QUESTION.    
I live in Sioux Falls, SD, which is borderline zone 4a and 4b. I planted a "Rose Mallow-Dixie belle Mix Hardy Hibiscus in early July that is now about 18" high, very bushy, and is covered with buds. When I planted it, I knew it would not be hardy through our winter here (it said zones 6-11 on the tag), so I planted them in gallon containers and placed them in the dirt.

I've had about 6 blooms on it and they are gorgeous. I would love to save this plant for next year, so I was hoping to get some advice about how to winter them indoors. I brought the gallon pots into my garage 3 days ago, and have been just setting them on the deck in the afternoons when the temp is around 50-60, then setting them back in the garage at dusk.

Do I bring them in as is? Do I cut them back or re-pot them in a lighter soil? A friend of mine said to just "treat them like geraniums that you would bring in for the winter".

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks---Mary Lee

ANSWER.    
Your friend's advice on treating hardy hibiscus like geraniums is quite suitable. Don't allow the plant to get too tender by sheltering it at night; they die down to the roots at the onset of winter, the dying leaves feeding the root ball.

Q.    
I just planted two lilac (3 gal) bushes this spring. They seem to be slowly dying. Their leaves are turning brown at the tip and edges and falling off. I have treated for fungus, but this doesn't seem to be helping. What can I do?

I just planted winter pansies that are "were" beautiful until this morning. Something ate them in the middle of the night! I am not sure if it was a rabbit or deer, how do I keep them away. Do I put down dried blood?

Also I planted hydrangea bushes this spring. They too do not look like they are doing well. The leaves look a little reddish brown. What should I do?

Thank you for your help, Linda

A.    
The lilac loses its leaves at fall being a deciduous tree. The hydrangea also loses some of its leaves. So I don't think you have a problem here.

There are various products available at garden outlets to deter animals from eating your plants; dried blood may work. Garden lime scattered on the plants will work to a certain extent, trouble is heavy rain will wash away lime and the commercial products, so be prepared to repeat the application.

Sometimes a bowl of water placed by the plants will cure the problem if the weather is dry and the animals are thirsty.

Q.    
Hi. Hope you can help. Does English ivy damage brickwork? I have some on the side of my home and it is ready to climb up the side. But if it is going to damage it, I will keep it in check.

Also, will it damage the bark on a tree? My sister told me it would kill the bark and damage the tree??

Thanks for the info. Love your web site!

A.    
English ivy can do an immense amount of damage to a wall. It roots into the joints, this in turn lets water into the brickwork, which freezes in winter and splits the bricks.

If your brickwork is old with older mortar joints the ivy can grow right though the brickwork and into your rooms.

English ivy can strangle trees, a heavy infestation can make a tree, top heavy with the result that the tree can snap off in very windy conditions and possibly cause damage. English ivy does look nice but overall it is best to keep it well under control.

Q.    
We have taken several 'runners' from our one-year-old strawberry plants and potted them, however how do we look after strawberry plants throughout the winter months? When we ordered some early this year they came in a pack looking dead and dry but recovered well when planted, please can you help? The plants we have are strong and healthy.

Thank you

A.    
The only problem you have with strawberry plants in pots is the frost freezing the roots through the side of the pots. The tops will stand the frost. Sink the pots in the soil to the rim of the pot, or if short of room in the garden use a wooden box filled with soil and sink the plants in that. Watch out for snails eating the centre of the plants.

Q.    
Could you please tell me what sort of veg I could plant to grow over the winter ready for spring please? Can I put onion sets in now?

A.    
Most onion sets are planted in early spring, however there are special varieties that can be planted at the end of this month. Ask at your garden outlet. You can sow broad beans and some forms of round seeded peas in November, again ask for the right variety, but for most other things you will have to wait until spring. You can sow spring cabbage in June for over wintering.

Q.    
I have been advised to put mulch on a border to attempt to contain weeds and also to feed my soil. Please can you tell me if this will still enable my newly planted spring bulbs to grow through? Regards,

A.    
Your spring bulbs will grow through the mulch, the only problem is, snails and sometimes mice eating the fresh young shoots. So be on the lookout in the spring as the new shoots start too grow.

Q.    
I recently purchased a Callicarpa with fall color in bloom. When is the best time to cut it back? Also does it need to be pruned every year for fall color?

A.    
Just trim to keep a neat shape, any time after leaf fall will do, do not trim to heavily, the flower buds are forming now if you want the flowers and the berries for next year go lightly with the shears.

Q.    
We were travelling most of the summer months therefore there wasn't a chance to fertilize any of our shrubs or plants. I know not to fertilize the roses, but can I safely broadcast a good commercial fertilizer around the rockery plants, the rhodies, lilac and other shrubs and landscaping trees?

A.    
You can still spread fertiliser now but not to the rhododendron, you will make the flower buds very tender and frost damage may result. The same applies to camellias if you have any. Use a low nitrogen fertiliser this late on; nitrogen encourages leaf growth, not desirable at this time of year.

HOME PAGE

TOP OF PAGE

Q.    
Hello from a lovely, autumnal Cheltenham. I have several Skimmia, (about 18" tall), and would like to know how high I can expect them to grow, and also how to propagate them...and when? The plants are the evergreen variety, with red "berries" followed by tiny scented flowers. I hope this is enough information? Thank you, hopefully, Olivia.

A.    
Cut off a leaf with the stem joint and a very small amount of stem still attached, plant into course sand in a fairly deep tray, with the stem joint just covered and the leaf pointing vertically. You can dip the joint into hormone rooting powder. Keep the sand damp, nothing will happen for quite a while.

Q.    
I have an area under a large pine tree, which I would like to make a feature of. I am thinking of a rockery effect but am unsure of which plants to put there, as it does not get much sun, have you any suggestions for me. Thank you.

A.    
Plants for shady areas. Euphorbia cyparissias; epimediumperralchicum; Helleborus foetidus; Gladwin iris; Lamium galeobdolon florentinum; Trollius; vinca minor; Polygonatum hybridum; viola; Bergenia; alchemilla mollis.

Q.    
I planted a burning bush last year and now that fall is here, it isn't turning red. I've seen others around town that are just beautiful, could you tell me why mine hasn't turned yet? I live in Oklahoma, zone 6.... Thank You.

A.    
This sounds like too much nitrogen in the soil feeding the leaves too well, next year feed with a low nitrogen fertiliser.

Q.    
Can you prune Kerria? Or will it just grow back really quickly?

A.    
Yes, you can prune kerria; it is usual just to trim to maintain a neat shape at this time of year. If you prune now you will lose some spring flowers. Prune more heavily after flowering time, late spring.

Q.    
Hi, Can you tell me if now is a good time to lay a lawn? Thanks, Nila.

A.    
Now is fine to lay a turf lawn but a little late to sow seeds.

Q.    
How do I kill mushrooms on my lawn? And If I want a nice green lawn for the springtime, should I fertilize my lawn now with the fall fertilizer? Thank you

A.    
There are various products at your garden outlet to treat mushrooms and toadstools. The presence of mushrooms on your lawn could indicate that there is dead wood in the subsoil. Mushrooms and toadstools live on decaying plant tissue. Your lawn could be seriously short of lime; there are soil testing kits available, mushrooms and toadstools like an acid soil i.e. short of lime. A low nitrogen fall fertiliser would be of benefit applied now; this encourages root growth and builds up the plant.

Q.    
Vibernum Tinus Can you provide me with information on above Cheers

A.    
Vibernum Tinus. Useful evergreen plant, flowers in winter pink and white flowers. Can be used as a screen plant or hedge, trim in the spring after flowering is complete. Good winter shelter for small birds. Valecroft

Q.    
How do you "start" wisteria- I purchase mine- It has seeds hanging from the vine- but I can not get them (the seeds) to start new plants? Please advise

A.    
Growing wisteria from seed is very difficult and very few people have the gift. Also the seed is often not viable. Wisteria purchased from retail outlets are grafted on to wild white rootstock, which is more resistant to soil borne diseases.

You can propagate the plant by layering. In May pull a long new shoot down to the ground and peg it down with a u shaped wire, leaving about 18 inches of shoot protruding past the wire.

Then cover the contact point with about half a spade full of soil. Do not detach from the parent plant. This shoot should produce roots by autumn, only then should you cut the connection from the main plant.

Q.    
Ilex Meserveae Blue Princess. I have two Blue Princess hollies planted summer of 2001. The tag on the plant says "showy fall berries".

This summer there were many flowers on both, but no berries. Will they eventually produce berries?? I've always understood that male and female were needed, but no mention of this on the tag.

Thanks for any help. Marjorie

A.    
The blue varieties of holly do need both a male and female plant, for your purpose you need the Blue Prince male holly. Mice eating the berries are a problem with this variety of holly, so keep the area under the tree clear of vegetation cover.

Q.    
I have some lavender bushes that have grown too big for their location. Can you please advise on splitting and transplanting? Thanks Sandy

A.    
Lavender bushes will transplant but will not split, cut down before transplanting. You can produce more plants by rooting cuttings in July to August. Very easy to root.

Valcroft.

If you came straight to this page please visit our Home Page to learn a little more about this gardening web site.

HOME PAGE

TOP OF PAGE

GO TO PAGE ONE OCTOBER Q & A

© 2001 - 2011 VALECROFT NURSERIES. OCTOBER GARDENING QUESTION AND ANSWER.
Online Garden Website.
Online gardening advice, tips and hints, info. Helping with garden problems.
Gardening help for beginners and the slightly more experienced.
The above information is for home gardening and leisure use only.

New visitors please read Legal Notice

This is a non commercial web site and entirely child safe.
Please Bookmark this Site