We've been warned not to plant Leyland's because of bagworm problems in our area. Our neighbor has a small one right by the edge of their front porch, though. And I see them for sale at the local big box stores. Our landscaper was going to have Green Giants installed in ours but I didn't want any that big. We ended up planting several Emerald Green Arborvitae. They are wonderful so far. I just finished cleaning out their base to breathe better. They are thriving, and bright green. They have become my husband's favorite evergreens. They grow to about 15' in height and about 3-4' wide. I have them in the shaded areas, and full sun areas. So far no problems whatsoever.

I found a Pyrola, which looks like a lily of the valley. Does anyone grow it? Any comments, advice?

Hi Aaron, I didn't find "Constitution", it is stunning, but I did find a source for rare and unique varieties - at least to me! Check them here.

Sometimes it's just up to mother nature........ Has anyone had any luck when doing selective pruning in the hope that plant energy is directed in a specific manner. For me, one of my Limelight standards got uprooted by a storm, and one of the framework branches snapped off due to the impact. What was left was a 6 inch stub off the graft. I put glue on the tip and wished for the best. The remainder of the season, the stub looked healthy - no discoloration, bark was still the same going into winter. Fast forward this year, I for sure thought it was a goner. The bark appeared to have peeled open during the offseason, and I could see the - guts under the bark per-se. I was thinking this stub, while hopeful it was still alive, it surely must be dead now, with the exposed bark that seemed to unravel itself. Come mid-late spring, I noticed a bud/branch emerging so all smiles !I trimmed -most of the existing branching- a bit lower for this year -----THINKING---- more energy could potentially be focused to this 6 inch stub. I was wrong. The tree still branched out like a Limelight, sending 3-4" new wood and the 2 branches that came out of this stub, was about as thick as a toothpick.. Honestly, in full leaf out and bloom, I don't even see this framework branching is amiss, as it's pretty full and round. In my -mind- , I know it's missing of the 5 primary branching points that are on it, but that's just a mental thing...... Anyhow, just curious. Has anyone done any selective pruning for a particular function and actually had sucess. Ha, I know once can prune for height, shape or just straight culling out. Wishful thinking I suppose.