My row of Leyland cypress have whole branches turning brown and dying. We had about 10 feet (a third) pruned off the top this spring. What can we do now?
Leylands grow very tall (60-100 feet) — much taller than people realize when planting them. Normally, Leylands tolerate pruning well and even can be made into a tall hedge. However, extreme pruning stresses them and can make them susceptible to canker disease or insect attack. Prune out the affected branches, and in the future, follow the general rule to remove no more than a fourth of a tree at one time.
My strawberry patch is a chaotic mess. I got good strawberries for three years, but the straw mulch hasn't really prevented weeds and baby strawberry plants are running rampant all over the place. How do I control this?
Sounds like your strawberry patch is in its fourth year and crying for a renovation. This year, after fruiting, the patch should be mowed down to 2-3 inches. Daughter plants that rooted to either side of the original row are spared, and the entire old bed of mother plants is tilled under. Now you'll have two new rows with vigorous, young daughter plants. In four years, reverse the process.