Question
I have a 10 year old boxwood plant that has been a slow grower, but otherwise very healthy. Last fall it looked terrific, but much to my surprise, when I checked on it this weekend, I discovered, one third of the bush had yellowed. My husband applied, moss control to the lawn and some fertilizer in the past few weeks. Other than that no chemicals have been in the vicinity. Any ideas what the problem could be?
Beverly

Answer
This sounds like spray drift to me, was the moss control sprayed on? Feed now with a high nitrogen fertiliser to promote new leaf growth, also add some garden lime at a later date when the fertiliser has washed in.

Question
Hi,
My grandparents have a vegetable garden in their backyard, which has always grown some very nice vegetables. In the last two seasons, the tomato plants have died before ripening. Could this be something that's gone wrong with the soil? And what can be done to rectify it?

Answer
The soil could be too acid, give a generous application of garden lime to bring up the ph value to a more alkaline state. Then feeding with a high potash fertiliser will correct any deficiencies in the chemical balance of the plot. Also feed with Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) to release trace elements in the soil.

However if only the tomato plants are dying, they could be suffering from tobacco mosaic virus; TMV. This stays in the soil from year to year and you must always plant your tomatoes in fresh soil.

Question
Question About tulips?
I planted many tulips last fall. Only a few actually have blossoms... the rest a bursting with leaves but no heads... I inspected. And a rodent has not chewed them off. Do you know why some have buds and the others do not?

Answer
Tulips do suffer from various diseases but this would show in unhealthy plants. You say your tulips are healthy, which leads me to think that the tulip bulbs had been too hot and dry in storage, the flower bud suffered and did not form properly. Best to leave them alone and wait until next year, when results should be better.

Question
Holly hedges, the leaves are turning brown after transplanting, please help

Answer
This sounds like you have had a water shortage problem. Newly planted holly need to be watered every day for the first season. Feed now with a high nitrogen liquid fertiliser, this may encourage the formation of new leaf buds, but only time will tell if the plants will recover.

Question
How do you dispose of Red Spider Mites?

Answer
Red spider mite.
Red spider mite love very dry conditions, keeping high moisture content around the plant will help deter the pest. You can wash off the mites with insecticidal soap or a weak mixture of household detergent. There are commercial sprays available for red spider mite but they are not too effective, due to the insect having built up a resistance over the last few years.

If your problem is in the greenhouse or conservatory, there is a predatory mite that can be introduced, this soon clears up the red spider population and is totally safe to children and pets. Phytoseiulus permilis is the name and it can be obtained from specialist suppliers. See your gardening magazines or the Internet.

Question
I have a Rose of Sharon that has been pruned into a small looking tree. Every year it get millions of buds, so much so that at time the branches bow. However the tree loses the buds before they open. The shrub itself is very healthy and loving to look at. However I have tried plant foods pruning and shocking the roots with no luck. Last year I did nothing for it just to see if it would bloom, no luck the same occurred. What else can I do?
Ps. the plant is over 7yrs old now. Thank you Mary

Answer
The Rose of Sharon likes very poor conditions, perhaps you are being too kind to it, and also it is really a low ground cover plant and likes a dark area. Try ignoring it see what happens.

Question
Hi My husband has a question he hopes you may be able to answer. We don't have a website like this in Australia.... or we haven't found one yet! He grew some carrots and some parsnips in the garden, but both veggies were stunted i.e. their roots didn't go down very far. They tasted fine, but they could have been a lot longer.

The parsnips were no more than 2 inches long, but normal size across. He waters regularly, and fertilizes... he grows other veggies just fine, e.g. leeks, green onions, red onions, corn, cucumbers, pumpkin.
Thanks again, Paline

Answer
When farmers started to harvest carrots and parsnips by machine, the machines were cutting off the bottoms of the roots. So growers asked seed companies to come up with carrots and parsnips that did not grow so deep. The seed growers obliged and came up with stump-rooted varieties, which your husband is now probably growing.

The old long rooted varieties are still available, I don't know what varieties are available in Australia, but over here; "James Scarlet Intermediate" and "St Valery" are two good pointed varieties. "Hollow Crown" is a good long parsnip.

Question
I have 4 Quaking Aspen trees that I love. But their roots are coming up in my lawn. Is there anything I can do to control them and keep the roots of my lawn from dying? Thanks!

Answer
Quaking aspens are noted for their ability to spread quickly due to their advantageous roots, which shoot up anew some distance from the parent tree and turn into new trees. You can spray with a systemic broad-leaf weed killer specifically for lawns, but this will only set the shoots back for a while. Just keep mowing them off. Aspens love water and the biggest danger is that the roots can enter and block your clear water and sewage drains.

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Question
Could you help us? We have planted the clematis Guernsey Cream to grow over an arch in the garden. The plant is growing well and there are many flower buds on it, which are beginning to open. The problem is that the flowers are all green. The position is a light shady spot, which only gets a little sun during the day.
Rachel

Answer
Guernsey Cream
The flower petals of Guernsey Cream have a green spine, which is dominant in the early flowers. In the later flowers this green spine pales to insignificance as the lovely creamy yellow colour takes over. Clematis is usually tolerant of a wide range of light levels so this should not affect the flowers.

Squirrels eating tulip bulbs.
Have just been reading your interesting questions and answers. Besides putting mesh over the bulbs, mothballs or moth crystal flakes (the kind you use to store winter clothing) work well to keep squirrels away from newly planted anything. I have been told it does not harm the soil. Hope someone finds that helpful. It has worked for me. I use it when I first plant seedlings as well. Elaine

Question
How do I keep all the weeds out of my Irises? Would it help to wait until this fall and dig them all up and refill the area with old newspapers and new topsoil before replanting?

Answer
Just dig up your iris at fall time and remove all perennial weed roots by shaking them out with a fork. Then re-plant your iris. There is no point in new soil; you will only bring in more weed seeds, if the soil is in poor condition it is better to add some garden peat to the site.

Question
Dear Valecroft,
I have a path all around my house and have been trying to find a climber that will grow in a container. The aim is to find a climber- any climber from clematis to ivy that will grow very fast to cover an ugly wall. I would prefer something evergreen or a mixture of climbers. Have you any suggestions. Your help is much appreciated.
Best wishes, Matti

Answer
Virginia creeper or Boston ivy would suit, but they lose their leaves in winter after lovely fall colours. Variegated ivy would suit; this does not lose its leaves and there are a wide range of colors from white through cream to gold; according to variety.. White Jasmine is also good. There is also yellow jasmine for early spring.

Question
I have a young climbing hydrangea, which I moved to my new home late last fall. The plant has recently started it's spring growth. The leaves that are being produced are gnarled, and quite tightly curled in on them. There is no visual evidence of insects, or any deposit on the leaves, which although not properly shaped, are the correct color. Can you advise me how to treat the problem?

Answer
This is probably damage by aphids, which have over-wintered in the buds. Later leaves should be all right.

Question
Depending what I read I get conflicting thoughts on tulips. Do you dig them up? after season and store them in a bag in your basement...and replant. come fall? Or just leave them? I feel tempted... and I just recently read. To dig them all up. And discard them and replant new ones this fall...What is your advice?

I was also told only to purchase bulbs from Holland... the ones I bought were from home depot. And I was told that they are not very lasting. What are your thoughts?
With thanks, Adrienne

Answer
Tulips do degenerate over the years often reverting to plain colors. If it is within your budget, planting new each year is best. Tulips from Holland are excellent but bulbs from other regions can be just as good. The main thing to look for is a bulb, which feels greasy, if the skin is dry the bulb has been stored in too warm conditions and the flower bulb can suffer.

Question
My husband is planning to plant a young Japanese Weeping Cherry next to where he recently cut down a 75' White Pine. Is this feasible, and if so, what will we need to do to prepare the hole/soil? Thanks in advance for any help you can give us - I don't want to kill the tree. It was given to us in memory of my father.
Sarah

Answer
Best to dig a large planting hole and part fill with farmyard manure, or horse manure, or well rotted garden compost, or similar. Also apply a generous amount of garden lime, and then cover with a layer of soil. Then plant the tree and make sure it is firm in the soil. Make sure the tree is well watered all summer and secure to a substantial stake to stop the tree rocking in the winter gales and loosening the roots.

Question
I have had 5 azalea bushes for many years. Last year one of the bushes died out in the middle of the bush. I pruned the dead branches. It has come back this year with more dead branches and the hole in the middle. Any suggestions? The other 4 bushes are fine. Elaine

Answer
The most common cause of dyeback in azaleas is Phomopsis fungi; it is a problem following cold winters and very dry summers. This disease damages India azaleas the worst. Sudden wilting and death of one or more branches are often the first symptoms of dieback.

You can feed with a high nitrogen acid fertiliser, which should encourage new growth, but your best course of action is to discard the bush and plant something different, the fungi can remain in the soil.


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