dig a small hole.. with a hand trowel ... 3 to 6 inches deep ... AND FIND OUT WHETHER THE SOIL IS WET OR DRY ... ball and burlap ... potted... how did you plant.. amend the soil??? how about a pic it would also be nice to know where you are ... ken

Hi! I gave the larch the season and after a crappy Calgary winter she was not a happy gal. She was removed and a new very healthy one was put in another spot in my yard. She is thriving!!! I find these like quite a bit of water. In fact the root system acts like a sponge. I have actually come to the conclusion that it was starting to die prior to planting, after being able to find a better specimen. The plant as Ken mentioned was buried too deeply in the pot and spent quite some time that way, I believe. I think it had no chance. I made a newbie mistake and after all these messages I dug quite aways down to find the correct crown, and as you can tell from one of my pics I had already exposed a few inches of trunk when I initially planted but not enough at all. The root system needs to be very close to the surface, in fact the new one has roots that grow a bit above ground almost or right at the surface. It was not a healthy purchase and should have been left to die at the nursery. On another note, I had a small weeping birch that died near that spot. I have also had reed grass die there. It is cursed lol! Now it houses a Christmas Flamingo in the winter and that's it. One day I will try to figure out why it is a death zone. This all was 5 years ago that's hard to believe that much time has passed! We have since moved on to our back yard and I havent lost a plant yet from the excellent advice you all have shared! And for any newbies out there reading this, from perennials to trees if you pick a properly planted and cared for plant to start, you will have a lot more success!

GL, No, the low, creeping junipers are found like that in their native habitat and are not man-made, so to speak. Although, cultivars are discovered; The 'Mother Lode' juniper occurred at Iseli Nursery after a Juniperus horizonatalis was struck by lightening. These "carpet junipers" also grow in more-or-less open areas in full sun without too much competition from any plants that are overhead. I was speaking of plants like the Weeping Norway spruce, Picea abies 'Pendula'. While I don't know exactly where or how this plant was brought into cultivation, this weeping plant would be at a big disadvantage surrounded by a forest of "normal" Norway spruce. Mike

well .... what is your goal ... if its a natural specimen.. then leave it alone ... if its pissin you off somehow.. teach it a lesson ... there are no rules with it... its yours.. do whatever you want with it ... but i do suggest ... you do it.. when its a bare naked lady ... so you can see what you are doing... to make proper pruning cuts describe your goal... and go for it ... but i dont recommend just whacking on it with a machete ... i was kinda surprised by the pic.. i expected it planted 13 inches from the house .. and 40 feet tall ... lol a lot of us.. would pay a lot of money for it.. just as it stands.. dont think your need to do anything.. just for the sake of doing it... ken