Posts Tagged ‘Spring’
Hydrangea – Several plants
Q: Is it possible to dig up a hydrangea and divide it into three our four other plants. Mine is rather large, about two feet around at the base. A: Since your hydrangea is a woody plant, it normally does...
Nellie Stevens’ holly – Pruning
Q: In spring, our ‘Nellie Stevens’ holly suffers from a blight. The new growth and branch tips blacken and wither. Later growth isn’t as badly affected and it continues to flourish. However, the unintended pruning is affecting the tree’s shape,...
Tilling – Soil
Q: I have a vegetable garden area which I’ve improved by adding compost, dead grass and leaves every fall and spring. This fall I sowed ryegrass and it is now five inches tall. How tall should it grow before I...
Ryegrass – Garden soil
Q: I have a vegetable garden area which I’ve improved by adding compost, dead grass and leaves every fall and spring. This fall I sowed ryegrass and it is now five inches tall. How tall should it grow before I...
Rain barrel – Winter maintenance
Q: My rain barrel is full, thanks to the winter rains. I’m concerned that freezing temperatures will turn the water to ice and damage the barrel. What should I mix in to make sure this does not happen? Do I...
Crapemyrtle – Losing Branches
Q: Can you tell me what is wrong with this crepe myrtle? It is losing its branches. A: One of the results of chopping off the top of a crapemyrtle in winter is lots of lush growth the following spring....
“Nellie Stevens” holly – Blight
Q: In spring, our ‘Nellie Stevens’ holly suffers from a blight. The new growth and branch tips blacken and wither. Later growth isn’t as badly affected and it continues to flourish. However, the unintended pruning is affecting the tree’s shape,...
Deer invasion – Spring leaves
Q: We love the mountains and woods but we are having a constant problem with deer. They have severely eaten my ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ holly and ligustrums, both of which we were told “Deer do not eat!”. How do I...
Cherry Tree – Pruning
Q: I have a ‘Snow Fountain’ weeping cherry tree. I’ve noticed a lot of the limbs reach the ground; some even stretch out on the ground. How should it be pruned? A: ‘Snow Fountain’ cherry is a beautiful small tree...
Boxwoods – Sprouting
Q: I have boxwoods that have gotten out of hand. If I cut them back drastically will they sprout back from the stubs that are left? A: Unlike holly, boxwood is slow to respond when pruned severely. For a big...
Magic lily – Growth sequence
Q: Five years ago I planted several “Magic Lily” bulbs. Every spring the leaves come up on cue. They die back in the summer, but no flowers come up in fall. What is wrong with this picture? A: Magic Lily,...
Burford Hollies – Infestation
Q: Our dwarf Burford hollies had tons of berries, which the birds dutifully picked off. Now the bush is buzzing. There are hundreds of bees living in it. How long will they be here? A: All of our nectar loving...
Drought – Supplemental watering
Q: You recently wrote that even with our drought, supplemental watering isn’t generally needed in the winter. What are some guidelines as to when I should re-start watering my camellias and azaleas? A: Water loss from the soil is caused...
Fertilizing – Drought
Q: Should we skip fertilizing our lawn this year since we are likely to continue our drought conditions? A: Don’t skip the lawn feeding. I am certain that rain will come this spring. All you have to do is time...
Nandina – Pruning
Q: Is it safe to prune my nandina now? I don’t want to affect the berries later this year. A: March is the very best time to prune common nandina. Cut a third of the canes at 12 inches high,...
Daphnes – Layer branches
Q: I’m growing daphnes. While educating myself, I ran across this statement: “One can layer branches of daphne in the spring.” Would you explain what they mean by “layer branches” ? A: “Layering” a branch means to help it form...
Peony plant – Transplanting
Q: I have four 15-year-old peony plants. Nearby trees are creating too much shade for good blooms. When is the best time to transplant them to a sunnier location? A: Although they are blooming now, peonies are best divided in...
Crocus bulb – Cooking
Q: I heard that the very expensive saffron spice is just the stamen of a crocus bulb. Can I collect them from my garden each spring and use them in my cooking or will I poison myself? A: It’s correct...
