not used to using a straw mulch and didn't notice they needed water as often as I would have otherwise. They did get blight eventually, but it didn't matter much, since the lack of water seriously cut into their production. The plants in pots did okay. Eventually, they did get blight, no doubt from my neighbor's plants. The one that lived longest was Matt's Wild Cherry. I decided that this year I would not grow any tomatoes, that I would buy them from areas of the country that aren't getting late blight, because I just had a feeling that the late blight would be back. Sure enough, it is in PA (I'm 15 mi from PA in NY, so it's just a matter of time). A friend of mine who grows a lot of his own food is growing Matt's Wild Cherry for tomatoes this year and foregoing the copper. Good soil? My plants had very good soil. But it's soil, not a force field. When there is that much disease around, it doesn't matter how good the soil is.

The photograph shows a classic example of a rhododendron/azalea that has not had its rootball teased apart before planting. When this happens, the peat based medium in the pot gradually loses moisture and becomes very difficult to rewet. Further, it shrinks, creating a gap between the rootball and the native soil. This makes any capillary transfer of moisture from soil to rootball impossible. As you discovered, prying apart the roots can be difficult when the rootball is in this condition. You've done all you can and these plants may or may not rejuvenate. Rhododendrons are tough and resilient plants, so the odds are actually pretty good. If the weather turns dry, don't forget to water with just a trickle at the plants' base. This ensures you're directing water to the azalea and not saturating the surrounding soil.

Oh Lord, how did this thread get bumped? Having had a fairly large A. concolor in my yard that ended up a dead fir...especially trying were the summers of 2010, 2011 and 2012...I want to post what Sam said with new emphasis and comments: I want to make the case for White Fir in eastern US. I agree with Donald Wyman "One of the best of the firs for planting in northern gardens and thoroughly reliable as far north as Boston. It is noted for withstanding heat and drought better than most of the other firs." which isn't the only thing they will potentially need to withstand. No, they are not the utterly craptastic, guaranteed failures that Picea pungens are, but I think DC is probably just about the very southern limit in the Piedmont...so let's be careful about saying "eastern US". I have seen good looking ones in SE PA and suburban Baltimore, but also some that appeared to be declining. They seem most consistent in NYC metro area and points north (or east). The incredibly heavy Hurricane Irene rains of 2011 was probably the turning point for mine, while Abies firmas laughed it off. A monthly 20+ inches of rain into a loamy clay soil is not something they encounter in their native habitat, to be sure. If I wanted to have one in my zn 7 east coast garden, as with ANY other western US fir, I'd rather have it grafted onto firma. (In fact I just bought one like that last year, I forget the cultivar, it's some kind of yellow-in-winter concolor.) While I'm talking rare firs, the last of my UNgrafted Abies delavayi died, proving the climate here is just a bridge too far. It took over 5 years for 3 to die though. I have no doubt they would be OK if grafted; there's a guy down in NC who has a grafted-on-firma A. spectabilis. And about the hollies mentioned above, 'Scepter' is now fully established and I think will take anything winter will throw at it, as is the case of the yellow berried aquifolium. As for the theory James G Esson could be a cross with a native American holly seemingly proposed by embo, now actually having such a cross in my garden, I can say it is absolutely clear it is not. If there is anything else in there, it's another Eurasian holly. This based on bloom time and appearance. James G. Esson blooms with the other aquifolium clade hollies, well before the American ones. The hybrid blooms between them and in fact it's going to be interesting to see if it gets enough pollination to produce a good crop of berries. Might be why the hybridizer never released it. The male hybridizer I bought in the picture above finally bloomed well this year, producing a crop of berries on James G. Esson. I had no other male aquifoliums and of course they being rareish garden plants around here, there was nothing else to pollinate it. (they will grow here, a couple english hollies have gotten the chop in this area in the past decade. Looking too decadently evergreen I guess bwahaha)

Alphabetized Topics Accessible Gardening Adenium African Violet Exchange African Violets African Violets FAQ Alabama Garden Exchange Alabama Gardening Allium Exchange Allium FAQ Alliums Alpines & Rock Gardens Amaryllis/Hippeastrum Animal Debates Annuals Annuals FAQ Antique Roses Antique Roses FAQ Antiques & Collectibles Apartment Living Appliances Appliances FAQ Aquariums Aquatic Plant Exchange Aquatic Plant Exchange Arizona Garden Exchange Arizona Gardening Arizona Gardening FAQ Aroids Asian Gardening Asian Vegetables Asian Vegetables Asian Vegetables FAQ Ask The Yard Doctor Australia Forums Australian Garden Exchange Australian Native Plants Avocado Growers Azalea & Rhododendron Balcony Gardening Bamboo Bamboo Exchange Banana Exchange Bananas Basements Bathrooms Beans, Peas & Legumes Beans, Peas & Legumes Exchange Beauty & Fashion Bees & Beekeeping Begonia Exchange Begonias Beverages Bird Watching Bluebirding Bog Gardens Bonsai Bonsai Exchange Bonsai FAQ Book Exchange Botany Bromeliad Exchange Bromeliad FAQ Bromeliads Brugmansia Brugmansia Exchange Building a Home Bulb Exchange Bulbs Butterfly Garden Butterfly Garden FAQ Buying and Selling Homes Cacti & Succulents Cacti & Succulents Exchange Cacti & Succulents FAQ Cacti Gallery Cacti in Oz California Garden Exchange California Gardening California Gardening FAQ Camellia FAQ Camellias Camping Canadian Garden Exchange Canadian Garden Exchange Canadian Winter Sowing Canna Canna Exchange Canna FAQ Care Givers Carnivorous Plants Carnivorous Plants FAQ Carolina Garden Exchange Carolina Gardening Cars Citrus Citrus FAQ Clay and Ceramics Cleaning Tips Clematis Clematis Exchange Clematis FAQ Clivia Clivia FAQ Community Gardens Companion Plants Computer Crafts Computer Help Computer Help FAQ Conifers Container Gardening Cooking Cooking FAQ Cooking Outdoors Cookware Cornucopia - Australia Cottage Garden FAQ Cottage Gardens Crafts & Decorations Crafts and Decorations FAQ Cross-Stitching Dahlias Daylilies Daylily Exchange Daylily FAQ Decorative & Tole painting Dessert Exchange Diet Club Dollmaking Dried & Pressed Flowers Dried & Pressed Flowers FAQ Drought Edible Landscape Electrical Wiring Electrical Wiring FAQ Electronics Embroidery Entertaining Exchanges & Trading Exercise & Nutrition Explore Topics Far North Farm Life Fiber & Needle Arts Exchange Figs Fireplaces Fish & Game Flooring Flooring FAQ Florida Garden Exchange Florida Gardening Florida Gardening FAQ Foliage Plants Football For information on the new look and features, please visit the FAQ Four Season Vegetable Gardening Fragrant Plants Fragrant Plants FAQ Frugal Gardening Fruit & Orchards Fruit & Orchards FAQ Fuchsia Fuchsia FAQ Furniture Garages/Workshops Garden & Flower Crafts Garden Accoutrements Garden Accoutrements FAQ Garden Art Gallery Garden Clinic Garden Clinic FAQ Garden Exchange Garden Exchange Garden Experiments Garden FAQs Garden Favorites Garden Forums Garden Junk Garden Junk FAQ Garden Photo Gallery Garden Restoration Garden Sources Garden Writers Gardening in Canada Gardening in New Zealand Gardening in Oz Gardening in Shade Gardening in Shade FAQ Gardening in the UK Gardening with Kids Gardening with Kids FAQ Gardening with Stone GardenWeb has been updated! Georgia Garden Exchange Georgia Gardener Georgia Gardener FAQ Geranium FAQ Geraniums Gesneriad Exchange Gesneriad FAQ Gesneriads Get help for your projects, share your finds, and show off your Before & After. Get-Togethers Get-Togethers Giant Vegetables Gingers Going Green Gourd Exchange Grandparents Graphics & Scanning Great Lakes Exchange Great Lakes Gardening Greenhouses & Garden Structures Greenhouses & Garden Structures FAQ Grieving Groundcovers Growing from Seed Growing from Seed FAQ Growing Tomatoes Growing Tomatoes FAQ Growing under Lights Growing under Lights FAQ Gulf Coast Gardening Harvest Harvest FAQ Hawaii Garden Exchange Hawaii Gardening Health Heaths & Heathers Heating & Air Conditioning Heating & Air Conditioning FAQ Heirloom Plants & Gardens Heirlooms Exchange Hellebores Herb Exchange Herbalism Herbalism FAQ Herbs Herbs - Australia Herbs FAQ Heuchera Hi albert_135 　 39.15°N 119.76°W 4657ft., what are you working on? Hibiscus Exchange Hibiscuses Hillside Gardening Holidays Home Decorating Home Disasters Home Entertainment Home FAQs Home Forums Home Repair Homesteading Hosta Exchange Hosta FAQ Hostas Hot Pepper Exchange Hot Pepper FAQ Hot Peppers Hot Topics House Plant Exchange House Plants Household Finances Hoya Exchange Hoyas Hudson Valley Hudson Valley New York Exchange Hummingbird Garden Hummingbird Garden FAQ Hybridizing Hybridizing FAQ Hydrangea FAQ Hydrangeas Hydroponics Hydroponics FAQ Hypertufa Hypertufa FAQ Idaho Gardening Impatiens Insects Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management FAQ Iowa Garden Exchange Iowa Gardening Iris Exchange Iris FAQ Irises Irrigation Japanese Gardens Japanese Gardens FAQ Kitchens Kitchens FAQ Knitting & Crocheting Koi Ponds Landscape Design Laundry Room Laundry Room FAQ Lawn Care Lawn Care FAQ Lawn Mowers Lighting Lilies Lily Exchange Lily FAQ Louisiana & Mississippi Louisiana & Mississippi Exchange Lucky Bamboo Maine Gardening Manufactured Homes Maples Maples FAQ Market Gardener Marriage Master Gardeners Master Gardeners FAQ Meadows & Prairies Menopause Metalworking Metro NY Gardener Mid-Atlantic Exchange Mid-Atlantic Gardening Mid-Atlantic Gardening FAQ Midwest Exchange Midwest Gardening Milkweed Miniature Roses Minnesota Gardening Money Saving Tips Moon Garden Moon Garden FAQ Moss, Ferns & Cryptogams Motorcycles/Scooters Name That Plant FAQ Name That Plant! Name That Rose FAQ Name That Rose! Name This Animal Native Plant Exchange Native Plant Exchange Native Plants Native Plants FAQ Nature Forums Nature Photography & Optics Nevada Gardening New England Exchange New England Gardening New England Gardening FAQ New Jersey Garden Exchange New Jersey Gardening New to Gardening New to Gardening FAQ Northern Gardening Northwestern Gardening Ohio Valley Ohio Valley Exchange Oklahoma Garden Exchange Oklahoma Gardening Oklahoma Gardening FAQ Once-a-Week Cooking Orchid Exchange Orchid Gallery Orchids Orchids FAQ Organic Gardening Organic Gardening FAQ Organic Lawn Care Organic Rose Growing Organic Rose Growing FAQ Organizing the Home Ornamental Grass Exchange Ornamental Grasses Ozarks Garden Exchange Ozarks Gardening Ozarks Region FAQ Pacific Northwest Exchange Pacific Northwest Exchange Paint Palm & Cycad Exchange Palms & Cycads Paper Arts Parents Parents of Infants Parents of Toddlers Passiflora Passiflora Exchange Passiflora FAQ Pennsylvania Gardening Pennsylvania Gardening FAQ Peonies Perennials Perennials & Annuals - Australia Perennials FAQ Permaculture Pests & Diseases - Australia Pets Pets FAQ Photography Plant Exchange FAQ Plant Propagation Plants for Difficult Places Plumbing Plumeria Plumeria FAQ Ponds & Aquatic Plants Ponds & Aquatic Plants FAQ Ponds in the UK Pools & Spas Porches & Decks Potager Gardens Professional Gardener FAQ Pumpkins, Squash & Gourds Quilting Quilting FAQ Raptors Rate & Review Exchanges Rate & Review Exchanges Rate & Review Exchanges FAQ Rate & Review Vendors Reader's Paradise Recipe Exchange Recipe Exchange FAQ Remodeling Renewable Energy for the Home Reptiles & Amphibians Retirement Rocky Mountain Gardening Rose Exhibiting Rose Forums FAQ Rose Gallery Rose Propagation & Exchange Rose Propagation & Exchange Rose Propagation FAQ Roses Roses FAQ Roses in Oz Round Robin Exchange Round Robin Exchange Round Robin Exchange FAQ RUG SALE Salvia Salvia Exchange Sansevieria School Scrapbooks Seed Exchange FAQ Seed Saving Seed Saving Seed Saving FAQ Sewing Shrubs Shrubs FAQ Small Spaces / Urban Gardening Smaller Homes Soap & Candle Making Soil FAQ Soil, Compost & Mulch South African Native Plants Southeast Coastal Gardening Southern Gardening Southwestern Gardening Special Diet Recipes Square Foot Gardening Square Foot Gardening FAQ Stained Glass & Mosaics Stained Glass & Mosaics FAQ Start a discussion... Stepfamilies Suggestions? Sustaining Our Environment Tennessee Garden Exchange Tennessee Gardening Terms & PrivacyHouzz Inc. © 2018 Terrariums Terrariums FAQ Test Texas Garden Exchange Texas Gardening The Cutting Garden The Garden Party The Garden Traveler The Kitchen Table The Old House The Oz Garden Gallery The Plant Exchange The Professional Gardener The Seed Exchange The Single Life The Winter Garden Tips & Techniques Tips & Techniques FAQ Tomato Exchange Tomato Pests & Diseases Tool Shed Topiary Tractors Trash To Treasure Trash To Treasure FAQ Trees Trees & Shrubs - Australia Trees FAQ Tropical Fruits Tropical Plant Exchange Tropical Plants Tropical Plants - Australia Tropicalesque Garden FAQ Tropicalesque Gardens UK Forums Upstate New York Upstate New York Exchange Upstate New York FAQ Utah Gardening Vacations Vegetable Exchange Vegetable Gardening Vegetable Gardening FAQ Vegetarian Exchange Vermicomposting Vertical Gardening Vines Vines Exchange Violets Virginia Garden Exchange Virginia Gardening Web Authoring Weddings Weeds Weeds FAQ Wildlife Garden Windows Wine Wine Winter Garden FAQ Winter Sowing Winter Sowing Exchange Winter Sowing FAQ Wisconsin Woodlands Woodlands FAQ Woodworking Your Houzz