QUESTION: A co-worker has an oak-leaf hydrangea that is thriving, but mine has been a real disappointment. I planted it about four or five years ago in front of our house, where it gets filtered shade under deciduous trees in the morning and early afternoon and direct sun in the late afternoon. It has hardly grown at all and might have one or two blossoms in the summer. I was afraid it might be getting too much sun. I'm trying to get more trees growing toward the front of that bed. Is there anything I can do to encourage it to grow, or should I just rip it out and put something else there?ANSWER: It sounds to me like your plant is suffering from the heat of the afternoon sun and possibly inadequate nutrition or water. By this time, it should show robust growth. The oak-leaf blooms on the previous year's growth, so it doesn't sound like you will get a better show this year.As a starting point, fertilize this spring and regular watering during dry spells this summer should encourage better growth and development.But hot summer afternoon sun is not desirable for this plant. The amount it is now getting may simply be too much.Why not see how it does this year with fertilizer and careful watering? If this doesn't produce better growth, I would move it to a cooler, shadier spot next fall. Do not rip it out; dig it up gently and transplant it to a better spot. It is a shame for such a fine, low-maintenance plant as this to show such poor performance.However, it is a lesson on the need for careful selection of plants for areas that are hit by summer afternoon sun, which is not gentle. Just a few of the good plants, of varying type, that will prosper in the hot afternoon sun are crape myrtles, lantanas, cannas, vincas and most sedums.

QUESTION: When and how far back should I prune my Russian sage?ANSWER: Russian sage is one of the perennials that most gardeners leave alone during the early-winter cleanup of flower beds. But now is the time to cut back plants to about 6 inches above ground. This will allow fresh growth that bears flowers to develop and make a tidier, better-looking plant.Your Russian sage should also benefit from a second pruning and deadheading of spent flowers about midsummer. This can produce new growth that may bloom a second time during our long autumn. Don't cut back all the stems at this time because that would be too drastic. Choose perhaps half of them and cut each back by about two-thirds to encourage new growth for potential new bloom.

QUESTION: When should I prune and repot perennial herbs that never really died back this winter?ANSWER: They (and most everything else) had a great winter, didn't they? It was wonderful not to see frozen camellias and gardenia leaves browned by harsh temperatures. Things did well. Most of your herbs will benefit from moderate pruning to remove old growth and shape the plants before they start growing. You want to encourage new growth because that bears the most desirable foliage.Parsley, a biennial, is an exception. Don't prune it at all, except when you pick it for use in the kitchen.Various kinds of thyme may show uneven growth, and simple shearing to a pleasing shape should be all that is required before they start growing. They may not even need that; instead, just a snip of wayward shoots and some gentle tip pruning to encourage fresh growth. Rosemary can be pruned now if the plant looks out of shape, but only gently unless the plant is quite old and needs rejuvenation through removal of old wood.You can repot the plants in coming weeks as they prepare to break dormancy for the new year.Contact Nancy Brachey at The Charlotte Observer, 600 S. Tryon St., P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, NC 28230.By KRT News Service