Question
I have a Methley Plum tree that is about 5 years old. It products profuse blossoms every year. The blossoms turn into thousands of tiny fruit. Then when they are about the size of a large marble they all fall off in the same week.
Any thoughts on what the problem is?
Thanks Joe

Answer
A low water table in your area, the tree being unable to take up enough water to support the rapid growth of the fruit, could cause this. Or more likely the fruit has not been pollinated at the flower stage, due to lack of the required insects for that tree. Another possibility is late frost, but this would only happen in certain years, not every year.

Question
I would greatly appreciate your help. I keep buying books and searching for when I can plant some perennials.

I live in Boston (in zone 6) and the packages say they some daylilies, irises, and some annual seeds) need to be planted in February through April. But other resources say I need to wait till May. Do you know the answer or where I can find one?

Thank you so much, happy spring!!! Christine

Answer
Hi Christine,
in your first sentence you mention perennials, these can be sown May to July for flowering next year, you are too late now for this year flowering. Daylilies, irises, if you are planting bulbs, can be planted now if the snow has gone and the soil is dry, and by dry I mean dry.

Annual seeds can be sown any time from now onwards, but the soil must be warm and dry. If sown in cold wet soil the seeds will rot away. A few days delay waiting for the right conditions will pay big dividends in the long run.

Question
Hello,
I have a houseplant that has developed a cotton wool like growth on new shoots and most growing points. It's been several weeks and besides spreading, it doesn't look like it's harming the plant- so far!! I sprayed it with a general fungicide but it doesn't look to have reduced the growth at all. I am pretty certain it's not a pest (I couldn't see anything) and I don't think it's over watering because it's not on the soil.

Do you have any ideas what it could be and do you have any home remedies I could use to get rid of it? Thank you!! Emily

Answer
This sounds like red spider mite. These little pests are microscopic and can be found hiding under the leaf. Try washing off with insecticidal soap. Failing this spray with a systemic insecticide, systemic insecticides are absorbed by the plant and kill the pests when they eat the plant or suck out the sap.

Question
I have a cumquat in a large pot with some herbs around it; the bush had lost all its leaves in the last few days. I live on the Gold Coast of Australia. Is it normal for cumquats to loose all their leaves? Regards A H

Answer
I regret I have no knowledge of citrus growing in Queensland. Your state agricultural department issue growing information. Or try, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
As a general guess, you could be suffering from leaf miners, which eat into the area between the outer skins.

Question
I have a rose of Sharon, which has performed beautifully for the last 4 years. We are doing construction on our home, and I need to move it. Is this the type of tree\shrub, which can withstand uprooting, and recover well?
What advice would you give me for doing this? Jen

Answer
Hi Jen, Rose of Sharon will tolerate abuse, they are often used in park plantings, but you are really a little late in the season for transplanting. You need to move it immediately before new growth starts. Keep well watered until the plant is established.

Question
When is the best time to drastically trim an overgrown privet hedge?? Many thanks.

Answer
October or November is the best time; this gives the bush time to recover for the demands of spring growth. Also if you prune now, (early April) you could easily destroy small birds nests.

Question
Is it possible to sow weeds? We have a wild area on a bluff above Lake Michigan, Shady, facing NW. We have "tidied it up" a bit too much and now it is not a lush (in the summertime) as it used to be.

It used to be covered with scrubby trees (that looked like plants) and I don't know what all...trilliums in the spring still bloom there...wild columbine, too. I need some hardy, wild stuff!!
Thanks, Ann

Answer
Hi Ann,
All major seed houses now stock wildflower mixtures. All states are actively encouraging wild land development to encourage the return of important plant fertilising insects like butterflies, bees, etc. See our SOWING SEEDS Page for links too many seed houses. By the way the official definition of a weed is; A PLANT OUT OF PLACE.

Question
How do I safely control the little worms that drop down from the trees this time of the year? They are everywhere even on my tomato plants.

Answer
These are actually caterpillars, if they are doing any harm, which is rare, spray with a caterpillar knock down spray.

Question
Hydrangeas, my questions are (1) when can these plants be put outside when they have been forced to bloom for Easter time.
(2) What is best suited location
(3) what food is required for different colors
(4) do I need more then one plant. Have herd they need 2 or more in same area
Thank you, Richard

Answer
It is simply not worth the bother, throw them away, they will just go brick red.

Question
I have a grafted flowering almond. It has no buds on it this year and where the graft took place the bark is peeling off. When I lifted a piece of it, a white worm (maggot looking) crawled out. What is this all about? I love the tree but am very worried about it. Any help will be appreciated.
Nancy

Answer
This sounds like the graft is failing, or it could be damage from string trimmers, the maggot has probably been seeking shelter and has nothing to do with the health of the plant. I am afraid that only time will tell.

Question
I have had this Magnolia plant for about one year. It has only bloomed once during this time, and now the leaves are starting to turn yellow. Do you have any advice for this problem? I hate to lose it and don't know if it has been watered too much or needs some kind of fertilizer. Any advice on how to treat it?
Peggy

Answer
Magnolias only flower for a short period each year and need a couple of years or so to establish themselves before giving many flowers. Feed with a fertiliser containing minerals and trace elements, this should hopefully stop the leaves yellowing.

HOME PAGE

TOP OF PAGE

Question
I planted four climbing roses about three weeks ago, in dormant state at planting. They have not shown any sign of growth yet and just look like sticks in the ground. One had leaves already started when planted, and they have multiplied and look healthy except for one small leaf that looks wilted on the end. Does it just take awhile for them to come out of dormancy? Will they grow and bloom this year, or next?

I was told I should have soaked them before planting, but didn't know that beforehand. Should I do something to them now to help them along or just be more patient?

Answer
It is always best to soak the roots of dormant plants before planting. Look on the stems of the plants, which are showing no growth, you should find tiny buds of a dark green color, possibly tinged with red. If the buds are a rusty color and dry, the plants are in trouble. Best to wait for a while to see what happens.

But beware, if the plants are dead, the root on to which the rose has been grafted, will probably still be alive and will produce a wild rose, which is of no value.

Question
Hi
I'm a bit new to gardening could you tell me how to take a cutting from a Virginia creeper and were to cut, also what is the growth rate yearly? Many thanks for your help. Kathy

Answer
Just pull down a long side shoot and peg down to the dirt with a u shaped piece of wire from a coat hanger. Cover the wire with a couple of cups of soil and after a while the plant will produce new roots at a leaf joint near to the wire. When this new plant is established cut from main plant and replant in your desired area.

Growth rate is very fast, once established.

Question
Could you please give me some advice on the best plants to use around decking which is 18ins above the ground? The aspect is predominantly westerly.

Answer
You will find that at garden centres and other outlets, plants that you will need for your purpose, are now labelled as suitable for patio planting.

Question
We've lived in our current house for 4 years. We have several flowering trees around our yard that used to be beautiful at this time of year. However, this year none of them bloomed this spring.

They seem healthy otherwise. All of our neighbor's trees look great, so I can only assume that the problem came from the very old fertilizer that we put on our lawn over the past two years. Could this be the culprit?

Is there anything we can or should do now to restore the correct balance in our soil so that the trees will bloom again next spring? I miss them terribly!
Thank you for your help.
Julie K. Delaware

Answer
For flowering trees you need a high potash, high phosphate, low nitrogen fertiliser. Grass fertiliser is high in nitrogen, which is totally unsuitable. You can test for acidity levels in your soil, Ph testing kits are readily available.

But note some flowering trees need acid soils others need high alkaline soils, so you would have too determine the requirements of the various trees.

Question
Hello Garden friend,
I want to plant some climbing plant in my outdoor play area to cover a fence. Since my day care children can't be exposed to poisonous plants I want to make sure I get the right kind. Please help me to find out if these plants are safe:
Virginia Creepers, Morning Glory, Willow (want to make a living Tepee)

Answer
Seeing that children are involved, I would urge you to consult a qualified gardener at the plant advisory department of your local garden centre on this subject.

Better still; consult the agricultural outreach/extension department of your local or state university.

Question
I want to know if I put my used black tea leaves out of my tea bags in my veg garden or flowers will it upset the PH in my garden and kill my plants? Linda.

Answer
You will have to drink a lot of tea to make any significant difference to acid levels. Seriously though you could always give the tea leaves to the acid loving plants, e.g., heathers, rhodo, evergreen azaleas, Pieris, etc.

Question
Am I right or wrong? The best way to lime a garden before the planting season is to spread the lime over lightly tilled soil and let a rain soak in the lime. Then when planting time comes, re-till the soil thoroughly, and your good to go.


Answer
Roger You are correct in your assumption.
It is always as well to lightly fork in the lime straight after application in order to stop the powder blowing on to the surrounding plants or your neighbors washing, new car, etc.

Question
Hi
I live in Montana, and have 25 year-old juniper bushes, which are lovely because they're green year-round and easy to trim. Over the last 5 years, the "sides" of the bushes have stopped producing new growth after trimming, only the tops of the bushes are green, and the rest is bare and brown. Is this a sign of aging? There are no trees near the bushes.
I really appreciate any advice! Karla.

Answer
Your juniper bushes are desperately in need of a generous amount of garden lime now and a heavy application of high nitrogen fertiliser in a month's time from now.

Question
I've recently purchased several half-whiskey barrels and have planted various plants in them. They still smell strongly of whiskey, which isn't necessarily unpleasant to me; but to my question: Should I have done something to somehow "season" the barrels? Could enough alcohol leech out of them and be harmful to my plants?
Thanks for any help you can offer. Ann

Answer
I don't know about whisky barrels but years ago we used to sell thousands of half beer barrels, which often smelled strongly of beer, and nobody ever complained

Question
I have purchased blooming tulips and daffodils just recently. Can I go ahead and plant them now and will they bloom next year? Or what is the best course to take? Thank you for your assistance.

Answer
You can plant your bulbs now, but after being forced into early flower they will take a year to recover and will flower well in two years from now.

Question
I have a number of different plants and always struggle with the type of fertilizer to use. Some instructions simply say fertilize in fall, spring, etc., but not what kind of fertilizer.
Can you suggest one book that would have this information?
Thank you, Elizabeth

Answer
Hi Elizabeth
Most gardening books usually explain fertilisers so I can't name any particular book.

Basically; grass likes a high nitrogen fertiliser, nitrogen produces green growth. Potatoes need a high potash fertiliser with low nitrogen to grow the tubers but not too much leaf. Flowers need a high potash, high phosphate, fertiliser for flowering, but need some nitrogen in the early stages of growth.

Tomato fertiliser is low in nitrogen high in potash and phosphates and trace elements. Tomato fertiliser is very good for flowering plants in hanging baskets, tubs, troughs, etc where the availability of feed is limited.

Low nitrogen, high potash, high phosphate, fertiliser is recommended for late summer fall use. This promotes root growth, to build a stronger plant, without the nitrogen promoting too much soft leaf growth, which can be subsequently destroyed by winter chill.

Question
I have plum trees and have even considered cutting them down, the Japanese beetles seem so drawn to them. Any suggestions? I live in central Indiana.
Curt.

Answer
Your Japanese beetles are in the grass below the trees living as caterpillars, you can spray them there, and spray compounds for the job are available in various brands. There are also granules, which are applied then watered in. Best time for both is the end of July when the caterpillars are small. They later develop a leathery skin for winter, and become difficult too control.

There are sprays of various types available to control the adult, but be sure to check that the spray you buy is suitable for plum trees. Some people pick off the beetles by hand and drown them; all depends on the height of the trees and the state of your nerves.

If you have a number of trees and the problem is serious you can always contact the agricultural outreach/extension service of your local university for local advice.

Question
How do I kill the Sedum Stonecrop that is taking over my gardens and moving into our sod lawn?
Help! Vicki

Answer
On your grass, use a selected herbicide that does not kill grass, these are widely available. You can use Glyphosate on the other areas; this is absorbed by the plant and kills the roots. Be careful not to spray any wanted plants, Glyphosate is not choosy.

Question
I would really like to know the name of a type of small (ornamental?) tree growing around town here in Toronto and wonder if you can tell it to me based on my description: it has beautiful big white flowers in spring (April here), without any leaves. The flowers grow upward and look like doubled crocus flowers or water lilies. It looks like the entire tree is a big white cloud.
Thanks, Andrea

Answer
This sounds like Magnolia Soulangeana

Question
Is it safe to trim a flowering bush in the spring before it starts to flower?
Sandy

Answer
If your bush is spring or summer flowering you are too late this year if you want the flowers, the buds are already formed. However if your bush is late summer or fall/autumn flowering, then trimming is still possible, the flower buds growing during summer.

April    ------------     Spring time showers

Also see APRIL GARDENING QUESTION AND ANSWER
and APRIL GARDENING Q&A, PAGE 2.
also APRIL GARDENING Q&A, PAGE 3.
Plus APRIL GARDENING Q&A, PAGE 4.

April    ------------     Spring time showers

HOME PAGE GARDENING QUESTIONS ANSWERED

TOP OF PAGE

MAY GARDENING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

If you came straight to this page please visit the Home Page to learn a little more about this gardening website.