Q.    
Hello - I have an old Pieris that I cut back severely season before last, and new growth came last year - but now this growth appears limp and the leaves are spotted with dark red. This season's growth is not appearing yet, and I'm not expecting any flowers to appear this season. Is this darkening of the leaves caused by a soil condition or by a disease or insect? Thanks for your help! Jeanne.
P.S. I have a camellia in my porch that is quite young and beautiful. After flowering, is any pruning or pinching back required, or should I just leave it alone?

A.    
The soil around your Pieris is probably too alkaline, Pieris need an acid soil, feed with a high nitrogen acid fertiliser. Some peat around the base of the plant will also help. Your camellia, you should only trim off any branches that are growing clear of the shape of the bush. Acid fertiliser, as for heathers, is recommended.

Q.    
I have some RASPBERRY bushes that a friend gave me several years ago, they are planted by AZALEA bushes. I would like to know if I fertilize with coffee grounds around the azaleas, would it affect the raspberries, would they like some too? Thank you, Susan.

A.    
COFFEE GROUNDS would be fine as a feed for your raspberries. The only snag with coffee grounds is that they make the soil acid, this is fine, indeed desirable, for azaleas. But you would need to add garden lime to the raspberries to keep their ground alkaline.

Q.    
Hi, I have a succulent type ground cover I only know as "RED APPLE". It is like ice plant and produces a small red flower. I live in Ca. and every spring I see the green branches in areas starting to turn a dark red and eventually die off. I have to cut these sections out or it spreads to a large area. What is causing this and how do I stop it? I also have areas that are yellow leafed instead of green. I was once told to spread Gypsum over the area for the yellowing problem. Please help. Bill

A.    
The ph level of your soil is too low, i.e. too acid for your red apple. Adding gypsum or hydrated lime will correct this problem. Also the application of a fertiliser containing trace elements will add to the plants vigour. Ph soil testing kits are readily available at garden outlets.
Valecroft.

Q.    
I live in Seattle, Washington. We had snow flurries for the past two days but it is 50 now and should be for the rest of the week. Is it ok to plan my primrose? Sue

A.    
If your PRIMROSES are properly hardened off it should be all right to plant out. But if the weather comes severe it would pay to cover them to protect the flower buds.

Q.    
I am hoping you will answer a couple of questions concerning TAKING CUTTINGS for propagation. When a node is visible on a plant stem do you cut above or below a node? If there is no node present where is the best place to cut for propagation?

A.    
Make a clean cut just below the node or leaf joint where a leaf joins the stem. The natural hormones, which stimulate rooting, are most concentrated at the leaf joints. Remove the lower leaves and plant straight away into the growing medium, do not let the cutting dry out. Use a hormone rooting powder, read label.

Q.    
Hello! Thank you for your website!!
I live in Dallas, Texas, and have Oleander planted in my front yard. They were beautiful in the summer, but this winter they have turned brown and crispy. I covered them during the harsh weather, but I fear they have died. Should I prune them, and if so, how much? Thank you!

A.    
September is the time to prune OLEANDER, if you prune earlier the plant suffers from moisture loss, if you prune later you will damage next years flower buds. Your existing plants, they may seem to be dead but you must wait before doing anything drastic.
They should shoot up from the lower growth, if they do feed with a high nitrogen fertiliser to encourage new growth. From what you say, it would seem unlikely that you will have flowers this year, but next years flowers should form on the new growth. It is usual to prune just above the leaf joint, this encourages the production of multiple shoots.

Q.    
I have just taken out a very old apple tree and would like to replace it with a ROWAN for its lovely dappled shade. Can you tell me which would be the smallest of the species and what height it might be expected to grow to (I want something small) Also I have a number of BEGONIA and DAHLIA bulbs/tubers from last year which I have over wintered in my green house. Can you tell me the best way to restart them? I am not confident enough yet to take cuttings. Many thanks in anticipation Pat

A.    
Sorbus, cashmiriana. Kashmir Rowan; is a small rowan tree. The berries are white. Of the same family is the, Sorbus. Aria Whitebeam; this is more of a bush than a tree but it has the red berries. Your Dahlias are best placed in wooden trays about 4 inches deep, stems upright, and then fill the trays with soil covering the tuber but not the stem. Keep in glasshouse and water regularly. The roots will start to grow and shoots will appear around the base of the stem. Plant out when the danger of frost is past.

Q.    
I have inherited a mature BOX HEDGE in the house we have recently moved to. The hedge is a good 3 1/2 feet tall and I have been told that it should be trimmed down to prevent separation of the hedge. How much hedge can I trim without damaging or killing the hedge? If I trim too much near the dark wood will the hedge grow back? Clive.

A.    
Box should be trimmed little and often, take time to achieve the desired height and shape. Box will benefit from an application of garden lime, also give a dressing of high nitrogen fertiliser to encourage new leaf growth. This will get the plants into better shape to trim.
Valecroft.

Q.    
Can you tell me the best time to mow the lawn for the first time this year?
Thank you, Lesley

A.    
Take your first cut when the grass shows signs of new growth, set the mower blades high for the first few cuts. Cutting too low will pull the grass out by the roots.

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Q.    
I have a CHINESE PLUM in my front yard. I love the tree for its beauty and shade during the summer. (Its about 35 ft in hight) My question is; Is there any way to stop the tree from blossoming, or limit the amount flowers? The white flowers have become a nightmare to keep off the lawn, side walk and sloping roof.
Also the fruit (Mini plums) become even more of a nuisance during the summer. The fruit stains everything it falls on; I would hate to kill the tree, but would like to limit its overactive production cycle.
PLEASE HELP!! THANKS IN ADVANCE

A.    
The nature of the tree is to produce the next generation, which needs flowers to attract insects, to produce the seed. The only solution I can come up with is the chain saw. Sorry. A garden vacuum cleaner, widely available at garden outlets, would assist considerably in picking up the blossom.

Q.    
Hi,
I would like to know of ways to eliminate the problem of RABBITS and squirrels eating the flowers in my garden.
Thank You, ARA

A.    
There are various products on the market, which claim to deter rabbits; some of them are organic preparations. These do work in certain circumstances, but it all depends on whether the plant in question contains minerals, which the rabbit thinks it needs. Wire net fencing around your plant beds will help. A nice little terrier dog and a couple of good cats are the best deterrent.

Q.    
Hello
I have just finished doing the groundwork in the back patio and yard. I am ready to plant when the time is right. However I cannot find the answer to when to too plant or trans-plant certain things. I hope you can help me. I bought these plants in pots last year. They grew and bloomed in the pots and come through the winter. They are creeping phlox and basket of gold. When to plant and once they are established and spread, how are they divided? I live in Oregon, zone 8 by most catologs.

A.    
Both your creeping PHLOX and basket of gold will root on the spreading laterals. You can encourage rooting by pinning down a section of the longer growth with a piece of wire and covering with a small amount of soil where you have pinned it down. You will then soon have a new plant, which can be cut away from the parent. You can plant out your present plants in April.

Q.    
Hi,
I have a wood trellis that I put close to my aluminum-sided garage...it seems that the sun reflects off of the shed and burns my plants on the trellis.... is there a hardy plant/flower that I can use this spring on my trellis that can withstand the heat????
Thank you.

A.    
Have you considered painting the side of the garage dark green, this will absorb the sunlight. The silver or grey plants are best for very hot positions, there are too many to mention individually here. Passiflora caerulea (passion flower) likes hot positions. Actinidia kolomikta is also useful, the leaves turning part pink or white in the heat. Nasturtium and black eyed Susan could also be useful.

Q.    
I am new employee in Wal-Mart garden centre there seems to be dispute over the difference between annuals and perennials, which is which, am I right in thinking that annuals are once a year and perennials are forever?

A.    
ANNUALS. Plants which perform all their growing functions in one year, flowering and leaving seed for the following year's generation before dying at the onset of winter. PERENNIALS. Plants which can live for several years, some of these varieties do not produce seed until mature, which can take many years. BIENNIALS. These plants flower and produce seed in the second year of growth then die. To complicate matters, some of the bedding plants sold as annuals are actually perennials or biennials.

Q.    
I have a lavender plant that was transplanted from a friend's garden last fall. I trimmed back the old growth a couple days ago, and this morning I saw that some animal must have dug it up and eaten it, because I don't see any evidence of my plant anymore. Is it possible that the roots are still in the ground, and it will be fine? What animal would have eaten my plant, and how do I protect it in the future? Thanks, Julie

A.    
You have rabbits or squirrels. Cutting back the bush would release the scent of the plant on to the wind, so alerting your little friends. If the base of the plant is still there at ground level, it may shoot again, but lavender plants will not shoot directly from the roots.

Q.    
Hi, Could you help me with 2 questions? I bought a Japanese red maple tree, 1 gal size, it's starting to produce leaves, but as soon as they come out, they are wilting. What can I do to save it?
I made a rose garden; all my roses are beginning to thrive except in one spot. I thought the rose planted there had died of natural causes and replaced it with another. Now the new one is dying. Help! Thanks, Valerie O'Brien

A.    
Two points.
The buds of your maple are possibly being attacked by aphids, which have over wintered in the bud itself, spray with an aphid spray. 2. If you have just bought this maple it may have been over wintered in a protected environment, your wilting leaves could be the result of cold wind damage.
Your rose could be suffering from acid soil or too much clay drying out the soil. Try treating the area with some garden lime and a small amount of Epsom salts to correct any mineral deficiency. Also spray the next rose you plant with an anti blight spray.

Q.    
Do you have any suggestions for protecting my bulbs from squirrels? The squirrels are digging up my spring bulbs. HELP!!!!!

A.    
This is a major problem, made worse by people feeding the squirrels in their gardens. There are various products on the market to deter squirrels, some organic, which do work, but they soon wash off in rain. Ask at your local garden outlet. The best deterrent is a nice little terrier dog and a couple of cats. One way is to peg down close mesh wire netting over the area where the bulbs are situated. Sorry I can't help you further.

Q.    
Hi, I have a question, I live in north Alabama, and I have 7 fairly large hydrangeas in my front and back yard, I want to give these to my neighbor, what is the best way to transplant them? They are late to bloom.
Thank you, Michelle

A.    
Now is not the time to transplant, in spring the hydrangea needs a very high water intake and if transplanted now the roots would be unable to cope with the demand. September-October is the right time, try to preserve as many of the fine roots as possible, the plant depends on these.

Q.    
I have two huge mounds of pampas grass. Can you advise me on how to prune these...I have heard some people burn them but I am too close to a road to do that.........I've tried trimming them with shears but they are huge...it takes hours...........any suggestions... Weed eater only shreds them ...............hedge trimmer shreds them.................

A.    
It is not considered the done thing to burn pampas nowadays, due to the fact that lady bugs (which are very beneficial to the garden) over winter in the centre of the pampas. One solution is to put on some thick garden gloves, to avoid cutting yourself, and pull out the dead foliage, piece by piece. The plant shoots anew from the base.
Valecroft.

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