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Please send your Questions, Answers, Tip to us at Yourgarden.com NEW To help you find the answer to your question we have collected the most popular answers per topic in a special Answer section. |
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Cypress Trees Rebecca from the USA asks: |
I am currently growing bald cypress trees on my residential property to promote native restoration in Miami, FL. Trouble is, I've been told cypress trees don't do well with regular store-bought fertilizer; rather, they tend to prefer different micronutrients typically found in boggy, marsh-like settings. Can you give me a tip on an easy way to fertilize my cypress trees? |
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Oak Trees Alisa from the USA asks: |
We have a lot of oak trees with little red fuzzy bumps on the underside of the leaves- what do you think this could be? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Cynips quercusfolii also known as oak gall wasp. The gall wasp lays an egg in the leaf of an oak tree. That's what you called bumps on the underside of the leaves of the oak trees. Normally if the oak tree is healthy they don't cause any harm. |
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Hydrangea Debra from the USA asks: |
How do I care for my Hydrangea do I cut it back it the fall? cover it? fertilize it? etc...? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | If you have a Hydrangea macrophylla then you don't have to prune it if it's not to big for you. Only after blooming you can prune those stems that bloomed. If you want to prune your Hydrangea look at Yourgarden.com Q&A by the answer Hydrangea. If you have a Hydrangea arborenscens 'Grandiflora', 'Annabelle' you have to prune it back in the spring. For fertilizing and conditions see the answer on Lace Cap Hydrangea (below).
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| Hydrangea
2 Andy from the USA asks: |
My hydranga plant does not flower, any ideas? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Why
your Hydrangea is not flowering is a good question.
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| Lace
Cap Hydrangea Bob from the USA asks: |
We have a Lace Cap Hydranga and we want to plant it and care for it. were in our yard should I plant it and how should we care for it.Does it need sun or shade? A lot of water or little water? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The
Lace Cap Hydrangea know as Hydrangea macrophylla needs the following
conditions: Well drained, moisture to dry soil that must be rich. The soil should be acid to neutral and consist of sand or need loamy, clayish-humus. Blue flowers need acid soil for there colour. You can plant the Hydrangea in the half shade or shade. Don't plant it in a windy place. The Lace Cap Hydrangea combines well with perennials for woodland and borders, but don't plant them too densely. |
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Greenhouse Angie from the USA asks: |
I am interested in buying a home greenhouse. I would like to hear from others who have a home greenhouse. Any information would be helpful, positive or negative. |
| Editor's Note | We have a number of articles with information about greenhouses including Greenhouse Wisdom. Also, a number of Greenhouse suppliers can be found in the Directories section under Features/Greenhouse. |
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Vegetables Ana from the USA asks: |
I would like to know if there is a chart that will tell me when to plant vegetable. I live in Southern California zone 10. |
| Kiwi
etc. Pepe from the USA asks: |
Can you send me a photo of male and female kiwi flowers for actineda arguta and chinesis so that I can tell the sex difference of my vines? Also after 8 years my chinesis vines 3 out of 4 died in early summer. The other died back. In spring we had a late frost, but the vines did not die until slowly 2 months later. They were watered, mounded up to protect from collar rot and were not dug under neath by gophers. Any ideas? Also , my Issai kiwis keep dying after some time when I plant them from pots in the semi shade to the field in full sun. Do they prefer shade? or what else could be going wrong? A question about my peachcot tree. It is 10 years old and doesn't set any blossoms. Its in an orchard with other trees that do fine and are abundent with peaches. I have the same problem with a Lodiapple tree. It's grafted on a tree that bears other types of apples every year and some of the scion wood I have grafted onto other rootstocks bears Lodi apples. One more, on my asian pear trees and sometimes other trees, theyn sometimes get discolored near the base and sometimes die or die back. Any ideas? |
| Editor's Note | Don't forget, if you have any good quality photos images of flowers, plants, trees, shrubs etc. or other gardening objects such as furniture, art objects, animals and insects etc. then please mail them to us at Yourgarden.com. We will credit your photos with your name and e-mail address (so it must be your photo and not 'borrowed'). We will put all images in a databank where anyone can access, select and download, copyright free. The best photos will be rewarded with a Yourgarden.com Tee-shirt so don't forget to include your e-mail address so we can contact you. We have had very few submissions up to now so get snapping! |
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Olive Tree Jeanette from the UK asks: |
Last year we bought an olive tree in a pot, it was about 0.3m tall. We have had it in the garden since, and it has grown to about a metre high and wide. We have two questions 1) Could we be advised about the best methods of pruning, and when to do it and 2) What/where is the best place/conditions for it over winter (bearing in mind we live in England)? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The temperature zone of the Olea europaea is 8-11. The olive tree can stand a frost temperature from, about -10C till -15C. When it's freezing very hard in the winter then it's better to give the Olive tree a cool place inside. The soil must be well drained, rich, clay is very good and give a lot of water when the olives are riping. Give the Olive tree a place in the sun. You don't need to prune but if you want to prune than the best time for it is in the spring. |
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Rose Bush Tonya from the USA asks: |
In the spring, I purchased a Queen Elizabeth Rose bush. It was about knee high, and with out any blooms. I planted it, and during the summer it grew like a weed. Several stalks have come up and all of the branches are between 12 and 15 feet tall. The bush was very healthy, green full leaves. No spots or fungus. One problem, it has not produced one bloom, or even bud. What I can I do to correct this? |
| Moya
Janko from the UK replies: |
About the Queen Elizabeth Rose - my mother used to grow them - they were a great favorite. They are very vigorous and do grow tall, and are very strong. As for not flowering, my first thought was that your reader had overfed it, causing considerable green growth. But my second thought is that she should persevere with the Rose, using nothing more than well rotted horse manure, and to prune it well. I cannot recall where your reader lived, but February/March time in the UK is the best time to dealt with the formative pruning. The plant needs to think it is being killed, to produce strong shoots and flowers. All that new growth really needs to be taken off so that the rose puts its energy into regenerating itself. Please keep going with it - they are such splendid roses. By the way, I hope it is in full sun? Otherwise, the plant could be just reaching for the sky. Best wishes. Moya Janko (Gold Medal Winning Garden Designer and Horticulturist). |
| Kiwi
Cindy from the USA asks: |
Could you please tell me if there is a way to tell the difference of a male kiwifruit and a female by the leaves? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian responded a few weeks ago to a question about Kiwi gender with: | You can see the difference between the female and male kiwifruit by looking at the flowers of the vines. The female flowers have an obvoius potential little kiwi in the flower, just like a femal pumpkin flower. The male only has the anthers that hold the pollen in the flowers. So you have to look very carefully when the vines are flowering. |
| Mountain
Laurels Rich from the USA asks: |
The lower leaves on my mountain laurels, entering their second winter, are turning yellow and falling off. Normal? Problem? |
| Crepe
myrtle Mike from the USA asks: |
I need to know when on a crepemyrtle do I pintch the buds off to get new ones? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Don't take the buds off. If you want to encourage more flowers in your crepe myrtle remove the seedpods. You have to clip right behind the seedpods. |
| Sage
Lemon Tree Ray from the USA asks: |
I have been told that I have an "old sage lemon tree" in my back yard (home I just moved in to). It is more of a bush than a tree, has golf ball size lemon looking yellow fruit with many seeds and has numerous, very long thorns. What is an "old sage lemon tree"? --and any hints on taking care of it? |
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Hydrangea April asks: |
How do I prune a hydrangea bush that had been let go. It is about 5 feet high and about 6 feet in diameter. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Directly after blooming you prune only those stems that bloomed. Next year you prune after the blooming again those stems that bloomed. You prune until you get the right size that you want to have for your Hydrangea bush. If that takes to long for you, you can prune everything after the blooming also the stems that didn't bloom. One problem !!! you don't get any flowers next year! So the best method is the first because you have then every year some flowers. If that doesn't matter you then you can choose for the second method. |
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Print or Poster Patti from Australia asks: |
I am looking for a print or poster of a PLUM tree (or branches) in blossom for framing. I have looked through countless print books and have also spoken to everyone from travel agencies to botanical gardens. You are my last hope and I would appreciate it very much if you could help me. I intended photographing one this spring but my house has recently been broken into and all my camera gear was amoung the stolen property. |
| Editor's Note | Sorry to hear about the break-in, it happens only too often. Your plea has given us at Yourgarden.com the idea to set-up a library of gardening images that we (gardeners) make and can freely use. If you have any good quality photos images of flowers, plants, trees, shrubs etc. or other gardening objects such as furniture, art objects, animals and insects etc. then please mail them to us at Yourgarden.com. We will credit your photos with your name and e-mail address (so it must be your photo and not 'borrowed'). We will put all images in a databank where anyone can access, select and download, copyright free. The best photos will be rewarded with a Yourgarden.com Tee-shirt so don't forget to include your e-mail address so we can contact you. |
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Front Yard Laura from the USA asks: |
I would like to know if you could provide me with instructions on creating one of those fancy shape (kidney) landscape front yard center-pieces. I would like to place a couple of pine trees, a magnolia, and a few bushes and flowers in the center piece. I also would like to know what type of equipment I would use. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | I'm sorry I can't help you with that. It's too difficult to give you instructions without seeing your front yard. You can ask a local landscape gardener or a specialist. They can help you and give you advice and instructions. They also can tell you what type of equipment you have to use for it. |
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Mandevilla Christine from the USA asks: |
Can a Mandevilla vine be grown on along a chain link fence, or would it do better on a trellis or post? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | A Mandevilla can normally grow very good along a chain link fence. A trellis is maybe more naturally but if you like a chain fence more than you can use that. |
| Tomatoes
Darcy from Canada asks: |
I have a mold growing inside my tomatoes as they rippen it only hit my beefstake plants. I really could us some help green ones don't have any mold or rot it seems as they rippen the more appears. The outside of the tomatoes are healthy. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | I think your problem with your tomatoes is maybe fruit rot, it's a fungus. Try a chemical control spray such as Copper spray or something like that. |
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Chilean Firetree Frank from the USA asks: |
I've just received seeds for a Chilean Firetree (embothrium coccineum) I was hoping someone might have tips/advice for germinating & transplanting into the ground. I live in zone-9 approx. 25 miles east of San Francisco. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The spring is the best time to plant the seeds of your Embothrium coccineum. Use a deep, moisture but well drained soil in the sun or half shade. Zone 9 is perfect, the Embothrium coccineum can grow there very well. |
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Rose of Sharon Stephnanie from the USA asks: |
I would like to root Rose of Sharon trees. I tried to pull up the suckers that had formed next to the existing tree but only one survived. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Why don't you use the seeds of your Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). After blooming you get green seedpods and after a while they dry and will be brown. They fall off the shrub (tree) or you can pop them off by yourself. Inside the seedpods you find a lot of dark brown seeds. So try it and you get more Roses of Sharon. |
| Philip Swindells from the UK replies: | Hibiscus syriacus is easily increased from short cuttings of unflowered growth taken during the summer.Cuttings torn away with a heel of old wood root quite readily.The problem with seeds is that they do not necessarily reproduce exactly as the parent plant. |
| Kiwi
Pollen Ramiro from Argentina asks: |
Where can I buy kiwi pollen? |
| Editor's Note | We
have a number of Seed suppliers in our Directorieswho may be able
to help, try: Ed Hume Seeds at www.humeseeds.com Greendealer Exotic Seeds at www.GreenDealer-Exotic-Seeds.com Thompson & Morgan at www.thompson-morgan.com |
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Ceanothus R.Luper from the UK asks: |
Low growing, spreading ceanothus. Appears healthy, spreading green leaved-branches, but no flowers. Why not? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | First you have to look if all the conditions for your Ceanothus are good: a place in the sun is very important, also the Ceanothus loves a sheltered place against cold and drying winds. The soil must be well drained. Most Ceanothus will not survive in hot, shallow alkaline soil. |
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Houseplants Alma from the USA asks: |
I would like to get some information on how to take care of indoor plants. |
| Editor's Note | We have a number of articles that may be of interest such as Absolutly Amaryllis and 50 Ideas on maximising your house plants. |
| Gravel Mija from the UK asks: |
I've been thinking of graveling over a patch of land which is below a sycamore tree in my garden, but am slightly concerned as to how to collect the leaves in the autumn without disturbing the gravel. |
| Philip Swindells from the UK replies: | Fallen leaves are easily removed from gravel with a hand held leaf blower. |
| Norwegian
Pine Theresa from the USA asks: |
Indoor I have a norwegian pine purchased at thanksgiving of '99.......I can not seem to keep it from dying. |
| Oak
Tree Wayne from the USA asks: |
I have a large oak tree (60ft) that spits a sticky sweet substance from June thru August. Obvioulsy it makes a mess of patios, cars, etc. There's another similar tree about 25 feet away that is fine. |
| Bud
problem Kathy from the USA asks: |
The buds on my Gardenia and Hibiscus drop off just before opening up. I live in zone 11, fertilize appropriately, and otherwise the plants are healthy, producing numerous buds that fail to flower. |
| Lace
Cap Hydranga Eli from the USA asks: |
Where can I purchase lace cap hydranga's for home planting. I live in Nassau county in New York? |
| Galanthus Birthe from Denmark asks: |
How can we grow galanthus in pots.? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | It's very simple to grow Galanthus in pots. You have to plant the Galanthus in the autumn in the pots . Planting depth is about 10 cm. The soil must be well drained and moist. You can place the pots in the full sun to half shade. They bloom in the winter/spring. |
| Sundial Bobby from the USA asks: |
How does one install a sundial? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Sorry I can't help you with that question. It's very difficult for me if I don't know what kind of sundial you mean. I can advice you to look at some websites. You find a lot of information by The North American Sundial Society (www.sundials.org). or by the International Sundial Society on the Internet (ISSI) (www.sundials.co.uk). I hope they can help you with your question. |
| Front
yard Jaime from the USA asks: |
I recently moved into a home in a residental neigborhood. The problem I am posed with now is the front "yard". It is actually a hill with about a 60% grade to it (enough that cutting grass would be difficult). It is simply landscaped now and has 12 steps up the center. My husband and I am interested in fixing the front so that the steps are more gradual and the landscaping a little easier to take of. I was wondering where to go or who to talk to in order to get some ideas. If anyone can help I would appreciate it. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | My advice is: go to a landscape gardener or a specialist in design gardens. They can look at your front yard and give you some good ideas for it. |
| Lemon
Trees Alex from the USA asks: |
I have 2 potted lemon trees indoors... in bright light. I grew them from seeds 3 years ago. Lately the leaves have been turning yellow, but remaining firm. There is lots of new growth at the stem ends. I'm going to start losing many leaves soon (all the way up) if I don't figure this out. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Important for the lemon trees is a good drainage. Too much water can cause yellow leaves. Also very important is to fertilize with a Citrus fertilizer or some thing like that monthly. You should try that first by your lemon trees. |
| Crabapple Jill from the USA asks: |
I need to know how to care for my crabapple tree. When should I fertilize it? What other special needs do they have? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Most important is that your crab apple stands in a fertile and moisture soil and have a sunny place. You can fertilize your crab apple from spring when flowering starts (or just before) till early fall. There are no further special needs. See for more details a previous answer of Malus coronaria in Yourgarden.com Q & A. |
| Pansies Erin from the USA asks: |
Help! My pansies and other flowers are being eaten by something, on the tops only! I have not seen any creatures on them, but something is doing damage! |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | I think maybe your troubled by earwigs. Earwigs eat at night and hide during the day in dark paces such as under pots and containers. The earwigs make holes in flowerpetals and leaves. You can try them to catch in a newspaper or some thing like that. Place the newspaper, fold up or roll it up between the flowers and plants at night. When it become daylight the earwigs will hide between the newspaper sheets. If you can't get rid of them you can also buy a good insect spray, look on the container of that product if it is also against earwigs. |
| More
Tomatoes Adryin from the USA asks: |
My husband and I have a veggie garden. Our tomatoe plant leaves have recently started to curl up, turn a yellowish brown color and almost look like black spot found on rose bushes. we have three plants. First we notice these problems on only one plant, now it has spread to another. How do we treat this problem? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | It's always difficult to say when I don't see the plant, what kind disease it has. I think the problem by your tomato plant is Early Blight. Early blight is a fungus. Dark brown to black spots on the leafs with concentric rings, usually starting on the lower leaves. Leaves can turn yellow and drop off the plant. You must avoid watering the leaves and pull off the older leaves that have spots on them, you must burn those leaves. Never use them in compost. Avoid also overhead watering. If that doesn't help then you can use a chemical control such as copper spray. A powder that you mix with water. Always read the entire label of the container and follow the directions. |
| Unwanted
Guests Deborah from the USA asks: |
How do I keep coons and deer from eating my sweet corn? How do I keep rabbits from eating my peas and green beans. I don't want to put up a fence around my garden. Do you have any suggestions? |
| Editor's Note | The Garden Cop may be your solution. You can find out more about it here |
| Tomatoes Jane from the UK asks: |
I have recently aquired some tomatoes called First in the Field. Is anyone able to tell me whether they are a bush or cordon in growth habit? |
| Calla
Lilly Jamie from the USA asks: |
After white calla lilly blooms begin to shrivel, do you cut them back and how far? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | You can cut the blooms from your Calla back, not to far but above the leaves. |
| Cypress
trees Charles from the USA asks: |
I
have a friend who has 12 cypress trees which are now about 4-5 feet.
He is going to pull them out and was planning on trashing them. I
could use these trees around my property border/privacy. 1. How do I remove (depth/width)? 2. How deep do I dig the new whole. 3. The trees are about 15 minutes from my home, so they won't be replanted immediately. How do I care for in the meantime? |
| Atlanta
Summers Chezron from the USA asks: |
Will embothrium coccineum survive in Atlanta, Georgia? Summers are hot and humid and Winters are mild. We are zone 8. Summer highs are around 95 degrees F. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Yes the Embothrium coccineum also known as the Chilean fire bush (tree) can grow in zone 8. the trees and bushes can grow in zone 8 and 9. I can understand that you want to try it, it's a beautiful tree. |
| Philip Swindells from the UK replies: | The seeds of embothrium are best sown immediately after the ripen in a peaty compostin the cool If kept until the spring they are much more difficult to germinate and do so very erratically.Ihave raised them like this commercially. |
| Arbor Sharon from the USA asks: |
I would like to know the best method for installing an arbor. It is a wooden arbor and I am afraid that the wood will rot if it is buried into the ground. |
| Lace
Cap Hydrangea Bob from the USA asks: |
We have a Lace Cap Hydranga and we want to plant it and care for it. were in our yard should I plant it and how should we care for it.Does it need sun or shade? A lot of water or little water? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The
Lace Cap Hydrangea know as Hydrangea macrophylla needs the following
conditions: Well drained, moisture to dry soil that must be rich. The soil should be acid to neutral and consist of sand or need loamy, clayish-humus. Blue flowers need acid soil for there colour. You can plant the Hydrangea in the half shade or shade. Don't plant it in a windy place. The Lace Cap Hydrangea combines well with perennials for woodland and borders, but don't plant them too densely. |
| Muddy,
wet area Wanda from the USA asks: |
What grows well in a muddy, wet area with 1/2 a day full sun? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | I
hope that the ground is not to wet because then only water plants
can grow in these conditions. If the ground is always moisture, there
are a lot of plants who grow there very well. You can try these plants: - Astilbe species - Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard' - Cimicifuga racemosa - Filipendula rubra 'Venusta', very good on wet ground/full sun - Iris pseudacorus - Iris laevigata - Iris forresttii - Iris x robusta 'Gerald Darby' - Iris versicolor - Ligularia 'Gregynog Gold' - Lysichiton americanus - Lysichiton camtschatcensis - matteuccia struthiopteris - Osmunda regalis - primula species If it's to wet for some of these plant, then you need more water plants. Let me know if you need any names. |
| Daisy
bush? Maureen from England asks: |
I am trying to locate the name of a shrub, the only information I have is the common name "daisy bush". The plant is an evergreen and has small white flowers in August. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | I think that you mean by 'daisy bush' the Bellis perennis. It's evergreen indeed and has white flowers about May till September. I hope that it is the shrub that you are looking for. |
| Philip Swindells from the UK replies: | I believe this to be the New Zealand Daisy Bush,Olearia haastii. |
| Kiwi Brian from Canada asks: |
How can you tell the difference between female/male kiwi fruit vines? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | You
can see the difference between the female and male kiwifruit by looking
at the flowers of the vines. The female flowers have an obvoius potential
little kiwi in the flower, just like a femal pumpkin flower. The male
only has the anthers that hold the pollen in the flowers. So you have
to look very good when the vines flowering. You can also buy (if you want to buy vines) Kiwifruit vines who have both male and female fowers so they can self pollinate. If you need more information about the Kiwifruit let me know! Good luck with looking. |
| Brian replies: | Thank you for your reply Re:Kiwi fruit vines. I had given a friend a gift of 2 cuttings,male & female. The plants responded well and grew around a large wooden lattice-work. This is the second growing season and still no flowers. Is this a normal cycle of adaptation to a new growing environment? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | It's normal. Kiwi vines don't begin to give fruit until they have grown for 4 years. The maximum production is not attained until 8 years. So nothing to worry about. |
| Philip Swindells from the UK replies: | There are male and female clones available,thus guaranteeing gender. 'Tomuri' (male),'Jenny' (female), 'Hayward' (female). |
| Vine
Mandevilla John from the USA asks: |
I would like infomation on fertiliztion and care of the vine mandevilla . |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: |
The soil of the Mandevilla must be well drained and rich. Fertilizer: recommend a constant liquid or regular feed combined with slow release granular incorporated soil. A balanced fertilizer switching to higher phosphorus during warmer months. Or in spring and summer, feed every two weeks a fertilizer high in phosphorus such as 10-20-10. For people in colder areas: Take the Mandevilla indoors in the winter. Fertilize the plant regular during the growing season, but stop fertilizing during the winter and keep the plant soil dryer. Keep the Mandevilla as warm as possible. Once growth resumes in springtime, resume normal watering and fertilizing to encourage flowering. For the best growth and flowering, plant the Mandevilla in a full sun location. |
| Rhododendron Rinka from Canada asks: |
After blooming is finished is there a correct way to prune or cut back this plant to encourage a bushier speciman? |
| Mary from Ireland replies: | I find that twisting off the dead flower heads, or what's left of them, encourages a better flowering the next year. |
| Red
Maple Debbie from the USA asks: |
My large red maple is raining leaves. They're green with brown spots. I have seen very small greenish yellow bugs on the leaves. I'm afraid I'm going to loose this beautiful tree soon if I don't get help. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | It could be Tar Spot or Maples (Rhytisma acerinum and Rhytisma punctatum), black patches on the leaves. It's very common. Normally no need to spray (fungicides) but raking and throw the leaves away is a control method because they over winter on fallen leaves. Or Phyllosticta leaf spot of maple, also normally no need to spray. |
| Slug
Problems Paula from the UK asks: |
What plants are best for a garden infested with slugs, or the best means of getting rid of them once and for all. I have pets and children and have tried beer, gravel, eggshells. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The best way is pest control to get rid of slugs but not in your case because you have children and pets. You tried already beer and sharp gravel, most of the times it helps. What you also can try is copper wire. Slugs will not cross over bare copper wire. |
| Katherine from the USA replies: | You can kill slugs and snails with table salt. Go into the garden at dusk and look around plants, when you spot one of the "creatures" simply sprinkle them with your salt shaker. No harm to children, pets or the environment! |
| Rhodedendron Joan from the USA asks: |
I have some rhodedendron in my front yard and was what advice you could give regarding pruning. The plant flowers well and has plenty of new shoots, I just need to know how to prune it to thicken up the growth. |
| Tomato
Plants Harlowe from the USA asks: |
I have some tomato plants growing quite nicely beautiful green and healthy looking flowers by the tons but once the flower is done blooming it dries up and falls off. Well drained soil with sand and gravel and a good organic base of chicken guano and other nutrients. Watered every other day when soil is just to the point of being barely moist never dry. Please help. Plants are about 4-5 feet tall |
| African
Violets Anne from the USA asks: |
I would like to know how to care for African Violets. Do they need direct sun, etc. Watering and drainage needs, etc. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The
African Violets (Saintpaulia) need in the summer a place in the half
shade or shade, not in the full sun! In the winter they need much
light but also no full sun. African Violets must be stand in a warm place, the temperature must not fall under 16 degrees Celsius. The ground must be nutritious and the best ground is a mixture of loam, peat and sand. |
| Hilary from the UK replies: | I
have several othese plants that I have propogated from leaves. Mine
do well by having them in an east facing window in winter and a west
facing window in summer. Thanks Hilary - Ed.. |
| Callas Barbara from the USA asks: |
I've received some calla lillies as a gift. Do you have any information on planting and growing them? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | You
can plant Calla's in the full ground or in a container. When you plant
them in the full ground you must keep the ground very moist. If you
want to plant the Calla's in a container you must keep the ground
a little bit moist. The Calla's can grow in the half shade and also in the full sun. In the summer you have to give the Calla's a lot of water. |
| Spruce
Needles Lea from the USA asks: |
Why are the needles on my dwarf alberta spruce turning brown? To much water or not enough? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | I
don't think that your problem with your dwarf Alberta spruce has to
do with water. The symptoms you described look like: - Spruce-alburnum/mite: symptoms are, first the needles turn into yellow and then brown after that they fall off. or - Green spruce lice: the needles turn also yellow then brown after a long time they also fall off. The best way against those two diseases are to spray with a pesticide. Ask by a local garden store what they have of pesticide for your dwarf Alberta spruce. |
| Crab
Apples Adam from the USA asks: |
I am interested in growing crab apples. In the spring they look so beautiful. I was wondering about how much they cost, how big they are when purchased, and how large they will grow. Also, should I use fertilizer, how long do they live? Any information you could give me about the crab apple, preferably Malus coronaria. Thanks for any help you can give me, and good luck with your crab apples. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: |
Malus coronaria also known as a crab apple. Height about 7 till 9 m. The colour of the flower is white or pink. Flower size is about 4 cm wide. Bloom season is from April till May. The fruit size is about 2,5 - 3 cm in diameter and look like a small apple, yellow/green. Conditions: most fertile soils, preferring a moisture retentive well-drained loamy soil. Grows also good in heavy clay soils. When it's caring fruit the crab apple needs plenty of water. Prefers full sun but succeeds in partial shade. Fertilize from spring till early fall. Special in the begin of flowering until the fruits are set. You can use general purpose fertilizer. |
| Apple
Trees John from the USA asks: |
What schedule should I maintain for spraying of 4 apple trees for pest control. Also, what pesticide do you recommend to use on my apple trees. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The
best time to spraying your apple trees for pest control is in the
springtime, a few weeks later you can spray again. Repeat if necessary
in the autumn. You can ask a good garden store in your neighbourhood what they recommend to use for pesticide, read good the instructions on the package normally they give you a schedule for spraying for that particularly pesticide. |
| Cat
problems Kathy from the USA asks: |
How do I keep the cats out of my flower beds? I heard there is a home remedy that you apply every couple of weeks or so. I am looking for something that won't kill them. They dig and do their business here, in addition, break my flowers when they are resting in it. |
| Yourgarden.com replies: |
Take a look at the Garden Cop in our Spotlight section. It is a 'friendly' way of keeping unwanted visitors from areas of your garden. For Europe there is the Catwatch which can be found in Peterson Product Promotions' store. Both these products are environmentally friendly and cause no harm to the 'Pests' involved. |
| Asclepias
tuberosa Hans from the Netherlands asks: |
How do you take care of an asclepias tuberosa? Do you have to prune it and if so, when is the best time? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Asclepias tuberosa prefer to stand in an open sunny (warm) place without trees and shrubs in the neighborhood. The best ground for an Asclepias tuberosa is nutritious and a little dry. It's good to combine with other plants in a border. The Asclepias tuberosa must be protected against to much rainfall and snow in the winter and in the summer not to dry. Plant high about 50 to 75 cm so it's not necessary to prune. |
|
Pepper Plants Mike from the USA asks: |
My pepper plants grow very small peppers. And the plants never really seem to mature to full development. When the plants blossom early can you remove the flowers in order to promote further plant development, or is this bad for the plant? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Of
course you can remove the flowers of the pepper plants but try first
to make the best conditions for the pepper plants to grow so you can
still have peppers. Keep them moist and warm in a sunny place and use organic fertilizer if necessary. The more sun the better for your pepper plants. The best soil is a mixture of: 1/3 good garden soil (don't use clay), 1/3 vermiculite or similar growing medium and 1/3 sand (for a good drainage, pepper plants like sand also very much) If there are weak leaves take them of. |
| Mike's results | It
did the trick I have had over 200 peppers from 15 plants. Now I have
to many, and the neighborhood is stocked. Editor's Note: Thanks for letting us know that Marian's advice helped. |
|
Flowering Hedge MaryAnn from Australia asks: |
We're after a fast growing hedge that flowers for Brisbane. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Some
fast growing hedge that flowers: - Amelanchier lamarckii, you can use it for a hedge for large gardens, flowers are white in the springtime. - Berberis vulgaris, flowers light yellow. - Forsythia x intermedia 'Lynwood' or 'Spectabilis', gives yellow flowers in the springtime. - Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' or 'Rotundifolia', flowers white in the springtime. - Spiraea x vanhouttei, it gives white flowers in early summer. |
| Roof
Garden Alexander from Malta asks: |
I am trying to start my roof garden here at home. Can you please suggest a site were I can find ideas of a roof garden. What plants are suitable to grow in our climate. |
| Roses Ida from the USA asks: |
What does "JACment" mean in relation to roses? |
| Lawn
care Lance from Florida asks: |
When is the right month to fert. your lawn if you live in north central florida? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the springtime. Repeat the fertilizing in the summer and autumn. Fertilize three times a year. |
|
Vegetable Garden Linda from the USA asks: |
I would like to plant a small vegetable garden,what would be a proper size? I just want to plant a few tomato plants, a few bell pepper plants, and a few cucumber plants. I do not want to make it to big. I want it to be oblong in shape. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | First
you must know the sizes of the space that vegetable plants need before
you can make a vegetable garden. I give you the sizes they need of
the vegetable plants that you want to plant in your garden: - Tomato plant: place 80 cm x 60 cm. - Pepper plant: place 80 cm x 35 cm. - Cumcumber plant: place 160 cm x 50 cm. So now you can calculate by yourselves the size of your vegetable garden. |
|
Daphne Shrub Susan from Australia asks: |
I had two Daphne Shrubs in pots one wilted and died. Both received the same water. The leaves did not turn yellow. What could cause the sudden death of what appeared to be a healthy Daphne? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | I don't know exactly the cause of the death of your Daphne but the best way to keep a Daphne is in a cool place. The ground can be light sour to calcareous but must consist of enough vegetable mould, fresh and moisty. Daphnes can stand in the sun or half shade. |
|
Lemon Tree Rika from the USA asks: |
I have a small lemon tree growing in my yard. The tree doesn't seem to be growing tall at all, but instead it is spreading out. How can I prune it so it grows tall instead? Should I prune it at all, or just leave it alone? |
|
Bird Nest Fern Ahmed from Pakistan asks: |
I have 30 plants of bird nest fern for the last 3 years but they are still of same size they neither grow nor die what should I do to make them grow. |
| Computer
aided Garden Design Pavel from the Czech Republic asks: |
I am looking for a computer program to help me with design and operation of an organic vegetable garden. Something similar to what is on www.hortis.com, only in English. |
| Editor's Note | Try the Garden Composer at http://www.gardencomposer.com/ |
|
Attracting Wildlife Frances from Scotland asks: |
Does anyone have information on plants that attract wildlife. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: |
Plants for
the butterfly are: Plants for
song-birds: |
| Bird
of Paradise Carol from the UK asks: |
I have just returned from a holiday in Madeira and would dearly love to grow a plant called 'Bird of Paradise'. I have obtained 4 seeds, has anyone any advice on how to grow these, bearing in mind our cold climate? |
| Elsa from the UK answers: | A number of years ago I also brought home 4 'Bird of Paradise' seeds, from the Canary Islands. I potted them with ordinary potting compost and have kept them indoors. I read that it takes about 5 years before they flower and that was so in my case. Only one of the four was successful but it is worth it. |
| Magnolia Beverley from the UK asks: |
When and how do you prune a magnolia gramdiflora. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The best way is not to prune your Magnolia grandiflora. When you still want to prune your Magnolia grandiflora then you prune minimal after the flowering. Prune it only short of space. So if there is enough of space for your Magnolia grandiflora then don't prune it. |
| Damp-off Rufus from the USA asks: |
I want to use damp-off as a control for damping off on vegetable seedlings. Where can I find a supplier or retail outlet for this product. |
| Tomato
problem Patti asks: |
Perhaps you can explain why the skins on my tomatoes the last couple of years have been extraordinarily thick and ripen unevenly. While most of the fruit ripens nicely, the skin around the top of the fruit stays green. Is this due to the weather or perhaps a lack of nutrients in the soil? I have been staking the plants, keeping one main stalk, and removing all suckers. What else should I be doing? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Tomato plants can grow on every ground that has a good structure and water housekeeping. You can keep the tomato plants well-aired by taken some leaves off. Not to much at the same time because the leaves make nutrition that the tomatoes need for their ripening. If there are a lot of tomatoes on one plant you have to take of the top of the cluster that's better for the size and the taste of the tomatoes. In the cultivation time you have to fertilize one or two times. It's very good that you removed the suckers. I don't know the weather by you but that's also important. |
| Flowers
for under a Chestnut tree Hendriekje asks: |
I would like to know what plants to put under a chestnut tree. The soil is very dry and sandy. So what I need is plants that look good and don't need to much water or sun. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: |
It's very difficult
for plants to live under trees in the dry shade. The species that
has the greatest chance to live well under that tree are spring
bulbs. Here are some plants that you can try for under your Chestnut tree:
|
| Bird
houses Alvin asks: |
I would like to find out about bird houses in Europe, what sites, what they look like. |
| David from the Netherlands answers: | In Holland we can buy beautiful bird houses in our local DIY stores for as little as $6 each. Here are some examples: |
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|
Ocean front yard Karen asks: |
Live near the ocean, front yard problem...Have northeast exposure April thru October full sun, thereafter, shade the rest of the year, house is itatilan in style with beautiful olive trees. Need to plant this area... slope down about 4 feet and 20 long.... let me know if anyone can help! |
|
Vien flower Meghan asks: |
I have been overlooking a certian vien flower in my gradent that has apeared. It is a very elegent, purple flower that grows on a vien. I am not sure of the name of the flower. Can anyone help? |
|
Perennials Donnelle from the USA asks: |
Should I pull up last year's perennials, or just remove the dead leaves, or leave them completely alone and let the new plants grow through them? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | It's difficult to say, I don't know what for kind perennials you have in mind. Usually you remove the dead leaves and sometimes you have to prune a little bit. |
|
Waterlily Ken from Australia asks: |
Perry's Baby Red waterlily - I have been trying to obtain this waterlily. Does anyone know if they are available in Australia? |
| Figs Davila asks: |
How do you transplant fig cuttings? |
| YG answers: | Encourage plenty of fruit-bearing stems by shortening new shoots in late spring when five leaves have formed. Don't forget: Only pea-sized embryo fruits, clustered around shoot tips, will over winter. Larger ones, still hard and unripe in late autumn, won't pull through. |
| Rock
Garden Julie from the UK asks: |
I am trying to build my first rock garden in the south of Engalnd and am having difficulty in trying to find the right types of rock , no book seems to give me the info I need. Could you suggest some types of rock? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The
best types of rocks that you can use for a rockgarden: -Tuff is a very good kind of stone for using in a rockgarden. It can be used by plants who love calcareous ground and also for plants who love sourishe ground. At first the color of tuff-stone is a little bit yellow but soon turns into grey. With tuff-stone you can make the rockgarden very naturally. You can also bore holes into the tuff so you can plant the rockplants direct into the stones. Buy not to soft tuff-stones because they fall easy apart. - Lavastone is dark red and is good to use also in combination with other kind of stones. Lavastone is a very light material so it's very good to work with It's also very useful for the rockplants because the material is so porous. - Vulcanostone is also good to use in a rockgarden. The structure of the stones is porous and often with little holes. The stone color is yellow. It's a shame that not all plants like them. - Moonrockstone has a beautiful structure with many holes. The holes are easy to put plants in. It's a very expensive stone so you can also combine them with cheaper kind of rockstones. Hope you can use this to choose a good type of rock for your rockgarden (or combine some with each other) Good luck with your rockgarden. |
| Seeds JRO asks: |
Is there any place on the web to go for help in growing a garden. I have just been layed off from my job and am not going to be able to buy many seeds or plants for my garden this year. Does any one out there have any seeds or special plants they would like to give away to some one who loves putting there hands in the earth and seeing what the rewards are. |
| Editor's Note | The 'Exchange' section is now active. Please use the button to the left to enter. |
| Thyme
and Roses Karen from Australia asks: |
Which is the thyme which has the lovely purple flower, and can I grow it in Sydney?. Also, i want to plant some roses, can you advise re a reference to find out which I can choose. The catalogues don't always have a lot of information. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | There
are so many Thymus varieties but I give you some names of Thymus who
are purple(red) and I think that they can live in Australia. - Thymus 'E.B. Anderson' about 10 cm high. - Thymus praecox 'Purple Beauty', about 10 cm high and needs poor ground. - Thymus serpyllum 'Coccineus', about 5 cm high and needs a nutritious and calcareous/dry ground in the sun. - Thymus serpyllum 'Bressingham', etc. You also asked about roses. What kind of roses are you thinking of to plant in your garden? (a climber, miniature, hybrid Tea, shrub roses, floribunda etc.) There are so many species. The introduced roses in Australia grow beautiful in the sun, windy and nutritious/well-aired ground. |
| Italian
Garden Teresa from Mississippi asks: |
Can anybody tell me anything about Italian gardens--not the big fancy formal luxurious gardens, but, the average family garden with flowers & veggies? |
| Soil
Improvement Bas from Holland asks: |
I recently got a new house with a garden full of clay (the rain water does not sink through!). What is the best to improve the soil in such a way that it becomes real garden soil? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The best way to improve the clayground of your garden is to drain it, but thats very complicated. More simple is to dig the clay well and mix it, for example, with sand, so that you'll improve the ground structure. When you make a terrace on the clay then it's best to make a drain to the rain water drain on the lowest place of the terrace. If that's to difficult you can make a drain to a hole filled with gravel also of course on the lowest place of the terrace. |
| Dying
Hellebores Helen Smith from Australia asks: |
I have a garden area devoted to green hellebores. They are growing in a raised bed beneath a Eucalyptus nicholii & receive adequate water (bore water, 950ppm). At this time of year (summer) I seem to lose several to what appears to be a fungal disease. The plants dry up & die & the stems seem to rot. Is this canker??? I have sprayed them more than once with Zineb. Can you advise what might be the problem & what is the best way of handling it. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | The place in the garden for the Helleborus is very important, most Helleborus species need space, calcareous ground and a place in the halfshade. Favorite place is a sheltered place in the lee. The symptoms that you described, look like a fungal disease. Helleborus are sensitive for fungal diseases such as: Phyllostica Helleborella and Coniothyrium Hellebori, mildew (Erysiphaceae) and false mildew (Peronosporaceae). The best way is to remove the parts of the Helleborus that's been infected (leaves etc.) and burn them. Ask your local gardenspecialist (store) for the best product he has against fungal disease. For example Bayer, Asef and ECOstyle have good products against fungal disease. It's very difficult to say what the exact disease is of your Helleborus. Maybe you can sent a photo of the Helleborus to make it easier for me, if you want to know more. |
|
Crab Apple
Tree |
I would appreciate your advice regarding our lovely old crab apple tree which appears to be dying. Since I inherited this garden I have planted a groundcover scabiosa underneath the tree & sprayed with Glyphosate to keep the kikuyu lawn at bay. The tree receives plenty of water & has been fine until this year. (We've been here 8 years now.) This year the tree has hardly any leaves & what leaves there are, are 'burnt' around the edges. Could the glysophate be getting into the roots of the tree? Please help!! |
| Annuals Ted asks: |
Could you please tell me how to plant various different varieties of annuals. I never know whether to cover them with dirt or leave them uncovered or in the dark or in the sunlight or if the seed should be frozen first. Any sites available with answers.? Is there a listing or chart of plants with planting instructions beside them? |
|
Woolly Root Aphid Alister asks: |
As part of the Scottish society for autism we run a horticultural therapy unit. Unfortunately we have been taken over by woolly root aphid. We are reluctant to use extreme pesticides but we need to get rid of these pests. Can some one help? |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Try a solution of soap-suds and spirit maybe it's not strong anough to get rid of the woolly aphids but you can try it first before using pesticides. I hope that it's working in your horticultural therapy unit.! |
| Fruit
Trees Angie asks: |
We just bought a house with orange, apple, lemon trees, who have not been taken care of. They have mold and who knows what else wrong with them. They need pruned and need fertilizer. I don't know where to start to help these poor trees. What should I do to help them? |
| Ficus
Tree Madelyn asks: |
I bought a Ficus tree a few months ago. Our cleaning lady may have slightly overwatered it, but the leaves have turned brown; almost all have fallen off. Is it too late or is there a way to get new growth started? If it wasn't overwatering, what caused it to lose its leaves? |
| HA-HA Verity asks: |
"I have recently incorporated a HA-HA in a garden design, the trouble is I am a bit at a loss at how to construct it. If anyone has experience, knowledge, ideas I would be most grateful." |
| Alice from the UK answers: |
HaHa's were introduced to the UK from France by Capability Brown. A HaHa is a boundary barrier that does not block the view. It was used to keep animals such as sheep and cattle out of the formal garden without loosing the view across the countryside. a HaHa was usually a 'semi-ditch' with the garden side a wall. It was called a HaHa form people's comments once they were told the reason for it. Using modern products such as perspex, it is possible to create the HaHa principle in a fence. |
| Yourgarden.com's Specialist - Marian replies: | Alice
from the UK is right. Ha-Ha's belong to the elements of the landscape
garden style of the 18 century. It was intend to have a seamless change
of the lawn by the house and the landscape behind, so it looks like
the whole surrounding belongs to the garden. Ha-Ha's consist of a deep section with a wall in it to keep the cattle or wild out of the garden. For the construction of a Ha-Ha you have to dig a lot. It's depending of the size of the garden how long and deep your Ha-Ha is going to be. Do you have a big garden in a park landscape then the Ha-Ha must be about 1,80 m deep and the wall even 1,80 m high. The wall can made of concrete blocks and bricks or bricks with cobbles or other materials that look natural by the house. It can be useful to put drains so there's no standing water in your Ha-Ha. |
| Indian Gardens Giuseppe from Italy asks: |
"I'm looking for gardens worth wile visiting in India. Do you have any suggestion?." |
| Swami from India answers: |
Following are the gardens that are worth visiting in India.
These are some of the known gardens from my experience and hearsay, since I have not been lucky in my search from the WEB search sites. If I get some more, I shall let you know. |
| Collecting
seed Sandra asks: |
I'm also interested in asking a question myself. I often cultivate plants from bought seed, but have never collected seeds from annuals myself. I'm guessing you just cut the flowers and stick them in a paper bag to dry out. Is there a right time in the flowering cycle to pick the flowers for seed? Do you put the whole flower, petals and all in the paper bag. How long do you keep the seed in a paper bag before you are able to use it? I'd be grateful if someone could let me know if I am on the right track. |
| Yourgarden's Specialist - Marian replies: |
Suitable climbing plants for tubs to grow on an arbour are for example Hedera helix, Hydrangea petiolaris ( shade) , Polygonum aubertii and climbing roses. The second question about collecting seeds: Dry the seeds with or without their capsule and put them in a paperbag. Keep them dry and cool about (3-10ºC) in the paperbag. You can keep the seeds for about 2 to 3 years except the fleshy seeds. The cooler the seeds are kept, the longer the germinal forces stay. Good luck with collecting your seeds. |
|
Perfumed
Garden |
"Any chance of telling me of which | plants and or seeds to create perfumed garden please Ii am still a novice at gardening " |
| Yourgarden's Specialist - Marian replies: |
Here you have for example plants that create a nice perfume for your garden. I hope you can use them in your own garden.
|