When and how do you cut pompas grass?
Anne's Response:
It needs to be cut back before it starts to produce new growth in the spring and can be cut back to within 2 inches of the ground. I filmed a segment on cutting back Miscanthus that ran several weeks ago. Pampas grass is treated the same way.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Tulips
I have yellow and purple tulips. Something is eating the blooms from the purple ones. Any ideas? Also how to deter them.
Anne's Response:
Slugs are out doing damage in this warm weather so if you see slime that may be the critter. (A saucer of stale beer next to the blooms will kill snails and slugs. They are attracted to the scent and drown in the saucer.)
There are beetles that seem to be attracted to the color purple. If the edges of the petals are scalloped that may be the problem. Sevin dust or liquid will deter that kind of insect damage. If the entire blossom is gone it is more likely a chipmunk or mouse looking for food or moisture.
Anne's Response:
Slugs are out doing damage in this warm weather so if you see slime that may be the critter. (A saucer of stale beer next to the blooms will kill snails and slugs. They are attracted to the scent and drown in the saucer.)
There are beetles that seem to be attracted to the color purple. If the edges of the petals are scalloped that may be the problem. Sevin dust or liquid will deter that kind of insect damage. If the entire blossom is gone it is more likely a chipmunk or mouse looking for food or moisture.
Drought tolerant plants
Anne,
Can you recommend a flowering plant that's drought tolerant for the Raleigh area. I have several pine trees in the front yard and would like to plant drought tolerant flowers around the trees. Before the drought, I planted petunias. They tended to flourish around the trees with the help of Miracle Grow, but they are not drought tolerant. My front yard gets full sun.
Thanks for your assistance.
Anne's Response:
Some perennials that like hot dry weather and lived through last year’s drought in good shape include Rudbeckia, butterfly weed, coneflower, and hardy ageratum.
Some annuals – more like your petunias are Blanket flower (Gaillardia), salvia, sun coleus and portulaca.
Can you recommend a flowering plant that's drought tolerant for the Raleigh area. I have several pine trees in the front yard and would like to plant drought tolerant flowers around the trees. Before the drought, I planted petunias. They tended to flourish around the trees with the help of Miracle Grow, but they are not drought tolerant. My front yard gets full sun.
Thanks for your assistance.
Anne's Response:
Some perennials that like hot dry weather and lived through last year’s drought in good shape include Rudbeckia, butterfly weed, coneflower, and hardy ageratum.
Some annuals – more like your petunias are Blanket flower (Gaillardia), salvia, sun coleus and portulaca.
Moving small bushes, trees
Anne,
I would like to move two possibly four-year-old butterfly bushes and 2 two-year-old spruces. Is now a good time or have I waited to late? If yes, is there any special preparation, etc?
Thanks,
Peggy C.
Anne's Response:
You can probably get away with moving the butterfly bush right now. It is a drought and heat tolerant plant should be able to withstand the shock of moving if you are able to give it a gallon or so of water a week to get it reestablished. Spruce trees are much less tolerant of the summer heat in the south so it is better to transplant them in the fall. As short a time as the spruce have been in the ground they will have a small rootball and should be fairly easy to move. About four weeks before you plant to move them in the fall use a sharp spade and “stab” it into the ground in a circle where you will want to dig the plant. This severs the roots and allows them to heal and start new roots growth. When you move the plant make sure the top of the rootball 1 inch out of the ground when it goes in the new planting hole. Fill the soil in around the plant and water it in well. Mulch the area over the new planting area but make sure the mulch does not get closer than 6 inches to the trunk of the tree. Make sure the plant gets the equivalent of 1 inch of water per week – either from rain or watering. You will probably need to continue watering the spruce through the following summer.
I would like to move two possibly four-year-old butterfly bushes and 2 two-year-old spruces. Is now a good time or have I waited to late? If yes, is there any special preparation, etc?
Thanks,
Peggy C.
Anne's Response:
You can probably get away with moving the butterfly bush right now. It is a drought and heat tolerant plant should be able to withstand the shock of moving if you are able to give it a gallon or so of water a week to get it reestablished. Spruce trees are much less tolerant of the summer heat in the south so it is better to transplant them in the fall. As short a time as the spruce have been in the ground they will have a small rootball and should be fairly easy to move. About four weeks before you plant to move them in the fall use a sharp spade and “stab” it into the ground in a circle where you will want to dig the plant. This severs the roots and allows them to heal and start new roots growth. When you move the plant make sure the top of the rootball 1 inch out of the ground when it goes in the new planting hole. Fill the soil in around the plant and water it in well. Mulch the area over the new planting area but make sure the mulch does not get closer than 6 inches to the trunk of the tree. Make sure the plant gets the equivalent of 1 inch of water per week – either from rain or watering. You will probably need to continue watering the spruce through the following summer.
Yoshino Cherry Tree
I need some expert advice and fast before this tree wakes up for spring! We planted a 14 ft Yoshino Cherry Tree about 20ft from the house last spring, it has done wonderful and appears to be thriving at about 18 to 20 ft now. My problem is I didn't look at the blue print of the house and I thought the septic tank was on the other side of the house. While adding a new flower bed in the back yard, extending from the house, reaching out about 10ft and ends about 6ft away from the tree, during the digging process to remove the grass and prepare the bed, we uncovered a corner of our septic tank which is about 1ft deep and a foot or two rest in the corner of the bed and the far corner of the tank rest about one foot to one and a half feet away from the trunk of the tree. The tank is partially in the bed, which is another problem because I wanted to plant a Weigelia and a crepe myrtle near it, would that be advisable or possible? My question is, do we try to move the Yoshino Cherry Tree and will it survive, or can we safely leave it without causing harm to the tank itself? I'm hoping for a miracle answer for my cherry tree. Also, will a Weigelia harm the tank if planted within a few feet of the tank corner? Thank you so much for your help!
Anne's Response:
You never plant trees or shrubs over the septic tank because you don’t know when you are going to have to have access to the tank. You can plant grass and beds of annuals or perennials in that area. It is advisable to keep the trees and shrubs with larger root systems out of the leach field as well. As large as the Yoshino is it will be hard to move but it does need to be moved as quickly as possible. Be careful that no heavy equipment damages the top of the septic tank when the plant is moved or taken down.
Anne's Response:
You never plant trees or shrubs over the septic tank because you don’t know when you are going to have to have access to the tank. You can plant grass and beds of annuals or perennials in that area. It is advisable to keep the trees and shrubs with larger root systems out of the leach field as well. As large as the Yoshino is it will be hard to move but it does need to be moved as quickly as possible. Be careful that no heavy equipment damages the top of the septic tank when the plant is moved or taken down.
Peonies
My peonies don't bloom well. What do I need to add to my soil and what kind of fertilizer do I need. Will Lime help?
Thanks,
Gloria
Anne's Response:
Peonies that bloom early in the season and cultivars with blooms that have a single row of petals do better in the south. Lime may help if you have used pine bark as mulch or composted oaks leaves as a soil amendment. Peonies need at least 6 hours of sun - and in the south you want as much of that as possible before the plants get hot afternoon sun.
The plants need a good period of cold weather in the winter. To let the soil get a bit colder I remove the mulch around my plants in December, January and February. The plants will benefit from an application of fertilizer with a slow-release nitrogen in the spring as the buds open.
They also benefit from the addition of potash in the winter. Some gardeners use the wood ashes from the fire place as a source of potash.
Thanks,
Gloria
Anne's Response:
Peonies that bloom early in the season and cultivars with blooms that have a single row of petals do better in the south. Lime may help if you have used pine bark as mulch or composted oaks leaves as a soil amendment. Peonies need at least 6 hours of sun - and in the south you want as much of that as possible before the plants get hot afternoon sun.
The plants need a good period of cold weather in the winter. To let the soil get a bit colder I remove the mulch around my plants in December, January and February. The plants will benefit from an application of fertilizer with a slow-release nitrogen in the spring as the buds open.
They also benefit from the addition of potash in the winter. Some gardeners use the wood ashes from the fire place as a source of potash.
Rooting Lealand Cyprus
Hi Anne:
I am trying to root some Lealand Cyprus trees to add to my property. I already have some healthy trees from which I can take cuttings. How should I proceed?
Anne's Response:
It is usually easier to make cuttings from evergreens in the winter when they are dormant. I did a segment on dormant season cuttings on For Your Garden that occasionally shows up at the appropriate season or you may be able to access it on the website.
I am trying to root some Lealand Cyprus trees to add to my property. I already have some healthy trees from which I can take cuttings. How should I proceed?
Anne's Response:
It is usually easier to make cuttings from evergreens in the winter when they are dormant. I did a segment on dormant season cuttings on For Your Garden that occasionally shows up at the appropriate season or you may be able to access it on the website.
Chick-weed investation
Hi; Last year my parents put out a lot of money to turn their back yard back into grass. This included a chick-weed infestation. At this time the yard is mostly grass, however there still is a lot of chick-weed. My question all relate to this, should I kill all the chick-weed and grass with a product like round-up and start from scratch? I have a lot of friends that are looking to make some extra money, so I will have no problem finding enough Manuel labor. How would you proceed?
Anne's Response:
Round-up will kill all the grass and the chickweed. Use a broadleaf weed killer such as Weed-be-gone or 2-4D to kill the chickweed and leave the grass. Put out the chemical on a day when the temperature is over 60 and rain is not expected for 24 hours. Don’t mow the lawn for a week after you apply the weed killer to allow it more time to kill the roots of the weeds.
Anne's Response:
Round-up will kill all the grass and the chickweed. Use a broadleaf weed killer such as Weed-be-gone or 2-4D to kill the chickweed and leave the grass. Put out the chemical on a day when the temperature is over 60 and rain is not expected for 24 hours. Don’t mow the lawn for a week after you apply the weed killer to allow it more time to kill the roots of the weeds.
Transplanting tea olive
Hi Anne,
First of all your blog/website is wonderful!! I am going to share it with my garden club and family members!!
My question – I need to move a beautiful tea olive that was planted close to my pond and home. It is now over 7 feet tall and is competing for space with another very large plant (don’t know its name, but the ‘other’ plant shades the fish, so I can’t move it.)
The tea olive has begun to flower. After flowering do I cut it back and move to another location? Thanks or your help!!!
Lucy H.
Anne's Response:
I would cut the plant back after it blooms but wait until fall to move it. In late August you can use a sharp spade to root prune the tea olive. Just stab the spade down into the ground in a circle at the outside edges of the plant. After 6 weeks you should be able to move the plant without upsetting it too much. The root ball you have to move will be smaller and not weigh quite so much. New roots will generate quickly in its now location if you make a good planting bed and water the plant in well.
First of all your blog/website is wonderful!! I am going to share it with my garden club and family members!!
My question – I need to move a beautiful tea olive that was planted close to my pond and home. It is now over 7 feet tall and is competing for space with another very large plant (don’t know its name, but the ‘other’ plant shades the fish, so I can’t move it.)
The tea olive has begun to flower. After flowering do I cut it back and move to another location? Thanks or your help!!!
Lucy H.
Anne's Response:
I would cut the plant back after it blooms but wait until fall to move it. In late August you can use a sharp spade to root prune the tea olive. Just stab the spade down into the ground in a circle at the outside edges of the plant. After 6 weeks you should be able to move the plant without upsetting it too much. The root ball you have to move will be smaller and not weigh quite so much. New roots will generate quickly in its now location if you make a good planting bed and water the plant in well.
When can I plant?
My husband and I bought a new home last summer and are very anxious to plant some shrubs. When is it safe to do so? I have seen landscapers putting in shrubs on new construction, but I trust you more than them. Thanks!
Anne's Response:
I prefer to plant shrubs in the fall when it is cooler and the plants need less water. If you plant during the spring you will have to water the new plants at least once a week until they get established. Make sure you use composted leaves and manure in the planting holes to provide enough organic matter in the soil.
Anne's Response:
I prefer to plant shrubs in the fall when it is cooler and the plants need less water. If you plant during the spring you will have to water the new plants at least once a week until they get established. Make sure you use composted leaves and manure in the planting holes to provide enough organic matter in the soil.
Gardenias
Are gardinias decidious? I can not fins mites or anything else. I have treated with miracid and Bayer 2-1 systemic. About 1/2 the leaves have fallen through the winter but new shoots are appearing and the tips of the branches are starting new buds or leaves. What may be happening? Stacy
Anne's Response:
Gardenias will loose about 1/3 of their leaves every year but a healthy plant will start putting on new leaves in the spring. Keep the plants watered and use a fertilizer that contains a slow-release nitrogen when the plants start showing new leaves in the spring.
Anne's Response:
Gardenias will loose about 1/3 of their leaves every year but a healthy plant will start putting on new leaves in the spring. Keep the plants watered and use a fertilizer that contains a slow-release nitrogen when the plants start showing new leaves in the spring.
Bonsai infestation
hi, I received a bonsai tree (ficus I believe) for Christmas and love it. Tonight however, I noticed it had a lot of yellow leaves. Closer investigation showed a hollow 2 inch area in the the middle tree trunk (it has three twisted trunks) and a bunch of brown tiny eggs(?) and brown bug carcasses. I really don't want this plant to die, and there are still a lot of lovely green leaves. What are these bugs and how can I get rid of them in order to save my plant?
Regards,
Genevieve
Anne's Response:
Insecticidal soap can be sprayed on the trunk of the tree to smother the insects and eggs. Take it outdoors on a warm day to spray as it is messy and the odor is not that pleasant. Leave the spray on the plant for about an hour and then wash it off and bring the plant back inside. The yellow leaves may be from another cause entirely. Ficus resents being moved; they do loose a lot of leaves in the winter so check the base of the yellow leaves to see if there is a sign of new leaves beginning to emerge. You may also want to check the soil moisture to make sure it is not “sopping wet” because that causes root rot and yellow leaves. A slow release plant food may supply enough nitrogen to produce greener leaves.
Regards,
Genevieve
Anne's Response:
Insecticidal soap can be sprayed on the trunk of the tree to smother the insects and eggs. Take it outdoors on a warm day to spray as it is messy and the odor is not that pleasant. Leave the spray on the plant for about an hour and then wash it off and bring the plant back inside. The yellow leaves may be from another cause entirely. Ficus resents being moved; they do loose a lot of leaves in the winter so check the base of the yellow leaves to see if there is a sign of new leaves beginning to emerge. You may also want to check the soil moisture to make sure it is not “sopping wet” because that causes root rot and yellow leaves. A slow release plant food may supply enough nitrogen to produce greener leaves.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Drought help
Dear Anne,
Help! We moved to a new home and we cannot water, so therefore we cannot sod. What can I do? Would you just throw out some seed and hope for the best. Or should I mulch the yard? I have dogs and the dirt and mud are about to drive me insane!
Kind regards,
Barbara P.
Anne's Response:
There are some landscapers who are putting down sod and using well water or treated sewage water. It is more expensive but it will help get the sod off to a good start. If you put down fescue sod there will be a problem if the watering restrictions are not lifted during the summer. It really is too late to put our fescue grass seed this year. If you want to put down a warm season grass such as Zoysia, Bermuda or St. Augustine you may be able to start them from seed in May if it looks like we will have rain on a regular basis. Using sod for warm season grasses would also be a possibility and they have the advantage of not needing as much water after they are established.
Help! We moved to a new home and we cannot water, so therefore we cannot sod. What can I do? Would you just throw out some seed and hope for the best. Or should I mulch the yard? I have dogs and the dirt and mud are about to drive me insane!
Kind regards,
Barbara P.
Anne's Response:
There are some landscapers who are putting down sod and using well water or treated sewage water. It is more expensive but it will help get the sod off to a good start. If you put down fescue sod there will be a problem if the watering restrictions are not lifted during the summer. It really is too late to put our fescue grass seed this year. If you want to put down a warm season grass such as Zoysia, Bermuda or St. Augustine you may be able to start them from seed in May if it looks like we will have rain on a regular basis. Using sod for warm season grasses would also be a possibility and they have the advantage of not needing as much water after they are established.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Questions
Hi Anne, How can I get rid of grass that is entangled in my Daylillies? I also have St. Johns wort, that I planted 3 years ago, it is spreading but no yellow flowers yet. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Tracey E.
Anne's Response:
There are herbicides labeled as grass killers for use in ornamental flowers. Ornamec was one trade name but there are several others. Follow the labels very carefully to kill the grass without harming the day lilies. The only other way is to handpull the grass. St. John's Wort seems to need quite a bit of morning sun for flowering. It does not bloom very well if it is fertilized with a lot of nitrogen. I've found that using a good organic mulch is all the fertilizer mine needs.
Thanks,
Tracey E.
Anne's Response:
There are herbicides labeled as grass killers for use in ornamental flowers. Ornamec was one trade name but there are several others. Follow the labels very carefully to kill the grass without harming the day lilies. The only other way is to handpull the grass. St. John's Wort seems to need quite a bit of morning sun for flowering. It does not bloom very well if it is fertilized with a lot of nitrogen. I've found that using a good organic mulch is all the fertilizer mine needs.
Fertilize
Dear Ms. Clapp,
I have a cherry blossom tree and three Bradford pear trees and would like your advice on how to fertilize them, similar to the advices for the fig bushes. I really appreciate it.
Regards,
Hien
Anne's Response:
f the cherry tree and the Bradford pears have been in the ground for more than 5 years and are mulched with a 2 or 3 inch layer of organic mulch such as composted leaves or pine bark there is really no need to fertilize them. The organic material in the soil and in the mulch will supply most of the nutrients for mature plants that are not fruit producing. If they have been planted for less than two years you may want to fertilize them with a slow release nitrogen fertilizer just as the leaves appear in the spring.
I have a cherry blossom tree and three Bradford pear trees and would like your advice on how to fertilize them, similar to the advices for the fig bushes. I really appreciate it.
Regards,
Hien
Anne's Response:
f the cherry tree and the Bradford pears have been in the ground for more than 5 years and are mulched with a 2 or 3 inch layer of organic mulch such as composted leaves or pine bark there is really no need to fertilize them. The organic material in the soil and in the mulch will supply most of the nutrients for mature plants that are not fruit producing. If they have been planted for less than two years you may want to fertilize them with a slow release nitrogen fertilizer just as the leaves appear in the spring.
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