I planted some violas a couple of days ago and they are now all laying flat on the ground. What could be causing this and how do I fix it?
New plants sometimes need an adjustment period from the time they leave the greenhouse to being planted in the garden.
This is referred to as 'hardening off'.
Viola can be planted in full sun or partial shade locations.
If the new plants did not have time to adjust to a bright location they may droop and wilt.
Make sure you are providing even watering until the plants become established.
The soil should be moist but not soggy. New tender roots that dry out may not survive.
Here are some articles with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/seeds/how-to-harden-off-your-seedlings.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/violet/types-of-violets.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/violet/johnny-jump-up-flowers.htm
Can you plant fall/winter annuals on top of dormant perennial beds? I have some new landscaping and have several prepared areas where I'm going to be planting myself. I'm hoping to plant mainly perennials so that I'm not having to replant as much during the year. In the fall/winter when most of these perennials go underground, can I still plant my fall annuals (violas or pansies, etc.) on top of where the perennials were in the bed? Once I pull my annuals up, will the perennials still return in the fall? Or do I need to be very careful to mark where to put my annuals so that they are not directly on top of perennial roots. Alternatively, could I perhaps put some potted plants on top of the beds instead - this wouldn't apply too much pressure on the perennials underground would it? Thanks! This is our first house so I'm still learning and trying to avoid duplicating my efforts too much!
The answer is no, you should not plant annuals on top of dormant perennials or bulb plants.
Watering your annuals would likely lead to bulb or root rot in the perennial plants.
The same would go for placing heavy pots on tope of perennials. Plants, even when dormant, need oxygen and air circulation.
Here are some articles that will help you get started with your garden project.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/connecting-the-garden-with-its-surroundings.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/designing-four-season-gardens.htm
Do you know what this is? It is overtaking my grass and flower beds. How do I kill it?
It is a bit far away to make a 100 percent identification, but the heart shaped leaf leads me to say Wild Violet.
Here is a link with information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/violet/kill-wild-violets.htm
My violets look healthy and are spreading but no flowers for the last year. What can I do?
They may be unhappy with too much sunlight or too warm of temperatures.
They prefer a shady location an cooler temperatures.
Here is a link with more information on growing requirements.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/violet/wild-violets-care.htm
The leaves on my outdoor Violets have turned all yellow and papery. I don't see any sign of spider mites (there are sticky webs but spider mites aren't there?). I am not sure what is happening to them - they have been really healthy in the past. The violets are in a north facing garden and up until two years ago were very healthy.
There could be many reasons actually. One of them is that violets need sun only partially and if they are exposed to it too much or the sun is just too strong in the last two years, they can start withering and dying from the heat. Another reason is over-watering or not enough water as well. When you over-water your plants, the leafs turn yellow, but inside the ground the plant is rotting. And when there's not enough water it just dries. In this case you could try installing an irrigation system - http://www.fantasticgardenersmelbourne.com.au/irrigation/ , which will not only make sure your plants are watered on time, but also with the exact amount of water they need.
Another reason for your trouble could be the quality of the soil. Violets need a lot of nutrients in order to grow, and if you're not fertilising the ground regularly, then maybe the soil is just too exhausted to keep it going. You should definitely check all these options. Of course, diseases are also quite common, so you should never rule them out completely.
Do my gentian violet plants need cutting back for the winter? These are new plants this year - purple.
Just allow them to die back naturally.
Here is a link with growing information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gentian/growing-gentian-plants.htm
Our violets are growing, but the new leaves are hard and curled.
This may be a sign of too little sunlight.
Also make sure the temperatures are warm enough for good plant health.
Here is a link to refresh you on the care requirements.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/african-violet/african-violet-care.htm