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Virgil asks about yellow leaves oon his Rose of Sharon. When leaves turn yellow on most any plant, it usually means too much water, or too little. Too much sun, or too little.

Thanks Marjorie - Ed.

It is important to make sure that the plants do not get wet in direct sunlight or they may get burnt.
The best time to water is early morning so that the plants have the benefit of the fluid during the hottest part of a day.
Evening watering is easier because one has more time and it is relaxing after a days work. You should be careful is night frost is a possibility and if you have problems with snails and slugs as they like the dampness after watering.

Thanks Ricardo - Ed.

Hydrangeas come in several different varieties but generally to proprogate, there are two different ways that I know of.
Take one (or more) lower branch and with a knife, make a nick or thin slice just below the "knot" in the branch. Lower the branch gently to the ground that you have loosened up, cover it with about an inch of dirt and put a brick or stone over it to keep it "in touch" with the dirt. It will form roots at the place you nicked it. I did this in the fall and by mid-spring, it had enough root to cut it off from the main plant and plant it where it doesn't get hot sun all day.
The second way, it to cut it off the original bush, remove all of the leaves except a few at the top (also any flowers or buds). Put it in water for a week or two, lay it in sand with just part of it above showing. It should root.

To make them blue, buy aluminum sulphate in your gardening store. The directions for mixing with water are on the package but it's 1tb per gal. Water the plant once a week starting in the spring.

Thanks Marjorie - Ed.

RE: tomatoes rotting on bottom as ripen. Everything says it is due to lack of calcium. I found the info below:
Blossom end rot.....Dorothy - To eliminate blossom end rot on tomatoes, mix up 2 tablespoons of dry concrete mortar mix and 2 tablespoons of epson salts for each tomato plant and sprinkle around base. Puts necessary nutrients in soil.

Thanks Sue - Ed.

Here is the best way to root a rododendrom plant..... A cutting should be taking at the beginging of spring when new groth is present... you want to cut about a 2-3 inch long section. (try to remove one that doesn't contain a bud) Let the cuting dry for about an hour... Dip the cutting in rooting hormone. This can be found at most garden supply stores. tap off any exess hormone. Place the cutting in a mixture of perelite and vermiculite (half and half) make a tent like structer out of plastic also give good ligt but be carfull not to let the cutting dry out. Keep cutting moist (don't let dry out, will hinder root develoment) it might also help to remove any leaves that will be touching your medium, they will might rot. Try about 6 to 12 cuttings.. after they root. transplant them to a soil with good drainage. you might want to get them well established before planting out side... Rhododendroms like acid soil so a acid based fert. should be used to establish a good root to shoot ratio.... good luck

Thanks Melissa - Ed.

Azaleas and Rhodadendrons are the same family and in upstate NY, they appear to like both some sun and shade. They can be propagated the same way as the hydrangeas previously described by burying a low branch in the ground while still attached. Most soft wooded bushes can be propgated this way.

Thanks Marjorie - Ed.

Someone told me to put my wedding bouquet in the freezer for a few weeks and then it would dry out. Some of the blooms did dry out but others looked pretty poorly so be careful with this tip!

Thanks Ulrica - Ed.

Blue hydrangea need iron to produce blue flowers. Try putting some large iron nails in the ground around the base if you cannot find the suitable 'Blue Hydrangea' fertilizer.

Thanks Peter - Ed.

Red Beetles
Joyce from Holland asks:

A good ground cover for the 30'x30' hill is English Ivy. I just saw that on a short trip and it was beautiful.

Thanks Marjorie - Ed.

This is regarding the question about where to plant Gardenias. I have two on the NE side of my house that I planted in 1970. I wish you could see them in bloom. They have thrived with hardly any care except an occasional dose of Triple 13 and minor pruning. I might add that my soil is a sandy loam and the gardenias are planted underneath pine trees. Hope this helps.

Thanks Norma - Ed.

In response to the not-so-blue Blue Spruce from Ricky in Canada. Placing rusty nails or razor blades in the soil and around the tree will help you get the blue back into your Spruce. This also works great for Hydrangeas helping them keep their beautiful bright colors.

Thanks Carla - but please be careful with the razor blades! Ed.

Supposedly, Callas need a rest after they flower. You are supposed to go without watering them for about 6 weeks, and then go again (with standard fertilizer every few weeks). Mine are in the same state, and I've just begun with them as well...

Thanks Josiah - Ed.

A potted hydrangea can be planted directly in the ground by digging a hole the size of the pot. Loosen the dirt in the bottom of the hole and fill it half full with water. When the water has drained, set the plant in the hole even with the ground.
Tamp the dirt down solidly. (you can add a very light mix of Miracle Gro or something similar to the water). The important part of planting the hydrangea is to put it in a protected area like next to the house and out of the wind. It can then later be moved after it's been established as an outdoor plant..

Thanks Marjorie - Ed.

An answer to Miranda in Canada's questiona about getting acid to hydrigina is simple. Miracle Grow has a fertilizer that has acid in it. I use it about every two weeks for a few weeks beginning about this time of the year. I live in NE Texas.

Thanks Marge - Ed.

Hi Sue, I'm a long-time gardener and the first thing I would do is research everything you can find on English Gardens, there's more than one to choose from. I would personally go to a site (UK,United Kingdom) and find some gardening ideas, maybe with pics. The the second thing, would be a soil test BEFORE purchasing your plants, this will save you time and $. I tell my friends to sit down and just make a list of every plant you like and make a sketch (design) of what you want: water feature, birdbath, sitting area etc. Do your dogs follow commands well? Dogs will go where they want if they're not trained, I have many and they understand, NO, Come, sit, you know the basics. I never physically correct an animal, the tone of your voice is all you need. Maybe,just a thought, before you begin the yard, a friend could help with training you pets' First things first. Hope this helps, happy gardening.

Thanks Native - Ed.

No you don't have to shred your sycamore leaves,just mow them and forget them. Acid naturally to your yard.

Thanks Native - Ed.

Denise; it sounds a little like blossum end rot, and a product called Manab could help. Read the instructions carefully. Have you asked other gardeners you know?

Thanks Native - Ed.

Azaelas can be planted in either full./part sun or shade

Thanks Cindy - Ed.

In response to the question of what to do with the olive tree in the UK, I would like to suggest that the tree be trained (pruned) as a bonsai. Olive trees make excellent bonsai stock and you might find a new hobby you will enjoy for years to come. There are many good books on beginning the art of bonsai and several organizations to visit for information and inspiration in the UK and abroad.

Thanks Richard - Ed.

In reply to Richard's question re rhododendron seeds-the following is from the "Park's Success with Seeds" book for rhododendron species: sow outdoors in late winter or early spring, or indoors about the same time, maintaining a temperature in the medium of 55-60F during germination which takes 50-60 days. Do not cover the very fine seeds and keep shaded from direct sun. (sounds as difficult as hellebores, which I'm still waiting on to sprout).

Thanks Roxanne - Ed.

Re why the gardenia leaves turn yellow-this plant likes an acid soil, so you might try putting pine needles around it. I also throw my coffee grinds under the plant (not right at stem), and there is an iron additive you can get if the leaves are still yellow after the above (look at nursery centers).

Thanks Roxanne - Ed.

Poinsetta, In mid January most people throw the Poinsetta away. It's very difficult but occasionally somebody succeeds to get the Poinsetta in bloom for a second time. If you want to try it: You have to cut the Poinsetta back to half it size and give him a place were it's cooler then 12 degrees Celsius. After a while new shoots will appear in your Poinsetta. Then you must give it a new container and grow warmer. In the summer maybe you can give it a place outside. You have to fertilize every two weeks ones with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients. If you want that the Poinsetta to bloom with Christmas again then you have to place it in absolutely darkness for 14 hours a day for two months before Christmas. When you don't place the Poinsetta in the darkness then the plant will bloom maybe in the spring.

Passiflora, The soil must be rich and well drained. They must stand in the full sun and a place that they can climb. In the summer they need to get extra water. If you find them to large you can prune them in the spring . passiflora is normally not hardy so if it's freezing you have to put them inside or protect them.

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