Question
I have a mature wisteria vine. Last year I pruned the vine by cutting all branches to the ground. The vine flourished this season. Is it ok not to prune? Will the new growth cover the old vines in the spring if I do not prune?
Ruth

Answer
Your wisteria will be fine without pruning. You say that you cut down to the ground last year. Wisteria are grafted to a wild rootstock for better resistance to soil borne disease, the only thing to watch for is growth from this rootstock. These are often white flowers or sometimes a pale lilac color. This growth comes from below the graft line and will kill the desired grafted growth if it is allowed to flourish.

Question
I recently received a gardenia plant (bush) I have planted in my yard, however the leaves on this bush are turning yellow from the bottom going up the plant. It does have some new growth on it, its not drooping yet. It has been planted facing east, so it gets the morning sun until the afternoon when the house shades it. Can you advise what I need to do, I don't want to loose this plant it came to me form my best friend as a house warming gift. I live in Charlotte N.C.
Thank You,
Barry

Answer
Your soil is too alkaline, you need acid soil. Spread some garden peat around the bush about an inch deep, and water in to stop it blowing away. Always water with rainwater if possible, this is acid as against tap water, which is alkaline. Feed with an acid fertiliser, sometimes sold as heath or ericaceous fertiliser.

Question
Hello,
My pear tree is 12 ft high and produces small pears each year. This summer, it produced quite a bit more than last year. We had mulched the front garden last year. It just started shooting up leafing spouts regularly from below the mulch line and I have been constantly cutting them off. Would this be a normal occurrence or should I take other action? Thanks,
Bill L.
Woodbridge, Virginia.

Answer
Your pear tree is most likely grafted on to a disease resistant rootstock at just above ground level. The shots you are cutting off are from this rootstock and must be removed or they will overcome the desired pear. Be careful not to damage the grafting joint during cutting operations.

Question
My girl friends daughter is getting married Nov. 15... which in our area is the end of the chrysanthemum season. But she'd like her front lawn to be pretty and colorful. I was thinking about doing a variety of "mums" in pots ... buying the mums now ... Oct. 6 ... and am wondering if it's possible to keep them alive and beautiful until then. If so ... how?

Answer
From now on you are running into light problems, days are too short and special spectrum lights are needed. Mildew is also a problem and overnight damp rots the flower centre. A lot depends on how far south you are. Not a practical idea in my opinion.
You could buy the florist pot mums near to the wedding date.

Question
I live in Minnesota and a linden tree sprouted up in our yard from our neighbor's tree. I pulled it and planted it in container winter is coming and I wonder what I should do with it. It's about two feet tall 1/2 in around and very healthy with lots of leaves. I want to plant it in my yard but I'm afraid the winter will kill it. It's been outside since I replanted it, do you have any ideas.
Dee

Answer
Your only danger is frost killing the roots through the sides of the container. Put sacking, old carpet, or bubble wrap plastic around the container to protect from frost. Best would be to plant the tree, still in its pot to the depth of the pot, in a spare area for the winter.

Question
Hello,
What a great website! I have perused some of the Q &A pages, however, I haven't been able to find the answer to my question. We planted Trumpet Vine and Climbing Hydrangeas this year. Both seem extremely happy. My question is, do we prune them back at all? Do the roots have to be sheltered for the winter?
The Trumpet vine is already about 4 feet tall, and the climbing Hydrangeas are over 6 feet tall. We live in South West Ontario, Canada. (Approx. 40 miles west of Toronto, if that helps! I believe we are zone 5, but I'm not sure!!! I look forward to hearing from you. If you wish, you can direct me to a specific spot on the Q &A page, and I'll look from there.
Thank you!
Jim

Answer
The only thing to prune is any growth that is flapping about in the wind and not tied back or clinging tightly. In strong winds these growths can blow about and wrench parts of the plant away and damage the plant.
As your trumpet vine gets older it will produce side growth that will grow away from the wall, these are best removed at the end of the season. You will also have trouble with suckers growing up from spreading roots, in your lawn or paths for instance.
Climbing hydrangea roots can damage old brickwork, the roots penetrating the mortar and letting in moisture.
Note, trumpet vines need more sun than climbing hydrangeas so I hope you have planted in appropriate areas.
For this first winter, you can spread garden peat or farmyard manure or garden compost around the area of the roots if the frost is really severe in your area.

Question
I have a poinsettia from last Christmas. It has stayed fairly healthy all summer. The leaves are all green but small. What can I do to get it to turn red again for this Christmas? Thanks for you help,
Cynthia

Answer
Persuading poinsettia to flower at Christmas is a long convoluted process that involves subjecting the plants to a period of artificial darkness, then gradual lengthening daytime to simulate spring in late fall and early winter.
This is easy to achieve in a large production nursery with computer controlled blinds and temperature regimes but nearly impossible in the average home. Best to forget about it turning red and enjoy the plant as a green houseplant.

Question
I want to save my begonias, when to0 dig? What to store them in?
HELP needed in Washington State

Answer
Dig up your begonia tubers when the leaves start to yellow, or after the first sharp frost. Cut the stems to about four inches, and allow tubers to dry at room temperature, after a while the stems will become dry and loose. Pull off these stems and any roots or soil, keep dry, and don't wash the soil off the tubers. Store the tubers in a box filled with peat moss or vermiculite in a cool, dark place, but frost free. Check the tubers occasionally for rot, or withering, and destroy any bad tubers immediately. Protect from rodents.

Valecroft.

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