Soil equivocations : "riding the horse in the direction it is going."

Why do some of our transplanted privet bushes seem to be hearty and fine, and others just "didn't take?" Sure, the sun has something to do with it, and so does the air (wind, in winter ). Water, yes. But..side by side, two plants do completely different things!

I use rooting hormone to start privet cuttings-- every time I trim, I stick the best clippings into the soil. Some of them grow-- others do not. We had ambitions for these privets when we bought the first forty plants. The original plants have spawned several rows of offspring, but not nearly enough to hedge our long property line. And the privets in the woods area are not doing well at all.

The scientist residing within says "test the soil." The knee-jerk gardener says "plant something else." The scientist will probably solve the mystery-- but then what? Amend soil along many many feet of woods? The knee-jerk gardener thinks she is not wanting to do that much work for a plant that is balky. She thinks she might do better "riding the horse in the direction it is going", to quote a favorite maxim. How about Cotoneaster, though it may not be evergreen in this climate. How about Barberry, which looks good even dormant? But you are talking hundreds of plants.

The jury is still out. If only the jury could fit a long fence into the budget! Ivy on a fence would be a great solution.

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