Q.How Do I Care For My Gift Of Flowering Hyacinths - How do I care for my gift of flowering hyacinths in order to plant them in the fall?
A.Care for them as you would a houseplant until the leaves have yellowed and dies back. Make sure to place them in bright light and water when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. Once the leaves ...Read MoreQ.White Mold On Crepe Myrtle - I live in Fort Wayne Iniana and have a crepe myrtle that I have been growing in a pot for ...
A.It sounds like you have powdery mildew. It is common in overwintered plants. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/get-the-cure-for-powdery-mildew.htmRead MoreQ.Does Grass Seed Have A Use By Date? - Does grass seed have a use by date?
A.Yes, but it is not a hard set date. Seeds remain viable for a time then die. Most seeds remain viable for at least a year, and some, if they have been stored properly, can remain viable for ...Read MoreQ.Watermelon Vines - How are the vines nourished? How are the additional watermelons nourished? What purpose do the tendrils serve?
A.Watermelons do best when they are given a slightly higher amount of phosphorus than nitrogen. This helps in the melon fruit development. The tendrils are there because in its native environment, the vine would climb up objects to get more sun. ...Read More
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Q.My Azalea Has A Disease That I Have Not Seen Before - It looks like pale green spots on the branches and is killing the plant. Can you help?
A.This sounds like it might be lichen. Lichen does not kill the plant, but rather often attaches to plants that are dying. What other symptoms are you seeing? This will help better identify what is killing the ...Read MoreQ.Silver Dollar Eucalyptus - Are invasive roots a problem with this tree? Also, is dripping sap a problem? I've heard that other plants may ...
A.Eucalyptus roots tend to be shallow compared to other trees, going down about 6-10 feet normally. They are very water hungry and if they cannot find a way to get enough water in the soil, may invade pipes. You can ...Read MoreQ.Potting Soil Texture For Poinsettias - I found a cactus preparation potting soil by Miracle-Gro at Walmart which would allow a fast flush and adequate drainage ...
A.I would mix it 50/50 with regular potting soil. It is just a bit too free draining for poinsettia.Read MoreQ.Bedding Out Plants - My bedding out plants start to grow but then the tops of the the plants shrivel up and die. I ...
A.It sounds as of damping off is a problem. This article will help with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/seeds/what-is-damping-off.htmRead MoreQ.Storing Tulips Over The Summer - I live in Arizona and want to store tulip bulbs over the long, hot summer. My tulips have lost their ...
A.To tell you the truth, they might be happier in the ground. They really like hot, dry weather in the summer. This article will help explain: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/tulips/tulips-bloom-every-year.htmRead MoreQ.Tree Without Leaves - I have a white dogwood tree that is two years old. The deer have eaten all the leaves and there are ...
A.It should recover on its own, though you probably won't have any blooms this year. The following articles should be of some help to you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/dogwood/caring-dogwood-trees.htm https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/deer/how-to-protect-trees-from-deer.htmRead MoreQ.Crape Myrtle - I live in Kansas City, MO and I recently purchased a Tonto crape myrtle, planting it on the northeast corner ...
A.Some are hardy to Zone 6, and given adequate winter protection (ie-winter wrapping), there are some people who have had luck growing these plants in colder areas. As an alternative, you can grow the tree in a container. This article ...Read MoreQ.Severe Pruning Bird Of Paradise - Please advise me on how to trim back (rather severely) the Bird of Paradise.
A.Cut back the plant by no more than 1/3 per year. Cutting back anymore than that will kill it. Another option would be to divide the plant. These articles may help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/bop/dividing-bird-of-paradise.htm https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/bop/bird-of-paradise-pruning.htmRead MoreQ.Foundation Plants For Shade - I need foundation plants to grow in shade in an area approximately 4 feet by 2 feet next to a yew. ...
A.This article has some suggestions that you may like: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/foundation-plants.htmRead MoreQ.Hibiscus Plants - Just transplanted some hibiscus plants to a container. I watered them, but they are drooping. Is it because of too ...
A.It sounds like they have transplant shock. This article will help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/learn-how-to-avoid-and-repair-transplant-shock-in-plants.htmRead MoreQ.My Crepe Myrtle Went Dormant In The Fall - My crepe myrtle has not bloomed after our very cold (and much snow) winter here on Staten Island. What should ...
A.Provided that the tree is leafing out and was not killed by the cold, it is very likely that the reason it is not blossoming is that the flower buds were killed by the cold. Flower buds tend to ...Read MoreQ.Fireblight - I would like to confirm once and for all how much to prune below fireblight infection. I see 8 ...
A.Yes, most resources do specify cutting back branches 8-12 inches from the canker margin, or affected area. However, I recommend 12 inches, as the canker margins are not always well defined and at least this way, you're more likely to ...Read MoreQ.Companion Plants - What can be grown alongside mint plants (in a pot to contain roots) in a bed with a western exposure? ...
A.Mint makes a good companion for tomatoes, thyme, sage, and bee balm. Alyssum, Salvia, Lower growing Tulip and other early blooming bulbs, Blue Woodruff, Dianthus are some companion plants that go well with rose bushes. Some herbs that do well ...Read MoreQ.Replanting A Gardenia Tree - I have a gardenia tree. I want to know if I can dig up some of it and replant it somewhere else ...
A.Chances are it is one big plant that cannot be divided. But that being said, you can always check to see if this is the case. If there is more than one main trunk coming up from the ground, then ...Read MoreQ.Narcoleptic Peach Tree - I have one peach tree that is still in bud while all my others have bloomed, set fruit, and leafed ...
A.There are a few things that can be happening. I think the most likely is that the tree is sitting in a microclimate in your yard. This can be caused by hills, buildings, dips in the ground and even other ...Read More