| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Sunflower leaves | 10/27/2009 |
Q: The leaves of my sunflower plants are turning brown and are translucent. I am a novice, south ...
A: Gretchen, Fungal problems might turn leaves brown, but they usually do this in a spotty manner, not ...
|
| impatiens | 10/23/2009 |
Q: Do you think that I would get better knowledge on how impatiens grow if I grow them outside or ...
A: Dean, Like many plants we grow as annuals in the northern states, Impatiens is prone to whitefly and ...
|
| Habanero Pepper Plants | 10/21/2009 |
Q: Why does my Habanero plant; which is in a pot indoors, after being outside in ground, only have one ...
A: Shawn, It's pretty hard for peppers to bear fruit indoors, and if it was in the ground first, then ...
|
| Injured impatiens | 10/5/2009 |
Q: Can you suggest any way to save this poor New Guinea impatiens? A photo is attached; it was taken ...
A: Jean, First of all, you aren't a real gardener until you've killed plants. Secondly, since you're ...
|
| gerbera pruning | 10/4/2009 |
Q: I had 2 gerbera daisy plants given to me in spring, planted outside for summer, they did very well. ...
A: Vicki, You must have a green thumb - not everyone can keep these plants alive! As long as the ...
|
| insects in soil of potted impatients | 10/3/2009 |
Q: There are loads of tiny insects, (they look like brown ants, some with wings) in the soil of my ...
A: Marilyn, They might be termites... check out this website to see a drawing of an ant and a termite, ...
|
| Impatients | 10/1/2009 |
Q: I love impatients and live in Temecula, CA = can I plant them now in full sun and will they survive ...
A: Betty, Impatiens don't do well when the temps dip below 50 degrees, so even if your temperatures ...
|
| Saving Annuals From Winter | 10/1/2009 |
Q: I have several annuals that I do not want to lose this winter. How can I save my impatiens, Moss ...
A: Shirley, You don't say where you live, but I assume that you, like me, garden where the frost will ...
|
| getting seeds from annuals | 9/21/2009 |
Q: i would like to get seeds from the bachelor button plant but am not sure how. can i just take the ...
A: Carol, You can collect seeds from your bachelor button plant by waiting till the seed pod turns sort ...
|
| lunaria plants | 9/21/2009 |
Q: was wondering if you would be able to tell me when is the best time to plant lunaria seeds. Its also ...
A: Carol, You can scatter Lunaria seeds any time, even now. Know that they will germinate in the ...
|
| marigolds | 9/20/2009 |
Q: I have a Marigold Border Mix box that I bought at the store I planted it earlier in the summer I ...
A: Shannon, Yes, it's too late in the season to plant seeds - you don't say if it's a box of seeds or ...
|
| Iris dying back after blooming | 9/20/2009 |
Q: We bought a home a few years ago, and I've been trying to identify the few plants in the yard. At ...
A: Dana, I think what you are describing is Neomarica gracilis, commonly called walking iris. Check ...
|
| Bulbs | 9/16/2009 |
Q: L., I am planting a few bulbs outside now, daffodils, tulips and a few others. Could you advise me ...
A: Kenneth, You'll want to water them right after planting, partly to settle them in, and partly to ...
|
| UNKNOWN PLANT IN MY YARD | 9/15/2009 |
Q: I HAVE WOODS IN MY BACK YARD AND I HAVE SOMETHING GROWING THAT LOOKS LIKE A KIWI WITH THORNS..BUT ...
A: Jodie, There are two plants it could be. You can "google image" these and see if this is what you ...
|
| Mandevilla Diplandenia | 9/14/2009 |
Q: My friend in San Diego has a mandevilla dipladenia growning on a trellis - it's beautiful. I live ...
A: Linda, Mandevilla vine is very heat tolerant but needs regular watering in hot temperatures - I'd ...
|
| Getting a euphoria "Diamond to bloom" | 9/7/2009 |
Q: Whaaa! I need your help! I can NOT get my Diamond frost plant to bloom. I have been growing it in ...
A: Barb, I haven't seen this problem before - all I can suggest is the following: This plant likes it ...
|
| Need help identifying/caring for plant! | 9/6/2009 |
Q: I feel really silly for this, but I've been having what I think is a problem with these two plants ...
A: First of all, you have a Polka Dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya). This plant does best in bright ...
|
| sweet potato plants | 9/6/2009 |
Q: Is there any way you can use these as a housplant and bring them outdoors next summer?
A: Martha, They don't make great house plants (white fly!) but you can dig up the tubers and store them ...
|
| overwintering | 9/6/2009 |
Q: I heard that you can dig up your sweet potato plants put them in a dry dark area in your home and ...
A: Susan, Those SPV's are looking pretty darn nice now, aren't they? Yes, you can dig up the tubers and ...
|
| Insects destroying annuals | 9/2/2009 |
Q: My hanging baskets were blooming beautifully, until the middle of August, when they all at the same ...
A: Elizabeth, Sorry for the delay in answering this - I just got back from being away. Usually small ...
|
| wave petunias | 8/30/2009 |
Q: In your answer to Donna in June of 08: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Annuals-706/2008/6/PETUNIA.htm you ...
A: Joe, Wave petunias occasionally make seeds but you can't grow new Wave petunias from those - they ...
|
| Care of a new plant | 8/21/2009 |
Q: What is the care instructions on the palnt named PURSLANE? Is it a shade plant or will it tolerate ...
A: Lana, I'm not clear if you're looking for such a product or have found/seen one and want to know how ...
|
| Care of a new plant | 8/21/2009 |
Q: What is the care instructions on the palnt named PURSLANE? Is it a shade plant or will it tolerate ...
A: Lana, Purslane is a type of Portulaca. You'll want to plant it in full sun. It will need watering ...
|
| geranium | 8/20/2009 |
Q: What is the name of this thing that is destroying my newly potted geraniums from the bottom up? ...
A: Linda, Have you seen it? Does it look like a worm? Without seeing it I can only guess, but here are ...
|
| petunias | 8/19/2009 |
Q: I have small round black seeds on my leaves, what are they. Also, I noticed that my petunias are ...
A: Sherry, Do these small black things crush easily? If so, they are aphids. This would account for the ...
|
| Petunia Ferteizer | 8/17/2009 |
Q: Fertizer wave petunias one a week but with what type? Liquid? Good for other plants?I live in Oregon ...
A: Bobbie, Fertilize Wave Petunias every other week - be sure to water them before fertilizing (don't ...
|
| New Guinea Impatiens | 8/15/2009 |
Q: Live in Washoougal Washington. Have one potted - Is it possible to save it through the winter ? We ...
A: Darrell, I understand that at this time of year when that plant is looking fantastic that you hate ...
|
| hydrangeas | 8/8/2009 |
Q: My hydrangea plants started to get a brown spot on the stems and leaves and eventually the leaves ...
A: Sandra, This is a leaf spot fungus - usually hydrangeas only get this if they are constantly ...
|
| daisies | 8/8/2009 |
Q: I planted what I believe are shasta daisies last year. Each season the come up healthy and green ...
A: Cindy, Are they getting hit with water frequently? That can cause what you see. Even drift from lawn ...
|
| Flowering quince | 8/7/2009 |
Q: Re: your answer to a question posted 5/26/2007... I just read your post as I too am from NH - a ...
A: Teresa, Quince is one of my favorite shrubs - bone hardy, and such color in the spring! Quince is ...
|
| IMPATIENTS | 8/2/2009 |
Q: WHAT IS CAUSING THE YELLOW LEAVES ON MY IMPATIENTS---I HAVE LOTS OF BLOOMS, AND THE FLOWERS LOOK ...
A: Eloise, The aswer depends on how many yellowing leaves you have. If there are a few (less than a ...
|
| picking zuchinni | 7/28/2009 |
Q: How do I know when to pick zuchini?
A: Owen, You pick it based on the size you like to eat. In general, most people pick the zucchini when ...
|
| My petunias are dying after only a few days of planiting them! | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased pink, white and purple petunias to put them in window boxes. This is my first ...
A: Lizeth, Be sure that the metal boxes have holes in them... if they don't, they will hold water and ...
|
| My petunias are dying after only a few days of planiting them! | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased pink, white and purple petunias to put them in window boxes. This is my first ...
A: Lizeth, First of all, know that some plants wilt after planting them because the process of taking ...
|
| hydrangas | 7/23/2009 |
Q: how and when can i prune my hydrangeas?
A: It’s the question I’m asked most frequently on GardenLine: “How do I prune my hydrangeas?” The ...
|
| hydrangea | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I have 3 hydrangea plans that get very tall (about 3-1/2 feet, lots of green large leaves but very ...
A: Victoria, Did you not get my reply about this sent yesterday? Since you asked this as a followup to ...
|
| hydrangea | 7/21/2009 |
Q: how do I keep my petunias from becoming leggy? ANSWER: Keeping petunias attractive all summer ...
A: I'm assuming that you have the blue or pink "mophead" type of hydrangeas. Most of these bloom from ...
|
| petunias | 7/21/2009 |
Q: how do I keep my petunias from becoming leggy?
A: Keeping petunias attractive all summer begins with knowing which variety you have so you can treat ...
|
| zinnias | 7/16/2009 |
Q: in a pot, what kind of care do they need. I water them nad the leaves are dry and the flowers (red) ...
A: Natalie, Zinnias are from Mexico, so what they like is sunny, hot and a bit on the dry side. What ...
|
| Sunflowers stopped growing | 7/16/2009 |
Q: Since early June, I have planted numerous RED and WHITE Sunflower seeds. They are outdoors in full ...
A: Alicia, The hot temperatures may be causing this, but shallow, frequent watering might also ...
|
| Red Geraniums | 7/15/2009 |
Q: I must be doing something wrong. i live in Oklahoma and this is the second year I have tried to grow ...
A: Susan, Here are some of the things that geraniums need in order to keep blooming: 1. At least a half ...
|
| Growing marigolds | 6/26/2009 |
Q: I have planted marigolds both in the ground in my garden and in pots. The buds are dying off before ...
A: Rose, It could be one of several things - I'll give you a list and you can decide which applies to ...
|
| define "deadhead" please (petunia question) | 6/26/2009 |
Q: The way I understand "deadheading" is to pinch off the shrivelled petunia bloom BELOW the part where ...
A: J, Yes, you are correct and your friend is wrong. You deadhead petunias by snipping the stem below ...
|
| spotting on petunias | 6/23/2009 |
Q: I have little white spots on the blooms of my petunias. What causes this, and what should I do about ...
A: Janie, Without more details I'll suggest some possible causes and you can decide if any of these ...
|
| Petunia Problems | 6/22/2009 |
Q: Why are my purple wave petunias dying? They were full and beautiful two weeks ago. Now they are ...
A: Lynne, Brown roots or stems at ground level are a sign of root rot/crown rot. Might you be keeping ...
|
| Double Gerber Daisy | 6/22/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased a beautiful deep maroon gerber daisy, and I noticed when I got it home that it ...
A: Cristy, This is normal for this plant. I don't know if it's a result of breeding particular colors ...
|
| Mandevilla | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I have a mandevilla dipladenia, crimson sun. When I bought it, the nursery had some that were ...
A: Scott, You don't say how long it's been in the new pot, or where you live, so I'll just list a few ...
|
| Jasmine | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I LOVE jasmines and live in Long Island, NY now. Where is the best place to grow one now. I'd prefer ...
A: Gabriela, There are many types of jasmines. Most are not hardy on Long Island, so grow those in pots ...
|
| growing anuals from seed | 6/18/2009 |
Q: I was wondering how to get the flowers I grow from seed to stay relatively short and have thick ...
A: Ryan, Plants grow leggy because they are not getting enough light. They reach toward the light. Did ...
|
| geranium color change | 6/17/2009 |
Q: I have a geranium of the mounding annual variety that I purchased from a home improvement store ...
A: Meredith, I suspect that the color change has more to do with the change in light than anything in ...
|
| problems with petunia blossoms | 6/17/2009 |
Q: The blossoms that make it to opening are wilted looking with white or black on the edges of the ...
A: Debbie, It could be a fungal problem but usually the cause of such fungal problems is that the ...
|
| Stalk breaking from roots | 6/15/2009 |
Q: I just potted a flower that my neighbour gave me. I know very little about gardening but thought I ...
A: Carol, Without knowing what this plant is it's impossible for me to say. However, with most plants, ...
|
| Miniature Dahlias | 6/14/2009 |
Q: I have planted some miniture dahlias that came in the little divider trays at a nursery. The same ...
A: Maxine, Dahlias - small and large - do best when they are watered from below - if the buds get moist ...
|
| Annuals - Question | 6/14/2009 |
Q: It is called Torenia hybrid (Summer Wave Blue). One prong was slightly wilted when she gave it to ...
A: Maxine, The good news is that if you clip this wilted branch off, it will have no effect on the rest ...
|
| annual-container plant | 6/14/2009 |
Q: I have a New Guinea Impatient Plant that was beautiful for about one week. I live in upstate NY and ...
A: Alice, Yes - the night temps you are having will cause New Guinea Impatiens to sulk and turn yellow. ...
|
| impatiens | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I live in West Central Texas. One month ago (May) I planted impatiens in two identical planters. At ...
A: John, People used to think that you needed a fertilizer with a high middle number in order to get ...
|
| impatiens | 6/12/2009 |
Q: I live in West Central Texas. One month ago (May) I planted impatiens in two identical planters. At ...
A: John, The problem with wetting the leaves of any plant is that this creates the perfect conditions ...
|
| mulching a flower garden | 6/12/2009 |
Q: My wife planted some bulbs in our flower garden last weekend (she said about 1/2" to 1" of dirt over ...
A: Ryan, The best thing to do would be to wait until the bulbs sprout, then apply the mulch so that it ...
|
| impatiens | 6/11/2009 |
Q: I live in West Central Texas. One month ago (May) I planted impatiens in two identical planters. At ...
A: John, Your instinct to move them so that they get more sun was a good one. Although Impatiens do ...
|
| Dahlia Woes | 6/8/2009 |
Q: .. I live just north of Atlanta, GA and I have a question about my dahlias. I purchased a couple ...
A: Because the moistness of the soil depends not only on the temperatures but on the type of soil you ...
|
| Dahlia Woes | 6/7/2009 |
Q: .. I live just north of Atlanta, GA and I have a question about my dahlias. I purchased a couple ...
A: ChiTownDivaus, Brown buds and leaves can be caused by any of the following, or a combination of the ...
|
| supertunia priscilla | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I live in Michigan. My supertunia priscilla in a hanging basket is not making many blooms. The ...
A: Janet, First of all, I would stop fertilizing when you water. I know that the directions tell you to ...
|
| green bumps/lumps on Habanero plant | 6/3/2009 |
Q: L my 2 months old Habanero plant started develop some green small lumps (about the size of pencil ...
A: If when you squash them you see "green syrup" I think that it's aphids - look with a magnifying ...
|
| green bumps/lumps on Habanero plant | 6/3/2009 |
Q: L my 2 months old Habanero plant started develop some green small lumps (about the size of pencil ...
A: Tomer, Thanks for the pictures - they help, but unfortunately they are a bit out of focus so I'll ...
|
| carnation seedling wilting | 5/23/2009 |
Q: My carnation seedlings have been outside for at least a month and it had no problems. But just a few ...
A: Kate, You don't say where you are and how warm the weather is, but carnations (all Dianthus) grow ...
|
| Lantana - Cutting and re-rooting | 5/23/2009 |
Q: I live in Arizona and have a number of lantana plants. One, in particular, is growing like mad. I ...
A: Dale, Lantana is a woody plant in your area, and these type of plants usually don't root in water. ...
|
| Petunias | 5/20/2009 |
Q: I planted petunias from seed in March. I now have LARGE green leaves (like lettuce) but not flowers. ...
A: David, If you used a fertilizer that was very high in nitrogen (the first number on a fertilizer ...
|
| tropical hibiscus | 5/18/2009 |
Q: One of 4 bought at Home Depot is not doing well. The leaves are drooping about as much as possible. ...
A: Johnny, Since I don't know what part of the US you are in, and you don't say if the plants are ...
|
| annuals next to lavendar | 5/18/2009 |
Q: I live in southern WI and have recently planted lavendar along my sidewalk. I would like to put ...
A: Cheryl, You're right in thinking that the impatiens would need more water - especially since I'm ...
|
| Lobelia | 5/17/2009 |
Q: Why are my blue lobelia flowers turning baby blue almost white. Is it a lack of sun? I live in zone ...
A: Julie, Are the flowers that are fading the old ones? Usually this happens as the flowers age, but ...
|
| coleus plant care | 5/16/2009 |
Q: I just splurged and bought a huge beautiful dark coleus plant for my patio. I accidentally left it ...
A: Ginny, If you pinch off the most damaged leaves, or even cut the stems back by up to five inches, ...
|
| King tut Papyrus | 5/16/2009 |
Q: i have attended a garden show and one of the many plants mentioned was King Tut. I have finally ...
A: Alexandra, This plant won't live through the winter where you are, but it will be pretty all summer. ...
|
| Verbena Tapien | 5/13/2009 |
Q: My verbena tapien, violet blue, have been in the ground for a year. We live in northern California ...
A: I think that watering three times a week is too much - this plant is prone to mildew, and dislikes ...
|
| hardy mums | 5/13/2009 |
Q: I live in New Jersey.Last spring I planted some beautiful purple mums.I took them out of their pots ...
A: Diane, They will bloom again later in the summer or early fall. Here is what to do now: at the end ...
|
| problem with Habanero plant | 5/12/2009 |
Q: i think i have a problem with my Habanero plant. i planted it about 2 months ago, on March 20. it ...
A: Sulfur and sodium aren't complete fertilizers. Go to a good garden center and ask for a fertilizer ...
|
| Annual | 5/12/2009 |
Q: We are having a discussion here at work. Some say the best time to plant annuals is Mother's Day ...
A: Lynn, Since I started my gardening in Wisconsin, and frequently visit my mother, who is a great ...
|
| problem with Habanero plant | 5/12/2009 |
Q: i think i have a problem with my Habanero plant. i planted it about 2 months ago, on March 20. it ...
A: Yes, compact soil can stunt the growth of plants. The sun and heat sound perfect for peppers, so we ...
|
| problem with Habanero plant | 5/11/2009 |
Q: i think i have a problem with my Habanero plant. i planted it about 2 months ago, on March 20. it ...
A: Tomer, Is the plant in full sun? These peppers need at least 6 hours of dead-on sun including the ...
|
| Sunflowers | 5/11/2009 |
Q: I'm growing Sunflowers for hobby in norway and this time of year can either be cold (45+) or as high ...
A: Thomas, Although both are pretty important, the sunlight is crucial. Given a choice I'd place them ...
|
| Hybrid tea rose "Blue Girl" | 5/11/2009 |
Q: In Iowa I got a Lilac cutting that was 4 in. tall. This is the second year in the ground. It's 26 ...
A: Ray, Hybrid teas are the pickiest of roses, but here are some of the ways to be successful: 1. ...
|
| Petunias | 5/9/2009 |
Q: Browning of the stems in the center of the plant. What do I do? Tag said they like lots of sun and ...
A: Joan, This may be the natural way the petunias grow, fertilizer burn, or not enough water. I'm not ...
|
| Planting depth for Marigolds | 5/8/2009 |
Q: My forty or so marigold seedlings, planted inside under lights, are very leggy. The roots are ...
A: No, you can't plant the stems of marigolds deeply like you can tomatoes. You can cover up those ...
|
| Deadheading Geraniums | 5/7/2009 |
Q: Can you please explain the proper way to deadhead geraniums? Do I remove the entire stem or just ...
A: Carol, When deadheading any plant the important part to remove is the area just under the flower ...
|
| King Tut | 5/4/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased several King Tuts. They are approx. 6' high and I have them in pots with ...
A: Marsha, Any of those bent papyrus stems that are bent should be cut down at ground level. If you ...
|
| shaded window boxes | 5/4/2009 |
Q: I just moved into a house in Westport, MA and have window boxes that are in full shade. What do you ...
A: Although your choices in full shade are fewer than full sun, there are a number of plants that would ...
|
| How To Get Bougainvilleas to Bloom | 5/3/2009 |
Q: I live in Katy, Texas and have 5 potted bougainvilleas that do very well in terms of maintaining ...
A: Mary, Frequently Bougainvillea bloom better in pots because they are root bound and that slight ...
|
| tidal wave petunias | 5/2/2009 |
Q: I have no experience with flowers before. I planted wave petunias from seed. After about a month ...
A: Ryan, A picture is worth a thousand words! Thanks for sending this - enormously helpful. You have ...
|
| tidal wave petunias | 5/1/2009 |
Q: I have no experience with flowers before. I planted wave petunias from seed. After about a month ...
A: OK - I thought there were more leaves on each stem right now. With only a single leaf on each wait ...
|
| tidal wave petunias | 5/1/2009 |
Q: I have no experience with flowers before. I planted wave petunias from seed. After about a month ...
A: Ryan, The important things to know about this type of petunia are these: 1. They bloom at the end of ...
|
| Getting more of Moms Easter Lillies | 4/30/2009 |
Q: First I have to say that my thumb is greasy NOT green due to my love for cars and Hot Rods. But I ...
A: Barry, If you transplanted the lilies in 1999 and they are going strong, you must have some green ...
|
| How to tell if flowers are getting enough water... or too much | 4/28/2009 |
Q: I planted a flower bed for the first time 2 days ago. It includes the usual suspects from a big-box ...
A: Rachel, A few things might be going on here. First of all, Impatiens do best in morning sun or ...
|
| Ivy for balcony | 4/27/2009 |
Q: My concern is having an annual survive Chicago winters. Do you think if I insulated a large enough ...
A: Kelly, I think that you want a perennial, not an annual. Annuals don't live through the winter, and ...
|
| Lilacs | 4/20/2009 |
Q: In Iowa I got a Lilac cutting that was 4 in. tall. This is the second year in the ground. It's 26 ...
A: Ray, Small shoots from lilac bushes usually take between three and five years to begin flowering, so ...
|
| How much sun | 4/16/2009 |
Q: How much sun does an Easter Lilly require? Do they need more shade or can they be in direct sun?
A: Sandy, Easter lilies need as much sun as possible - they can be planted in full sun. After your ...
|
| Plants for northern exposure with clay soil | 4/15/2009 |
Q: I live in western mass. I am looking for plants that will do well in a northern exposure with soil ...
A: Trevor, I'm assuming that since you prefer indigenous plants you're looking for perennials or ...
|
| wave petunias | 4/13/2009 |
Q: what is the difference between misty lilac and silver wave petunias, also I was reading that you ...
A: Debbie Besides the color, Misty Lilac is shorter than Silver Wave. You can see photos of Silver ...
|
| full sun container annuals | 4/13/2009 |
Q: I PLANT A VARIETY OF ANNUALS IN FLOWER BOXES, IN FULL SUN, EACH SPRING. (PETUNIAS, MARIGOLDS, ...
A: Gail, Since I don't know where you live and the details about your climate (how hot it gets or ...
|
| New Guniea Impatient | 4/13/2009 |
Q: I received a hanging basket New Guinea Impatiens for Easter. I live in Pa. near Phila. I left it ...
A: Mary, If only the top leaves, or some of the leaves were frosted the plant will recover. You can try ...
|
| Impatients | 4/6/2009 |
Q: I am from Florida and now I live in Raleigh, NC - two questions 1. I planted my petunias this past ...
A: Yes on covering the petunias - although they are a bit more cold hardy than most summer annuals, ...
|
| pinching back seedlings | 4/6/2009 |
Q: Would like to know how to fill out nasturium seedlings They have 2 leaves. Advice on pinching?
A: Camille, If those are the first two leaves it's far too early to pinch back - when plants grow from ...
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| petunias | 4/6/2009 |
Q: L. I have planted maybe 60 petunias in a plastic starter kit bought at Home Depot. They are now ...
A: Don, Since the pods are probably small, it's best to have only one plant growing in each one. In the ...
|
| annuals | 4/2/2009 |
Q: I would like to know what kinds of annual that i can plant in a shady area in front of my house in ...
A: Noreen, There are several annuals that are fantastic in shade. The first, and most popular, is ...
|
| Elephant ears | 3/31/2009 |
Q: I. Fornari, I have a question about a plant called elephant ears. I planted 4 bulbs and I think ...
A: Vicki, I have always planted my elephant ears with the pointy side up - sometimes it's hard to tell ...
|
| border shrubs | 3/29/2009 |
Q: Unfortunately, I know very little about gardening in general, but since purchasing a new home my ...
A: Tracey, Is the border for the patio? I'm assuming that it is. I don't know of any plants that ...
|
| celosia | 3/4/2009 |
Q: i planted celosia seeds 2/17/09 and today some are doing good and some are not. the ones that are ...
A: Jason, You are describing "damping off" you can see an article about it here: ...
|
| geranium | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I have been broadcasting powdered iron over my geraniums in my greenhouse as I raise them from ...
A: Bob, If none of the garden centers in your area have it, try one of these three websites: ...
|
| RE: Verbena | 1/22/2009 |
Q: We have some lovely red and purple verbena throughout our landscape that was planted by the previous ...
A: Mary, My guess is that this verbena is looking very sad right now - it might even have died back ...
|
| petunias | 1/4/2009 |
Q: I have ben growing petunias for the pst many years in balcony containers but find that after the ...
A: Sanita, Geraniums are a more long lasting plant, and deadheading them is pretty simple. Did you use ...
|
| Is my king tut papyrus dead? | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I have a king tut papyrus i recieved last summer. I moved away and split it in half for my aunt. I ...
A: Michael, Well, you wouldn't see any growth at this time of year, split or not, because the plant is ...
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| Datura seeds | 12/16/2008 |
Q: Lots of lovely moonflower bushes would solve one of the problems in our front yard. I see seeds ...
A: Sara, Usually seeds will germinate if they are older but you'll get fewer that sprout. How the seeds ...
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| Ground Ivy | 11/4/2008 |
Q: About a third of our backyard is ivy. It was planted about 12 years ago. Is it ok to mow it to try ...
A: Patricia, Whew! When I saw that the question was about ivy I was afraid that you were going to ask ...
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| Cutting back Hibiscus | 10/25/2008 |
Q: I have a potted Hibiscus that I would like to move in to our shed for the winter. Do I need to cut ...
A: Bob, All experts seems to think that I didn't answer this and I'm not sure if I did... so if I ...
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| Dragon tree | 10/24/2008 |
Q: I'd seen this picture on the Internet of a braided dragon tree! it was beautiful!!! i just recently ...
A: Kristen, You would cut where the bottom leaves are - then strip away all the lower leaves - leave a ...
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| New Guinea impatiens | 10/23/2008 |
Q: I have some beautiful New Guinea impatiens that are still flowering and budding. It's getting cold, ...
A: Marion, It's so hard at this time of year because our annuals look fantastic but they will soon be ...
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| transfering annuals inside for the winter | 10/16/2008 |
Q: can i dig up my spikes (espigas) and keep them inside in a big pot for the winter
A: Yes! These plants over-winter beautifully in front of a sunny window. Dig them now and pot them up ...
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| betunia | 10/7/2008 |
Q: We had one of these was given to us in early June.It has been outside in our "wonderful English ...
A: John, As far as I know there is no plant that is called a betunia, but I think that you have one of ...
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| Asparagus Plumosus | 10/5/2008 |
Q: I have found an asparagus, which my father r.i.p. may have planted in the hothouse of garden, not ...
A: The plant is going dormant now - cutting it won't kill it so don't worry. you can try making the ...
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| Japanese Maple in trouble | 9/30/2008 |
Q: I have a few questions about my Tamukeyama Japanese Maple. Thee tree looked healthy when I bought it ...
A: Ananth, You don't say where you are, but in general Japanese Maples do overwinter well in large pots ...
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| ant on plants | 9/29/2008 |
Q: I live in Lasveggas. I just bought 3 Petunias, 1 Dahlia and a Potato plant(in an diffrent area) on ...
A: Michelle, If you have sugar water you'll have ants. No way to discourage ants but not butterflies I ...
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| Japanese Maple in trouble | 9/29/2008 |
Q: I have a few questions about my Tamukeyama Japanese Maple. Thee tree looked healthy when I bought it ...
A: Ananth, If Japanese Maples dry out they are prone to leaf scorch, which as you describe starts from ...
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| Plants and Butterflies | 9/29/2008 |
Q: I live in Lasvegas,Nevada and today i just bought new plants Red, White,puple Petunias, an orange ...
A: Most parts of the country see Monarchs that fly though as they migrate to Mexico or Central America. ...
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| planting in the shade this Fall | 9/27/2008 |
Q: Do you have any suggestions about a flower I can plant in front of our building in the shade under ...
A: Ron, There are a number of pansies that are now sold in the fall that are perfect to plant now in ...
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| Impatients | 9/21/2008 |
Q: I have four pots of inpatients on a bakers rack by my back door, morning sun afternoon and evening ...
A: Barbara, If these are on a rack then it's doubtful that it is an animal such as a rabbit. Look at ...
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| impatients | 9/20/2008 |
Q: I have a huge impatients plant and would like to bring it into the house. Can impatients survive in ...
A: Peggy, It is really tempting to want to save all of our summer annuals at this time of year because ...
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| snap dragon flowers | 9/15/2008 |
Q: my friend has some beautiful snap dragons, and they are the low ones. according to one answer on ...
A: Linda, There are indeed SEVERAL types of snap dragons. Some are hardier than others and without ...
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| gerber dasies | 9/14/2008 |
Q: Should I cut my Gerber daisies back for the winter. If so when and how close to the ground do I cut ...
A: Kathleen, Just cut off any wilted or dried flowers and their stems, but if the foliage is green ...
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| juncus "afro" | 9/13/2008 |
Q: I live in zone 5 and wonder if it is possible to save this annual by overwintering it inside. This ...
A: When overwintering Juncus you don't want to keep it as wet as you do papyrus but it's still pretty ...
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| purple fountain grass | 9/7/2008 |
Q: We live in Tracy, CA. We have several of these plants and in the last week about 3 of them have ...
A: Debbie, Have there been heavy winds lately? You don't mention if these are newly planted or ...
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| Betunia | 9/7/2008 |
Q: You wrote Date: 9/17/2006 Subject: Betunia Question Early this summer I bought a potted plant for ...
A: Jean-Marie, As far as I know there is no plant that is a cross between a petunia and a begonia. I ...
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| indentify flower | 9/5/2008 |
Q: This flower was among a group of seedlings given to me. Each has a single stem with smooth leaves ...
A: Leah, Without a photo it's pretty hard to guess what you might be talking about, but my guess, based ...
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| Impatiens | 8/26/2008 |
Q: This year I have planted over 100 Impatiens, I have given over 50 plants away, I have been away and ...
A: Paul, Plant viruses cause the entire plant to be distorted and perhaps yellowed - they don't cause ...
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| Pots | 8/23/2008 |
Q: Can you suggest some plants for outdoor pots that don't require a lot of watering? ANSWER: Charles, ...
A: SInce you're in the Atlanta area you can use any of the plants I mentioned including the agaves, ...
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| Pots | 8/22/2008 |
Q: Can you suggest some plants for outdoor pots that don't require a lot of watering?
A: Charles, If you want flowering annuals you can't go wrong with Portulaca - see photos of the Proven ...
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| My Petunians leaves are so dry, like it is fall?? | 8/19/2008 |
Q: I have always had petunias on my patio in hanging baskets, flower boxes and etc. This year for some ...
A: Donna, Dried leaves can either mean that they did get too dry or that they were too wet. If the soil ...
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| Clematis | 8/15/2008 |
Q: This is not the place to post this question but the experts in perennials are either maxed out or on ...
A: Patty, The problem with cutting it back now is that you'll stimulate new growth - pruning always ...
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| Clematis | 8/15/2008 |
Q: This is not the place to post this question but the experts in perennials are either maxed out or on ...
A: Patty, Not to worry - as a "plant nut" I am well versed in perennials, vines etc. It sounds like ...
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| hydrangea | 8/14/2008 |
Q: I live in central California,yes it's really hot here now.I planted a hydrangea in a varily large ...
A: Lou, Two things were probably in play here - as a plant's roots fill the pot the soil tends to first ...
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| impatients disease | 8/14/2008 |
Q: I am using 18in. plastic pots with a styrofoam plate approx.8in. from the bottom to make the pot ...
A: Patrick, I usually see this type of leaf-spot fungus on plants that are getting their foliage ...
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| hibiscus | 8/9/2008 |
Q: i just purchased what the tag says is a "pinot noir hibiscus" the only tag on it says the name and ...
A: Barbara, The Hibiscus 'Pinot Noir' that I'm familiar with is a hardy perennial in zones 4 through 8. ...
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| Yellow Petunia Stems and Leaves | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I have two hanging baskets of petunias which are facing southwest. Every year they look full and ...
A: Roberta, If the plants are flowering they are getting enough sun so we know that isn't the problem - ...
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| petunias | 8/1/2008 |
Q: I have 2 containers of petunias....they have been beautiful all summer and now the leave and stems ...
A: OK - here are some of the other possible causes for foliage turning pale almost white: 1. If the pH ...
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| petunias | 7/30/2008 |
Q: I have 2 containers of petunias....they have been beautiful all summer and now the leave and stems ...
A: V, My guess is that the roots of these plants are now down in the bottom of the containers where ...
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| calibrachoa | 7/27/2008 |
Q: You mentioned I could take cuttings in September to try to overwinter the calibrachoa. Being a total ...
A: You'll need to get some rooting powder or gel at your local garden center or on-line before you take ...
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| petunias | 7/23/2008 |
Q: My petunias have gone mad, in the past two weeks we have had a ton of rain and they went from 6" ...
A: Dawn, I don't know if you have regular petunias that came in six packs or the Wave or SuperPetunias ...
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| Sweet broom plant | 7/22/2008 |
Q: Have sweet broom and it's growing well but needs pruning. How do I root the prunings? Is this ...
A: Peggy, Broom is hardy (and evergreen!) in your area and mine on Cape Cod. The best time to prune it ...
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| calibrachoa | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I discovered this wonderful flower last year. I have 2 questions: First, I have only used it in ...
A: Sheila, Yes, you can plant calibrachoa in the ground but be sure to loosen the soil in a wide area ...
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| Impatiens In Hanging baskets | 7/18/2008 |
Q: I just bought a couple hanging baskets of impatiens less than a week ago and they appear to be dying ...
A: Amanda, Lift your hanging basket down before you water it and feel the dirt. Is it damp? Next, ...
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| morning glories | 7/12/2008 |
Q: I live in Northern New Jersey. Every year for Easter my Dad gives me a hydrangea. I plant it as ...
A: Lois, Yes, yellow leaves CAN mean too much water - although if a plant is not getting enough water ...
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| Mini Supertunias | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I have mini supertunias in boxes and once again this year some of them have gotten lanky-the leaves ...
A: Cindy, I'm assuming that the boxes are in at least 4 hours of strong sun, either in the afternoon or ...
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| king tut papyrus | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I just bought 2 King Tut this season and have had them in the ground only 4 days. I went outside ...
A: Denise, How frustrating! The chewed plants should grow back, however, so leave the roots in place ...
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| bogenvia | 7/6/2008 |
Q: Do they like a lot of sun or not I got mine for Mother's Day and it looks a little sad. I live in ...
A: Deb, Unfortunately Bouganvilla are a tough plant to keep in cold climates - they are prone to ...
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| Petunias in a Hanging Basket | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I live in Denver, and we have had lots of 90 degree weather. I have a hanging basket of petunias. ...
A: Rachel, Have you tried touching the black spots? Do they crush under your fingers? If so, they are ...
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| New Guin impatients | 7/5/2008 |
Q: The question about the impatients that wilted after two weeks fit me perfect. I think it is getting ...
A: Jean, Glad that the post about New Guinea impatiens was helpful for you too - yes, if a plant has ...
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| new guinea impatiens | 7/4/2008 |
Q: I have never grown new guinea impatiens,I live in Calif,bay area. Any help would help. Needs of the ...
A: New Guinea impatiens need at least two or three hours of direct sun in order to bloom - places that ...
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| Impatients | 7/4/2008 |
Q: I planted my impatients about 4 weeks ago and I just realized that I should have planted them ...
A: Jennifer, Yes, you can move these plants successfully at this time of the summer. Water the bed well ...
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| Verbena hybrid not blooming | 7/2/2008 |
Q: Earlier this spring I planted a container with Fireball Coleus, Lemon Licorice (helichrysum ...
A: Janet, Is the container in at least 5 hours of dead-on sun including the noon hour? This is what ...
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| dying lilacs | 6/27/2008 |
Q: We have 3 lilac trees 2 white 1 lilac. last year one branch on a white died and we pruned it off. ...
A: Rita, A plant that is dying branch by branch may have a borer, a disease or may be showing symptoms ...
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| Hybiscus | 6/26/2008 |
Q: I moved my hypiscus back outside in May and repotted the plant. It has not bloomed at all. What ...
A: Ann, Sometimes plants that have been repotted take a few months to "settle in" - from the plant's ...
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| Pansey Over Summer | 6/25/2008 |
Q: I have had some great luck with Pansies this year. I plant my whole front yard of the house last ...
A: Cindy, Most pansies don't make it a full season from fall to fall - they produce many flowers and ...
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| PETUNIA | 6/25/2008 |
Q: WHY DO MY HANGING BASKETS GET SO THIN, NOT FULL AND THICK LIKE WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THEM- SHOULD I ...
A: Donna, The short answer is yes, you should cut them back. But if I can explain completely, read ...
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| hygrangea | 6/21/2008 |
Q: I live in Northern New Jersey. Every year for Easter my Dad gives me a hydrangea. I plant it as ...
A: Lois, You either live in a part of New Jersey where the temperatures go down to zero or below in the ...
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| shade plants | 6/21/2008 |
Q: I want to plant impatiens around a tree. There is shade all day in the area except during a very hot ...
A: The impatiens should work but you should dig a good amount of compost or composted manure into the ...
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| transplanting lilics | 6/19/2008 |
Q: A friend offered to give me 2 lilic tress. standing about 5'5" or so and wants me to dig them up. I ...
A: You can transplant them now if you are careful to water them regularly for the rest of the summer ...
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| Gerber Daisies | 6/18/2008 |
Q: How do you prune the dead flowers? My gerbers are not producing new flowers? Do you prune from the ...
A: Barbara, Here is the general rule of thumb for deadheading: If the stem under the old flower has ...
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| impatiens | 6/17/2008 |
Q: My impatiens are looking a bit worse for wear eg some of the flowers are going brown around the ...
A: Rosa, Impatiens are happiest when they are in morning sun and afternoon shade - is it possible to ...
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| impatients | 6/16/2008 |
Q: Why are all my impatients breaking off at the bottom? I keep re-planting new ones, and eventually ...
A: Melanee, Dig around the area where some have broken off and see if you come up with a green or ...
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| morning glories | 6/16/2008 |
Q: I bought morning glories from a grower at a farmer's market early this spring. I live in west ...
A: Lyn, I think that this may be the wrong plant for your growbag... morning glories do best when ...
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| New Guinea Impatients | 6/12/2008 |
Q: I bought these flowers to plant in the front of my house which gets the afternoon sun. Even though I ...
A: Barbara, If you are in an area where it's very hot, the plants would probably wilt every day for ...
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| BETULIA'S ORIGIN? | 6/12/2008 |
Q: i have just bought a Betulia flower and i couldn't find any details of its origin, i have no idea ...
A: Ben, I think you are talking about a Begonia called 'Betulia Pink' - This is the information I have ...
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| blue lobelia | 6/11/2008 |
Q: can my potted blue lobelia be an indoor plant in the winter?
A: Valerie, No, blue lobelia is prone to whitefly and other insects indoors so doesn't do well as a ...
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| marigolds | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I live in Ontario, Canada, in a city called Oshawa (about 20 miles east of Toronto). I am in a 1st ...
A: Dianne, Well the good news is that if you pinch off the first top flower that all marigolds make it ...
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| red maple tree | 5/31/2008 |
Q: I planted a small red maple last year at the end of summer. The tree has grown but has no leaves on ...
A: Linda, I don't know where you live, but just about anywhere a tree should be budding out or have ...
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| Wilted Petunias | 5/28/2008 |
Q: Two weeks ago I planted purple wave petunias in two window boxes. They have the same soil mix and ...
A: Rebecca, Is it possible that the stem of the wilted one got bent either in planting or later? ...
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| Impatients | 5/28/2008 |
Q: I am losing my Im "patients" with this hanging basket. It is double inpatients and all of the ...
A: Melissa, If the nights are going below 50 degrees this plant will not do well - cold temps make the ...
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| Daffodils | 5/28/2008 |
Q: 3 Years ago i planted daffodil bulbs - the first year the flowers were beautiful then last year and ...
A: Judy, Here are the things that can cause what you're seeing - you can think about which one (or ...
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| impatients | 5/26/2008 |
Q: I just purchased two flats of impatients but because of the daily rainfall, I have not been able to ...
A: Marian, I'm jealous! We need rain where I live... Yes, you can cut about a third off the top of ...
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| petunia problem | 5/23/2008 |
Q: My hanging petunia plant is being eaten alive. There are little holes on both the flowers and the ...
A: Judy, Little black dots is usually the poop of caterpillars - look very closely and you'll ...
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| impatients | 5/22/2008 |
Q: My mom has a bunch of impatients she just planted, and she has noticed that something has eaten the ...
A: Joyce, The first thing to do is to look very carefully at the plants and even under the pots - ...
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| gardenias | 5/20/2008 |
Q: i submitted this question before but did not receive a response. we have some small (about 1/16") ...
A: Joe, If you submitted it before it must not have come through because neither I nor AllExperts has ...
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| Lupins | 5/19/2008 |
Q: How can I get my Lupins to live year after year? Do I collect their seeds? I made a mistake with my ...
A: You don't have to mix in compost - these plants do very well in clay. Where I used to live in ...
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| Matthiola? Stock? | 5/19/2008 |
Q: I dont know what type they are, they have double flowers and are a deep pink (like fuchsia), do they ...
A: Kumari, This is an annual that I call a "heart break plant" - first it touches your heart because it ...
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| Lupins | 5/19/2008 |
Q: How can I get my Lupins to live year after year? Do I collect their seeds? I made a mistake with my ...
A: Kumari, Don't worry about planting the Lupins in the ground - because they have a tap root they ...
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| Impatients | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I buy impatients at my local home improvement stores (no problem with their plants). I have gotten ...
A: Valinda, Impatiens height is determined by three things: 1. Good, loose soil so that the plants can ...
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| Are Spike plants toxic to Pheasants & Quail | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased over 100 Spike plants with the intent of planting them in a range pen in which ...
A: Timothy, Spikes are in the genus Dracaena, and they are not known to be toxic to pet birds, but they ...
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| Annuals for full sun window boxes | 5/16/2008 |
Q: I have two box planters attached to my patio railing. They will be in direct sun. My box is about ...
A: Carole, Do you mean bloom all summer? If you live in a place where it is warm enough for plants ...
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| impatient hanging baskets | 5/15/2008 |
Q: do you have to pick off old bloom to keep the plant growing. how much sun is to much
A: Alverdia, Everyone loves impatiens because they produce constant color and they don't have to be ...
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| Flowers for FULL SUN | 5/15/2008 |
Q: I live in the desert of Washington state (evergreen state? not here) in a zone 6. I have just moved ...
A: Loren, Hopefully you'll be home to water these hangers once or even twice a day - in 110 temps ...
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| marigold/stem | 5/14/2008 |
Q: i just had a question about marigolds. I grew tons of marigolds by seed this year and some of them ...
A: Dustin, Not sure what you mean by cricked stems unless you are talking about the stem being bent? ...
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| New guinea impatients | 5/13/2008 |
Q: My Mother bought me 3 new guinea impatients hanging baskets for mother's day. They are hanging from ...
A: Phyllis, Only time will tell if it will recover if cold was responsible...put the back at outside ...
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| Moon Plant (bush?) | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I am looking for a moon plant. Not the vine, but the plant/bush. I was hoping you could give me a ...
A: Rachel, The problem with common names is that they apply to several plants, so I'm not sure I'll be ...
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| flower pots | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I have 18 large flower pots/ containers that I plant each year with annuals. I have full sun almost ...
A: You're welcome! (BTW, Sometimes this Mandevilla is referred to by its old name, Dipladenia, and you ...
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| flower pots | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I have 18 large flower pots/ containers that I plant each year with annuals. I have full sun almost ...
A: Judith, Slugs would leave a slime trail - can't think of an insect that would leave spots on the ...
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| flower pots | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I have 18 large flower pots/ containers that I plant each year with annuals. I have full sun almost ...
A: Judith, How are these pots getting watered and where are they located? The symptoms you describe ...
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| Petunias from cuttings | 5/3/2008 |
Q: We are in Wisconsin. Have a greenhouse attached to our home and have experience with it. I brought ...
A: Steve & Kathy, You're right - petunias SHOULD be a cake walk! I propagate cuttings by the following ...
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| sunny sunny courtyard | 4/23/2008 |
Q: I have a courtyard that has west exposure, when I plant flowers in containers in my courtyard, I ...
A: Sally, Plants that would do well include the following: Impatiens, New Guinea Impatiens, Angel Wing ...
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| Privacy Screen | 4/22/2008 |
Q: I really enjoy listening to you on WXTK and reading your posts here. I live in Falmouth and would ...
A: Chris, 1. Your desire to have both fast growth and low maintenance are a bit at odds with each other ...
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| Cabbage plants | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I would like to know the name of the small shrubs or plants that resemble a head of cabbage. Thanks
A: Mary, These are ornamental cabbages and kales. They are annual plants, grown in the spring from seed ...
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| Merrygolds | 4/11/2008 |
Q: I started marigolds in January to give away a garden club meeting this month,Everything was fine ...
A: Jack, It sounds like you had a fungus - perhaps it came from the pots even though they were cleaned, ...
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| Annuals | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I live in NE Ohio and last year was my first attempt at hanging baskets. I like Petunias but I don't ...
A: Christine, You deadheaded the correct way, and you fed your plants exactly right! Were the petunias ...
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| impatiens | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I live in So. Calif. My sister planted over 50 small impatiens all over the yard, some in ...
A: Mary, My guess is that your neighbor is right - even for new plants, watering every day or every ...
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| Cow Manure | 4/3/2008 |
Q: L. I live in Falmouth and I am looking for a place to purchase composted cow manure by the yard. Any ...
A: In years past a man named Paul Sullivan sold it in bulk...he used to advertise in the classifieds of ...
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| To pinch or not to pinch | 3/28/2008 |
Q: An expert on the forum mentioned that some annuals should not be pinched. I grow everything from ...
A: Rosemary, You don't have to pinch the dusty miller, Lavatera or the Carthamus...and you're right ...
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| azlaia bushes | 3/21/2008 |
Q: when do you plant azalia bushes
A: Debi, You can plant an azalea anytime you find it outside in the garden center - spring is probably ...
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| Quince Bush(shrub?) | 3/18/2008 |
Q: I am living in the North east, we bought a house with a quince bush for lack of a better term. It is ...
A: Ed, Good for you for wanting to clean up this Quince - one of my favorite shrubs! You could do one ...
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| pansies | 2/27/2008 |
Q: I live in central OK> A few years ago a landscaper (now out of business) planted some purple pansies ...
A: Jo, My guess is that you had Purple Rain Pansies. Although they usually grow 12 to 18 inches, I ...
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| mini daffodils | 2/27/2008 |
Q: I bought a mini daffodils plant,the flowers are bright. Now I want to trans plant them. What kind of ...
A: Gary, The mini-daffodils that we buy in the stores at this time of year will live from year to year ...
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| New Guinea impatients | 2/25/2008 |
Q: What fertilizer is best for new guinea impatients and more blooms?
A: Debbie, In order to bloom well New Guinea Impatiens need at least two hours of direct sun - if they ...
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| petunia | 2/20/2008 |
Q: I have a problem. i am doing a science project on petunia's. But the problem is that one of them ...
A: Shazia, Are there other petunias that are still alive? If so, and you have enough to still do the ...
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| Hydrangias | 2/18/2008 |
Q: I live in S.C. and have full sun in my yard. Is there any hydrangia that will grow in full sun?
A: Margaret, The hydrangea that does best in full sun is the Pee Gee Hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata ...
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| easter lillys | 2/9/2008 |
Q: when,how do you start Lillys to bloom in time for Easter?what temps would be required for a ...
A: James, Because different cultivars of bulbs have different growing time it's hard to answer your ...
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| New Lawn Seeding | 1/22/2008 |
Q: I am embarrassed to tell you - we spoke onSaturday and you told me what type of soil and seed to ...
A: Kathleen, Not to worry - I lose papers out of my car ALL the time. In fact, my husband thinks that ...
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| Cutting back of Hydrangeas for Winter | 11/26/2007 |
Q: My mother lives in northern OH (zone 4). She has several hydrangeas which did not bloom for the ...
A: Paula, You don't mention what type of hydrangeas your mother planted - if they are white flowering ...
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| impatients | 11/23/2007 |
Q: Just planted my annual impatients last week. I live in Florida. They look tall and leggy. Should I ...
A: Bettye, I'd let them get settled and start root growth for the next week or two, and then cut them ...
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| Impatiens | 11/22/2007 |
Q: Relatively new plant grown together with ferns indoors, in mixture of peat moss / potting soil, high ...
A: Dry brittle leaves are either a sign that the plant is drying up between waterings, or a sign of ...
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| transplanting hydrangeas | 11/22/2007 |
Q: I live in Alabama, south of Montgomery. It is Nov now, and i want to know the best time to ...
A: Linda, Now is a fine time to transplant hydrangeas IF you remember to water them deeply every five ...
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| overwintering geraniums | 11/6/2007 |
Q: I am in Zone 7-in the mid-Atlantic states. I recently read an article-(maybe Southern Living?) ...
A: Pamela, My guess is that whomever wrote this article hadn't done it...plastic bags will make them ...
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| impations | 11/3/2007 |
Q: Iam doing a school science experment on impations.what temptaure should we leave the plants outside ...
A: Bryan, I'm assuming that you are asking what temperature will kill them, yes? Your temperatures as ...
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| California Zinnias/white film? | 11/1/2007 |
Q: L. Fornari, I raised from seed a gorgeous array of giant California Zinnias and they have developed ...
A: Jackie, Although I have never known echinacea to get powdery mildew, I can't say that it is ...
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| Need plant ideas | 11/1/2007 |
Q: I live in the Philadelphia, Pa area. I would like to plant some plants on top of a 2 foot high ...
A: Desgnr, Since there is little soil and it is stone, which will absorb heat, you'll need to plant ...
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| California Zinnias/white film? | 10/29/2007 |
Q: L. Fornari, I raised from seed a gorgeous array of giant California Zinnias and they have developed ...
A: Jackie, Unfortunately, many Zinnias are prone to Mildew, which is what you are seeing. The good news ...
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| Impatients Loss of Blooms | 10/23/2007 |
Q: Our bed of impatients has been beautifull all summer. Recently the blooms have been falling off ...
A: Although birds have been known to take flower petals early in the season to line their nests, I ...
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| Brazillian Coriander | 10/22/2007 |
Q: I live in VT. and would love to bring in the Brazilian Coriander that I bought this past spring. Can ...
A: I'm not familiar with any plant called Brazilian Coriander...do you have a botanic name? I know of ...
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| geranium | 10/18/2007 |
Q: I have a gorgeous geranium which I would like to keep for next spring. I have been told two ...
A: Patricia, If you want to be SURE to keep it for next year, I'd bring it in the house and put it in ...
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| Planting mums in flower boxes | 10/15/2007 |
Q: I went a little mum nuts and bought way too many this year. I have flower boxes on my porch that ...
A: Laurie, It's unlikely that there is more than one plant per pot, so you can't divide them this year. ...
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| Firepokers | 9/29/2007 |
Q: Looks like you are the only one hanging in there so I direct my question to you and hope you can ...
A: Joan, Firepoker, aka Red Hot Poker or Torch Lily (Kniphofia) can be divided in the spring or late ...
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| Snapdraggons | 9/29/2007 |
Q: One week ago I planted snapdragons in a bed that gets partial shade. I live in Las Vegas, but the ...
A: Julie, I thought I'd answered this for you right away, but now I see that it is still in my mail box ...
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| Annuals for a Connecticut open deck | 9/23/2007 |
Q: Our Connecticut third (top) floor condo unit has an 8'x 20' open deck with an ENE exposure, ...
A: David, First of all, any of the usual houseplants would do very well on such a deck - you could ...
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| Petunia | 9/19/2007 |
Q: I have had my petunias for whole summer. It has been amazing having them, but now, as autumn is on ...
A: Agi, Petunias are pretty cold hardy, so they should keep going for you until a hard frost. If you ...
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| green like caterpillars on impatients | 9/12/2007 |
Q: What are the green like caterpillars on my impatients. I never had them before. They are eating ...
A: Mary, The good news is that there is a product that is a great organic treatment for caterpillars - ...
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| Bougainvilles | 9/11/2007 |
Q: A friend of ours gave us this Bougainvillea as a house warming gift. It was doing alright when we ...
A: Bougainvilleas bloom best in the low light of winter months, and usually come into bloom after a ...
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| morning glories | 9/10/2007 |
Q: I have some morning glories currently growing. I live in Zone 5 (colorado) were I believe they are ...
A: Steve, Morning glory seeds will develop just below the wilted flower - the area where the petals ...
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| Coleus | 9/9/2007 |
Q: I have a huge Coleus planted in a huge pot outside. Although I have read your method of pinching ...
A: Jo, There is no way to be sure you bring no insects in, short of using some pretty toxic chemical ...
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| hanging petunia pot dried out | 8/14/2007 |
Q: I live in Wisconsin and have a hanging petunia pot in the entryway of my business. The plant has ...
A: Kristin, The best chance you have is to cut the dried stems back by about 1/2 to 2/3 and start ...
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| impatients | 8/14/2007 |
Q: I live in Dallas, TX & discovered with this 100+ temperatures I need to water them every day. When ...
A: Kathy, Deadheading usually refers to just snipping or picking off spent flowers, and leggy impatiens ...
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| Rose of Sharon bushes | 8/13/2007 |
Q: I have 12 Rose of Sharon bushes planted that are going into their 3rd year. They are loaded with ...
A: Russell, By drooping I'm assuming you men that the branches are bending toward the ground - yes? If ...
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| impatiens | 8/11/2007 |
Q: We live in MA, had windowboxes with impatiens for several years--and they've done beautifully. The ...
A: K.B. There are mites that attack Impatiens - mainly Broad Mites. Google Broad Mites Imaptiens and ...
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| Ground Cover Full Sun | 8/11/2007 |
Q: What would you recommend for perennial ground cover, drought resistent, full sun, good drainage -- ...
A: Mary Ellen, For full sun and sandy soil you could plant Bearberry - this plant is a bit hard to get ...
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| Mums | 8/8/2007 |
Q: After reading through all of these different tips about my mums, I have a question for you. What ...
A: Julie, The sooner you get the plants in the ground the better able they will be to establish their ...
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| Mums | 8/8/2007 |
Q: After reading through all of these different tips about my mums, I have a question for you. What ...
A: Julie, The instructions that you got are good in that they remind you to water them once a week ...
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| purple pod bean plants | 8/7/2007 |
Q: they are anualls and all other people are on vacation so i'm sorry if this is not your topic. can ...
A: Karen, If you are talking about purple beans that grow on bush beans, then yes, they can be eaten. ...
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| petunias looking fried | 8/5/2007 |
Q: I have two hanging baskets of petunias and they are beginning to look fried. I water them every day ...
A: Sara, Sometimes hanging baskets dry up enough to need watering twice a day - be sure that the basket ...
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| Overwatering flower garden | 8/3/2007 |
Q: We had a flood in April where our foundation collapsed and three walls of it needed to be replaced. ...
A: Tara, In my experience, many people water too shallowly and too frequently. In fact, I just wrote an ...
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| What are the little bugs on my flowers | 8/1/2007 |
Q: I have little white(off-white)microscopic bugs, tons of them, on my annuals. They are leaving a ...
A: Denise, Microscopic? Do you really need a microscope to see them? Without a photo I'm stumped. ...
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| identify plant | 7/31/2007 |
Q: I bought a hanging plant at walmart and lost the card describing same. Here is a picture of one ...
A: Roberta, Photos don't come through on these emails from All Experts - either send me a more complete ...
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| Snapdragon | 7/31/2007 |
Q: I planted a bunch of snap dragon's but they are leaning over instead of standing up straight. the ...
A: John, My guess is that they are leaning toward the sun...snap dragons like full sun, and although ...
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| Petunias | 7/29/2007 |
Q: At the beginning of the summer I purchased petunias and have cared for them in separate pots on my ...
A: Anne, When petunias are in their prime, they are a mass of colorful flowers. But some gardeners end ...
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| annuals -vs- perennials | 7/27/2007 |
Q: Please tell me the difference between annuals and perennials. I live in Southeast Florida and would ...
A: Becky, Perennials come back year after year, and usually flower for anywhere between three weeks to ...
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| Japanese Red Maple | 7/26/2007 |
Q: I received a Japanese Red Maple potted plant for Mothers' day. I decided to keep it in the pot and ...
A: Cheryl, Japanese maples like to be in well drained but MOIST soil...if it drys out in between ...
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| petunias | 7/26/2007 |
Q: I have 2 pots of petunias on my patio and 1 hanging basket. I live in Albuquerque, NM and the ...
A: Marlene, Petunias that are turning brown are either getting too dry, or have fertlizer burn from ...
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| Sick celosia | 7/26/2007 |
Q: Last year I bought a purple celosia, which I planted out and it thrived till late oct with brilliant ...
A: Maybe the soil it was potted in was the problem, or maybe the pot was somehow different - too little ...
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| Sick celosia | 7/25/2007 |
Q: Last year I bought a purple celosia, which I planted out and it thrived till late oct with brilliant ...
A: Trudi, I'll list some of the possible reasons for what you are seeing, and you can decide if any of ...
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| Mutant Flower | 7/25/2007 |
Q: My wife sent me a picture of sun flower that started growing not planted in front of our house. The ...
A: Mike, Although I've never seen a sunflower 15 feet tall, it's possible that under the right ...
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| impatiens: spotted yellowed leaves | 7/24/2007 |
Q: My potted impatiens are suffering from spotted yellowish green leaves with black spots with a ...
A: Judy, These dots are leaf spot fungus - usually comes when the foliage gets damp frequently. ...
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| Bougenvillea Question | 7/22/2007 |
Q: .. I live in Florida and have two nice size Bougenvillea's in my front yard. When we were going ...
A: Bougenvillea bloom in spring and fall in most areas. They bloom on the short stems that come off of ...
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| birds of paradise | 7/20/2007 |
Q: why are my birds of paradise the flower part turning black?
A: Kathryn, Usually if a flower is turning black it is a fungal condition, often caused by frequent ...
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| potted petunias | 7/18/2007 |
Q: what does pinching back leggy petunias mean? where do i pinch them? is this the same as deadheading?
A: Patty, You are not alone in wondering about this....many people write to me about petunias and how ...
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| Bogenvia | 7/16/2007 |
Q: Recently I visited San Diego and saw a very beautiful Bogenvia. I live in southern Ontario Canada ...
A: Daniel, This is probably one of those plants you should enjoy when on vacation in Southern ...
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| New Guinea Impatiens | 7/14/2007 |
Q: We have a New Guinea Impatient hanging basket on our front porch which has partial sun light. It ...
A: If this was the problem, it should improve in a couple of weeks provided you water the plants when ...
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| New Guinea Impatiens | 7/14/2007 |
Q: We have a New Guinea Impatient hanging basket on our front porch which has partial sun light. It ...
A: Sue, The following can cause New Guinea Impatiens to stop blooming: 1. Too little sun. NG's bloom ...
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| impatiens - "root rot" | 7/11/2007 |
Q: I have grown impatiens for over 10 years in the same spot. They have always flourished on the north ...
A: Gail, You don't say what the watering or rain has been like. Impatiens get rot when the crown of ...
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| Zuchinni Plants | 7/11/2007 |
Q: Mr. Fornari, I live in eastern Virginia and have been gardening for a few years. Every year I have ...
A: David, Sounds like you have the squash vine borer - the enemy of gardeners through out the country! ...
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| Petunias | 7/11/2007 |
Q: I have potted petunias that have been growing for about 2 months. Recently I have seen tiny black ...
A: Sounds like a fungal condition caused by wet or damp foliage and flowers. Are the plants getting ...
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| Petunias | 7/9/2007 |
Q: How often should petunias be cut back and what is the crown?
A: Lucinda, There are differences in how Wave and Superpetunias are treated, so I'll tell you how to ...
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| wilted petunias | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I have a large pot of petunias that I bought last month. I think it dried out too much and all of ...
A: Michelle, You can do two things: First, cut the stems back by about half. You can cut some back a ...
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| over watered petunias | 7/5/2007 |
Q: I have some petunias that are planted in hanging baskets. Live in Northern Minnesota. Recently had ...
A: Mary, You are doing the right thing by letting them dry for awhile. You might also cut half of the ...
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| window box | 7/3/2007 |
Q: I have a window box which faces southeast and gets mostly morning sun. I'm from Minnesota by the ...
A: Cindy, Be sure you have used fresh soil in the windowbox every year - that is really important. ...
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| Dying Merigolds | 7/3/2007 |
Q: ... I live in Michigan, and this Spring I decided to plant Marigolds in a flower bed around my ...
A: Vince, Marigolds are flowers from Mexico, so they prefer long dry stretches...in fact, most plants ...
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| wave petunias (tidal waves) | 6/19/2007 |
Q: I have 7 tidal wave petunia plants that are starting to dye and I don't know why, I water them 2 ...
A: Jan, It sounds like they are getting too much water - plants need a good soaking every few days and ...
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| Help with my impatients | 6/17/2007 |
Q: On mothers day I planted a ton of white, pink and lavender impatients in my flower bed. All of the ...
A: I'm sure that the problem is that you are watering them to much. Maybe last year you got away with ...
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| Impatients and spiders | 6/17/2007 |
Q: We planted several pots of impatients within the last two weeks. Today when I watered, the pots in ...
A: David, Maybe some mama spider decided that the back pots were the perfect place to raise her babies! ...
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| Sick looking petunias | 6/17/2007 |
Q: When I purchased these "Wave Petunias" in a hanging basket they were so beautiful and the talk of ...
A: Jo, The waves grow long, and as you can see, form flowers at the end of the stems. So the longer ...
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| Marigolds non flowering | 6/15/2007 |
Q: I have marigolds that I started from seeds. They are growing and most of tem are about 6"high but ...
A: Craig, They just might not be old enough yet, especially if they are large plants. All annuals and ...
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| Annuals: how to treat | 6/13/2007 |
Q: 2 questions: 1. I started impatiens from seed, transplanted a week ago. No buds apparent. What do i ...
A: Mary Ellen, If your impatiens are still young, there is nothing you can do to hurry the flowers ...
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| "King Tut cyperus papyrus- annual | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I live in zone 5 and wonder if it is possible to save this annual by overwintering it inside. This ...
A: Blanche, Papyrus are one of the easiest plants to overwinter indoors. If it's in the ground, you'll ...
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| yellow leaves on petunias | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I am in North Dakota and planted petunias in my flower bed. I fertilized with a slow release ...
A: Susan, Yellowing leaves on petunias can be any of the following situations: 1. Too much water. Most ...
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| impatients | 6/11/2007 |
Q: I have several pots of impatients. A friend said I should cut them back/deadhead. How exactly is ...
A: Kathy, The beauty of impatiens is that they don't have to be deadheaded! If the plants look full and ...
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| bouganvillea. etc. in window box | 6/9/2007 |
Q: Situation: 3 SE exposed window boxes that each have bouganvillea, bacopa and Gerber daisies ...
A: Christine, Unfortunately, Bouganvillea do not bloom all summer, so no amount of fertilizing or ...
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| Petunias - DEADHEAD | 6/6/2007 |
Q: almost all my new flowers that are starting out seem to be dead.. Why are these not blooming into a ...
A: Bill, If the flowers on petunias never open, it could be any of the following reasons: 1. Water ...
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| who's eating my petunias?!?! | 6/4/2007 |
Q: We were away for a week and when we returned none of my purple/pink/white petunias were blooming! I ...
A: Rosemary, I've seen birds tear the flowers off plants - I suspect that they use them to line a nest, ...
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| Petunias- Help! | 6/2/2007 |
Q: I live in Alabama in Huntsville.I have several baskets of hanging flowering/wave petunias. Some of ...
A: Jennifer, I'll list some of the causes of the symptoms you see, and you can decide if you think any ...
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| Petunias | 5/30/2007 |
Q: I just planted pentunias (red, white, and blue petunia mix) five days ago in my flower beds. I live ...
A: Kelly, If your soil is clay it should hold onto water, so you might be overwatering them. Petunias ...
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| Petunia | 5/30/2007 |
Q: I have a beautiful hanging basket of red petunia's. Every night I water and pluck dead blooms. I ...
A: Jenylle, If the dots blow off, it probably is pollen! Many trees are in bloom now, in most areas of ...
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| jumpstart my plants | 5/28/2007 |
Q: My lantana which i know is a perennial is coming back slooooowlywhith no blooms yet. I planted vinca ...
A: Jamie, With your compost and top soil the basics should be in place - if you haven't cut the lantana ...
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| why are they not blooming | 5/28/2007 |
Q: "Thank you for taking time to read my questions. Most of my flower beds have a mixture of top ...
A: Jamie, If you are growing large marigolds that will be at least two feet high, then it's normal not ...
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| Peony flowers | 5/28/2007 |
Q: What does Ants do for this flower? I have 4 very old peony bushes that won't bloom so I brought ...
A: Heather, It's an "old gardener's tale" that ants help the peonies bloom, but it's not true. Peony ...
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| Surtido de Verbena | 5/27/2007 |
Q: I have a small child and was wondering if this plant is poisonous because I have one in my front ...
A: Tammy, The name you sent means "Spurt of Verbena" or "Spurted Verbena" - it is not a common name for ...
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| lady slipper | 5/27/2007 |
Q: Hello - I found a flower wich looks like a lady slipper = but was told it was not and is rare look ...
A: Pete, Without a photo to look at, I'm not sure what you have found...there are, by the way, many ...
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| Transfering Red Flowering Quince Bush | 5/26/2007 |
Q: I have a fairly mature red quince bush that I would like to transplant to a new location. It is in ...
A: Phyllis, Move your quince (don't you LOVE them?) as soon as it finishes blooming. Be sure to water ...
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| New guinea impatience | 5/24/2007 |
Q: I have some new guinea impatience that are losing all their blooms. I have been keeping them ...
A: Donna, Unfortunately, New Guinea Impatiens don't bloom well in full shade. Even regular impatiens ...
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| coleus | 5/24/2007 |
Q: I bought some coleus and planted them in btw bushes. How do I care for them? Do they like shade or ...
A: Coleus will tolerate a good amount of sun, but if they wilt toward the end of a hot day, it's ...
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| coleus | 5/23/2007 |
Q: I bought some coleus and planted them in btw bushes. How do I care for them? Do they like shade or ...
A: Jackie, The first thing to do is to pinch the very top growth - the tiny leaves at the very top of ...
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| Petunias | 5/21/2007 |
Q: I have a hanging basket with deep purple wave or trailing petunias in it. It was doing well, I keep ...
A: Michelle, Yellowing leaves can be a sign of overwatering - feel the soil before you water and if it ...
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| tiger lilly | 5/15/2007 |
Q: How successful do you think a hanging basket filled with tiger lillies will be? The Flowers should ...
A: Megan, Unfortunatly, Tiger Lily is a name given to two different plants...some people call the ...
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| slugs, slugs and more SLUGS! | 5/12/2007 |
Q: Oh my! My petunias are under attack. It seems my entire garden is infested with slugs. We have ...
A: Kim, There is a great product called Sluggo - it is Iron in a bait form - hurts nothing but the ...
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| Wilting annuals | 5/12/2007 |
Q: I seem to have a recurring problem with some of my annual plants. Each year I lose a handful of ...
A: Kim, Wilting from newly planted annuals can come from several causes - I'll list them and you can ...
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| Flowers, vegetables | 5/12/2007 |
Q: ..I live in Abilene, Texas. I don't what "zone" we are in...but I was just wondering if you could ...
A: Julie, You are just about past any danger of frost there - if your night time temperatures are ...
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| Type of Flower... | 5/7/2007 |
Q: I seen a beautiful hanging basket with flowers in it - I am trying to get the name of these flowers! ...
A: Tracey, Do a google image search of these two names, and see if either of these are what you saw: ...
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| Annuals for Flower Boxes | 5/5/2007 |
Q: I live in Connecticut. I am planning flower boxes for windows on the south side of the house. ...
A: Joanie, Well, I live on Cape Cod where Hydrangeas are the shrub of choice...in fact, many people ...
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| lots o' boxes | 5/4/2007 |
Q: We live on the edge of a lake & have many built-in flower boxes on our 3 levels of deck. Our house ...
A: Kim, Lucky you to live on a lake! As you know, the north side of any house is shady enough to limit ...
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| impatients not flowering | 4/29/2007 |
Q: I live in Atlanta, GA. About a month ago, I planted 7 flats of white impatients in containors that ...
A: Keley, Although Impatiens tolerate a great deal of shade, they will not bloom if there are in total ...
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| Easter Lilly | 4/26/2007 |
Q: I hope you can help me. I received 2 beautiful Easter Lilly plants and I needed to know how to care ...
A: Carolyn, Easter Lilly's will grow when planted outside, but in the future they will bloom later in ...
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| Hydrangias | 4/26/2007 |
Q: My hydrangia is coming back after being pruned down for the winter. Its coming back nicely and is ...
A: Anna, If you use a SMALL amount of Aluminum sulphate to the soil around the plant - watered in well ...
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| begonias | 4/23/2007 |
Q: What type of begonia likes full sun? What fertilzer do yall recommend for this begonia? 8b.
A: Debbie, The only begonia that will tolerate full sun is the wax begonia, and even that isn't too ...
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| verbena hybrida | 4/22/2007 |
Q: What fertilzer do yall use? How much water? Does it need sun? When the blooms fade away, Do you cut ...
A: I am assuming that you are planting the creeping, or cascading verbena, not the upright, yes? The ...
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| New Landscape design | 4/20/2007 |
Q: Can you suggest any websites for a do-it-yourself landscape design that would be suitable for Cape ...
A: Sandy, I don't know of any websites that offer what you want. Most design websites are not so ...
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| Annuals for Flower Boxes | 4/16/2007 |
Q: I live in Connecticut. I am planning flower boxes for windows on the south side of the house. ...
A: Joanie, Other plants you can use include Scaevola (fan flower) and the trailing Verbenas - perhaps ...
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| bugs treatment on Hybiscus plant | 4/13/2007 |
Q: After the last summer, I kept my Hibiscus plant in my house where it can get much bright light and ...
A: Krishna, If they are very small white bugs it's probably whitefly. The good news is that it will ...
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| what to plant? | 4/12/2007 |
Q: I have a flower box beside a wooden walkway that is about 20 feet long and 2 feet wide. I have ...
A: Judy, The annuals that do the best in shade are all sorts of Impatiens and all Begonias - you can ...
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| petunias | 4/12/2007 |
Q: Please tell me how and when to cut back petunias?
A: Kathy, It depends on what type of petunias you have. If you have the standard petunias that most of ...
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| frost bitten new spring growth | 4/12/2007 |
Q: i live in south carolina on the coast where all are crape myrtle and spring flowers and annual grass ...
A: OK - I didn't know that you lived in a neighborhood where you can't let Mother Nature take care of ...
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| frost bitten new spring growth | 4/11/2007 |
Q: i live in south carolina on the coast where all are crape myrtle and spring flowers and annual grass ...
A: It has been colder than normal over much of the country, but I realize that knowing that you are in ...
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| Morning Glorys | 4/9/2007 |
Q: I live in Denver CO. Zone 5. I planted some morning glories in jiffy pots about 3-4 weeks in my ...
A: Steve, It's not so much the zone you live in but the last average frost date AND night time ...
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| dogwood winter | 4/7/2007 |
Q: I live in Alabama now, and I have already purchased large petunias, geraniums and other annuals. We ...
A: I know that you folks are shivering down there - I've heard from several people in the same boat! ...
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| annuals | 4/6/2007 |
Q: We have just planted over 100 Celosia, Marigolds and Salvia all around our front and back yard. We ...
A: Kim, If these were my plants, I would try and cover them...either with light weight sheets or ...
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| Plant recommendations | 4/5/2007 |
Q: Is there a flower with large blooms, similar to peony poppies, that gives flowers all throughout the ...
A: C, Well, the short answer is no....I can't think of any plant that has large flowers similar to a ...
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| lantana transplanting | 4/5/2007 |
Q: I am hoping you may be able to assist me. I recently uprooted a large lantana plant and replanted ...
A: Mary, At this point, be sure to water it yes, but not every day. I'd start giving it a DEEP soaking ...
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| Petunias | 4/1/2007 |
Q: I bought a hanging pot of petunias less than a week ago and it has leaves that are turning yellow ...
A: Diana, My guess is that it was raised in a warm, light greenhouse and it's gone directly outside ...
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| Daffodils | 3/26/2007 |
Q: I live in Southern California. I recently purchased daffodils in bloom in pots and planted them all ...
A: Daffodils (and most other bulbs) need a chilling period in order to bloom every year. They need to ...
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| Frost Burned Bougainvillea | 3/14/2007 |
Q: We live in San Diego, Ca. and have a hedge of bougainvillea that is/was about 8-9 ft tall. It was ...
A: Mike, At the very least you want to cut off all the frosted stems and foliage. Once that is done ...
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| Coleus & Habiscus | 3/10/2007 |
Q: We live in Dallas, TX.I have coleus & habiscus should I have cut them down in the winter or will ...
A: OK - Dallas TX is in a zone 8b - which means a warm zone 8....unfortunately, not warm enough for ...
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| Coleus & Habiscus | 3/10/2007 |
Q: I have coleus & habiscus should I have cut them down in the winter or will they even come back in ...
A: Cheryl, I can't really answer this for you unless I know where you live. In areas where it goes ...
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| Morning glorys | 3/3/2007 |
Q: a couple quick questions. I live in Denver (zone 5) and want to know when to start these seeds. I ...
A: Steve, Start the hollyhocks anytime now inside (general rule is 6 to 8 weeks before you can plant ...
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| summer flower bed | 1/9/2007 |
Q: I am new to gardening actually, We have a Flower Bed in our front lawn and this year i wanted to ...
A: Amanda, The following annuals are the most heat tolerant: Europs (shrubby, yellow daisies all ...
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| Bougainvillea | 12/4/2006 |
Q: I forgot to ask, what time of year is the best time to cut it back? I live in San Jose CA where the ...
A: Jim Bougainvillea go through a growth period, followed by a blooming period, followed by a rest ...
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| Bogenvia (sp?) | 12/2/2006 |
Q: It is Dec 2nd and I was trimming up my frost burned Bogenvia. My neightbor suggested I hack my ...
A: Jim, I'm not sure why your neighbor would want you to drastically prune your Bougainvillea... you ...
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| hybiscus | 11/28/2006 |
Q: I live in TX on the Gulf Coast, just south of Houston. Is it too early to cut my hybiscus plants ...
A: Shay, It's still a bit early to cut them back. Pruning always stimulates growth, because a plant ...
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| hybiscus | 11/27/2006 |
Q: I moved my hybiscus indors (it was in a large pot on deck) it is a twined one (many colored ...
A: Katz, Not to worry - your hibiscus is doing what they all do when moved from the outside to indoors. ...
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| winterizing my plants | 11/18/2006 |
Q: i have these plants and want to keep them thrught the winter . how do i keep from losing them?rubber ...
A: Eunice, I don't know where you live so it's impossible for me to advise you. In my area of the ...
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| Mums | 11/3/2006 |
Q: I have 3 potted mums recently purchased this fall. Not sure if they are hardy mums or not, but would ...
A: You should plant them as soon as the flowers start to fade - there are two keys to keeping them ...
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| CUTTING ANNUALS | 10/29/2006 |
Q: READY TO PLANT OUR ANNUALS.SOME SURVIVED 5 MONTHS AS WE LIVE IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA. OUR QUESTION IS, ...
A: Don, It kind of depends on what annuals you have, but in general, if you cut them down by one half ...
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| white furry bugs on my hybiscus | 10/26/2006 |
Q: I live in Florida. My 6 hybiscus bushes are dying. most of the leaves have fallen off. and no ...
A: Tracy, WHat you discribe could be one of several insects including aphids, white fly, or mealy bugs. ...
|
| hybiscus | 10/22/2006 |
Q: When should i cut my hibiscus back. Last year I cut it back around this time - Oct. It's in a pot. ...
A: Usually Hibiscus are cut back in early spring - for you in Alabama, sometime between late February ...
|
| lilac | 10/15/2006 |
Q: I live in NJ and have lilacs planted in the ground. Can you recommend the proper way to maintain ...
A: Sergio, Liliacs are one of the easiest shrubs to grow - as long as they are in full sun, and are ...
|
| Sunflower seeds | 10/14/2006 |
Q: Can I take the sunflower seeds from my present plants and use the seeds next year for planting? ...
A: Gary, Yes - by all means, you can use the sunflower seeds for next year. If the variety is a named ...
|
| Wintering Hibiscus and Angel's Trumpet | 10/14/2006 |
Q: We live on Cape Cod and have had WONDERFUL success all summer with both our hibiscus and brugmansia. ...
A: Pat, The plants should come in this week (light frost on the Cape last night!) the brugmansia put in ...
|
| coleus | 10/14/2006 |
Q: How often should we fertilize coleus with Miracle Grow! We have them in large pots about 4-6 inches ...
A: In general, coleus do well with an application of fertilizer every three or four weeks. This plant ...
|
| starting petunias | 10/3/2006 |
Q: I'd like to grow petunas from seed, I live in Denver, CO and have just purchased a grow light, blue ...
A: Janet, Start your petunia seeds 8 to 10 weeks before you can plant them outside in your area. Sow ...
|
| Mums | 10/1/2006 |
Q: I live in Southwestern Connecticut and I buy mums to put in my flower boxes every year. I was ...
A: Mary Ellen, Unfortunately, most mums are bred to be fall annuals. The truly bone-hardy types like ...
|
| Morning Glorys | 10/1/2006 |
Q: I live in Zone 5 (Denver Colorado) I have heard that morning glorys are annuals in my zone & yet I ...
A: Steve, Morning Glories are indeed annuals in your area (and mine as well - I garden in a warm zone ...
|
| colius | 9/30/2006 |
Q: is there a colius called mariposa
A: John, Yes, there is a coleus called "Mariposa" - it is a tall variety with purple new growth and ...
|
| pastel coleus | 9/30/2006 |
Q: its newly potted(8 weeks ish) and i used miracle grow soilHelp! im a little confused. i have a ...
A: Great! I think that the Miracle Grow potting soil has some time-release fertilizer in it, yes? If ...
|
| pastel coleus | 9/28/2006 |
Q: Help! im a little confused. i have a coleus that i have had for 4 1/2 years now it is the common ...
A: Michelle, A cutting would have the same genetic material as the parent plant, so that is not the ...
|
| FLATS OF FLOWERS= ? SQ. FOOTAGE | 9/27/2006 |
Q: MORENO VALLEY,CA. I am installing some Garzanias in a 406 sq. ft. area. How many sq. ft. does a ...
A: Kevin, Unfortunately there is no "rule of thumb" for planting distances because plants grow to be ...
|
| poppys | 9/18/2006 |
Q: i look after a park which is very bland i want to have some colour next summer i was thinking loads ...
A: Jak, There are many types of poppies: some annual, some biennial (grow one year, bloom the next and ...
|
| Betunia | 9/17/2006 |
Q: Early this summer I bought a potted plant for my patio called a Betunia which I suspect is a mixture ...
A: Lynn, Well, you have me stumped on this one. I have never heard of a Betunia, nor a cross of a ...
|
| Lilics, transplanting | 9/12/2006 |
Q: Since they will grow too tall for this location It is best that we move them. How deep, wide is the ...
A: Lynette, Although Lilacs can have a fairly extensive root system, it is not a tap root and they ...
|
| will my impatiants live inside to go uot next spring | 9/12/2006 |
Q: i live in maine can my impatiants live inside all winter to go out again next spring
A: Ellie, The answer to your question is both yes and no. Here's the "yes" part: you can bring a ...
|
| Cutting back Lilics | 9/11/2006 |
Q: I live in Monroe Washington and have 5 lilics bushes that have been in the ground 6 years. Please ...
A: Lynette, It's tough to keep a regular lilac at 3 - 4 feet. Even the dwarf "Miss Kim" lilac grows to ...
|
| Lilacs in Indiana | 9/6/2006 |
Q: I have two lilac bushes I planted last fall in southern Indiana, and they seemed to be doing very ...
A: Jan, The dusty-looking stuff is powdery mildew - all lilacs are prone to this, and it seldom harms ...
|
| cedar shrubs | 9/4/2006 |
Q: Oue cedar shrubs are approx. 30 years old and badly overgrown. When I try to trim them back I easily ...
A: Tammy, Many plants are commonly called "cedar" so without knowing what type of evergreen these are ...
|
| Silver nettle vine | 9/2/2006 |
Q: ------------------------- Again thanks for the help with my questions. I only water the Dahlias ...
A: Carlynn, Was the manure you used fresh or well composted? If it was fresh then the browning you ...
|
| Silver nettle vine | 9/1/2006 |
Q: ------------------------- Thanks for the help with my question about the silver nettle vine. ...
A: Carlynn, Your Silver Nettle Vine is listed as being hardy in zone 3, but these zone listings are ...
|
| ornamental cherry tree/mildew or fungus | 8/31/2006 |
Q: My neighbor (marstons mills) has two cherry trees that have been healthy and happy for at least ten ...
A: Doreen, Unfortunately, Cherry trees are prone to many diseases and problems. If it is indeed mildew ...
|
| SOUTH CAROLINA | 8/23/2006 |
Q: I HAVE A LARGE FLOWER BOX ALONG MY HOME THAT IS FULL SUN MOST OF THE TIME. I WANT TO PLANT FLOWERS ...
A: BH, I don't know how well stocked the nurseries in your area are at this time of year, but if you ...
|
| Impatiens | 8/17/2006 |
Q: Can you plant Impatiens in the sand? That is what my whole yard consists of. Thankyou, Kim
A: Kim, I garden in a sandbox myself (Cape Cod) so I know what you're dealing with. Impatiens like ...
|
| Sick geraniums | 8/6/2006 |
Q: No, thank goodness there's no mildew. The leaves are just drained of color.My geranium's leaves ...
A: OK - good that it isn't mildew. The two things that I know of that can drain foliage of color are ...
|
| Sick geraniums | 8/6/2006 |
Q: My geranium's leaves both types (ivy and zonal) are turning white and the buds are not maturing. I ...
A: Angela, It sounds like your geraniums might have mildew - are the leaves just white as if they are ...
|
| Cutting back a hybiscus | 8/5/2006 |
Q: I just read your response to Pam about cutting back her hybiscus in January. I have had two ...
A: Tammie, I'm assuming that you have these plants in pots and live in an area of the country where you ...
|
| Hybiscus | 8/4/2006 |
Q: Location: Central Texas Plant location: In ground, south side I planted a hybiscus, forgot to ...
A: Sometimes a plant that has been recently cut to the ground - or died to the ground from freezing - ...
|
| Petunias | 8/2/2006 |
Q: Mine have been deadheaded form several weeks and are getting long stalks. Can you cut them back? If ...
A: George, Yes, you can cut petunia stalks back - next year, the best thing to do is to cut four or ...
|
| hydrangea | 7/30/2006 |
Q: I have 2 hyrangeas in their own pots How far apart should I replant them
A: Carrie, I'm assuming that these are full-size hydrangeas, yes? If they are dwarf like "Pia" or ...
|
| deadheading annual salvia | 7/28/2006 |
Q: I planted "hummingbird" red salvia (rather late: last part of may), but the flowers were not very ...
A: David, Some salvias are perennials where it is warm, and are late season bloomers - they often have ...
|
| Petunias | 7/27/2006 |
Q: I am in central NY and have been enjoying a "flower tower" of petunias. They are planted in 5 ...
A: Claudia, It's natural as a plant grows to shed older leaves, and these usually yellow and fall off ...
|
| Bluebonnets and Germany | 7/27/2006 |
Q: I am moving to Germany in two weeks and have no idea where to start. I am from Texas and would like ...
A: Annastacia, I have never grown bluebonnets in a covered house before - I'm assuming that you want to ...
|
| Marigolds | 7/27/2006 |
Q: Some of my marigolds have stopped flowering and there are only the healthy (looking) leaves left ...
A: Caryn, If the flowers aren't being eaten off by the deer, the problem might be not enough sun. Are ...
|
| Lilics | 7/26/2006 |
Q: I live in Denver Colorado I planted two lilics about 5 year ago and this year was the frist year I ...
A: Delia, Lilacs are one of those plants that are not "instant coffee" - it takes a few years for a ...
|
| hybiscus | 7/26/2006 |
Q: I recieved two hybiscus plants for mother's day and have had a problem with the leaves yellowing and ...
A: N, Hibiscus do drop older leaves as they grow (and these yellow first, then fall) but if it's ...
|
| Impatients | 7/25/2006 |
Q: I live in Panama, Central America. On our porch we have a small pot of impatients that are getting ...
A: Jana, I can think of two reasons the plant might be doing this. First, it might need more light - ...
|
| bugs on petunias | 7/23/2006 |
Q: I have 3 hanging baskets of petunias, 2 of which have a white tiny fly. I have read your suggestion ...
A: Bonnie, White fly are very annoying and can weaken your plants, so it's good to treat it. ...
|
| Pruning Zinnias | 7/22/2006 |
Q: I let my zinnias seed and the tall ones came up toward the front of my beds. They are so tall and ...
A: Val, The thing is, there is no way that you can keep them short. Every plant is genetically ...
|
| impatients | 7/21/2006 |
Q: I live on Long Island in New York. All of a sudden my fully grown impatients are dying. The outer ...
A: It sounds like crown rot - look at the ones that are breaking off, and see if they are doing so at ...
|
| Impatiens | 7/18/2006 |
Q: I live in the Northeast (Rhode Island). I have planted some impatiens in various areas of my yard ...
A: Jackie, It could be too much fertilizer, or too much shade, or a combination of those things. Are ...
|
| Bellevue, WA | 7/17/2006 |
Q: I also wanted to let you know that the fruit are not touching the soil. And the lower leaves are ...
A: Farah, How often does the sprinkler go off? If the sprinkler is wetting the squash more than every ...
|
| flower boxes | 7/16/2006 |
Q: I live near Chicago and have 3 window boxes, about 2ft x 6" wide, they get part sun part shade, I ...
A: Cathe, If the boxes are getting morning sun and afternoon shade, then you can't go wrong with ...
|
| Bellevue, WA | 7/16/2006 |
Q: I am trying to grow zuchinni and I have had a lot of flowers as well as fruit. But they don't seem ...
A: Farah, Usually this is a fungal condition - try sticking some mulch (hay, pine needles, chopped ...
|
| Petunias | 7/15/2006 |
Q: I have a large double petunia that is in a hanging pot on my porch. It seem's that more flowers are ...
A: Fran, Mushy petunia flowers are usually the sign that the plant is getting hit with water on the ...
|
| geranium | 7/14/2006 |
Q: Why is my geranium leaves turning light green. they are in pots? what and how often should should ...
A: Ann Marie, Fertilize geraniums with a fertilizer that has a slightly higher amount of nitrogen (the ...
|
| four-o-clocks | 7/14/2006 |
Q: I live in West Texas near Odessa. I have had four-o-clocks come up (from tubers) in the ground ...
A: M.Rowe, Plants don't bloom for a variety of reasons - I'll suggest a few here and you can decide if ...
|
| Gardening Expert needed | 7/13/2006 |
Q: I am working with an entertainment and marketing company, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that is ...
A: Eric, I might be interested if there was no fare at all - I am a first class speaker that presents ...
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| begonias and impatients | 7/13/2006 |
Q: i live in the most north west part of alabama. it was 100 degrees today. I am new at gardening. i ...
A: Vickie, I'm assuming that the plants are still in their pots - if so, you'll need to water them ...
|
| Hydrangea-blue | 7/12/2006 |
Q: I currently recieved 2 blue hydrangea plants, they were so beutiful, I planted them and they are ...
A: Rebecca, Hydrangeas are shrubs, and they come back every year. Some types bloom on both old and new ...
|
| four o'clocks | 7/11/2006 |
Q: These seed are a named variety that I bought at a local Wal-Mart. If they are sterile,does that mean ...
A: Linda, It is possible that this variety, bred for a particular color or shape etc, isn't good about ...
|
| bugs on miniture petunias | 7/10/2006 |
Q: We live in Milwuakee and have just notice these tiny reddish/tan bugs on the bottom side of the ...
A: Lee, From your discription I'm not sure I can identify them (too little info) but I'll tell you what ...
|
| Impatiants | 7/8/2006 |
Q: The leaves on my impaitants are starting to turn yellow, only on some. Is it not enough water? too ...
A: Jill, Usually yellowing leaves indicates either too little or too much water - try watering your ...
|
| petunias | 7/8/2006 |
Q: I live in Illinois and I have purple and white petunias in large containers with many other plants. ...
A: Laurel, Some insecticides are only useful for particular pests, so it's helpful to know what is ...
|
| Little white bugs on Petunias in hanging basket | 7/8/2006 |
Q: I have miniature red petunias in a 16 inch hanging basket. They have been doing quite well and ...
A: Marcia, If the bugs fly away, it's probably White Fly - if they're tiny and don't fly, it's probably ...
|
| Zucchini dieing | 7/7/2006 |
Q: I live in Western PA and my zucchini have been planted in my garden for about a month now. We have ...
A: It sounds like you have the squash borer - look at the stems of the ones that are wilting (cut open ...
|
| Impatiens | 7/4/2006 |
Q: My wife and I bought impatiens hanging plants and they did really well for a while. They are on our ...
A: Greg, If the plants had wilted first, I'd say they were drying out, but since they stopped blooming ...
|
| petunias | 7/3/2006 |
Q: I bought 2 huge petunia's in baskets they are under shade on my front porch facing south. I do set ...
A: Tammy, What your petunias really want is more sun...if you can put the baskets in full sun at least ...
|
| Indian Hawthornes | 7/2/2006 |
Q: I live in Austin, Texas and have grouping of five Indian Hawthornes growing in a bed that runs along ...
A: Mark, First, I'd make sure that your plants are really getting the water that you think that they ...
|
| deadheading | 7/1/2006 |
Q: the annuals I'm growing are dianthus, gallardia, zinna's, batchelor buttons, carnations, nicotiana, ...
A: Elizabeth, Deadhead the gallardia, and the dianthus just to neaten the plant - sometimes the ...
|
| deadheading | 7/1/2006 |
Q: I live in Pennsylvania (USA), and have been told that you should deadhead every flower that you have ...
A: Elizabeth, Some annuals need deadheading in order to produce more flowers, and some don't - ...
|
| watering a bogenvia | 6/29/2006 |
Q: I have a bogenvia in my back yard that gets a good deal of afternoon sun from around 2 pm until ...
A: Shawn, In warm climates this plant sets flower buds every four to six weeks, especially if cut back ...
|
| Petunias | 6/20/2006 |
Q: I bought a large hanging basket of petunias took off the hangers and proped it up so the flowers ...
A: Lori, Wilting flowers can be a sign of either too little water or too much - if the plant is dry, ...
|
| dinning on petunias | 6/20/2006 |
Q: I have a large container at the end of my sidewalk, I live in Maryland by the way,and in it I have ...
A: The best product for catapillars is one whose active ingredient is Spinosad. This is a natural ...
|
| Celosia's | 6/20/2006 |
Q: I am trying to redo all of our flower beds, etc. We live in the West Texan and yes it gets hot and ...
A: Teresa, I'm not sure what the "remove all leaves" info was about...to maintain Celosia you just need ...
|
| Wave Petunas | 6/16/2006 |
Q: How often should you pinch back wave petunas in a hanging basket to keep them from becoming "leggy"?
A: Ann, I'd cut three or four stems back every week to ten days - do this by taking off a half to ...
|
| wave petunia | 6/10/2006 |
Q: I live in Ohio and I have several hanging baskets with wave petunia's in them and the underneath ...
A: Cheryl, Wave petunias do need either time-release fertilizer or a liquid feed every two weeks - use ...
|
| Impatients | 6/9/2006 |
Q: I live in the lower peninsula of Michigan. I just bought five flats of impatients which I will ...
A: Joe, Unfortunatly, deer do love impatiens. If you have deer that regularly browse your garden, you ...
|
| impatients and bugs | 6/8/2006 |
Q: I live in Fairbanks, AK. Because we've had frost in the last week, I've just put out my impatients ...
A: Mary, I'd suspect one of two culprits - cutworms cut off plants almost at soil level - dig in the ...
|
| bedding plants/annuals | 6/8/2006 |
Q: reside in west texas and even tho it is very dry and hot i feel we may be overwatering. what are ...
A: Kathy, You're not alone! I think that watering is a challange for many gardeners. In general, the ...
|
| Petunas | 6/6/2006 |
Q: Middle Georgia. My petunas feel sticky and then seem to dry up and die. I have sprayed them but not ...
A: CD, Sometimes petunia foliage can naturally feel sticky, but if they dry up and die, it could be an ...
|
| My Zuchinnin isn't growing | 6/4/2006 |
Q: I live in the High Desert area of Southern California. Temps now are in the mid to high 90's, ...
A: Ginger, Hard to know from what you've told me - I'll suggest a few things and you can see if any of ...
|
| Annual Hibiscus | 6/4/2006 |
Q: I would like to know if you have tried the Annual Hibiscus. I do not know the name as they ...
A: It's hard to imagine a grower (is Vessey's a grower? Retailer?) who wouldn't give you the botanic ...
|
| zucchini | 6/3/2006 |
Q: I know your profile does not list that you handle questions about vegetables...but I am getting ...
A: Kay, I am a home vegetable gardener myself, and it sounds like you have squash-vine borers. The ...
|
| deadheading salvia and gazanias | 6/2/2006 |
Q: I am not very familiar with salvia and gazanias. Do I deadhead salvia by removing the entire spent ...
A: Lisa, Salvia gets deadheaded by clipping off the entire spent bloom just below where the flowers ...
|
| beginning gardner | 6/1/2006 |
Q: I am a beginning gardner that lives in North Texas. I end up killing everything....I cannot keep an ...
A: Cassandra, First of all, know that you aren't a real gardener until you've killed plants. I've ...
|
| sick annuals | 5/31/2006 |
Q: I live in Washington State. I planted an array of annuals (wave petunias, lobelia, bicopa, zinnias, ...
A: Susanne, Ususally, leaves turn purple either because they are suddenly exposed to strong light ...
|
| How EXACTLY do I deadhead my petunias? | 5/27/2006 |
Q: I live in Williamsburg VA (zone 7) and have several flower boxes and hanging baskets of petunias on ...
A: Bette, To deadhead petunias, cut the thin green stem that is below where the flower formed. The ...
|
| sunlight | 5/23/2006 |
Q: I live in Michigan. I have a garden in the backyard with beautiful hostas that thrive. The yard ...
A: KIm, If you have sun, you have a HUGE selection available to you! There are the reliable bloomers ...
|
| geraniums | 5/17/2006 |
Q: I meant to ask why the zonal geranium leaves cupped or curled up. I am in Atlanta,GA.The plants are ...
A: Leonie, Sorry that I misunderstood. Cupping of leaves is not a good sign on geraniums. It is the ...
|
| geraniums | 5/16/2006 |
Q: My annual zonal geraniums are forming a cup bloom. Is that normal and why do they do this? The ...
A: Leonie, I'm not sure what you mean by "cup bloom" - the individual geranium flowers often form a ...
|
| My snapdragon plant lost all its flowers, I pinched them off. How do I get teh flowers to grow again adn how do I take care of them? | 5/16/2006 |
Q:
A: Kathy, After the main stem of a snap dragon finishes flowering, you should cut it off just below ...
|
| boxwoods, impatients feeding | 5/16/2006 |
Q: In an outdoor shade sturture garden center, (Plastic), when impatients arrive in beautiful ...
A: Dale, Browning leaves is usually a sign of either drying up or fertilizer burn (too much fertilizer ...
|
| asparagus fern (plumosus?) | 5/15/2006 |
Q: i just rescued this plumosus from a commercial site. its root ball is about as big around as a 55 ...
A: Benjamin, These plants will tolerate being potbound, but they don't tolerate going dry, so plant in ...
|
| pansy shade | 5/15/2006 |
Q: What type of light do pansies prefer? I was told shade, but I wanted to confirm that before ...
A: Billie, Pansies like either sun or shade - they just like it cool. Here on Cape Cod, where I live, ...
|
| yellow flowers | 5/13/2006 |
Q: are there any annuals that produce yellow flowers and also grow in a shade area
A: Phyllis, All Experts thinks that I didn't answer this question, so I'll do it again in case you ...
|
| fuschia in the desert | 5/12/2006 |
Q: start hitting 90 or so... Bringing 'em in doesn't seem to help (reduced light? I've got a swamp ...
A: Benjamin, I didn't mention growth hormones, but growth REGULATORS. These are things that growers ...
|
| fuschia in the desert | 5/12/2006 |
Q: start hitting 90 or so... Bringing 'em in doesn't seem to help (reduced light? I've got a swamp ...
A: Benjamin, Fuschias are one of the hardest plants to keep over the winter - they are prone to crown ...
|
| overwintered bare-root geraniums | 5/12/2006 |
Q: Greetings from Utah- Hi, I overwintered tons of geraniums, just knocked the dirt off, cut 'em back ...
A: Benjamin, Fortunately, you can kill off plants without Child Protective Services getting ...
|
| watering a bogenvia | 5/5/2006 |
Q: How often should a potted bogenvia be watered? Should I let the soil dry before watering?
A: Caren, Bougainvillea likes to watered regularly when it's in bloom but doesn't like its roots to sit ...
|
| Petunias | 5/2/2006 |
Q: I need to know which kind of petunias do not have to be deadheaded, as I need to plant so many,I ...
A: "The Wave" petunias do not have to be deadheaded and they bloom all summer. Superpetunias (in the ...
|
| ornamental sweet potato | 4/27/2006 |
Q: North Missouri Last week I fixed some big pots with osteospermum, dusty miller and margarita sweet ...
A: Rosalie, Although osterospermum like cool temps, as you discovered the Sweet potato vines do not. ...
|
| pathetic attempt | 4/20/2006 |
Q: Okay, let me start from the beginning. We are in north georgia. We are renters. We have filled in a ...
A: No Thumb, You haven't done anything wrong, but you should know that starting most plants from seed ...
|
| Flower Boxex | 4/20/2006 |
Q: Looking for suggestions for unusual annuals that provide flowers throughout the summer. These ...
A: You asked for unusual, so that's what I'm suggesting. Note that unusual plants don't come in ...
|
| Ornamental kale | 3/9/2006 |
Q: I live in NC, zone 7B. My flowering kale and ornamental cabbages are still alive and well on my ...
A: Patricia, It's been a warm winter in New England too! If you save the seeds and plant them, you ...
|
| Identifying Plectranthus species | 1/14/2006 |
Q: I've got a photo of a Plectranthus which I've incorrectly called a legume. Could you please find a ...
A: Peter, Aspects of the Plectranthus flower do resemble a legume, but Plectranthus are in the mint ...
|
| Identifying an annual Linaria | 1/11/2006 |
Q: I'm pretty sure this is a species of Linaria, but I'm not sure which. They were found growing wild ...
A: Peter, This looks like Linaria canadensis - also called Old Field Toadflax. It is a native plant in ...
|
| Saving plants over the winter | 11/10/2005 |
Q: I am about 400 miles north of Minneapolis,and would like to save some geraniums and spikes over the ...
A: Michael, Both geraniums and dracena spikes are easy to keep alive over the winter, and there are ...
|
| Marigolds | 10/25/2005 |
Q: I live in Milwaukee, Wi. I to had a marigold that was doing very well and started to dry out. I ...
A: Michelle, In Milwaukee the marigold is an annual plant, meaning that it does not come back from the ...
|
| hikura nashiki standard | 10/13/2005 |
Q: I have 2 hakura nashiki standards in whiskey barrels. What should I do to help them survive the ...
A: Lynn, Small world... I think I sold you those willow standards at Country Garden! I have one of ...
|
| Dog Problem! | 10/12/2005 |
Q: My last two rounds of annuals (zinnias, then mums) took off beautifully and then, a few weeks after ...
A: Lynn, Dog urine is high in nitrogen and salts, so it burns the roots of plants. Most flowers would ...
|
| New guinea impatients | 10/12/2005 |
Q: My mother-in law bought me an impatient hanging basket for Mother's Day. This is the most beautiful ...
A: Gayle, Unfortunately, it's hard to keep New Guinea Impatiens alive indoors. Like many annuals, they ...
|
| roses | 10/8/2005 |
Q: How do I cut my Roses back for the fall. They have bloomed on and off all summer and are getting ...
A: Bob, If you can possibly stand to wait, the best time to prune roses is in the early spring. This ...
|
| Petunia problem | 9/26/2005 |
Q: I don't know if petunias are an annual or not. I'll plant a number of petunia plants and they seem ...
A: Gail, Petunias are annuals, but not to worry in any case: people ask me all sorts of plant questions ...
|
| MARIGOLDS WILTING / NOT | 8/2/2005 |
Q: I have been growing marigolds forever.. they were one of my hardiest plants. For some reason this ...
A: Linda, Marigolds come from hot places, and they like it sunny and on the dry side: although they ...
|
| BLACK EYED SUSANS | 8/2/2005 |
Q: I HAVE BLACK EYED SUSANS PLANTED IN THE GROUND NEAR MY MAILBOX. THEY DID WELL THE FIRST YEAR. EVER ...
A: Linda, If a plant looks weak, it isn't insects. The most common reason plants look weak or feeble ...
|
| care of impatien | 7/24/2005 |
Q: I live in SE pennsylvania. My inquiry concerns a hanging,potted Impatien Infinity PinkFrost plant. ...
A: Nicholas, Yellowing leaves sometimes happen as the plant gets older (inner, older leaves are shed in ...
|
| Elm tree desease | 7/10/2005 |
Q: We have a large Elm tree that has lost at least half of it's leaves already and the remaining look ...
A: John, Without laying eyes on the tree it's hard to know if it is insect or disease or too much water ...
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| pinching impatiens | 6/29/2005 |
Q: Just wondering how to make my impatiens get bigger. They are doing awesome but I heard they get ...
A: Jackie, Pinching the top bud on plants makes them branch out and be fuller and thicker, but not ...
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| mums | 6/25/2005 |
Q: I live in South Carolina, I recieved a petty purple mum when my mother past away, and for some ...
A: Cathy, Given the circumstances, I would do the following: I am assuming that the mum is in a pot – ...
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| New Guinea Impatients | 6/15/2005 |
Q: I am not a very good gardener...I kill everything!!! I live in Northern Kentucky and the plants I ...
A: Melissa, Drooping plants can be one of three things - they are all concerned with water getting to ...
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| Begonias | 6/2/2005 |
Q: I reside in SE PA. I planted Pizzazz white, green foliage begonias in April. Shortly after we had a ...
A: Nicholas, I think that they will be fine. The key for you is if they now have any new growth....if ...
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| bidens solaire | 5/30/2005 |
Q: I reside in SE PA. I bought a beautiful hanging plant for my porch with southern exposure because ...
A: I think you've solved the problem - Bidens needs at least 5 hours of dead-on sun including the noon ...
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| windowboxes | 5/28/2005 |
Q: Can you reccomend some colorful and upright annuals to go at the back of my shady windowbox? Also I ...
A: Helen, As for colorful and upright in shade, you can't go wrong with Coleus. You can get many ...
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| Indian Hawthorn | 3/21/2005 |
Q: I have 2 Indian hawthorne planted in the ground. Im seeing yellow or orange color on the bottom ...
A: Debbie, I was assuming the reason you are moving them is to put them in more sun. They may or may ...
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| Fuchsia | 12/19/2004 |
Q: Purchased one today and want to plant it in a hanging basket in my linia. I live in zone 9 and ...
A: Jimmy, Fushias want bright locations but no direct sun - they are fine in shade or part shade, or ...
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| bogenvia and frost | 12/11/2004 |
Q: I am in san diego, ca, and planted 9 bogenvia on a south-facing slope about 6 months ago. They came ...
A: David, Don't write your plants off just yet... it is possible that they will come back from the base ...
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| help select an annual | 11/30/2004 |
Q: I have a large collection of daylilies of mixed colors planted at the base of a wooden fence in ...
A: John, 100 miles north of NYC - one of my favorite areas! (I used to live in Chatham NY myself...) ...
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| grass in annuals | 11/12/2004 |
Q: I'm in south Mississippi. Every year,I broadcast plant large massed beds of zinnias, marigolds, and ...
A: Rick, There are grass killing herbicides but they do generally harm young plants, which your annuals ...
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| Planting some unusual plant seed. | 10/30/2004 |
Q: I have just got back from South Africa and have purchased some seeds. Such as; Dahlia, Zinnia, ...
A: James, I am away from my office so I don't have access to my reference books regarding the seeds you ...
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| marigold | 10/22/2004 |
Q: I just purchased 6 marigold plants, which were recomended to keep insects away. I'm planning to ...
A: Daniel, Put your marigolds in a pot that is at least 10 inches in diameter - a clay one is good ...
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| Large pods on Moonflowers | 10/20/2004 |
Q: I live in mid-northern Michigan. I have successfully growing Moonflowers in containers. They have ...
A: Roxanne, I'm glad to hear you have had good success with moonflowers indoors! Sometimes this plant ...
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| hybiscus | 10/18/2004 |
Q: last summer i bot a couple of hybiscus that performed beautifully - flowers all summer. then they ...
A: Pam, It's not because you cut them back, but it might be that you cut them back too late. Often, we ...
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| tall autumn flowers | 10/1/2004 |
Q: I live in northern Kentucky and have a front sunny garden that I'm very happy with April to ...
A: Susan, You need Ageratum "Blue Horizon" ! This TALL variety of ageratum is not often found in ...
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| Annuals | 9/28/2004 |
Q: I live in North Carolina. have impatience, petunias and a few other annuals from the summer. Is ...
A: Debbie, No, there is no way to keep them alive outdoor where you garden. (And where I garden as ...
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| Basket | 9/26/2004 |
Q: I have a basket that want to add some colorful plants. Trailing from side to side. I want it to last ...
A: Debbie, OK - got the basket picture now! My answer is the same except if you use an upright coleus ...
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| climbing roses | 8/27/2004 |
Q: Please pardon me on not knowing what kind of rose exactly that I have. Except for knowing it grows ...
A: Dawne, I think you should wait until late in September when it is just a bit cooler. I would not do ...
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| have recvd 10 free flats of annuals | 8/21/2004 |
Q: from a local nursery - is is ok to leave them in the pots which I must water 2-3 times day or should ...
A: Nancy, If they are in small pots they are probably root-bound, which is why you are watering so ...
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| petunias | 8/10/2004 |
Q: my purple wave petunias are spindley. HOw do I make them much fuller like all my neighbors? I dead ...
A: Cheryl, For the best success with wave petunias, I'd recommend the following: Be sure they are in ...
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| GROWING ZUCHINNI?? | 7/10/2004 |
Q: I live in Eastern Pa. This past spring I planted small (GREEN TYPE) Zuchinni plants. Now,.....these ...
A: Tom, Most of the time, gardeners have TOO MUCH ZUCHINNI... but every once in awhile we have NO ...
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| Ornamental purple fountain grass | 6/15/2004 |
Q: I live in Pennsylvania about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh. I planted purple fountain grass in the ...
A: Becky, The sad news is that Purple Fountain grass is an annual where you live - it does not live ...
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| Pink Geranium | 6/15/2004 |
Q: I have 2 Pink Geraniums in planters outside on my back porch. I also have 2 Red ones in the same ...
A: Kelly, For good blooming with Geraniums, they need the following: 1. they like to be root bound, so ...
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| Slugs | 6/8/2004 |
Q: The past few months of this spring, I have been using Schulz pet safe slug bait pellets because I ...
A: Adria, Since I don't know what type of slug killer you got, and I don't know the habits of your ...
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| Sick Geranium | 6/4/2004 |
Q: L., This question may bore you, as my plant is not unusual, I hope that you don't mind. We have ...
A: Courtney, The answer to your geranium problem is contained in your statement that "It rained for ...
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| Petunias | 6/1/2004 |
Q: I have Petunias planted in my Garden intermixed with Hostas. Last year, I had a problem with some ...
A: Mary, It sounds like your petunias are being kept too damp - are they in part shade? Petunias do ...
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| moving annuals to another location | 5/31/2004 |
Q: i am living in ontario,canada i recently bought impatiens and i am being told that i planted them ...
A: Christine, Well, the truth is that you can plant them as close as three inches apart and the only ...
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| garden mums | 5/30/2004 |
Q: I don't usually plant annuals, but this year wanted to try something different. I used topsoil in my ...
A: Lori, Mums aren't usually chosen for window boxes because they have one burst of bloom and then ...
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| Petunias | 5/29/2004 |
Q: I live in NW Florida zone 8B. I purchased trailing double petunias two weeks ago. They hang in ...
A: Monica, It's unusual for all the blooms to fall off so quickly - this is usually a sign of too much ...
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| Petunias | 5/26/2004 |
Q: I live in North Carolina. Currently I have two petunia plants in hanging baskets. One is a purple ...
A: Jessica, If you look at both petunias you'll notice that the flowers form on the ends of the shoots. ...
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| green leaves | 5/24/2004 |
Q: Last summer, we had this great herbiscus (spelled right?) plant that had a half- dozen + blooms a ...
A: Max, I suppose your plant could be producing some varigated shoots - these are called "sports" and ...
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| Patio Plants for West Facing Texas Sun | 5/21/2004 |
Q: I live in an apartment on a beautiful golf course, facing due west in Fort Worth - and travel 2-3 ...
A: Rick, Here are some options: 1. Geraniums and Verbena like heat and don't mind going dry. Both do ...
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| Geranium Ivy | 5/18/2004 |
Q: I recently planted several window boxes of Geranium Ivy. They are sold as annuals, but I would like ...
A: Linda, Geraniums are usually propagated from cuttings, but if you want to try seeds get the ...
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| low bordering annuals | 5/12/2004 |
Q: we live in cleveland ohio. I need a colorful flowering border for my front landscaping . It gets ...
A: Molly: Short to high, the best choices would be: Alyssum (best in coolish temps so may not be the ...
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| impatiens | 5/4/2004 |
Q: I emailed you about a week ago about impatiens and copied and pasted into my computer because I am ...
A: Jackie, You don't have to mulch your impatiens unless your soil is very sandy (dries quickly) or you ...
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| impatiens | 4/28/2004 |
Q: Could you give me any information on how to make my impatiens grow well this year? Thanks, Jackie
A: Jackie, I'd be happy to! Plant Impatiens in part sun or part shade. They will tolerate full ...
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| Annuals for shady areas | 3/27/2004 |
Q: I live in Northern New Jersey up in a mountainous area near the ski slopes. My garden is pretty ...
A: Julanne, Although it's true that the pallet of flowers for shade is more limited, there are a few ...
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| Planting | 3/21/2004 |
Q: Would like to know when YOU suggest my putting in annuals in my area (atlanta) zone 7B hardiness? My ...
A: Kathy, Every area has a general "last frost date" - the day that you usually DON"T get frost at ...
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| Sweet Broom | 3/20/2004 |
Q: I just bought a plant named Sweet broom. I want to know the care of this plant. How tall it gets? ...
A: Debbie- Thanks for the clarification! Your broom (sometimes called Sweet Broom or Scotch Broom) ...
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| SHADE FLOWERS | 2/9/2004 |
Q: WE HAVE JUST MOVED TO NORTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA. OUR YARD WILL BE HEAVY SHADE (ONCE SPRING AND SUMMER ...
A: Barb, Unfortunately, there are fewer choices for shade when it comes to cutting flowers. That said, ...
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| lavender | 1/29/2004 |
Q: I LIVE IN GA. AND I AM WANTING TO PLANT LAVENDER. IS THERE A SPECIAL BREED I NEED TO GET AND HOW ...
A: Jan, I love lavender too - it will be hardy in Georgia, and will take hot summers, but it MUST be ...
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| Salpiglossis (paintedtongue) | 11/6/2003 |
Q: Do you know how to get seeds for this plant? Know anything about how they like to grow?
A: Salpiglossis are great looking but not the easiest to grow. (There is a reason you don't see them ...
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| Marigold flowers | 10/15/2003 |
Q: Just to introduce myself, I am Cecilia from Bombay, India. I would like your advice on growing ...
A: Cecilia, I love marigolds, and I know that they are also appreciated in India. It is unlikely that a ...
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| Hello,
I have planted impatiens... | 9/6/2003 |
Q: I have planted impatiens in a shaded flower bed for 20 years changing the colors yearly. I was away ...
A: Karen, Yes, Impatiens do reseed pretty regularly, but the germination is largely dependent on the ...
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| Potted climbers | 8/29/2003 |
Q: What do you advise to get luxuriant colour on a trellis in a fairly shady spot? I placed a large pot ...
A: Michael, This is a tough one... spectacular color on an annual vine in shade is almost impossible. ...
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| Big, Round Gravel Area Under Trees | 8/8/2003 |
Q: we bought a house recently that has an area in the side yard , a round area, where the previous ...
A: In order to make the area plantable, I would amend the soil with peatmoss and composted cow manure ...
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| Petunias | 7/26/2003 |
Q: I have petunias in two hanging baskets that seem to have dried out... The leaves are turning yellow ...
A: Tina, They have probably dried out... if a hanging plant is in the sun, and the weather is hot, it ...
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| Flowering Annuals in pots | 7/10/2003 |
Q: How do I keep my flowering annuals in pots flowering? They keep their leaves and lose the flowers ...
A: Teressa, Several things might be going on depending on the particular plants. Let's take it one at ...
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| Annuals | 6/17/2003 |
Q: I'm in Zone 5, Albany, NY. I'm looking for annual to plant on the southside of a brick building, ...
A: Pat, Sounds like the area is hot! Verbena does well in the heat, as do geraniums and scaevola. If ...
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| marigolds | 6/11/2003 |
Q: I am hoping that you can answer a question for me. I am looking to prolong the bloom of my ...
A: Steve, Steve, Removing the wilting flowers is called “deadheading” and what is important is removing ...
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| lilac bush | 6/8/2003 |
Q: I live in Indiana. I put in a lilac bush this year. My leaves are wilted and turning brown. My ...
A: traci, Has the weather in Indiana been very damp/rainy? Lilacs can get a fungal condition in wet ...
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| New Zealand Impatients | 6/5/2003 |
Q: I live in Connecticut - I want to try to grow my own New Zealand Impatients (I think thats what they ...
A: Lori, I applaud your desire to grow plants from seed, because too many people are afraid of seeds ...
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| Fragrant plants | 5/27/2003 |
Q: I am trying to find out what kind of fragrant flowering bushes and trees will do well in the lower ...
A: BJ, Check your local garden centers for the following plants: Ceanothus, Osmanthus, Photinia, ...
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| annuals | 5/8/2003 |
Q: I'm looking for suggestions (aside from Petunias) for annuals that do well in clay conditions (in ...
A: Paul, The number one annual for clay is marigolds. In fact, the strong root systems of marigolds ...
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| Nicotiana sylvestris | 2/9/2003 |
Q: Have been trying to grow the above from seed for the past two years, seeds come up a treat follow ...
A: Carol, I am assuming that you have started the seed indoors or in a growing house, yes? Here are ...
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| geranium | 11/26/2002 |
Q: I live in the D.C. area, Ihave a Geranium from the summer that looks great, it is still blooming. is ...
A: Patti, Geraniums are one of the easiest plants to keep from year to year. Just put your plant in ...
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| clay pots | 11/2/2002 |
Q: Can I leave empty clay pots outdoors all winter (in Michigan) or will they crack in frezing weather?
A: Jack, Empty clay pots can usually be left outside if they are upside down and are resting on a few ...
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| japanese maple | 10/16/2002 |
Q: What type of soil do japanese maples prefer. What kind of fertilizer, etc would you reccommend to ...
A: In general, Japanese Maples are very cold hardy. They do like organicly rich soil, however, so a ...
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| Annuals | 9/28/2002 |
Q: I live in southeast PA & have many different annuals planted in both pots & the ground. This is the ...
A: Cindy, Leave all the plants until they are hit by hard frost, and then pull the old foliage out of ...
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| Banana Tree.... | 9/21/2002 |
Q: We live in Kentucky and have planted banana trees for fun. This year we have a huge pod that has ...
A: Anita, I am assuming that the Banana is in the ground, not in a pot. I have two banana trees in ...
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| Iris | 9/8/2002 |
Q: I live in SE lower Michigan (Adrian) and I have questions about irisis. Last spring I bought a ...
A: Deb, I do not know of any one site to identify iris, but if you type in the name of some common iris ...
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| What do I have | 8/21/2002 |
Q: I bought a hanging basket this spring with lots of different flowers in it. The hanging basket was ...
A: Sheri, It sounds like Verbena... is the flower round and made up of several small flowers in a ...
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