Q.Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate Plant - How do I know when to collect the seeds?
A.It is recommended to pick seeds right before they fall off of the plant. Typically, the area around and near the seeds will start to change colors signalling that the seeds are nearing maturity. As you watch your plants more ...Read MoreQ.Wisteria - Can you use the pea pods to grow new plants?
A.Yes, these seed pods can be plant as you would peas. These are best sown directly in spring. These freshly grown plants from seed might take upwards of 15 years to see its first blooms, though. An alternative would be ...Read MoreQ.Bamboo Cane - I need to get rid of Bamboo Cane growing close to my house. Can you help me with this problem? ...
A.Bamboo can be quite difficult to rid from your yard. There are a few ways to do this. You have to manually pull up and dig out as much as you can first. Then it will be necessary to treat ...Read MoreQ.Parrot Plant (impatiens) - My plant is growing well and has plenty of 'parrots' on it and I pinch the tips regularly, but the ...
A.This can be a sign of a few different things. I would ,first, look to a fungal issue. This can cause the wilt. Apply wettable sulfur and dolomitic lime to the soil, then spray the plant with a few drops ...Read More
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Q.Dahlias - I have planted dahlias a couple of years ago and every year they come back and flower really well. I ...
A.I recommend cutting only what is dead or injured right now. Thin out what you can, and possibly fertilize them with an all-purpose fertilizer once or twice a year. Here is an article with more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/dahlia/dahlia-care-grow-dahlia-plant.htmRead MoreQ.Tall, Colorful Pampas Grass - Does this do well in zone 5? How tall can it grow, and what all colors are there?
A.It will do well in your area. I have some that grows about 10 feet tall! I am only aware of colors ranging from a sand color, to pink. There are many other ornamental grasses that are VERY colorful, however. ...Read MoreQ.Grasses - What grass do you recommend for Michigan? Drought resistant, low maintenance, Shade/Direct Sun?
A.The grass best suited for your area is Kentucky blue grass, oddly enough. Here is an article that will help:https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/specific/kentucky-bluegrass/planting-kentucky-bluegrass.htm Read MoreQ.Orchids - My orchid has finished blooming. What should I do with the shoots the blooms were growing on? Cut ...
A.If the tips are turning brown, then cut only the brown part. Otherwise, leave those, as they will flower again from these stalks later. Here is an article on orchid care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/orchids/indoor-orchid-care.htmRead MoreQ.Flowering Tree – Fungal Problem (??) - I have two Magnolia trees: White and Purple red. Both of them did not flower at all this year. The ...
A.I do have a relatively simple solution, that will help. Around all infected trees you should put down wettable sulfur, and dolomitic lime. This will kill the soil fungus, and control pH. Next, mix a few drops of one or ...Read MoreQ.Lawns - What is the value of aerating the lawn and over-seeding?
A.Aerating your lawn will give you more rooting area for the grass to hold on to, as well as introducing oxygen to the root zone. This will ensure a more full lawn. Over seeding will ensure that most of the ...Read MoreQ.Silk Floss Tree After Hurricane Damage - My very large, mature silk floss tree is tipped but not down from hurricane winds in Miami Beach. The ...
A.It is best to only take off what you need. Leave as much as you possibly can to ensure its survival. You can definitely prop the tree back up with something whether it be a board, or tie it up ...Read MoreQ.Black Spot On Strelitzia Flowers AFTER Opening - Hi. In my new garden, I have inherited a Strelitzia, which is very overgrown and badly in need of a ...
A.This plant seems to be suffering from either a bacterial or fungal infection. Luckily there are a few things you can do to help it out. I recommend putting wettable sulfur around the soil, along with a little dolomitic lime, ...Read MoreQ.Determining Olive Species - My wife knew that I wanted an Olive tree or two. She stumbled across an olive tree for sale at ...
A.I'm sorry, but it is very difficult to differentiate between species sometimes. This will require very careful examination of the size of the anatomy of the plant such as: Leaves, seeds, flowers, stem internode length, and other factors. I wish ...Read MoreQ.Climbing Hydrangea - It doesn't bloom... It is 9 yrs old ...It gets buds but no blooms.
A.This is a common issue with climbing hydrangeas. many times it will be reluctant to bloom, if the plant has too many vines to support. You should cut some of the less established vines after the bloom buds stop forming. ...Read MoreQ.Root A Magnolia Tree From Cuttings - I AM TRYING TO GROW A GARDENIA TREE FROM CUTTINGS FROM OUR BEAUTIFUL TREE WE JUST LOST IN THE HURRICANE.YOUR ...
A.You mention both magnolia and gardenia, however, Both will have similar methods of propagation. I would recommend a very light soil, meaning a soil with light nutrient contents, or even just peat moss. Perlite can go in with any ratio ...Read MoreQ.How To Propagate Mandevilla Cuttings In Water? - I've read people don't have any luck propagating mandevilla cuttings in plain water but wonder if there's a trick to ...
A.Yes, there is a way to do this. This can be a bit more tricky than cloning in soil, however, with the right tools, you can do it easily. the best way to achieve success with this method is to ...Read MoreQ.Layering Of Rhododendron - One plant did produce roots, but the other had very hard growth like hard Styrofoam around the area wrapped in ...
A.That is just like our own stem cells. These are the precursor to roots! Keep an eye on them, as they will soon root as well. This article will help: http://www.saps.org.uk/saps-associates/browse-q-and-a/500-what-causes-root-callusing-why-is-it-that-some-in-some-varieties-some-of-the-cuttings-root-readily-while-others-develop-a-large-amount-of-callus-which-prohibits-rootingRead MoreQ.Apples - Hello! My apples have never done this before, and I'm wondering what it could be? Are they still safe to eat? ...
A.That appears to be what is called apple soggy breakdown disorder. This is most likely a temperature or humidity issue. If the weather is particularly wet, this can happen. It would seem that the apples are still edible. Here is ...Read MoreQ.Transplanting Russian Sage - When is the best time to transplant Russian sage plants?
A.It seems like the best time to plant is in spring, however this hardy perennial can safely be planted now if you needed to. Here is an article on their care: https://wimastergardener.org/article/russian-sage-perovskia-atriplicifolia/Read More
