| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| REPLANTING | 11/20/2009 |
Q: IT IS NOVEMBER 20TH AND ABOUT 60 DEGREES. IT WILL BE IN THE 60s FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS. I WOULD LIKE ...
A: There is a risk in moving it now. The plant would need at least 4 weeks before a hard frost in order ...
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| Transplanting a mature Flowering Quince | 11/7/2009 |
Q: It is the beginning of November, and a flowering quince with a diameter of 5 feet has been offered ...
A: As long as you plant it two weeks before a hard freeze, the tree should do fine. Just be sure to ...
|
| Bogenvia blossom drop? | 10/19/2009 |
Q: It seems just when the plant is full with blossoms and looking awesome, it starts to drop its ...
A: When blossoms fall off prematurely, it is usually an indication of one of two problems. Either your ...
|
| Growing impatiens from seed | 10/15/2009 |
Q: Do you think if I plant some impatiens in clay pots and put different tempatured stakes in the pots ...
A: Dean, it will make no difference in the growth habit. The only advantage of warming the soil is when ...
|
| Gerbera | 10/13/2009 |
Q: 1.I am having gerbera plants in my garden.I brought them from nursery , they actually dig them out , ...
A: It is important to amend the soil with organic matter such as compost and peat. The fact that you're ...
|
| Geraniums | 10/12/2009 |
Q: I have a beautiful Geranium planted in my flower bed outside and I wanted to know that if I were ...
A: I always transplant geraniums into pots and allow them to go dormant for the winter. When ...
|
| Verbena | 9/24/2009 |
Q: My verbena is in a hanging basket in the sun, has great long stems and looks very healthy, but will ...
A: Jill, your soil is probably lacking phosphorus, the nutrient needed for blooming. I would purchase a ...
|
| Coleus | 9/23/2009 |
Q: How do coleus do in the winter months in central Florida(not the larger tropical variety). I was ...
A: Suzanne, coleus are classified as a hardy annual, meaning they will withstand a light frost, but ...
|
| Snapdragons | 9/8/2009 |
Q: do they die off in the winter frost and not come back in the falling summer?
A: Snapdragons are hardy annuals and will survive a mild frost. However, they do perish once there is a ...
|
| Volunteer Impatiens | 8/22/2009 |
Q: I have several impatients that have popped up near a bed where I plant new plants each year. I ...
A: Unlike other annuals which need deadheading to rebloom, impatiens are self-cleaning, meaning they ...
|
| Holes in Petunias | 8/21/2009 |
Q: I live in Rhode Island and I have two hanging baskets of petunias. They were doing beautifully since ...
A: Elaine, the plants are definitely being infested by an insect. The most probable include flea ...
|
| zuchinni | 8/9/2009 |
Q: about 35 miles South of Seattle. I have planted zuchinni's for the third time and each time I get ...
A: Phil, rather than watering every night for 10 minutes, I would recommend twice per week for 30 ...
|
| Deadheading Straw Flowers | 7/30/2009 |
Q: I have two yellow straw flower plants in hanging baskets that were beautiful when I bought them. I ...
A: All flowering plants need to be deadheaded. Otherwise, they expend all of their energy into ...
|
| Only my petunias are dying. | 7/27/2009 |
Q: I'm a beginner to gardening. This is my first garden, a memorial to my MIL. It's a small section ...
A: Carole, considering the other annuals are thriving in the same garden bed, I doubt there is a ...
|
| Re: Morning glories | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I have been trying to grow morning glories with no luck. The plants hardly grow and the leaves turn ...
A: It sounds like your soil lacks the necessary nutrients needed for the plants to grow. Morning ...
|
| Sweet clover | 7/22/2009 |
Q: Can I still plant Sweet Clove, from seed? (or do I need to wait in till spring. I live in southeast ...
A: Yes you can plant them from seed. However, it is too late in the season to plant now. I would wait ...
|
| Petunias; Leggy | 7/21/2009 |
Q: How do I keep my petunias from becoming leggy
A: Vicky, when petunias receive too much fertilization, especially with a fertilizer high in nitrogen, ...
|
| Poor Annual Growth | 7/8/2009 |
Q: My petunias and marigolds are not growing and tend to turn a dark color on the leaves. the ...
A: I would definitely recommend having your soil tested. Many nurseries offer this service. The key is ...
|
| hydrangea won't bloom | 7/4/2009 |
Q: I planted 2 hydrangeas about 4 years ago. (1 white, 1 blue) They never bloom. The foliage is very ...
A: Diane, it is important to prune the hydrangea in early spring, before the plant produces buds. This ...
|
| Black Bumps on Wave Petunias | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I live in the Saint Louis area. Recently my hanging baskets filled w/ wave petunias have developed ...
A: This could be the onset of black spot, a fungus disease that crops up when the weather is humid. ...
|
| Petunia Disease | 6/30/2009 |
Q: The petunias in our window boxes have contracted a fungus/disease. The leaves are covered with small ...
A: I am assuming you used a sterile potting soil in the window boxes and not soil from the garden. If ...
|
| Petunias Dying | 6/29/2009 |
Q: I am an experienced gardener, but my double white petunias have died for the second year in a row! ...
A: Petunias hate wet feet, meaning they are best planted in beds with excellent drainage. When the ...
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| starting annuals | 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, leggy plants are the result of one of three problems. Either the plants are not getting the ...
|
| Quince Bush | 6/17/2009 |
Q: I bought a quince bush four years ago. It was in bloom and very beautiful. It has not bloomed ...
A: Carole, I would have a soil test done to check the nutrient ratio in that particular bed. Perennials ...
|
| Transplanting Lantana | 6/16/2009 |
Q: I have five or six well established lantana plants I want to dig up and transplant to another site ...
A: Tom, the best times for transplanting established plants is early spring or early fall. Personally, ...
|
| Petunias; Deadheading | 5/30/2009 |
Q: I know they need to be deadheaded but do I cut them back to be shorter now that I put them in a pot? ...
A: Rose, I always cut mine back by one third. This promote a bushier growth habit with increased ...
|
| Habanero Plants; Slow Growth | 5/28/2009 |
Q: wanted to ask if 60 days old habanero plant reaches 10cm tall (4 inch) is normal. what should it ...
A: Tomer, this is normal when weather conditions are cooler than usual, especially at the beginning of ...
|
| Light green leaves on annuals | 5/27/2009 |
Q: I live in Rifle CO and planted my petunias May 9th. Their leaves are now starting to turn light ...
A: Light green or yellow leaves are usually an indication of too much water. The excess water in the ...
|
| Mums | 5/4/2009 |
Q: Can you tell me how to pinch back mums and if I can root the pinchings? Also, can you tell me step ...
A: As the flowers fade, pinch back only the stem with the spent bloom and only cut below the top set of ...
|
| Petunias - Off season | 4/25/2009 |
Q: we have quite a lot of window box petunias and wondering if they're history after the summer. we ...
A: Petunias are considered a hardy annual. That means they grow for one season, go to seed, and die. ...
|
| Impatien flowers | 4/20/2009 |
Q: I live in new jersey and just planted impatients under my trees..I did not fully take the whole ...
A: The proper procedure is to definitely take as much of the root ball as possible. This doesn;t mean ...
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| Snapdragon Fungus | 4/5/2009 |
Q: I live in southern California and I recently noticed some weird spots on the leaves of my ...
A: I wouldn't take the chance that the disease will go away on its own. The earlier you catch and treat ...
|
| Autumn blaze red maple | 4/3/2009 |
Q: I live in southeast MIchigan and I have had this autumn blaze red maple for four years. In spring ...
A: This particular tree may have been more susceptible to the specific disease in the mulch. But as i ...
|
| Autumn blaze red maple | 4/2/2009 |
Q: I live in southeast MIchigan and I have had this autumn blaze red maple for four years. In spring ...
A: Matt, one of two things occurred. Either the landscapers piled the mulch too high around the trunk ...
|
| Sandy soil | 4/1/2009 |
Q: I live in N.C. and we have red clay soil...I want to plant my Gerber Daisy outside,so do I add sand ...
A: Yes, your best option is to add sand to the soil. I would also add some lime to balance the ph ...
|
| Petunias | 3/24/2009 |
Q: I had bushels of gorgeous fuchsia petunias in my flower bed in Texas. I recently had my flower beds ...
A: There's no question your plants are experiencing transplant shock. Once plants establish a root ...
|
| Camelias | 2/10/2009 |
Q: I have bought a house in Santa Monica, CA with 2 mature pink multi petal Camellias about 8-9 feet ...
A: It sounds like your plants are lacking two key nutrients; iron and phosphorus. As with all flowers, ...
|
| Potting | 2/4/2009 |
Q: I'm wondering how to make the best environment for roots in the bottom of containers with no ...
A: Cassandra, drainage holes are critical in order to prevent root rot. Since your containers have no ...
|
| pelargonium | 1/27/2009 |
Q: My pelargonium are dying very rapidly, one after another, I don't know what happen.I noticed that it ...
A: Irene, your plants have been infected by a soilborne fungus disease. Without having a soil sample, ...
|
| Mold and Fungus Disease | 12/26/2008 |
Q: I have over 400 impatiens planted in South Florida. Most are doing very well. WE have been very warm ...
A: Sandy, I would recommend Soap Shield, a copper-based fungicide sold by Garden's Alive. I use this ...
|
| Seed starting | 11/10/2008 |
Q: I want to grow a vegetable garden next year. ( not too big) When is the best time to start some ...
A: Bill, starting seeds is actually an easy process, but success only comes through many years of trial ...
|
| Replanting hydrangeas | 10/20/2008 |
Q: The web site said that fall was one of the best time to replant. Is it too late (Oct/Nov) to ...
A: Fall is a great time to plant, but you must plant at least 4 weeks prior to your first expected ...
|
| soil preparation | 10/4/2008 |
Q: I haven't had much success in the past plants dying, weird bugs migrating in the house my wife ...
A: You'll never totally debug the soil, but you can minimize the problem and then take care of any ...
|
| Impatiens dying | 10/3/2008 |
Q: Have lots of impatients and slowly something started eating the stems and leaves from bottom up, ...
A: I'm not sure if you've actually seen the insects, but the symptoms you have described sound more ...
|
| Impatiens | 10/1/2008 |
Q: I live near Jacksonville Florida and very near the ocean. I bought a hanging plant on impatiens ...
A: Marcie, the plants have most likely lived their course. Like most annuals, the plants will produce ...
|
| Petunia care | 9/25/2008 |
Q: I have a hanging potted petunia. I live on an island off the northern WA. coast. My petunia looks ...
A: Ann, as an annual, it is not advisable to overwinter petunias. Peunias, like all annuals, go through ...
|
| zuchinni | 8/18/2008 |
Q: How do I keep the darned moths that lay eggs in the tube-stems and kill the plants? How do ...
A: Anne, what you are describing is the squash borer. Commercial growers spray heavily with harsh ...
|
| Geraniums; Overwintering | 8/15/2008 |
Q: Can I overwinter my geraniums in my shed, how do I do this. Which is the best time to take cuttings ...
A: Sandra, although hanging them upside down in a cool dry location is one option, I always transplant ...
|
| Impatiens; fungus disease | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I have a flowerbox which has all impatients. I just noticed that the plants in the center of the box ...
A: The lack of air circulation in the middle of the flowerbox results in the moisture on those ...
|
| Impatiens; soilborne disease | 7/14/2008 |
Q: impatients die with wilting of stem at ground contact. I applied neem based fungicide and changed ...
A: You took the appropriate action by applying the fungicide. However, many soilborne diseases will ...
|
| Petunia Care | 7/12/2008 |
Q: Two weeks ago we bought 12 Petunia Plants from a nursery and put them in hanging pots. The origanl ...
A: Many varieties of petunias must be pruned back in order to rebloom. Once the flowers are spent, ...
|
| Impatiens losing flowers | 7/11/2008 |
Q: When I discovered all the flowers and buds missing from one pot of impatiens, I thought the bunnies ...
A: Unfortunately, impatiens are susceptible to blight. The solution is to spray them with a ...
|
| Petunias; Sticky | 7/1/2008 |
Q: why do petunias get sticky feeling?
A: Petunias exude a naturally stick substance through their stems that also spread to the flowers. ...
|
| Pruning gerber daisies | 6/18/2008 |
Q: I planted several Gerber daisies three years ago. They keep coming back, but some have not ...
A: During the growing season, you only want to prune the stem. Pruning the entire plant will prevent it ...
|
| Coleus basics | 6/2/2008 |
Q: Can I plant coliuses in full hot sun
A: Theresa, I would not recommend it. Coleus do best in partial shade. The full sun will bleach the ...
|
| Pink geraniums | 6/1/2008 |
Q: I have just planted some brilliant pink geraniums in our front landscaping and would like to know if ...
A: Joni, since you favor this particular variety, it's worth overwintering them indoors. Although ...
|
| Sunflower Pollination | 5/28/2008 |
Q: i just had a few questions about pollination of sunflowers. I am trying to grow mammoth sunflowers ...
A: Dustin, bees are indiscriminate and will pollinate across different varieties, although this is ...
|
| Mulch for sunflowers/Mum pruning | 5/26/2008 |
Q: After my sunflower seeds sprout and grow a bit, is it okay to mulch with pine straw? I once read I ...
A: Jan, you should definitely mulch all of your plants to help retain moisture, hold down weeds, and ...
|
| Sunflowers | 5/20/2008 |
Q: my sunflowers leaves are turning brown. It looks like they were getting burned, so I moved them into ...
A: It could be any of the above. Sunflowers do not like wet feet, meaning saturated soil will cut off ...
|
| Sunflower EarthWalker | 5/19/2008 |
Q: Hey, my wife got me to choose seeds to plant in our garden and she allocated a patch for me. I asked ...
A: Follow-up: Aged manure is composted for three months or more. The reason is that fresh manure can ...
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| Impatients; getting them to flower | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I have a pot filled with impatiens from last summer. They are green and healthy but not a bud to ...
A: Peggy, when flowering plants fail to bud, it is usually an indication of too much water or ...
|
| Pinching impatients | 5/3/2008 |
Q: I have heard that pinching helps the inpatients grown fuller. What part do I pinch? and when?
A: Ursula, pinching a flowering plant is simply pruning the new top growth which promotes bushier, ...
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| Annuals | 4/15/2008 |
Q: Can you tell me what are the best annuals to grow in Charlotte NC. I am new to the area have 2 very ...
A: Gerri, all annuals will grow well in areas with abundant sunshine and warm weather. Charlotte ...
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| Animal that eat impatients only | 3/18/2008 |
Q: I have been gardening for over 30 years. Never have I seen anything like this. I have flowers of ...
A: Tammy, it could be one of several animals including gophers, opossums, rabbits, or even deer. ...
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| New Guinea Impatients; Fertilizer | 2/25/2008 |
Q: What fertilizer is best for new guinea impatients and more blooms?
A: Debbie, as with all flowers, you want to use a fertilizer high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen. ...
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| kong coleus seeds | 2/24/2008 |
Q: I live in Chicago, IL. I do alot of container gardening on my deck but due to a bad financial ...
A: Susan, you can certainly start these plants indoors for early growth, but you must provide the ...
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| Impatiens growing poorly in same spot | 2/6/2008 |
Q: I live in Chicago (sorry, don't know the zone) and I plant impatiens every year in the same spot. ...
A: Kelly, your soil is most likely depleted of nutrients. Impatiens require a high ratio of phosphorus ...
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| New Guenia Impatients | 1/31/2008 |
Q: I have pine trees growing on my north side of house. I am wanting to plant new guenia impatients in ...
A: Hubert, impatiens prefer a neutral PH of 7.0. If you're not sure what your PH level is, you can ...
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| Impatiens | 11/14/2007 |
Q: I'm located in Northern Arizona at 6000ft. The cold weather has made the flowers appear dead. Do I ...
A: Mike, unfortunately, once the plant has been bitten by frost, it is dead. Impatiens are annuals, ...
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| Snapdragons | 11/11/2007 |
Q: I have loved snapdragons since i was a child. Just this spring i planted seeds and waited for the ...
A: Laura, two factors will help promote flowering. The first is the fertility of the soil. Snapdragons ...
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| impatiens | 11/8/2007 |
Q: I have impatiens that are waist high and have managed to survive several nights of frost. (I covered ...
A: Bettie, I would not recommend propagating impatiens from seed. My reasoning is that most impatiens ...
|
| Bougainvillea Bush | 11/6/2007 |
Q: I have a bouganville bush that's about 3 years old. It bloomed once, we had to move it as it was ...
A: Mary, I would give it one more year. Keep in mind that soil conditions are extremely important for ...
|
| Winter Garden | 10/19/2007 |
Q: my name is Ren, and i am a senior girl scout from Connecticut. my troop is planning on planting a ...
A: Ren, unfortunately it is too late to plant at this time. With a few exceptions such as asparagus, ...
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| Geraniums; Overwintering | 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, since you favor this particular variety, it's worth overwintering them indoors. Although ...
|
| Petunias | 10/16/2007 |
Q: I have been looking to see if Petunias are annuals or perennials, but I am finding that I am being ...
A: Lisa, petunias are considered a hardy annual. This means they will survive a light frost and can ...
|
| Lilacs | 10/14/2007 |
Q: I planted three Lilac bushes this past spring, they are still smallish. Should they be covered for ...
A: Yes, I would protect it by placing a cardboard box around the bush and then filling the box with ...
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| Impatiens; Colors | 10/5/2007 |
Q: What colors do thy come in I live in south Florida
A: Richard, with today's hybrids, the varieties of colors are endless. Impatiens come in red, purple, ...
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| Zinnas | 9/22/2007 |
Q: Why do my Zinnia plants (leaves) get all white at the end of the growing season? That would be ...
A: Linda, the same thing happens to most of the varieties I plant. Zinnias are very susceptible to a ...
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| Azalea Tree | 9/13/2007 |
Q: My Husband bought me an azalea tree for our wedding anniversary this past august. I'm afraid it may ...
A: Kelly, the number one reason indoor plants and container-grown plants do poorly is overwatering. In ...
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| Aspargus Ferns - Wintering Over | 9/12/2007 |
Q: I have kept these ferns in a partially heated garage for several years. Seems they go yellow and ...
A: Jean, yes you can overwinter the ferns in your basement as long as your basement stays cool. Warm ...
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| Zucchini; Fruit Shriveling | 9/11/2007 |
Q: I live in San Francisco and have started a small garden. Once the zucchinis get about a couple of ...
A: Richard, when vegetables shrivel and fall from the stem, it is usually an indication of inconsistent ...
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| Gardenias | 9/9/2007 |
Q: I bought a townhome last year and the landscaping, etc. is taken care of through my homeowners ...
A: Kristin, when container plants stop blooming, they have become root-bound. You need to transplant ...
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| Zuchinni Stems Rotting | 8/15/2007 |
Q: I left my garden on cape cod for five days the end of July. When I came back all the stems of the ...
A: Deborah, based on your description, I have to believe the plants have been invaded by the squash ...
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| Impatiens; Necrotic Spot Virus | 8/9/2007 |
Q: I NORMALLY PLANT A BORDER OF 100 TO 125 IMPATIENS PLANTS IN THE FRONT OF MY HOME, FOR THE PAST THREE ...
A: Chris, the best thing you could do is solarize the soil. Based on your description, the necrotic ...
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| Impatiens - Yellow Leaves | 7/27/2007 |
Q: I plant about 200 impatients every year, most of them in the ground. This is the first year that ...
A: Judy, although homemade remedies such as milk and baking soda do have some merit, I believe in using ...
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| Zuchinni | 7/24/2007 |
Q: We live in a very hot desert environment. (St. George, Utah) This is our first year with container ...
A: Linda, leaves on most squash plants, including zucchini, will turn brown in extremely hot weather. ...
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| Long Shoots on Bougenvillea | 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 are tropical by nature and do not like a lot of water. When they do receive excess ...
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| Impatiens | 7/9/2007 |
Q: I have some impatiens in containers. The leaves look great and there are lots of blooms, but the ...
A: Michael, if you have ruled out insects, the most likely causes are excessive water or sun scald. ...
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| Petunias; Leggy | 7/8/2007 |
Q: Our petunias are very tall and viney, with very few flowers. Is there something we need to be doing ...
A: Stephen, when petunias receive too much fertilization, especially with a fertilizer high in ...
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| Petunias; Insects | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I have 2 hanging baskets of petunias that seem to have some kind of bug. The flowers have been ...
A: Cara, your plants probably are being attacked by mites or flea beetles. To control these insects, ...
|
| Crepe Myrtle; Transplanting and Propagation | 7/5/2007 |
Q: I am from Northwest Tennessee I have just recently taken an interest in lawn care and gardening, and ...
A: When transplanting, always do so in early fall if you have the option. This gives the plant the ...
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| Impatients - Yellow Spots on Leaves | 6/19/2007 |
Q: My impatients have started to sport yellow spots on their green leaves. Don't think I'm ...
A: Catherine, although this problem is often a result of overwatering, other factors can cause the same ...
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| Poisonous? | 6/18/2007 |
Q: My kitty keeps eating our impatients. Lately, she seems to be throwing up more often. Do you know ...
A: Joyce, impatiens are not poisonous, but like many plants, they can cause stomach discomfort or even ...
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| Ground Covers | 6/17/2007 |
Q: I am looking for a fast growing sturdy and pretty ground cover that will grow in the hot sun. Can ...
A: Connie, my recommendation would be Pachysandra over English Ivy. But both are great ground covers. ...
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| Impatiens | 6/16/2007 |
Q: i recently planted impatients in my window boxes. they were very high when i bought them with not ...
A: Carla, you're absolutely correct. When plants get leggy, they need to be pruned back by 1/3. This ...
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| Impatiens | 6/15/2007 |
Q: I just planted inpatients one week ago and they look like they're dying. I have them in a spot that ...
A: Eileen, the problem is most likely with your soil. If it is heavy on the clay side, the soil is ...
|
| Caterpillars | 6/14/2007 |
Q: I am a 1st year container gardener, and have recently had my first experience with pests. 2 weeks ...
A: Yuki, based on your description, caterpillars may be the issue, but do not rule out flea beetles. ...
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| Something Eating Impatients | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I have something attacking my impatients that I have planted in window boxes. It looks like ...
A: Gail, based on your description, it sounds like slugs. There are many prescribed ways to control ...
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| Petunias Dying | 6/1/2007 |
Q: I planted several hanging baskets (coconut lined) with petunias, mixing purple, white, and pink. I ...
A: I doubt the caterpillar is your problem. When they infest a plant, they eat the leaves. The ...
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| Petunias | 5/29/2007 |
Q: why are my petunias seeding so fast? I deadhead them every day.
A: Petunias seed in cycles. I find this to be every 4-6 weeks for up to 7 days at a time. Once they ...
|
| why are they not growing | 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, this is very normal. Here in Ohio, we plant our annuals around mid-May. We normally do not ...
|
| Geraniums | 5/24/2007 |
Q: I just recently planted red geraniums - some of them are wilting a bit and turning purple. What is ...
A: Most problems related to wilting and discolorization are due to poor soil conditions. Usually, the ...
|
| Reproducing Bogenvia | 5/21/2007 |
Q: I have two small bogenvia that continue to flower. I was wondering if I can get the two to produce ...
A: It sounds like they are only producing female flowers at this point in their development. Once the ...
|
| Deadheading | 5/5/2007 |
Q: When I deadhead salvia, I have been running my fingers up the stem to clear all spent flowers. ...
A: Joe, it is best to remove the topmost growth, including the stem. All you need to do is cut below ...
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| Petunias | 5/3/2007 |
Q: I live in Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada and I love petunia's. My question is how can I get the to ...
A: Erica, you will need to water the soil and keep it moist until you see the seeds germinate. Growth ...
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| petunias | 5/2/2007 |
Q: I live in Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada and I love petunia's. My question is how can I get the to ...
A: Erica, you did exactly what you needed to do. Once the plant matures, it will form a seed pod if the ...
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| Impatiens; Sun Scald | 5/1/2007 |
Q: I planted impatiens from seeds in a small greenhouse kit and they sprouted very well, I just ...
A: The plants suffered from sun scald. This condition results from sudden exposure to the sun. ...
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| Impatiens Not Blooming | 4/29/2007 |
Q: I live in Atlanta, GA. About a month ago, I planted 7 flats of white impatients in containors that ...
A: Kelley, all you need to do is cut them back by 1/3 and they will bloom abundantly. Annuals thrive ...
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| Mulching | 4/24/2007 |
Q: My wife planted her flower garden with seed this year. She does not want me to mulch the garden ...
A: In this case, I have to agree with your wife. Mulch basically serves three purposes. One is to ...
|
| Begonia | 4/23/2007 |
Q: What type of begonia likes full sun? What fertilzer do yall recommend for this begonia? 8b.
A: There are no begonias that like full sun, although the wax begonias (Wings Hybrid) do the best of ...
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| Lilacs | 4/22/2007 |
Q: I want to plant lilacs a long side of a fence for privacy from neighbors ,The question is can ...
A: Freida, it all depends on the drainage. If the area drains well, you should not have a problem. The ...
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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: You can use any water-soluable fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus. Schultz ...
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| Fuschia | 4/3/2007 |
Q: do fuschias grow well in the south? what is the temperature range for them? I was thinking they ...
A: Donna, hot weather will inhibit blooming. Fuschias do well in climates where daytime temperatures ...
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| wave petunias | 3/14/2007 |
Q: I live in Indiana, and I have horribly brown thumbs. I try very hard every year but somehow manage ...
A: Michelle, petunias need at least 8 hours of sunlight per day. Any less will adversely affect ...
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| Bogenvia Pruning | 3/7/2007 |
Q: I have some large Bogenvia plants growing along my block wall around my house here in San Diego. It ...
A: Gary, as is the case with most plants, I never recommend pruning more than 1/3 of the plant each ...
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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, morning glories seeds have extremely hard shells and must be soaked for 6-8 hours in tepid ...
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| Sunflowers | 2/19/2007 |
Q: Could you please tell me the best type of fertilizer or any other tips to get large heads on ...
A: Valerie, for large sunflower heads, you need to use a fertilizer high in phosphorus. This is the ...
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| Fertilizing | 2/1/2007 |
Q: Since there is no expert in the "fertilizing" catagory, I'll try my luck here. I would like to know ...
A: Connie, in regard to fertilizers, there are three basic nutrients necessary for the proper growth of ...
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| impatients | 1/7/2007 |
Q: I live on Northern Ca. I've heard that you can just cut back your impatients during the winter and ...
A: Joelle, impatiens are annuals. They will not come back the following year. They do, however, reseed ...
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| hybiscus trees | 11/5/2006 |
Q: I have a few hybiscus trees planted in half barrels about 4' tall. I live in south jersey where it ...
A: Dave, until they are transplanted and established in garden soil, you will need to protect the ...
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| Marigolds, Annual's or Not | 11/2/2006 |
Q: My mother planted Marigold's (in NJ)on the side of the house 20 years ago. She planted them once and ...
A: John, a perennial is a plant that comes back every year from the base of the plant's root system. ...
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| 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: Yes you can. You must first allow them to dry completely and then store them for at least three ...
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| Morning Glory | 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 annuals and must be replanted every year. They will die immediately ...
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| poppy | 9/18/2006 |
Q: greetings from ireland i look after a park which is very bland i want to have some colour next ...
A: Poppies are an excellent choice. So are wildflowers, pansies, petunias, and vinca. All provide ...
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| Impatients | 9/17/2006 |
Q: Mike, I live on the Central West Coast of Florida and have a lot of impatients in my yard. One group ...
A: Dian, like petunias, impatiens need pruned back 2-3 times per growing season. Otherwise, they will ...
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| Sweet peas through the winter in Pacific Northwest1 | 8/19/2006 |
Q: We live in Victoria BC Canada and my question is about sweet peas. My container garden is on our ...
A: Jane, either would work just fine. Moon flowers, vining black-eyed susans, or morning glories would ...
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| Impatients | 8/16/2006 |
Q: I have some impatients I planted in may and they've done great until now. They have developed spots ...
A: Chris, your impatiens are definitely infected with a fungus disease. These diseases are especially ...
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| transplanting hybiscus | 8/14/2006 |
Q: Have two plants both mother and mother in law want a clipping. Do we have to take out by the roots ...
A: Debbie, I would definitely take a couple of cuttings. It is the fatest and easiest method of ...
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| Impatients | 7/31/2006 |
Q: I live in the Detroit, Michigan area. This year I planted impatients in front of my house which ...
A: Ben, you're definitely taking the right approach since good soil is essential in producing strong, ...
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| Petunia Pest..green catapillar | 7/30/2006 |
Q: Zone 6 Brooklyn, New York Mike, My petunias are the beautiful cascading "Easy Wave Blue" variety ...
A: Kate, it sounds like your petunias have been infested with green hornworms. Hornworms are actually ...
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| powdery mildew | 7/27/2006 |
Q: Could you suggest a solution to the above on my zucchini and cukes? Fruit is dried up and yellowed, ...
A: Bonnie, powdery mildew is spread through spores in the soil or air which are splashed onto the plant ...
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| impatients | 7/5/2006 |
Q: Glenview, Illinois (north suburb of Chicago) Mike, I'm having a problem with impatients in one ...
A: Mary, these are probably cut worms. They are very small worms that live just beneath the surface of ...
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| Sunflowers | 6/20/2006 |
Q: I started to do a little gardening this summer. My sunflowers are having problems. The leaves keep ...
A: Brett, I suspect the plants are receiving inconsistent watering, especially if they're in pots. Too ...
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| Moonflowers | 5/18/2006 |
Q: I have tried for 2 years to start moonflowers from seed, and have no success. Last year I got 1 ...
A: Beth, they can be difficult to germinate due to the hardness of the outer shell on the seed. To ...
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| holes in impatients | 5/12/2006 |
Q: I just planted my impatients a few days ago, and the petals looks like maybe something is eating ...
A: Michele, the general rule of thumb is that crawling insects eat the foliage and that flying insects ...
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| impatients | 4/26/2006 |
Q: I live in Taylorsville, MS and have planted 2 beds of impatients. Both beds have impatients with ...
A: Melissa, it sounds like they may have contracted a fungus disease. These diseases are especially ...
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| Zuchinni | 4/12/2006 |
Q: We live in the area of Bellville, Texas. This year is our first garden here. We had some healthy ...
A: Judy, it could one of several animals, including rabbits, deer, and groundhogs. They're all ...
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| Saving flower seeds | 10/29/2005 |
Q: Muskogee, Oklahoma I like to save seeds from annual flowers and would like to know whether the ...
A: Esther, it is advisable to wait until the entire petal is dry to ensure the seeds are fully matured. ...
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| 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, I wish I had a better answer, but there are no flowers or vegetable plants resistant to dog ...
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| zuchinni | 8/1/2005 |
Q: minneapolis, minnesota: The tips of the zuchinni are rotting. They are not making it to maturity ...
A: Mary, I like to pick my zucchini fairly small at about 8" long. The younger the fruit, the more ...
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| IMPATIENTS | 6/18/2005 |
Q: i planted a ton of impatients this may and now they are getting yellow leaves and some green leaves ...
A: Leah, your problem is definitely a lack of nutrients in your soil. Even though Garndma was correct ...
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| flower or weed? | 6/11/2005 |
Q: Last year I planted some rudbeckia, strawflower and something else I don't remember. This year, ...
A: Helene, what you are describing sounds like strawflowers. They are prolific reseeders. Once they ...
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| Annuals | 4/13/2005 |
Q: Setauket, Long Island New York Can I take cuttings from a impatient and transplant it so I can ...
A: Barbara, cuttings are without question the easiest method of propagation besides harvesting seed. ...
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| select an annual to grow | 11/30/2004 |
Q: I have a large collection of daylilies of mixed colors planted at the base of a a wooden fence in ...
A: John, my favorite annuals include profusion zinnia, limbo violet petunias, and any variety of ...
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| Pansies | 11/27/2004 |
Q: I planted several dozen pansies about 5 weeks ago. The weather turned somewhat warmer, followed by ...
A: Bruce, the problem is definitely related to the high amount of rain you've received. The excess ...
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| Bringing plants inside for the winter | 10/1/2004 |
Q: I seem to remember something about spraying plants with a mixture of Murphy's oil soap and water ...
A: Marilyn, you can use either Murphy's oil soap or non-concentrated lemon dish soap. Either will ...
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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, it is not too late to cut them back for one more flush of blooms. When petunias receive too ...
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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, this is not unusual at this point in the growing season. Zucchini, like all other squash, ...
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| pansey's | 6/4/2004 |
Q: My pansys are starting to die, the leaves are turning black, some are spotted but others are all ...
A: Cindy, the excess water has caused a disease called root-rot. This occurs when the water in the soil ...
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| Planting Impatients | 4/4/2004 |
Q: I live in St. Louis, MO and want to know when is the best time to plant impatients and other ...
A: Amy, most annuals are started from seed 6-8 weeks prior to your last expected frost date. In St. ...
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| SHADE FLOWERS | 2/9/2004 |
Q: WE MOVED TO NORTHER SOUTH CAROLINA. OUR YARD AND PORCH WILL BE HEAVY SHADE. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON ...
A: Barb, there are many plants available that thrive in shady areas. Unfortunately, the selection for ...
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| Chyrsanthemums | 11/7/2003 |
Q: We have been having a discussion in our office about the Fall Mum's we purchased to decorate our ...
A: Chyrsanthemums are perennials in most climate zones. However, depending on the species, they can be ...
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| Trimming, Pruning | 10/18/2003 |
Q: Am in process of seasonal change of landscaping at sister's house. Want to know the proper method ...
A: Ron, you must trim them prior to them budding. Fall is a perfect time of year to prune. Just be ...
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| Nasturium seeds | 10/6/2003 |
Q: I have been planting Nasturiums from seeds for the past few years, but this year (as I am taking the ...
A: Denise, the sacs you see are the storage pods for seeds. Seeds need a dormant period of least three ...
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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, impatiens produce very small seed that are hardly visible to the human eye. If the plants ...
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| Marigolds | 6/18/2003 |
Q: Mike....Help...I was told that marigolds attract good bugs that eat bad bugs, so I planted about 25 ...
A: John, it could be one of several pests including rabbits, possums, or gophers. Without you ...
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| re: hanging baskets | 5/18/2003 |
Q: Are hanging baskets usually consist of annual flowers? How should I treat my hanging baskets after ...
A: Although perennials can be planted in baskets, over 95% of the hanging baskets bought at garden ...
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| Impatiens | 5/15/2003 |
Q: I have had impatiens for the past 4 or 5 yrs. My question being is the farther apart they are will ...
A: Jackie, ideally, impatiens should be planted no closer than 10" apart. I would space them no ...
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| flowers | 3/28/2003 |
Q: I recently bought I nice old house (I moved from a condo) and I would love to plant flowers all over ...
A: Steve, since you are looking for continuous blooms, I would definitely recommend annuals over ...
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| nemophila discoidalis(penny black) | 1/26/2003 |
Q: I have two problems. 1 its very dry in my house so I bought a plug in humidifier. But I haven't ...
A: Mikki, I grow over 500 seedlings every spring. I, too, had a problem with my cats. I have three, ...
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| annuals | 10/17/2002 |
Q: I have a beautiful geranium that I would like to try and keep for next year. Some people have ...
A: Julie, although hanging them is one option, I always prune mine back by one third, and then ...
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| Hi Mike! A silly question,... | 8/9/2002 |
Q: A silly question, probably. Why are Petunias sticky feeling.
A: This really is not a silly question at all. Petunias exude a naturally stick substance through ...
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