If indeed your tree is starving for oxygen, which it does sound like your tree may be experiencing the bathtub effect due to the organic matter added to the backfill, and you don't want to move the tree, one can water a newly planted tree with a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide. This puts oxygen to the soil and water, it is not strong enough to do any real damage to the microflora that provide nutrients to the roots. You buy hydrogen peroxide at a much stronger level and in bulk, and you dilute it down. You're not supposed to fertilize a newly planted tree without a soil test first to determine just exactly what and if any alterations to the chemistry of the soil are called for. A slightly lean soil can actually encourage root growth, which initially is all you're trying to do for that tree, get settled in and established. In addition, one can make a hole near the tree that is deeper than the root ball in order to assist in drainage if that's the problem. One time I dug a chanell all the way around a newly planted and troubled tree. But nowadays, I try to avoid the scenario altogether if I want to amend the soil that I'm planting in, and plant in a mound of native soil I get from a different part of the yard. That's the only safe way I've noted of adding organic material to the soil that the tree is planted in, and not cause a serious drainage problem. The trunk collar, or root flare, in addition, needs to be exposed to air, not covered with soil or mulch. Extremely imporant. It's often about twice the diameter of the actual trunk, so you'll know when you find it. Roots need water, and they need air. That is why it is somewhat of an art, to not water too frequently, but enough to where the tree doesn't dehydrate. It sounds contradictory, water plus air, but it's a cycle that the soil goes through between near dryness to being moist again. An amended hole can disrupt this normal cycle by not draining fast enough. It's critical at this juncture not to overwater or underwater your tree. The more trees you kill, the better you get at planting trees, I've noted. I suspect your tree is struggling and might not make it, so one tries to make a learning experience out of it. Then again, it might overcome. Best Wishes.

I had a mild problem with a few plants. Then we had the last cold front about a week ago. Then it got real bad almost over night. I had really never had to deal with spider mites. I had a whole bunch with leaf curl. I thought it might have been the temperature change. Upon reply from karmahappytoes I did an inspection. I had them on about every plant. Thats 100+ brugs and on vegtables and other small plants. I hit them once, some still persisted. I then started removing all foliage that had them. I am about to hit them all again. I do not know where they came from. Thats kind of is like it happens here. Things tend to explode all of a sudden. Everthing went healthy to sick overnight. I have not sprayed pesticide this year. I have a orchard sprayer I used to use with a 30 gallon tank and a 5 hp pump. I am trying the organic /natural thing to see if I can make it work. I will give it 3 or more doses with daily inspection for a week to 10 days. I had heard Brugs were a magnet for pests. Glad you seem to have your problem solved. I will stay on top of mine till it is solved. Jim

A few days ago (when there was a break in the weather) I went and cleaned up the areabehind the shed. That is the messiest part of the yard where clippings, leaves, branches, and other yard debris get piled up. The shed rests on a large concrete slab. There is about six feet x twelve feet of concrete behind the shed that I plan to make into a little seating area/patio. I had a black box composter sitting there, so a few days ago I moved it to behind a cluster of trees that will hide it. I swept the area and put a couple of rustic containers in for colorful plants. Moved the little grill to this spot too. Next thing to get is one of those fire pits (metal ones you can buy at Lowes, etc) and a couple of chairs. This area faces part of the flower garden and the tiny veggie plot, which may be made into a flower garden in a couple of years (if the front veggie garden goes in and does well). CMK

maackia - agreed, in spite of our climate limitations compared to say, northern California or the PNW LOL - I feel lucky to be in an area where there is a lot of advanced horticulture going on. You have to get better and better at looking for it though. The nursery scene here is a shadow of its former self. Styer's in the late 1990s, had an online list which blew my mind for its selection. (my brother moved to the Philly area in the mid 1990s for his first post college job, so that's when I started making trips up there) When Urban Outfitters took them over, the focus moved to frou frou housewares and annuals. They still have the odd interesting perennials or shrubs but it's no longer a destination for me. I'll sometimes go there if I happen to be in the area. The once celebrated and huge Waterloo nursery went under...a result of foolishly expanding just before the housing bubble burst. But for example I finally joined the Philly chapter of the ARS because they are the only chapter, to my knowledge, that is promoting and producing grafted plants. Which is a good idea. All rhododendron plants produced by the Hachmann nursery in Germany, for example, are grafted these days. Yes, Longwood is like 'horticultural Disney'. But as I've posted elsewhere, this is actually a good thing in terms of getting the general public impressed by or interested in plants. I'm amazed when I see large families visiting...the admission must get steep even with the kids discount. And the amusing to me phenomena of how many young couples are there. I joked on another forum that many a "Sow Philly" Italian fathers must have told their sons: "third or fourth date, if you really like a girl, take her to Longwood." Chanticleer in the place for people who already love gardens and plants. I actually know a couple in the Bay Area who say it is the most charming garden they've ever visited! And that is saying something.