Striking out

Question: Hi
I’ve attached three pics:
two pics 
are of a yew I planted last year. It is one of two I planted at the same time. One is thriving- that’s not pictured. One is browning. What if anything can I do to salvage it?
One pic is of a cement box about 4’x5’ in the ground behind my house. For 40+ years I’ve attempted growing any number of plants in the soil in the the box in an attempt to hide this ugly lawn ornament. I’ve amended the soil on a number of occasions to help things along to no avail. What solutions for soil improvement and plant selection can you make?
Thanks!

responder: UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline Volunteer  Replied April 27, 2023, 10:45 AM EDT
response: Hello Bob: We are working on your question and will provide some info. once we have done more research.  Thank you.  Lisa

responder: Enrique Peredo, UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer www.uvm.edu/extension/mastergardener  Replied April 27, 2023, 1:30 PM EDT
response: Hi Bob.  Thank you for contacting the UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline.  I have a few questions to ask about your plantings and the concrete box that you are wishing to plant in. From the tag, you have a sea green juniper that should be hardy here in Chittenden County.  One cause for the damage may be winter kill.  This happens to evergreens during the winter time caused by needles drying from the cold winds.  Where do you have the other juniper planted relative to the one in the photo?  It also looks like this shrub is planted close to a paved driveway maybe, is this the case?  How do you remove snow in this area?  Before planting, did you by chance do a soil tests?  Sea Green Juniper prefers soils with a ph between 6 and 7?    About the concrete box.  Concrete can make soils pretty alkaline.  After 40 years, I would guess that this is still not actively occurring but if the ph of the soil in it is the same, that soil may remain with a ph above 7.  What was the purpose of the concrete box in the first place?  Amending the soil with organic matter such as compost and fertilizers will not change the ph.  Best way to find out is by doing a soil test?    Please respond promptly and I will do more research on how best to deal with your two issues.  Look forward to hearing from you soon.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 27, 2023, 3:25 PM EDT
response: Hi Enrique!Thanks for the speedy reply. As regards the juniper, it is planted near our gravel drive. We don’t salt the drive.  The second juniper - not pictured - is planted within 4’. I planted two mungo pines at the same time as the junipers. One of the pines is also near the driveway in close proximity to the failing juniper but it is doing fine. As regards the cement box; i am guessing it was once a working artesian well dating back to prior to our purchase of the house 43 years ago! How should i collect the soil samples, how much soil is collected, and where will i send/drop off the samples?Many thanksBobOn Thu, Apr 27, 2023 at 1:30 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Enrique Peredo, UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer www.uvm.edu/extension/mastergardener  Replied May 01, 2023, 6:56 AM EDT
response: Good Morning Bob. Let's start with the soil testing question, https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=uvm+soil+testing+ is the UVM link to all the questions you have about how to collect your soil sample and where to submit it.  You may wish to also do a separate sample of the area where your other shrubs are also planted to determine if soil amendments need to be added to this area as well .   The link below is from North Carolina State University Extension, showing specifics about Sea Green Juniper and others in the same class.   https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juniperus-chinensis-sea-green/ I recommend that you contact the nursery/vendor where you bought the shrubs.  Usually there is a one year guarantee on trees and shrubs.

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 01, 2023, 8:52 AM EDT
response: Thank you. On Mon, May 1, 2023 at 6:56 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: