Q: Last week, I read your technique of removing potting soil and pruning the roots of a houseplant that’s root-bound. Is the same technique used for landscape azaleas? Weston Becker, Decatur A: Yes.

When planting, the hole is key. Dig it at least twice as wide as the existing root ball. The larger, the better. The length of time it takes to get the tree established and growing is directly related ...