When and how do I share a cutting from my English dogwood (mock orange bush)? I live in Zone 7, north MS.
Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/how-to-root-cuttings-from-various-shrubs-bushes-and-trees.htm
My mock orange bush is 4 yrs old and still has not bloomed. It is planted on the west side of my house. Can you help me to get it to bloom? ruddi
If you have not pruned any, it may be in need. Pruning can help rejuvenate the shrub and improve its overall health and blooming, as well as its appearance. You can do this once flowers have faded out by one third. As for fertilizing, it generally needs little, other than an occasional all-purpose rose-type fertilizer. If blooming still seems to be an issue following pruning, your soil may be lacking phosphorus. Add some phosphorus, such as bone meal, to the soil. This article should help as well: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/phosphorus-plant-growth.htm
The bush blooms every year and is beautiful until tiny bugs invade its branches and eat all the blooms and defoliate it completely. After they eat everything, they fly away and its leaves start to grow back. What should I do?
It may be thrips. They will attack flowers or new growth. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/controlling-thrips.htm
Neem oil may help as well.
I have two mock orange bushes, planted several years ago, and neither has ever bloomed. What am I doing wrong?
This could be due to a nutrient imbalance in the soil - such as high nitrogen and low phosphorus. Try adding some bone meal to the soil to bring up the phosphorus levels and encourage blooming. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/phosphorus-plant-growth.htm
A friend of mine has a mock orange shrub and he asked me if I knew why his mock orange shrub isn't as fragrant as it was before.
I would suspect this is due to low temps. Has it been cool where you live? It could also be due to the wonky winter weather most of us experienced. With mild temps across much of the country, many plants and trees budded early. Some of us were then hit by unexpected cold spells, which may have caused considerable damage to the buds--with many failing to open or those that do are either deformed or not as fragrant.
What fertilizer do I need to use? My mock orange has not had any flowers for 6 years. I have used 10-10-10, have "pruned" and used a fertilizer heavy on phosphate. Please help!
If you have not pruned in a while then it may be in need. Pruning can help rejuvenate the shrub and improve its overall health and blooming, as well as its appearance. You can do this once flowers have faded out by one third. As for fertilizing, it generally needs little, other than an occasional all-purpose rose-type fertilizer. If blooming still seems to be an issue following pruning, your soil may be lacking phosphorus. Add some phosphorus, such as bone meal, to the soil. This article should help as well: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/phosphorus-plant-growth.htm
I was about to get rid of it, as it had never bloomed, then it did bloom last year. It hasn't bloomed this year again. I don't know why. What am I doing wrong?
When flowering plants don't flower, the first thing to look at is light --- it may need more. Also, it may be overfertilized with too much nitrogen. Try just working bone meal into the soil instead. It might also be too dry --- try mulch to retain moisture around the roots. Here is more information on growing mock orange: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/mock-orange/mock-orange-bushes.htm