You should see the dents the pit's tail has put in us already. When that dog wags hard it's like a bull whip.

I visited the local garden center to scout around their selection of trees. I have a couple of non-starters, planted 2 or 3 years ago, not dead but failing to thrive. So I'll try a couple of different species in new locations. Leave the old ones in place, continue to treat them well, and see what happens. Fall is the best time to plant these. I'm also putting in a patch of groundcover (Asian jasmine) and a hardy shrub (Silverado sage). They'll establish themselves over the next six months before it gets hot and dry again.

SRS