Category: Advice

Posted on

Rhododendron Blues

                                                                     

TheGardenLady received this question from Abe:

I have this Rhododendron in my front yard that is not blooming, and seems sick, and I don’t know why.  My neighbor says that it has a fungus on it.  Do you have any ideas about how to cure an unhealthy rhododendron? 

There are many good sites on the web that talk about typical rhododendron problems.  Here’s one good site about  rhododendron problems that might be of help.

However the best way to find out what is happening to your rhododendron is to take in a good sized sample of your rhododendron WITH the dying parts of the plant to your local Master Gardener Extension office to have your specific problem identified. The MGs will tell you if your problem is a typical problem and if it is, how to handle it. They will recommend solutions. The MGs prefer a non chemical solution. Without seeing a sample, TheGardenLady can just guess what is wrong.

Continue reading “Rhododendron Blues”

Posted on

Hostas

                                                                        

TheGardenLady received this question from Kevin:

I have a very small front area,very small,2’x25′ with very little sun.  I was thinking about some kind of ornamental grass for height and some other colorful flowers. Any ideas?

For a shaded, narrow, long garden, foliage interest might be what you are looking for. Hostas are definitely a plus for any shade garden.  Hostas have many leaf sizes. They are designated as tiny, dwarf, small, medium, large and giant. The leaves have a broad range of different green  colors-some of the leaves are yellowish and blueish as well as dark or light green or white with green, etc.- to make an interesting cool color palette. Many hostas send up flowers that are butterfly attractants and are fragrant. The hostas used to be considered in the lily family because of the flowers.  Check out the Hosta Library site for all the different hostas.  Or look at another Hosta website.

Continue reading “Hostas”

Posted on

Romeo and Juliet Pansies

                                                                        

TheGardenLady received this queston from Samantha.

How do you grow (Romeo & Juliet mixed color) pansies? Are they a shade pansy?

Plant these fragrant pansies in the  Autumn/Winter.  They like cool weather to bloom. They hate hot weather.  In cool weather they will give you two seasons of bloom – first in the fall and then again in late winter.

They have high Frost tolerance- +++ (high)

Position them in full sun to part shade

Usage: Ideal for bedding, borders, rockeries and containers

Available as: seedlings

A good link that tells about planting Romeo and Juliet pansy seeds is this.

Posted on

Honey Bee Crisis

TheGardenLady received this question from Joy:

Are you aware of the honeybee crisis and do you think that it will have an
effect on gardening and domestic plants?

The Garden Lady has been hearing about the bee crisis for a number of years.  The Garden Lady has noticed fewer and fewer bees on her property even though she never uses pesticides nor herbicides; both can harm beneficial insects like honey bees.  Alas, my policy of not putting toxic poisons on the ground is a rareity. Most people prefer lawns without “weeds” like clover. Clover to TheGardenLady is welcome in her lawn. Clover is a honeybee attractant. The GardenLady also tries to plant flowering plants that will attract pollinators. The oregano and mint area of my garden is one spot that is filled with nectar sipping insects that are pollinators.

Continue reading “Honey Bee Crisis”

Posted on

Global Warming and Gardening

 

TheGardenLady received these questions from Jen:

Are there any plant related reasons to worry or any precautions to take about the unseasonably warm November and December we’ve had on the East Coast so far this year? Is the weather going to mess up the natural cycles of native trees and plants? I’m mainly concerned because I see buds on some trees already.

As TheGardenLady wrote, this issue is of major concern to scientists.  TheGardenLady is interested in what scientists are saying and will periodically report on this topic.

The other day a Rutgers professor was quoted as saying that in NJ gardeners are to expect more flooding because of more major rains yet he said there will be more droughts.

Today there is a 3-day symposium  at the New York Botanical Garden called “Gardening in a Changing Climate,”  This is open to the public.  In this week’s New York Times  there was an article by ANNE RAVER about some problems entitled Must Tulips Wither as the Climate Changes?  It is about nursing plants through new highs and lows in a changing climate.

Here is a website to check on the impact of  climate change in all areas including agriculture in your state is EPA Global Warming by State.

Posted on

Window Gardens – Planting in Windowboxes and Containers

                                                                            

TheGardenLady received this question from Karen. 

I am planning on moving to Florida this year, and I would really love to grow a window garden in the warm weather.  Coming from Alaska and having no prior experience with gardens, I’m not really sure where to start.  What kind of window boxes are available that are low-cost?  Are window gardens really high maintainance?  What sort of flowers should I choose that will thrive in Florida’s enviroment?  

Welcome to the East Coast. After the short growing season of Alaska you may think you have arrived in flower heaven when you reach Florida. After all Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon who  first saw Florida on Palm Sunday, April 2, 1513 thought he had so he named the state “Pascua de Florida,” meaning “Feast of Flowers.”  The state has a nickname that is The Sunshine State.  Sunshine is great for growing flowers. However the state  has unique growing environments. 

Continue reading “Window Gardens – Planting in Windowboxes and Containers”

Posted on

When to Plant a Vegetable Garden

                                                               

TheGardenLady received this question from Jenna - 

When should I start planting my vegetable garden?…I live on the east coast of the United States but we’ve had unseasonably cold weather this spring.

Different vegetables need different times to be planted.  Depending on where you live on the East Coast will determine when you will plant the vegetable seeds.   There are what are referred to as warm or cool season crops which refer to the necessary weather conditions for growing the vegetables. Warm season crops require soil that is warm when the seeds are planted and then need long days and high temperatures to ripen fruits. For warm season crops you will have to know when the last killing frost will occur in your area.

Continue reading “When to Plant a Vegetable Garden”

Posted on

Vegetable Gardens

                                                                

TheGardenLady received this question from Bob –

Does a vegetable garden want more acidic soil or less? I was going to put lime in should I?

TheGardenLady has no idea where you live. Different areas of the country can have soil with different soil requirements.  Check out this site.

When starting a vegetable or any garden, one should first have a soil test taken of the area that you want to use. This way you are not guessing about the wants/ needs of your garden. You will know what the ph of the soil is. To test the soil, you can buy an inexpensive ph kit in your local garden center or you can go to your local Master Garden extension office and purchase a soil kit.

Continue reading “Vegetable Gardens”

Posted on

Lady Apples

                                                                        

TheGardenLady received this question from John:

I live in the Texas hill country, and have started some lady apples from seed. I am not sure how well they will grow, but how can I give them the best chance, and what are their growing habits.

                                                                         

The Pink Lady apple is from Western Australia and likes weather in the US that is South of the Mason Dixon Line- zones 6 through 9. It grows 9-11 feet in all types of soil. It doesn’t need another tree to pollinate – it is a self pollinator. It needs full sun and takes 3 to 5 years to bear fruit.

If you read TheGardenLady’s column on raising apples from seeds, you will understand that you probably won’t get good apples from the little trees that are growing for you.

Continue reading “Lady Apples”

Posted on

Vermicomposting for everyone – even in classrooms

TheGardenLady received these questions about vermicomposting from Ashley –

I have recently started a barrel composter. It is a modified 55 gallon foodsafe drum/barrel that is working nicely. Can I add worms to this? Because it is off the ground they will not enter natually, and I have been hearing so much about the benifits of worms. I would just love to join in on all the fun. I have yet to read or hear of someone trying out this method; though I’m sure there out there…any thoughts?

Worms are a benefit to composting, so congratulations for wanting to start this excellent endeavor. Some schools are now teaching students how to do Vermicomposting. There are many excellent sites on the computer to learn Vermicomposting. Two sites for teachers that you can use to learn how to start this type of composting are here and here.

Continue reading “Vermicomposting for everyone – even in classrooms”