Q.Gardenias And Frost - I have 3 bushes, just planted this past spring with a possible frost coming over night. I covered the bushes ...
A.First, I would not recommend covering a plant with plastic for frost. Condensation builds up under the plastic and that can harm the plant in the cold. In the future, cover it with a sheet or blanket. The ...Read MoreQ.Wisteria Seedpods - Should the pods on wisteria be removed?
A.It will not hurt the plant to cut these off. You can remove them at any time, unless you want to use the seeds. Then you should wait until the seed pods are dry before harvesting them.Read MoreQ.Cultivating Moss - I am trying to grow decorative moss on some large basalt boulders in my 'Japanese' garden. Is there a fertilizer ...
A.If you take buttermilk and some moss, then blend it up (in an old blender you don't intend to use for food), you can then spread this on the object you want to have moss grow on. The buttermilk help provide ...Read MoreQ.Hibiscus Bugs - The flower buds and some of the leaves of my hibiscus are covered with bugs (I guess). They look like ...
A.It sounds like it might be aphids. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/homemade-aphid-control-a-natural-way-to-kill-aphids.htmRead More
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Q.Camellia Blooms - My young camellia produced two perfectly beautiful white blooms but then started producing buds that were brown even before they ...
A.This may have been caused by a disease called flower blight. Here is more information on it: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/DISEASES/campfbli.htmlRead MoreQ.Obtaining Smoke Trees - I am trying to buy two 4-foot smoke trees for the Palm Desert, CA area. The local nurseries don't have ...
A.There are several places online that you can purchase from. Here are a few reputable sellers: http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/SmokeTree.htm?gclid=CKb7qtqUq6UCFUVqKgodPWMyYA http://www.willisorchards.com/category/Smoke+Tree+Family?gclid=COmriPOUq6UCFUVqKgodPWMyYA Read MoreQ.Eucalyptus Pruning - We have Eucalyptus trees that are about 15 years old and about 25 feet tall. The bottom branches start at ...
A.This article will help you with pruning your eucalyptus: https://apps.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=136Read MoreQ.Rhododendron Not Blooming - Our rhododendron didn't bloom last spring. It was planted a year ago. Could it be that our soil is not ...
A.There are many reasons a plant may not bloom. The most common is that the plant is not getting enough sunlight. While rhododendron like shade, if they are too far back in the shade, they may not have enough ...Read MoreQ.Growing A Lime Tree - How long does it take for a lime tree to produce limes? Does it look like a tree or a ...
A.1. It can take anywhere from 3-6 years for a lime tree grown from a seed to mature enough to produce fruit. 2. It really depends on what variety you buy and how you prune it as to whether it takes ...Read MoreQ.Moving Caladiums - I want to relocate my caladiums and need to know what time of year would be best to this in ...
A.Spring is probably the most ideal time for transplanting caladiums; however, with proper care, it is possible to move them in early summer as well. Here is an article that may be helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/caladium/when-to-plant-caladium-bulbs.htmRead MoreQ.Dogwood Care In Planters - I live in Manhattan, NY. and I have just planted two 7-foot dogwoods (Kousa) in large, thick concrete planters. I amended the ...
A.Typically, you should treat a plant in a pot as though it is one zone lower than the one you live in. Many dogwoods are hardy to zone 3 or 4, depending on the variety. As for watering, most ...Read MoreQ.Infected Tomato Plants - I planted two tomato plants in my vegetable garden about 2 months ago. They have been doing really well until ...
A.It does sound like a disease. It is likely a blight (there are several) as these tend to move from the bottom of the plant upwards. There is not much you can do for the plant. While the ...Read MoreQ.Maple Problem - I have a very beautiful maple in my backyard. It's been flourishing nicely for the past 6 years, but suddenly ...
A.It sounds like an infection of some kind got into the wound when the branch fell. The tree may have rot inside, which would explain the bark and leaves. Without being there, we would not be able to help you ...Read MoreQ.Green Moss On Bushes - What kind of organically formulated spray can be used to treat green moss growing on bushes?
A.This is likely lichen and is not harmful to the plant. But, if you want to get rid of it, this article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/fungus-lichen/treatment-tree-lichen.htmRead MoreQ.Mandevilla Blossoms Fall Off - I have a yellow mandevilla. It looks very healthy, but the blossoms start to open, and then they fall off. ...
A.It could be that it is just a little underwatered, just enough so that it can't support its flowers and so it drops them. It could also be that you have thrips. These are tiny pests that attack the base ...Read MoreQ.Evening Primrose - I had about a 4' x 3' section of green stalk-like plants come up in a section of my front ...
A.Yes, you can plant the primrose seeds now. They will do fine through the winter. Is it slugs or grubs you are having trouble with in the lawn? Grubs are normally what will cause dead spots in the yard (as well ...Read MoreQ.White Bugs On Hibiscus - This past week my hibiscus has gotten little white bugs on it and I need to know how to get ...
A.That sounds like it is either spider mites or mealy bugs. Fortunately, both are treated the same was with various kinds of pesticides. I prefer neem oil myself, as it is very effective, organic and safe for pets ...Read MoreQ.Outdoor Ivy And Pine Trees - Our home is surrounded with several large pine trees and some type of ivy as ground cover (thanks to the ...
A.You do not need to rake out the ivy. They are amazingly resilient plants and will grow through the debris just fine until it composts. In terms of not letting the ivy grow within 3 feet, that advice was sound but ...Read More
