Q.Milkweed - I live in Massachusetts. When can I safely cut back common milkweed so not to destroy any monarch eggs etc.
A.Wait till after the first couple of freezes to be sure no caterpillars are still on the plants. Eggs and caterpillars won't survive a freeze. You also can wait till spring to cut back what doesn't die back. Here is ...Read MoreQ.Do I Need To Do Anything With My Walking Iris Bloom Stems - I have a huge walking iris that finally bloomed this year. It has tons of bloom stems that are hanging ...
A.If the plants are grown in the ground, the plantlets take root when they touch the soil. Since yours are hanging from a basket, you can leave them aloft or cut them off and replant them. Here is more: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/walking-iris/walking-iris-plants.htm https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/walking-iris/transplanting-walking-iris.htm https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/walking-iris/Read MoreQ.Red Montbretia Lucifer Crocosmia - I accidentally got rid of a red montbretia lucifer crocosmia that my wife liked and have planted some new seeds ...
A.Did you plant seeds or corms (similar to bulbs)? Seeds can take years to bloom and may look different from the parent plant. Corms should bloom the next year after planted. Seeds can be planted in a container and protected ...Read MoreQ.Orchid - What does it mean when a bulb is starting to bloom but falls off
A.It can be caused by many things such as lack of humidity, improper watering, insufficient light, and more. This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/orchids/orchid-buds-dropping.htmRead More
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Q.Do I Need To Scratch My Mint And It’s Soil? - My pothos, snake plant, and spider plants and soil fell into my raised mint garden. Tried to get all the ...
A.Rinsing the mint leaves well before consuming should be fine. You also can add a bit of dish soap to the water and swishing the leaves well through that if you are worried. Pothos and snake plant leaves are toxic ...Read MoreQ.How To Prepare Your Soil For Vegetables? - Is it advisable that every plant we prepared one small pit & put garden soil inside & then saw(put) seed ...
A.It depends on what you are growing and how deep the roots will grow. When you improve soil in small areas like that, it creates a "bowl" for the plant to grow in. The plant roots will stay within the ...Read MoreQ.Blocking Noise From Neighbors Raised HVAC - Hello! I live on the marsh outside Charleston, SC. The homes in our neighborhood are raised, and it is required ...
A.You are in hardiness zone 9a, so you do have evergreen options. Star jasmine, or just about any vining or shrub jasmine variety, should work. Star jasmine is evergreen in your zone so that will help with the noise factor. ...Read MoreQ.White Round Circle In Vegetable Plants Like Okra & Beans - See the photo & guide me? What are the reasons gor this & how to fix it?
A.Those are eggs of certain spiraling white fly pests. Remove the leaves when you see them. Here is more: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/pmg/pestnotes/pn7400.htmlRead MoreQ.Brown Spots On Beans Plants - I found these types of spots on leaves. What is the reason & how to fix it. I regularly giving ...
A.It looks like a type of blight disease. Be sure to water your plants from below and, for vegetables, provide full sun, aeration, and proper sanitation. These articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/common-garden-plant-diseases#section-1-blight https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/documents/beans https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/plant-leaf-spots.htmRead MoreQ.Okra Plants Leaves Every Year. - Pl guide me in growing okra vegetables. I never satisfied since 4 years. Leaves becomes as shown in photos. Last ...
A.The leaves look like leaf miner damage and the lighter areas could be powdery mildew. The root problem the plants had before may have been root knot nematodes. Those can be diminished by solarizing the soil. Crop rotation helps, too. ...Read MoreQ.Can An Older Hydrangeas Plant Have A Rose Collar Placed Around It With Straw During Winter? - I have received several older hydrangeas plants and would like to know if it would help to place rose collars ...
A.Yes, you can add the collars for additional warmth during the winter. You don't say what type of hydrangeas you have, but the only type I would really be concerned about are the macrophylla types, also called big leaf or ...Read MoreQ.I Want To Plant Tulip Bulbs In Flower Pots, Can I Leave The Pots Outside? I Live In Northwest Indiana - these are pretty big pots
A.The bulbs need to be protected from freezing weather and too much moisture. The best thing to do is store the containers in the garage after planting and lightly watering. Leave them in the garage till spring and the bulbs ...Read MoreQ.If My Basil Plant Smells Like Cat Urine, Is It OK To Eat? - I recently purchased a basil plant and grew it outside until it was too cold. When I brought it in, ...
A.I agree with pruning the stems back and also replacing the soil. If it is cat urine, it probably urinated in the soil, which can kill the plant. Dogs or other wild animals may have urinated on the leaves. Wash the ...Read MoreQ.What Can I Plant In Large Pots That Will Grow Quickly And Very Tall. I Need Three To Grow Quickly To Block Out Next Doors Windows. - It is on a front deck and in full sun in an outer Melbourne area. Cold Winters and Hot Summers. ...
A.Here are some options: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/grevillea/ https://resources.austplants.com.au/plant-database/shrubs-large/ https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-9-10-11/zone-9-hedges.htm https://extension.msstate.edu/blogs/extension-for-real-life/plants-for-privacyRead MoreQ.What’s Killing My Hibiscus? - The leaves developed white spots that are surrounded by a brown ring. The leaves shriveled and died. While the plant ...
A.It is likely a bacterial or fungal leaf spot disease. Immediately pick off the infected leaves to stop the spread. If the hibiscus is in the ground, remove any fallen leaves and discard in the trash. These articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/hibiscus/hibiscus-disease https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/leaf-spot-diseases/#gsc.tab=0Read MoreQ.I Have Had Persimmon Trees And Every Year We Have Plenty Of Persimmons This Year None Is There A Reason - Have lived here over 40 years we have persimmons every year except this year
A.Did your location have a late frost this year? Your persimmon trees may have been nipped by frost. Another possibility is that the trees bore abundantly last year. Persimmon trees can do what is called alternate bearing - overabundance one ...Read MoreQ.Should I Trim Tomato Plants At The Bottom? - In your 9/17 newsletter you had a picture in the article how to get more yield from tomatoes this fall ...
A.Trimming off the lower foliage can help prevent foliar diseases and can be started right away in the spring. You can trim off the lower foliage now if desired. (I think it is a little high in the photo. Leaves ...Read MoreQ.Outdoor Potted Ficus Needs Help - I have a small ficus tree in a container on my townhouse patio. It is over 30 years old and ...
A.Yes, there are a couple of things that will help. First, remove the succulent that is growing in the container. The ficus is competing with the succulent for nourishment and water. Secondly, you can root prune the plant so you can ...Read More
