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About Tom Alonzo
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.

Experience
I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Roses > Perennials

Questions Answered By Expert Tom Alonzo
In Category Perennials

Subject	Date Asked

Rose of Sharon	10/7/2008
Q: I live in northwest Ohio. When is the best time ti trim Rose of Sharon bushes/trees? A: Thanx for your question. With most flowering shrubs, the best time to prune is right after ...
miniature roses	10/7/2008
Q: last spring i bought a miniature rose plant and put it in my office. It had lots of flowers when I ... A: Thanx for your question. There are a number of reasons why your rose won't bloom. I've included a ...
planting daylilly seeds in Missouri	10/6/2008
Q: A friend just gave me some seeds from her daylillies. What is the best way to plant them? A: Thanx for your question. Right after Christmas, place the seeds in a damp paper towel, seal it in a ...
asiatic lily/shasta daisy/thread leaf coreopsis	10/5/2008
Q: The gardening center said they would do good in part shade. They were flowering but now have ... A: Thanx for your question. Now is a good time of year to clean up the flower beds and cut away and ...
cutting back perennials	10/5/2008
Q: I live in zone 4 region (Colorado about 6,000ft elev. A relatively new garden, everything was ... A: Thanx for your question. Generally, you can cut your perennials back to a few inches above the ...
Wintering of POTTED perennials	10/4/2008
Q: I have several hibiscus, roses, clematis in pots as we were anticipating a move. Now it is almost ... A: Thanx for your question. You didn't mention what zone you are in so I'm going to wing it here. If ...
Ixora Maui	10/1/2008
Q: I live in Zone 8 and I recently acquired an Ixora Maui. I placed it in direct sun and it looked ... A: Thanx for your question. The plant doesn't like a lot of direct sunshine. A little morning sun is ...
Plants and Butterflies	10/1/2008
Q: I Live in LasVegas Nevada. I got bought a pack of mix wildflowers seeds with Anuals and Perennials ... A: Thanx for your questions. 1. I cannot tell you what kind of butterflies will be in your Las ...
Dianthus Planting	9/28/2008
Q: I have multiple dianthus flowers. I want to be able to share the seeds from the plants I have ... A: Thanx for your question. After the plant blooms it will leave behind a seedpod. Allow it to drop ...
Hardy Fuschia	9/28/2008
Q: I am looking for something to plant along the west side of the house which is mostly part sun. Is it ... A: Thanx for your question. Usually, if you don't see a plant sold around your city, especially a ...
Calla Lilie pods	9/27/2008
Q: I had to cut off the pods from my callas lilie plants. I would like to know how to store them and ... A: Thanx for your question. If you did not allow the pods to dry completely, the seed will not be ripe ...
Calli Lillies	9/27/2008
Q: We have planted a beautiful white giant calla Lilly and have had 5 lovely blooms on it, then it ... A: Thanx for your question. I would bring the potted plant indoors. I don't think it will survive in ...
Rose of Sharon	9/27/2008
Q: I have a 3yr rose of sharon tree/bush. I didnt' realize until this year that I should be pruning it ... A: Thanx for the additional information. One thing I forgot to mention, when you put the unopened buds ...
sweet broom	9/26/2008
Q: i have 2 sweet brooms growing next to each other they are 3to4 yrs old. they have been growing ... A: Thanx for the additional information. I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you. I would like ...
Rose of Sharon	9/26/2008
Q: I have a 3yr rose of sharon tree/bush. I didnt' realize until this year that I should be pruning it ... A: There are a number of reasons why your rose-of-sharon buds didn't open. If you had an unusually dry ...
Plants and Butterflies	9/26/2008
Q: I been growing two types of flowers and three types of fruit/veggies in my front yard strawberries, ... A: Thanx for your question. In general, butterflies are not attracted to the small flowers on ...
sweet broom	9/23/2008
Q: i have 2 sweet brooms growing next to each other they are 3to4 yrs old. they have been growing ... A: Thanx for your question. The reason I asked for your location is I had a Scotch broom question from ...
cyclamens	9/22/2008
Q: are cyclamens perennials or annuals A: Thanx for your question. Cyclamens are perennial although some may be treated as annuals due to lack ...
hardy hibiscus	9/21/2008
Q: hopefully you can help me - I have a hardy hibiscus that has been planted in the same southeastern ... A: Thanx for your question. I don't think there is anything wrong with your plant. It is September ...
Oxalis deppei "Iron Cross" winter care	9/21/2008
Q: Last April, I purchased a Buzzy Seeds Lucky Clover Grow Kit containing three bulbs of what I've ... A: Thanx for your question. A lot of people safely grow plants rated for warmer zones. I've done it ...
Jasmine Green Beans ??	9/21/2008
Q: My jasmine is the type with fragrent flowers and I'm training it to grow on some wire on my fence. ... A: The green beans you describe are seed pods. Thanx for your question. If this plant is Stephanotis ...
Hydrangeas - when to cut back?	9/20/2008
Q: I live in South Jersey and I have 2 hydrangeas that are in the front of my home. Last year around ... A: Thanx for your questions. Cutting the hydrangeas back to the ground is too severe and is the cause ...
Creeping Fig	9/19/2008
Q: Just how difficult is it to get rid of? I had landscaping done two years ago and had no idea how ... A: Thanx for the additional information. Yes, the roots will continue to produce new plants, as will ...
What is it?	9/19/2008
Q: I have a plant that hs green spears that grow (similar to Gladiolas) and a long stem (2 feet) that ... A: Thanx for the question and a million thanx for the picture. The plant is called an agapanthus. It ...
What is it?	9/18/2008
Q: I have a plant that hs green spears that grow (similar to Gladiolas) and a long stem (2 feet) that ... A: Thanx for your question. This is a potted plant you received? How long did the plant bloom? When ...
Weeds and compost	9/18/2008
Q: Should I put compost in and around my plants now or wait till spring? Also, can I kill nasty creepy ... A: Thanx for your question. Generally, you don't want to fertilze at the end of the growing season ...
Forcing Tulips?	9/17/2008
Q: I have some tulips that I bought from Wal-Mart last spring and when they died back I cut the stems ... A: Thanx for your question. If I understand you correctly, you allowed the tulips to die back which I ...
lupine	9/17/2008
Q: I work at a small nursery. We used to grow lupine from seed with great results. Then we bought ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like either Fusarium wilt or root rot to me. Did you check the ...
coral yucca & day lilies	9/16/2008
Q: I have 2 questions for you. The first one is about 2 coral yucca plants that I was given last year. ... A: Thanx for your question. If the plants are healthy, it's kind of hard to say why they're not ...
Miscanthus Sinensis 'Huron Sunrise'	9/16/2008
Q: I live in Southern Connecticut, Zone 6a, and would like to use Miscanthus Sinensis 'Huron Sunrise' ... A: Thanx for your question. This ornamental grass will self-seed in warm, wet climates (mostly the ...
Hostas	9/16/2008
Q: I have some Hostas that look ok when the flower stems are growing above the plants, and some that ... A: Thanx for your question. Cutting the flower stems will not adversely affect the hosta. In fact, by ...
Hydrangia Limelight	9/15/2008
Q: My (2) 2 mo old Limelights had great flower balls but they are going by (Sept 15 in Zone 3 - ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds to me like there is too much moisture in the ground. Watering ...
Flower Identification	9/8/2008
Q: I have a flower that is growing in my garden that I would like to know what it is. It was grown ... A: Thanx for your question. You have a hybrid dahlia. It grows from a tuber. If you don't live in a ...
lycoris, pink magic lily	9/8/2008
Q: I am starting the process of digging 4 large clumps with about 10 bulbs per clump from a neighbors ... A: Thanx for your question. Pink magic lilies also know regionally as: naked ladies, resurrection ...
help with planting a flower garden	9/7/2008
Q: As you enter our house to the left is an area that has a couple of birds of paradise. There has been ... A: Thanx for your question. One of the things everyone in Southern California should consider is the ...
Clematis	9/7/2008
Q: WE have a septic field in our back yard. M<y wife wanted to have some vines and chose Clematis. As ... A: Thanx for your question. Yes, I would go ahead and move the clematis so their roots won't endanger ...
calla lilly pest	9/7/2008
Q: Tom, i have a green goddess calla lilly that has developed a weird parasite. the "thing" is about ... A: Thanx for the additional information. This sounds like spider mites but you can't see them without ...
calla lilly pest	9/5/2008
Q: Tom, i have a green goddess calla lilly that has developed a weird parasite. the "thing" is about ... A: Thanx for your question. That is odd that it does not move. Is there anyway you can send me a ...
tiger lillies	9/4/2008
Q: Another question for the master. Can I cut my tiger lillies and daylillies back now (the fall) and ... A: Thanx for your question. Now is a good time to cut back the lilies. They have had enough time to ...
Rhododendron dying, flowers dried on the plant	9/3/2008
Q: I have a nice-size rhododendron that I transplanted in the fall 2 years ago from an area under some ... A: Thanx for the additional information. The only other possibility for me is this information I ...
Wisteria	9/2/2008
Q: I have a mature well developed Wisteria in my garden. For all the years I have had it,not a single ... A: Thanx for your question. First of all, if you're using a high nitrogen fertilizer or Miracle Gro, ...
gardenia	9/2/2008
Q: I have a gardenia in a pot on my back patio (I don't think it will overwinter here in Central ... A: Thanx for your question. I've never heard of the condition you describe so I had to do some ...
calalilies	9/2/2008
Q: I have white calalilies that are about 12 years old and have always bloomed, though not ... A: Thanx for your question. Make sure the soil is not soggy but well draining. The soil should not be ...
Rhododendron dying, flowers dried on the plant	9/2/2008
Q: I have a nice-size rhododendron that I transplanted in the fall 2 years ago from an area under some ... A: Thanx for your question. Check the soil. If should be moist but not soggy. Rhododendrons don't ...
Transplant Clematis	9/1/2008
Q: My neighbor is moving & has offered me her beautiful plant. But, I'm live in the Stockton, CA. Hot ... A: Thanx for your question. We have hot summers where I live too but we still grow clematis so I would ...
Stella Dora Daylillies	8/30/2008
Q: The gardening center said they would do good in part shade. They were flowering but now have ... A: Thanx for the additional information. If I'm understanding your question correctly, the plants ...
fuschias	8/29/2008
Q: Tom I have some volunteer fuschias in my back yard and I would like to keep them, but would like to ... A: Thanx for your question. Fuchsias are beautiful plants in splendid colors. They do not do well in ...
hibiscus leaves looking anemic	8/29/2008
Q: I live in Gilbert Arizona where the summer temperatures average triple digits from June through ... A: Thanx for your question. I lived in Phoenix back in the late 70s. I'm going to have to disagree ...
Dividing a rose of sharon	8/28/2008
Q: Is it possible to divide an established Rose of Sharon? If so how? A: Thanx for your question. Yes, it is possible to divide an established Rose-of-Sharon tree/shrub. ...
stella d'oro daylillies and other types of yellow daylillies	8/28/2008
Q: How do I groom day lillies? I have several planted. They bloom at first and then they get "stalks" ... A: Thanx for your question. Deadhead Stella D'oros as soon as they have finished blooming to encourage ...
Brugmansia (Angels Trumpet)	8/26/2008
Q: My neighbour who does not have a computer asked me to see if I could find out why the leaves on her ... A: Thanx for your question. There are a number of reasons the leaves are turning yellow on your ...
Books	8/26/2008
Q: As a beginner to gardening are there any books you would recommend I get? I live in NH. I know ... A: Thanx for your question and I'm sorry it has taken me so long to answer. I thought and thought ...
baby lily bulbs	8/24/2008
Q: I have some baby tiger lily bulbs that I ordered. They have sprouts. In one of your answers, you ... A: Thanx for your question. I would put the pot in an unheated garage or basement or on a porch where ...
calla lillies	8/24/2008
Q: Is it possible to harvest the pods that comes from the inside of the calla blooms? A: Thanx for your question. Yes, you can harvest seeds from the seedpod that results after the calla ...
Stella D'Oro Day Lillies	8/23/2008
Q: I have lovely blooms in early summer but I don't get any more blooms after that. I deadhead the old ... A: Thanx for the additional information. You may have a grubs or moles eating the rhizomes. Daylilies ...
Pots	8/23/2008
Q: Can you suggest some plants for outdoor pots that don't require a lot of watering? ANSWER: Hi ... A: Thanx for your question. I highly recommend that you look at High Country Gardens which is a ...
Stella D'Oro Day Lillies	8/22/2008
Q: I have lovely blooms in early summer but I don't get any more blooms after that. I deadhead the old ... A: Thanx for your question. Depending upon your zone the Stella D'Oros will bloom profusely for a ...
Creeping Fig	8/21/2008
Q: Just how difficult is it to get rid of? I had landscaping done two years ago and had no idea how ... A: Thanx for the additional information. A lot of times the weed and feed combinations for lawns will ...
Creeping Fig	8/20/2008
Q: Just how difficult is it to get rid of? I had landscaping done two years ago and had no idea how ... A: Thanx for your question. Yes, the creeping fig is difficult to conquer. Use Roundup on it over and ...
daylillies	8/20/2008
Q: I divided and transplanted several stella d'oro daylilles. I dutifully trimmed the fans and have ... A: The reason the Stellas don't perk right back up is they are probably starting the process of going ...
daylillies	8/20/2008
Q: I divided and transplanted several stella d'oro daylilles. I dutifully trimmed the fans and have ... A: Thanx for your question. Don't expect any greatness from your stellas now that you have trimmed and ...
japanese lilac tree	8/19/2008
Q: I am considering having a landscaper plant 2 japanese lilac trees, one at each corner of the front ... A: Thanx for your question. My references tell me that Japanese lilac trees can be used as wind ...
snowball bush	8/19/2008
Q: We recently purchased a "snowball bush" and it was healthy. Now it looks like it has bugs or is ... A: Thanx for your question. In order to make a decent diagnosis I'm going to have to ask you to be a ...
Torch Lilies	8/18/2008
Q: I live in zone 9 (central FL)and have many torch lilies and have been anticipating their blooming. ... A: Thanx for the additional information. When I first grew torch lilies from seed I would lose them in ...
Potted lavender plant	8/17/2008
Q: We have a lovely, relatively healthy lavender plant that is potted in a glazed ceramic pot. We've ... A: Thanx for your question. Lavender benefit from direct sun and at least 6-8 hours. Yours isn't ...
Sweet Broom (cytisus spachianus0	8/17/2008
Q: We planted a 2 ft. sweet broom plant about 2 years ago. It bloomed and grew to about 5 ft. We live ... A: Thanx for your question. If the wood is still green I would let it go through this season and see ...
Hibiscus buds are turning brown	8/16/2008
Q: My hibiscus trees we're doing great until about 2 weeks ago. The buds on them suddenly started ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like your hibiscus have been attacked by spider mites. There ...
Torch Lilies	8/16/2008
Q: I live in zone 9 (central FL)and have many torch lilies and have been anticipating their blooming. ... A: Thanx for your question. By torch lilies I'm going to assume you are talking about Kniphofia? This ...
orange tiger lilies near hydrangea	8/9/2008
Q: Is it OK for tiger lilies to grow in close proximity to a blue hydrangea? All of my hydrangea are ... A: Thanx for your question. I have never heard of any incompatibility between hydrangeas and tiger ...
blue star sea holly	8/8/2008
Q: I have three healthy plants that are in their second year. They are being crowded out by a ... A: Thanx for your question. Yes, the blue star holly (eryngium) has a long tap root so dig as deep as ...
Crape Myrtle's	8/7/2008
Q: Recently I visited my sister in North Carolina. The Crape Myrtle's were in bloom and I could not ... A: Thanx for your question. I am a fellow Kansan also and I live in Kansas City. I lived in the South ...
huckleberries?	8/7/2008
Q: I live in Tennessee,in zone 7. Our soil type is clay mix. Would the evergreen huckleberry be able ... A: Thanx for your question. Huckleberries are not frost hardy but will self-seed in frost areas. When ...
monkshood	8/7/2008
Q: I live in Massachusetts and have some Monkshood that hasn't bloomed yet, it's been 2 years. It is ... A: Thanx for the additional information. There are different varieties of monkshood (aconitum) so you ...
Coreopsis need help	8/7/2008
Q: I am new to gardening. I planted some coreopsis and they seemed to be doing well but now they have ... A: Thanx for your question. I'm willing to bet deer ate the leaves off of your coreopsis and deer will ...
honeysuckel	8/6/2008
Q: This is the second year for my honeysuckel plants. They are hardly growing at all. I was told they ... A: Thanx for your question. Honeysuckle grow best in full sun (at least 6 hours a day) but they will ...
Daylily 'Stella de Oro"	8/5/2008
Q: Can I use the pod which appears on the plant after it blooms to start new plants in other planting ... A: Thanx for your question. Yes, you can use the seeds from the seed pod of the Stella de Oro but wait ...
monkshood	8/4/2008
Q: I live in Massachusetts and have some Monkshood that hasn't bloomed yet, it's been 2 years. It is ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like the Monkshood is over crowded. In late August, dig the ...
maintenance of some perennials	8/2/2008
Q: Should I deadhead bee balm? Is it a perennial? Is there anyway to get shasta daisies to give a ... A: Thanx for your questions. I appreciate your comments about what we do here on Allexperts. You ask ...
Black eyed Susans	8/1/2008
Q: My black eyed susans are falling over. They are not any taller than they were last year but for ... A: Thanx for your question. In some years the plants get leggy if it has been too wet, too windy or ...
blooming perennials	7/31/2008
Q: We just built a house and the soil has a VERY high clay content. Are there any blooming perennials ... A: Thanx for your question. I have clay all over the place and yes, there are tons of things that will ...
Baltimore-area mystery plant (pictures)	7/31/2008
Q: Both have elliptic leaves, smooth (entire), and are even pinnately veined. Plant 1 is larger, about ... A: Thanx for your question and the photos. Sorry I have taken so long but I have been racking my ...
Hydrangeas	7/29/2008
Q: I have a couple of the Endless Summer Hydrangeas that I planted two years ago. I live near Boston. ... A: Thanx for you question. For most of the U.S. the winter lingered longer than normal and then there ...
Help me identify my plant	7/29/2008
Q: I have a plant in my yard that I have no idea what it is. It grows tall. Over six feet. It has ... A: I have a page at Local Harvest. If you'll access my page and e-mail me there, I'll give you my ...
Daylily	7/29/2008
Q: after the flowers come and go I see these pods on top of some of the stalks. What are they and if I ... A: Thanx for the follow up. Don't start your seeds until December because it is too late to start them ...
Hydrangeas	7/28/2008
Q: This is in addition to a question I sent last week regarding the runing of hydrangeas. You said to ... A: Joanne, Thanx for your question. If you are only getting three to five blooms and you have not been ...
growing of calalillies	7/28/2008
Q: hi can i take the seeds from the pod and just put them in soil in pots in the house or how sould i ... A: Thanx for your question. Allow the seed pod of the calla to ripen and turn brown. Then you can ...
Zinnia seeds	7/28/2008
Q: How or what do you do to gather seeds from your lower so you can plant them? After you get the ... A: Thanx for your question. To save zinnia seeds wait until the flower is completely dry and then ...
Hydrangea	7/28/2008
Q: Tom, I have had a hydrangea for 2 yrs. About 4-6 weeks ago its started losing leaves off the ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like you have aphids or spider mites. These critters suck the ...
calla lily	7/27/2008
Q: My calla leaves are dying off and I cut back. Do the bulbs need to be dug up or will they return. ... A: Thanx for your question. In general, now that it is almost August, it is normal for colored callas ...
hydrangeas	7/27/2008
Q: I planted hydrangeas in the spring and they are not flowering. I also have two hydrangeas that I ... A: Thanx for your question. There could be a number of reasons why your plants aren't blooming. First ...
non blooming clematis vines	7/27/2008
Q: I BOUGHT TWO BEAUTIFUL CLEMAIS VINES WITH LOVELY SMALL PINK STAR LIKE FLOWERS. I HAVE PLANTED THEM ... A: Thanx for your question. Two things could be going on here. Check your fertilizer. Is it high in ...
Hibiscus Black Spot	7/26/2008
Q: My orange hibiscus tree seemed quite healthy. I replaced the previous one b/c it was covered with ... A: Thanx for your question. What you're talking about is black spot and it's a fungal disease that ...
My Hydrangea	7/25/2008
Q: I planted my hydrangea a couple of months ago. It`s grown really well, only I`ve noticed the stem is ... A: Thanx for your question. Usually, the spots would be on the leaves. It sounds like a fungal ...
Hydranga	7/25/2008
Q: I have a Hydrangeas, the kind that blooms all summer. It's call Summer something. It has the big ... A: Thanx for your question. Yes, I would cut the spent blooms off to help the plant look better. I ...
Daylily	7/25/2008
Q: after the flowers come and go I see these pods on top of some of the stalks. What are they and if I ... A: Thanx for your questions. The structures you speak of on the lily plant are seed pods. If your ...
butterfly bush	7/23/2008
Q: i planted a butterfly bush a few years ago and it barely comes up. i found a new area full of sun to ... A: Thanx for your question. Butterfly bushes can and do have problems in various parts of zone 5 which ...
euonymous plants	7/23/2008
Q: I have had several large (approx 5ft) euonymous shrubs as part of my landscaping for several years. ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like either anthracnose which is a bacterium or scale which is ...
PLANTING DELPHINIUM FROM SEED	7/23/2008
Q: MY DELPHINIUMS HAVE GONE TO SEED. WHEN AND HOW CAN I PLANT THE SEED. DO I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL SPRING? ... A: Thanx for your question. If you delphiniums were hybrids, the resulting seedlings will not resemble ...
Anthurium pruning	7/23/2008
Q: I have a lovely Anthurium for 4 years now. It has bloomed continually and seems happy. Lately, the ... A: Thanx for your question and sorry it took so long to get back to you. Yes, you can cut your ...
Wilted Spiderwort	7/16/2008
Q: (I live in zone 6). 2 are doing well, but 1 of them just wilted and is on the ground! It doesn't ... A: Thanx for your question. If by spiderwort you're talking about tradescantia ...
rose of sharon	7/15/2008
Q: Planted one year old rose of sharon 3 to 4 weeks ago and it is doing great leaf and stim wise, but ... A: Thanx for your question. I believe the plant is still suffering from the shock of being moved. It ...
Hydrangeas	7/15/2008
Q: I bought 2 Foxgloves in full bloom..planted them..after the blooms fell off, I am now left with ... A: Thanx for the followup. In my previous answer the website I gave you for High Country Gardens was ...
hostos	7/15/2008
Q: Can I thin out my hostas right now in the heat of summer? They are getting so big A: Thanx for your question. I would wait until fall to separate my hostas unless it is an absolute ...
perennial for planter	7/13/2008
Q: I live in KY and need a flowering perennial no more than 12" tall to plant in brick planters that ... A: Thanx for your question. I recommend dianthus which come in many different colors and designs and ...
hydrangea tree	7/13/2008
Q: I had my house professionally landscaped in May 2008. One of the trees planted was a hydrangea tree. ... A: Thanx for your question. It is perfectly normal for your hydrangea not to have bloomed because it ...
transplanting mums and daisies	7/13/2008
Q: I live in Utah and would like to know when is the best time to transplant mums and daisies. I am ... A: Thanx for your question. The best time to move perennials is in early fall or spring after the last ...
moving rose of sharon bush	7/11/2008
Q: My mother-in-law has a large rose of sharon bush that we need to move. Right now it is on the east ... A: Thanx for your question. Trim the shrub back severely so it will be easier to handle. Make sure ...
Johnson's Blue Geranium (Cranesbill)	7/11/2008
Q: Actually, I have been struggling with this "issue" for a few years. I really love my Johnson's Blue ... A: Thanx for your question. You can divide the plant in early fall or in the spring right after the ...
Weeping Purple Pussy Willow	7/11/2008
Q: I have these beetle (navy blue to black)that are laying eggs and eating all the leaves off the tree, ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like you have an infestation of imported willow beetle. You can ...
Foxgloves	7/11/2008
Q: I bought 2 Foxgloves in full bloom..planted them..after the blooms fell off, I am now left with ... A: Thanx for your question. Some foxgloves are annuals, some are biennial and some are perennial. ...
gladiolas	7/11/2008
Q: how do I keep my gladiolas straight? A: Make sure you plant them about 6 inches deep. You can plant close to a fence or you can use green ...
Princess lilies	7/10/2008
Q: I was given a princess lily and it is doing very well but I am not sure what I need to do with it ... A: Thanx for your question. Princess lilies are hybrids of alstroemeria or Peruvian lily. ...
star lilly (outdoor)	7/10/2008
Q: I have an outdoor star lilly and the flowers have dropped off leaving tall stalks and leaves. What ... A: Thanx for your question. Once lilies like this bloom, that's it...a one time thing. So, you can ...
Pruning lilac bushes	7/9/2008
Q: I have, what I like to refer to as the "Great Wall of Lilacs" running along side of the sidewalk ... A: Thanx for your question. Here is a very helpful website that tells how to handle your situation. ...
fuschia care	7/9/2008
Q: I have four fuschias which I wintered over and have a lot of new growth, yet no buds on them. I ... A: Thanx for your question. Fuchsias benefit from a good pruning in late winter while they are ...
Bugs or Fungas on daisies??	7/9/2008
Q: This is my 2nd year with these daisies. They started from one tiny and I mean tiny plant with one ... A: Thanx for your question. It doesn't sound like an insect or mite infestation. It sounds like a ...
verbena	7/8/2008
Q: I live in south Texas, very, very hot, but very humid. I planted verbena plants in the fall and ... A: Thanx for your question. Water only when they are dry and stop fertilizing. You're probably taking ...
hydrandea	7/7/2008
Q: I have a hydrangea that has grown very lush and healthy new growth from last years trimmed back ... A: I'm thinking that you may have trimmed it back too much and cut the blooming canes/wood off. Allow ...
Perennials	7/7/2008
Q: I am a new gardener and had just done my garden. I wanted a cottage garden theme but unfortunately I ... A: Thanx for your questions. Generally, spring and fall are the best times to move plants. But, I ...
dataura plant	7/7/2008
Q: looks very heathy, lots of buds. put before they are fully open they fall over dead. other than that ... A: Sorry it took so long to get to you. I've never had this problem with my daturas and have never ...
Black-eyed susans	7/7/2008
Q: This is my second year with this plant and they are getting black spots on their foliage leaves that ... A: Thanx for your question. I think your Black-eyed Susans have a fungal disease of which there are ...
unknown plant	7/6/2008
Q: I have a plant in my garden that has come up larger every year now for about three or four ... A: Thanx Madge. If you will go to http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M14089 It is a webpage I have at ...
day lil;ies	7/6/2008
Q: I have stellas and they are beautiful and bloom. I also have prairie blues and strawberry candy. The ... A: Thanx for your question. Are they getting regular water? Is the soil draining well and not overly ...
Stella D'Ore Lillys	7/5/2008
Q: I have 2 Stella D'Oro pland and want to know why aren't blooming. They are 2 years old. . A: Thanx for your question. First of all, if you are feeding them a fertilizer high in nitrogen you ...
foxgloves	7/5/2008
Q: Should foxgloves be deadheaded? When should you prune them back. I live in southeast Michigan. I was ... A: Thanx for your question. Some foxgloves are short-lived perennials and many are biennials. The ...
Hydranga booms	7/4/2008
Q: I planted 4 hydrangeas about 3 years ago. Each year the foliage looks lush but I have not gotten a ... A: Thanx for your question. There could be several reasons you're not getting blooms. 1. Are the ...
Gardenia	7/4/2008
Q: I have had flower buds, for about 4 wks on my established gardenia plant(in a large pot outside)& ... A: Thanx for your question. There are myriad reasons for a gardenia bud to turn brown. You said that ...
Lambs Ear	7/3/2008
Q: My lambs ear is drooping big time and I am not sure how to fix it. It has gotten really big and ... A: Thanx for your question. I've had this happen too. Do you live in a climate that is hot and muggy? ...
Hyrdreangea	7/3/2008
Q: I have a mini hydreangea bush with a number of mopheads?? buy they don't seem to be opening. Its ... A: Thanx for your question. Hydrangeas like moist (not soggy), slightly acidic soil. In the north, ...
Irises (I think)	7/3/2008
Q: When I bought my house, there was a little patch of light green long leaves growing out of one ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds to me like your irises need to be thinned out. I love irises ...
blue hydranga	7/3/2008
Q: My son gave me a blue hydrangea as a mothers day gift. I planted it outside in a protected corner ... A: The blue hydrangea is hardy to zone 5 so if you are in zone 4 or colder the shrub is probably dying ...
asiatic lillies	7/2/2008
Q: Is it possible to harvest the seed of asiatic lillies and raise new plants from them? If so, how ... A: Thanx for your question. Yes, it is possible to harvest seed of the asiatic lily and raise new ...
calla lilly	7/2/2008
Q: I have calla lillies in a pot, they get full sun and the dirt is potting soil. I am finding that ... A: Thanx for the additional information. If the corm is mushy, it is done for. This is a rot disease ...
calla lilly	7/2/2008
Q: I have calla lillies in a pot, they get full sun and the dirt is potting soil. I am finding that ... A: Callas will start to wilt when they are done blooming. The flower will not form a seed pod if it ...
calla lilly	7/2/2008
Q: Why does my calla Lilly turn to seed and does not bloom? A: Thanx for your question. The calla lily does not go to seed without blooming. The bloom is what ...
unknown plant	7/1/2008
Q: I have a plant in my garden that has come up larger every year now for about three or four ... A: Thanx for your question. It might be Kirengeshoma palmatum (yellow wax bells). Take a look at this ...
when and how to germinate perennial poppies	7/1/2008
Q: A friend has given me seeds from the perennial poppies they have in a field. Given that it is July ... A: Thanx for your question. A lot of poppies don't transplant well so if you want to grow them ...
Growing Hostas from seed	7/1/2008
Q: I have been collecting seed from hostas for the past couple of seasons. Are there any special tricks ... A: Thanx for your question. I have grown hosta from seed a couple of times. There's nothing to it. ...
creeping fig	6/30/2008
Q: Our one creeping fig, planted at the back of our house and intended to cover one side of the house ... A: Thanx for your question. Good luck with this plant. It can get out of hand quickly and it can also ...
hydrangea trees	6/29/2008
Q: we have a 20 feet tall hydrangea trees when fully bloom. my husband started cutting off all the dead ... A: Thanx for the addtional information. I'm glad to hear the hydrangeas are doing well. I don't think ...
Hibiscus Syracus Marina	6/29/2008
Q: I live in SW France, near Cahors, where the temps are normally between 85 and 100 in June to Sept. I ... A: Thanx for your question. It is entirely possible that the plant can be saved. The last thing to ...
snowball tree recently planted	6/28/2008
Q: I just planted this snowball tree, gave it a good amount of space and some rich compost and ... A: Thanx for your question. I think your snowball bush is fine. Replace the dirt and pack it in. You ...
Celosia	6/28/2008
Q: I've had Celosia (spiked type) growing in the garden for number of years. That's strange because ... A: Thanx for your question. Celosia are annuals so the reason they are coming back is due to the fact ...
hydrangea plants	6/27/2008
Q: I have had a hydrangea plant for several years. 4 years ago we moved to upstate SC and since then it ... A: Thanx for your question. If you are feeding your hydrangea, make sure the fertilizer isn't high in ...
weed and seed and my flowers	6/26/2008
Q: recently i added ortho weed and feed to my lawn and added a little around some of my flowers to help ... A: Thanx for your question. You cannot put Weed and Feed around your flowers because it will leach ...
mother of thyme	6/26/2008
Q: I purchased creeping thyme from a seed co and although it has spread outrageously over the past year ... A: Thanx for your question. The mother-of-thyme (creeping thyme) should grow 3-6 inches tall and is ...
Phlox	6/26/2008
Q: I am new to gardening and I planted garden phlox this year. The leaves towards the bottom of my ... A: Thanx for your question. I don't think your phlox have a pest. Same thing with the peonies. For ...
calla lilies	6/25/2008
Q: I bought potted calla lilies and they were fine for a couple weeks, now the flowers are turning ... A: thanx for your question. Check around the base of the plant and make sure the plant is not rotting ...
Hardy Cyclamen tubers	6/25/2008
Q: I live in NJ (zone 6), and I planted hardy cyclamen tubers into my garden late May. I purchased ... A: Thanx for your question. One thing the hardy cyclamen does not like is damp soil. If you are ...
Hydrandga	6/25/2008
Q: I live in zone 8/9 in Central Florida. I have had my hydrangea for 4 years and it has done well ... A: Thanx for the additional information. By the way, I used to live up north in Ft. Walton Beach and ...
spider mites	6/24/2008
Q: mine are starting to turn red..normal for now or could there be a problem? we did have mites, got ... A: Thanx for the question. Use the horticultural soap spray and just keep treating them off and on all ...
burning bushes -June	6/24/2008
Q: mine are starting to turn red..normal for now or could there be a problem? we did have mites, got ... A: Thanx for the additional information. Because you have already rid yourself of the spider mite ...
Day Lilies	6/24/2008
Q: When there are no blooms left and all buds are gone,Do I cut the spikes off the Day Lilies or leave ... A: Thanx for your question. When your daylilies have finished blooming you can cut off the flower ...
Rose of Sharon Tree	6/23/2008
Q: We have 2 Rose of Sharon Trees in our front yard, one of them is leafing out as it should and ... A: Thanx for your question. As long as the leaves are not curled or deformed looking, the tree just ...
Hydrandga	6/23/2008
Q: I live in zone 8/9 in Central Florida. I have had my hydrangea for 4 years and it has done well ... A: Thanx for your question. I'm going to need more information before I can attempt to answer your ...
My yellow azalea	6/20/2008
Q: I purchased three azalea's this year, one red, one pink and one yellow. the red and pink bloom but ... A: Thanx for your question. My guess is something happened at the nursery before you bought your ...
rose of sharon	6/20/2008
Q: What kind of soil do rose of sharons like A: Thanx for your question. Rose of Sharon is a very tough plant and will tolerate all kinds of soils ...
Half of boxwoods dying	6/19/2008
Q: I live in central NJ, and have had two rows of boxwoods planted along either side of the steps by my ... A: Thanx for the additional information. It sounds to me like your plants have English boxwood ...
joe pye weed	6/19/2008
Q: I have 3 Joe pye weed plants that I planted last year. They only got about 2 feet high last year. ... A: Many of us had a prolonged, cool winter with barely a decent spring and lots of water. Some ...
Calla Lillies	6/19/2008
Q: Tom, I have always loved these flowers. This year I decided to add them to my deck garden so I ... A: Thanx for your question. Usually, the colored ones will start to go dormant after a month of so of ...
Peonies and Botryitis	6/19/2008
Q: Help! Every single one of my peonies have Botryitis. They all have big, brownish black spots. ... A: I would remove all of the affected areas of the plant and then cut it all the way back to the ground ...
snapdragons	6/19/2008
Q: I am growing snapdragons in a container. One has become very tall with lots and lots of new buds, ... A: Thanx for your question. I would go ahead and prune off the stalk that isn't blooming if it hasn't ...
Blue Star Junipers not healthy after winter	6/18/2008
Q: I have what I believe are two Blue Star Junipers planted in my landscaping about 4 or 5 feet from ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds to me like juniper twig blight. Here is a link to the ...
peonies	6/18/2008
Q: I have two peonies. Both are in a partially sunny area because of trees that need pruning. They ... A: Thanx for your question. I have never heard of a peony changing color. I've never seen it. ...
Calla Lilly	6/16/2008
Q: About a month ago I received a Calla Lilly, flowers and all. The plant did not come with directions ... A: Thanx for your question. The plant is probably going dormant. Stop watering it and allow the corm ...
elephant eye plants	6/15/2008
Q: My elephant plants are turning brown and dying. Never had a problem like this in the past. What ... A: You've got me on this one. I do not know what an elephant eye plant is. Usually, when a plant is ...
cala lily	6/15/2008
Q: I received a potted cala lily as a gift. The flowers are a pretty deep mauve color. I am keeping it ... A: Thanx for your question. Calla lilies, particularly the colored ones will go dormant after ...
Calla Lilies in Alaska	6/15/2008
Q: I just bought a beautiful Calla Lily and am wondering if I should pot it and then bring it in for ... A: Thanx for your question. Your calla lily will not survive an Alaskan winter. Keep it as a potted ...
bouganvilla	6/14/2008
Q: my plant froze last winter. Iit has really grown this spring, but hasn't bloomed yet. Does it take ... A: Thanx for your question. Bougainvillea are frequently grown in areas which may experience a mild ...
Hibscus plant problem	6/14/2008
Q: I have an established hibiscus plant growing in part of my garden. It is about 4 ft (120 cm) high ... A: Thanx for your question. Are you in Canada? I am in the Midwest of the USA. My hibiscus are ...
crepe myrtle trees	6/14/2008
Q: i live in louisiana .my tree will not bloom someone told me some trees bloom late. how ... A: Thanx for your question. Some varieties of crape myrtle will not begin to bloom until July but once ...
Italian Heather Plants in Zone 3B	6/13/2008
Q: I too have just received an Italian Heather plant as a gift and am curious as to if it can withstand ... A: Thanx for your question. The Italian Heather is not frost tolerant and will not survive your ...
LilacShrub	6/12/2008
Q: Last summer my daughter bought me a lilac shrub/bush/tree-PLANT...it had a few dried up florets on ... A: Thanx for your question. I don't think you did anything wrong. I think the shrub is becoming ...
wilting dahlias	6/11/2008
Q: i have grown dahlias before but never this many in one spot. my dahlias are wilting in the day ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like you have grubs or maybe moles or ground squirrels munching ...
cala lilly	6/11/2008
Q: i bought cala lillys from a florist i left them in a vase and left for a number of days when i came ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like there is an insect manufacturing some kind of web inside ...
transplanting iris	6/11/2008
Q: I was just in upstate NY and dug up my grandmother's iris, since she's moving into sr citizen home. ... A: Thanx for your question. I would go ahead and plant my iris now and water them once week if you're ...
hydrangea	6/10/2008
Q: i planted a hydrangea last year, don't remember the name of it except that it is a tree type, it ... A: Thanx for your question. One thing the nurseries or DIYs don't tell us about plants and that some ...
Asiatic Lillies	6/9/2008
Q: My lillies have become infested by a red bug that have been eating the leaves and leaving behind a ... A: Take a look at this link and see if this is the bug you describe. ...
peony's	6/8/2008
Q: I have peonies that have been in the same spot since we moved here so more than 16 years, The last ... A: Thanx for your question. In general, peonies are pretty tough and resist all kinds of adverse ...
Forsythia Growing in NE Arizona	6/8/2008
Q: I have bought 4 each plants from Gurney and Miller two years ago that have not grown. The living ... A: Thanx for your question. I did not see you e-mail inbox in your question. You probably need to ...
red star cordyline	6/7/2008
Q: I have two red star cordylines planted about 6 feet apart in the same flower bed. One plant has new ... A: The bottom leaves of the red star cordylines will eventually turn yellow and die off as the tip ...
Hibiscus Tree	6/7/2008
Q: I live in NC, I planted my 2 hibiscus trees about a month ago in a planter. I also added flowers ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like your hibiscus has aphids or spider mites. You need to get ...
bluish-purple low sedum	6/7/2008
Q: I have a low (4" height) sedum that I can't identify. Of course, I didn't save the tag. I believe ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds to me like you are describing Sedum cauticola Stonecrop - ...
Dying honeysuckle	6/6/2008
Q: I bought a honeysuckle plant that grew perfectly fine until I moved the pot to another location ... A: I think more than anything your honeysuckle resents being left in a pot and it is becoming rootbound ...
Moon flower seeds	6/6/2008
Q: I recently moved to a new home. The yard was in very poor condition and we are redoing the ... A: Thanx for your question. By moonflower I am assuming you mean datura or jimsonweed or thornapple ...
Climatis	6/6/2008
Q: My Clematis which is 3 years old bloomed well even though it is not very tall. It has only been ... A: Thanx for your question. Usually, the blooming period will be longer than a week but unfortunately ...
Why is my calla lilly is dying	6/6/2008
Q: I bought a pottet calla lilly about 2 weeks ago. It was doing great til about 2 days ago when a saw ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds to me like your plant has got some type of fungal rot. I would ...
peony plant with no flower	6/6/2008
Q: I have a peoy plant that give tons of foliages every year, but it never had any flowers. What do you ... A: Thanx for your question. First of all, the plant benefits from at least 6 hours of direct sunlight ...
Perennial drought tolerant plants	6/4/2008
Q: Want to landscape back yard with perennial drought tolerant plants. Would like a list and ... A: Thanx for the additional information. Here's a partial list. I've also included a reference to the ...
Burning Bushes	6/3/2008
Q: We've had our burning bushes for over 12 years and live in a suburb of Kansas City. During the past ... A: Thanx for the additional information. My experience with the Grass Pad folks has been pretty good ...
HELP	6/3/2008
Q: I have many flowers and they are not all perennials some are annuals, and I am very confused on how ... A: Thanx for your question. Unless you are saving seeds, feel free to remove the spent blooms of your ...
Azalea	6/3/2008
Q: I have found what I have been told is a gall type fungus on my Azalea plants,what is the remedy for ... A: Thanx for your question. This information came from Clemson University: Leaf gall (Exobasidium ...
yucca	6/3/2008
Q: why don't some of my yucca plants bloom every year A: Thanx for your question. I think it depends upon the species of yucca. Some do not bloom every ...
periwinkle	6/3/2008
Q: Do you know how to remove clover from a periwinkle bed without killing the periwinkle? I tried ... A: Thanx for your question. In this case you can dig up the areas with the clover infestation, ...
hostas	6/2/2008
Q: I live in zone 8. What side of my house should I plant my hostas? The back yard faces north and I ... A: Thanx for your question. I live in zone 5/6 and I have all of my hostas underneath an oak tree. ...
Hibiscus	6/1/2008
Q: I have hibiscus scrubs in southwest Florida. How often should they be trimmed and at what time time ... A: Thanx for your question. If the hibiscus are the hardy kind that go dormant in the winter, you may ...
Burning Bushes	6/1/2008
Q: We've had our burning bushes for over 12 years and live in a suburb of Kansas City. During the past ... A: Thanx for your question. I'm in Kansas City on the Kansas side. Your burning bush problems sounds ...
dwarf Alstroemeria	5/31/2008
Q: I live in Tucson AZ and would like to know how to care for a dwarf Alstroemeria and further can it ... A: Thanx for your question. I believe Tucson is in USDA Zone 8 so the dwarf alstroemeria should be ...
Hybiscus tree	5/31/2008
Q: I recently purchased my first potted Hybiscus tree and don't know much about care. I have read ... A: Thanx for your question. Many people prefer to "deadhead" or remove the spent blossoms of blooming ...
Lillies	5/31/2008
Q: I have several varieties of potted lilies (petunias, as well). I need to know how or if I should ... A: Thanx for your question. You should not prune lilies. After they bloom, don't cut the green growth ...
iris transplanting	5/31/2008
Q: I have an iris group that I have moved and already put back into the ground. my question is: can you ... A: Thanx for your question. In my opinion, I would not cut the leaves back even though you have ...
Hibiscus	5/31/2008
Q: I live in central Oklahoma (OKC suburb)and transplanted my hibiscus plants when we moved here from ... A: I'll be you have aphids on you plants. Look underneath the leaves, along the stems and around the ...
Limp Sedum	5/29/2008
Q: I live in the Philadelphia, Pa.area A neighbor gave me some Sedum plants,but when i planted them, ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like your plants received quite a shock from the transplant. In ...
buddleia plants	5/29/2008
Q: WE purchased a butterfly bush in a planter. We would like to plant it in the ground. We are ... A: Thanx for your question. Your butterfly bush will do fine in the Atlantic City/South Jersey area. ...
hydrangeas	5/27/2008
Q: I recently planted several hydrangea plants that were purchased from a garden center. They seem to ... A: Thanx for your question. A lot of times plants at a garden center may not be watered appropriately, ...
Datura Problems	5/26/2008
Q: Holes, poor blooms, etc.. any luck? Thanks A: Thanx for your question. It sounds like your datura is the victim of a pest. I think it may be the ...
Co-workers gave me a big Calla Lilly.. HELP!	5/25/2008
Q: I have no clue how to care for a Calla Lilly and when I was sick my co-workers gave me a very large ... A: Thanx for your question. Me personally? I'd plant the calla outside for the spring, summer and ...
quack grass	5/25/2008
Q: We have a center garden area that has a weed blanket down and have put small bushes (not sure what ... A: Thanx for your question. Here's what I do with bindwind which always gets in the middle of stuff I ...
snapdragons	5/25/2008
Q: ok-- i have bought 3 sets of snapdragons only to have them all die in a few days-- they do not like ... A: Thanx for your question. Here's the short of it. Snapdragons like direct sunlight and will ...
Calla Lillies	5/25/2008
Q: How often do they bloom? How much feeding do they require? A: Thanx for your question. Callas are not hardy in most parts of the U.S. and the corms should be ...
Forcing Lilly of the Valley	5/25/2008
Q: My wife and daughter have a mutual love for Lilly of the valley and both look forward to their short ... A: Thanx for your question. I must admit I have never tried forcing Lily-of-the-Valley before but I ...
seeds and preen	5/23/2008
Q: I have put preen on my garden beds after tilling...now I want to plant seeds...is there any way that ... A: Thanx for your question. Preen prevents seed germination. I would not waste my time trying to ...
Perennials	5/22/2008
Q: I live in Minneapolis, MN, and I am looking for some good climbing perennials for my trellises. I ... A: Thanx for your question. You're right, morning glories are grown as annuals here in most of the U.S. ...
wilting iris leaves	5/22/2008
Q: I live in Canada, and it is well past May and time for spring planting. I purchased some healthy, ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds to me like the iris is going through some transplant shock. ...
geraniums	5/22/2008
Q: I planted red ivy geraniums in pots with new potting soil. They have begun turning a purple-red ... A: Thanx for your question. I believe the reason for the change in color of your geranium blooms is ...
Planting	5/21/2008
Q: I am having the toughest time planting store bought container perenials. Invariably they always go ... A: Thanx for your question. Plant your perennials in the morning when the sun isn't as hot or direct ...
ground cover nightmare	5/21/2008
Q: moved into this house in August, so now i get to see what's growing for spring. This is my 1st ... A: Thanx for your question. I am always loathe to use chemicals, but sometimes you just have to do ...
moon flower	5/20/2008
Q: I have one moon flower plant and want to know how to divide the plant. A: Thanx for your question. When you say moon flower, are you talking about datura? The flowers are ...
Sweet Broom	5/20/2008
Q: I have several sweet broom bushes it is beautiful in spring but it has this little caterpillars that ... A: Thanx for your question. Can you tell me where you are located? Also, is there a place you can ...
Peonies	5/19/2008
Q: When should you plant a bare root peony in zone 8? I have it right now. How do I keep it until ... A: Thanx for your question. The peony rhizome can be planted anytime as long as there are at least 30 ...
Passionate Blush	5/19/2008
Q: I bought a dying plant from a garden centre for 50pence last year and hoped I could somehoe revive ... A: Thanx for your question. I grew Gaura a few years ago and it was a beautiful plant. I ...
ursulas red fern	5/19/2008
Q: I just received my ursulas red. I opened the package. Only to find that it was bare rooted and ... A: Thanx for your question. I think your plant will be fine. The first time I received ferns through ...
Annabelle Hydrangea looks sick	5/17/2008
Q: I bought 4 hydranza annabelle last year. This year all four started with small leaves. but one is ... A: Thanx for your question. Where are you located? What kind of winter did you have? What kind of ...
Calla Lillies	5/17/2008
Q: I am having a problem with my calla lillies rotting. When I purchased the plant a few weeks ago, it ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds to me like your calla lilies are suffering from bacterial soft ...
Day Lillies	5/16/2008
Q: Last year we planted Day Lillies, Cherry Cheeks, in our 4 barrel planters. They blossomed last ... A: Thanx for your question. If you live in the far north or Canada, the roots may have frozen in the ...
forsythia growing	5/16/2008
Q: Any ideas why my forsythia blooms on just the lower part? I live in the snowy northeast. Other ... A: Thanx for your question. It sounds to me like the type of forsythia you have is not hardy enough ...
gardenias	5/15/2008
Q: We have a gardenia plant in a pot on our patio. We have had it for several years. We recently ... A: Thanx for your question. I'm not sure what it is. It doesn't sound like any of the pests that are ...
geum..Lay Stratheden or Mrs. Bradshaw	5/12/2008
Q: I an entering the third year with the above mentioned geums. They look so healthy..all nice and ... A: Thanx for your question. Well, I'm stumped too. If the plant appears healthy, it should have ...
Periwinkle	5/12/2008
Q: I live in western Massachusetts. 5 years ago I planted "sterling Silver Periwinkle" in my garden ... A: Thanx for your question. I always hate to do this but in a pinch, Roundup applied around the ...
Peonjy	5/11/2008
Q: Last year my Mom passed away In WV. I brought her peony to South Carolina and planted it. The plant ... A: Thanx for your question. Generally, you can count on peonies not blooming for 2-3 seasons after the ...
Italian Heather	5/10/2008
Q: I live in zone 7 and I just got some Italian Heather. I want to know will this kind of heather ... A: Thanx for your question. Italian heather is not frost tolerant so it is not suitable as an outdoor ...
plants	5/10/2008
Q: i am planning to put in some new flowers this spring.i live in North Carolina.I saw some Mexican ... A: Thanx for your question. Here is a link to North Carolina State University and a list of perennials ...
burning bushes	5/8/2008
Q: I recently purchased 4 burning bushes. They all had green leaves. I planted them and about 1 week ... A: Thanx for you ruqestion. When you say burning bushes are you talking about the perennial shrub? If ...
azalia's	5/8/2008
Q: I need some advise please do they need full light, can they be planted out doors as a perennial, ... A: Thanx for your qestion. Azaleas benefit from some shade in the Southern U.S. They are usually ...
Day Lillies	5/6/2008
Q: My Day Lilies are really thick. When do you know when it is time to seperate them,and what is the ... A: Thanx for your question. Separate daay lilies aevery 3 years. Dig the clumps up at the end of the ...
Hibuscus care	5/5/2008
Q: Just got a potted hibiscus plant as a gift,about 3-4 ft. tall.How do I care for it.POT is 8". Do I ... A: Thanx for your question. Is this a tropical hibiscus (house plant)? If so, it will do well ...
hydrangeas do not bloom year 3	5/3/2008
Q: I live in zone 5 and have had hydrangea bushes for about three years that will not bloom (just one ... A: Thanx for your question. If it's really hot in the summer where you live, hydrangeas can benefit ...
Elephant Ear Mammoth	5/2/2008
Q: We just bought two Elephant Ear Mammoth bulbs, and we would like to know how to take care of them in ... A: Thanx for your question. In th4e fall, allow the first frost to kill back the plant. It won't hurt ...
Burning Bush Tips Cut????	4/30/2008
Q: I have burning bush that is a couple years old and it looks like some one pruned it. No one pruned ... A: Thanx for your question. Sometimes in a a really windy day the ends of shrubs will snap. Did you ...
planting too deep	4/28/2008
Q: I bought a new house in the fall so, of course, this spring I had to plant. I planted a lot of ... A: Thanx for your question. If you only planted the plants 3-5 inches deep, I'd leave them alone. I ...
junipers	4/25/2008
Q: The deer ate the juniper shrub ground cover on the side of our hill. Will the junipers come back ... A: Thanx for your question. I'm really not a shrub expert but I have experience with junipers (ground ...
Lavender bush	4/23/2008
Q: I live in Seattle, it's April and I was wondering if it's too late to trim back my lavender bush, ... A: Seattle is a marvelous city. I spent two weeks there teaching a class through my employer and it ...
bouganvilla	4/21/2008
Q: my bouganvilla appeared dead, but as the weather warmed I can see that it's not. My question is.. It ... A: Thanx for your question. I'm a Kansas native but I lived in Monterey back in the late 70s for a ...
Burning Bush	4/16/2008
Q: I have a packet of 25 seeds for burning bush and have never had one before , could you please tell ... A: Thanx for your question. I would plant all of the seeds because you're going to want more than one ...
Dwarf Norway Spruce	4/11/2008
Q: I'm looking for information on when and how to prune dwarf norway spruce. I have quite a few in my ... A: Thanx for your question. In my opinion, I would NOT prune them. Leave them alone and allow them to ...
Can you divide a honeysuckle bush?	4/11/2008
Q: A friend has several honeysuckle bushes taking over her flower bed. Is there a safe way to divide ... A: Thanx for your question. Now is the best time to separate bushes. Dig up the clumps and you can ...
Privet Hedge	3/23/2008
Q: My soil is highly acidic and I need advice on fertilizing my privet hedge. A: Thanx for your question. Privet do well in soils with a pH of 6-7, so if it is lower than 6 add a ...
Wild Romance Aster	3/22/2008
Q: I am located in N.E. Iowa and this was the first winter for our hummingbird garden. I am wondering ... A: Thanx for your question. I would go ahead and tidy up the garden by removing all of the dead ...
dinner plate hibiscus seeds	3/22/2008
Q: Tom, I am trying to get dinner plate hibiscus seeds to germinate. I put them in potting soil and ... A: Thanx for your question. It can take up to a month for the hard little hibiscus seeds to germinate ...
rose of sharon cutting	3/22/2008
Q: I have a couple of rose of sharon bushes. I recently found out that you can start a new plant by ... A: You can take cuttings in the late spring and make the cutting about 6-8 inches long stripping off ...
Bougainvillea	3/20/2008
Q: I am in the desert. (las Vegas) I had 3 Bougainvillea put in last spring. They grew all summer and ... A: Thanx for your question. I'm very familiar with the Las Vegas area and because the ground doesn't ...
Lillies	3/19/2008
Q: I have what i think my be a cala lily growing in our yard. The problem is they smell like dog poop. ... A: Thanx for your question. I think your plant is an arum, especially if it stinks. Here is a link ...
hydrangea care in Tucson Arizona	3/15/2008
Q: Hydrangea are so gorgeous. I just bought some at Basha's, pink and one white. How do I care for them ... A: The kind you bought at the grocery store (isn't Basha's a grocery store? I live in Phoenix at one ...
Stella De Oro (daylily)	3/13/2008
Q: I would like to plant just one Daylily by my mailbox just to accent it. My questions is, will the ... A: Thanx for your question. Daylilies usuall will increase by one or two roots per season, sometimes ...
Cala Lily and Zebra Plant	3/13/2008
Q: I need to know the best way to care for a Cala Lily and also what am I doing wrong with my Zebra ... A: Thanx for your question. You can grow your calla lilies outdoors after the ground warms up like a ...
potato vine	3/12/2008
Q: A nice lady in TX gave me 2 potato looking ..... I guess "bulbs." There are no sprouts and someone ... A: Check out this link and let me know if this is the same potato vine. I've grown these before and ...
Oakville (Toronto) Ontario Canada	3/10/2008
Q: How can I find out just what perinnials will grow in my zone? I love traditional English ... A: I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. Thank you for your question. Try the ...
Irises	3/8/2008
Q: I have some dutch iris, in a flower box, that have already started to grow. I noticed that their ... A: Thanx for your question. If your climate permits, go ahead and transplant the Dutch iris. I will ...
Pruning Hydrandga's in Winter	3/5/2008
Q: My large Hydrandga has dried up all winter and I didn't cut it back at all for fear of having no ... A: Thanx for your question. Prune your flowering shrubs after the blooming period but before the ...
Anemone flower	2/27/2008
Q: I just planted some anemones, and found out they are poisonous to animals. Do you know how much of ... A: Thanx for your question. Most cats are prudent enough that they will avoid harful plants. Many ...
not sure what to do...	2/25/2008
Q: I read that it was ok to plant bulbs that have already started to sprout, as long as the ground ... A: Please don't apologize for asking questions on this site. That's what it is for and we all want you ...
sagging branches	2/24/2008
Q: I'm not sure if this is an appropriate place to ask this question but I'll give it a shot. I have ... A: Thanx for your question. I'm not an expert on trees or shrubs. I do know that improper pruning and ...
perennial bulbs	2/23/2008
Q: I forced alot of bulbs in pots for my house. I am wondering what to do with the bulbs until spring ... A: Thanx for your question. There's not much you can usually do with bulbs that have been forced. ...
Tiger Lily	2/20/2008
Q: How do I care for Tiger lillies in central Florida A: Thanx for your question. Tiger lilies prefer full sun and well drained soil. They are pretty easy ...
Autumn sage & cape honeysuckle	1/26/2008
Q: I live in Las Vegas. We have two cape honey suckle and 6 Autumn Sage. I cut them back to about ... A: Your plants are going to be fine. It never hurts to cut a plant back in the winter. These plants ...
bouganvilla	1/9/2008
Q: I have a giant bouganvilla that I have planted in my front yard. I live in Jacksonville, FL and ... A: Thanx for your question and I apologize that it took me so long to get back to you. I doubt if your ...
moving or prunig back a clamatis	1/6/2008
Q: I am in the process of installing a furnace in my garage, and the exhaust is going to interfer with ... A: Thanx for your question. I am sorry I was not able to get to you sooner. Prune the plant back in ...
winter maintainace for hybiscs trees	12/30/2007
Q: I live in Toronto, Canada and have brought 3 hybiscus trees indoors for the winter but they are not ... A: Thanx for your question. Your hibiscus are probably alright they are just going dormant for the ...
keeping geranium	12/12/2007
Q: I was advised that in order to keep a gorgeous geranium plant through the winter for next spring ... A: Thanx for your question. It is natural for geraniums and other plants from high sun, tropical areas ...
Oakleaf Hydrangeas	12/8/2007
Q: When should I prune my Oakleaf Hydrangeas? They have grown so tall in the last 2 years and I would ... A: Thanx for your question. My sister-in-law is called Heidi too. Prune flowering shrubs after they ...
magnolia bush	11/4/2007
Q: We planted our magnolia bush in the spring of 2005. We are in zone 3/4 and are on one of central ... A: Thanx for your question. Magnolia are supposed to be deer resistant but realize that when very ...
dividing canna lillies	11/4/2007
Q: I live in zone 5a in Iowa, (-20F), and have to dig up my cannas. I formerly lived in NC and never ... A: Thanx for your question. One thing I did in the past was to cut the stalk of the canna off about 6 ...
Asian Jasmine propagation	10/31/2007
Q: I have some asian jasmine (established for 2 years)that I would like to propagate some of it to ... A: Thanx for your question. Wait until spring and then take 6-8 inch green (soft) cuttings and strip ...
Alstroemeria Princess Lilies	10/28/2007
Q: I live in Ohio Dayton I like to store the lilies over winter how is this done A: Thanx for your question. It is best to grow Alstroemeria in you area in containers and then bring ...
crepe myrtils	10/27/2007
Q: 5 years ago I set out some 'dwarf' crepe myrtils. I prune them every winter. They were supposed to ... A: Thanx for your question. Crepe myrtles should be pruned after their finish blooming in late summer ...
lirope	10/24/2007
Q: Saw where you were looking to grow lirope from seed two years ago. did you have good luck? I have ... A: Thanx for your question. I am not from North Alabama so I think you must have me confused with ...
Pruning Lantana in Southern California	10/23/2007
Q: I am about to have Lantana planted from flats on two slopes. One slope will have the red-yellow ... A: Thanx for you question. I apologize for the delay in answering you. 'Radiation'is a bush-type of ...
Canadian Pot Mum	10/23/2007
Q: I just received a Canadian pot mum and am wondering if it can be planted outside and will it come ... A: The chrysanthemum is hardy from zones 5-9. You should have no problem with growing it in Maryland ...
Hardy Hibiscus	10/23/2007
Q: I received a hardy hibiscus in May and planted it outside. It was growing fine, with some blooming ... A: thanx for your question. It sounds like either a parasite or some kind of bacterial infestation. ...
Hardy Mums	10/23/2007
Q: Tom, I have 5 great looking H.MUMS. [bought them] I would like to propagate from these. How and when ... A: Thanx for your question. I won't laugh. ;o) Next year, when your mums begin to grow again, allow ...
spirea	10/20/2007
Q: every fall i used to cut my spirea back to about 9" to make sure i a great spring bloom. (sometimes ... A: Thanx for your question. When I was a kid, we had a spirea in the front yard. My dad hardly ever ...
pink jasmine	10/17/2007
Q: I need to transplant two pink (Japanese) jasmines. I live in Dallas, Texas. Can I do that now or ... A: The pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) is hardy from zone 8-11 but does best in zones 9 and above. ...
Winterizing a Peony Bush	10/17/2007
Q: I purchased this plant, (by accident) in the spring, and I need to know how to winterize it? I live ... A: Thanx for your question. You can mulch your peony plants with 3 inches of cypress bark. Remove the ...
cali lillies	10/15/2007
Q: My sister in law just gave me some cali lilly bulbs, and her plants have a sort of seed pod what is ... A: Thanx for your question. I think you're talking about calla lilies. These plants are poisonous so ...
begonia's	10/14/2007
Q: Can I bring begonia's inside to keep during winter? A: Thanx for your question. Yes, you can bring begonias indoors and treat them as a house plant during ...
bouganvilla	10/13/2007
Q: Tom, I'm in Scottsdale AZ. Can you tell me everything I need to know: Plant in sun/shade? How to ... A: Thanx for your question. I lived in Phoenix and Glendale back in the late 70s and early 80s. ...
coreopsis	10/13/2007
Q: I'm in zone 5. Where can I buy COREOPSIS seeds? Can the seeds be planted this Fall before freezeup? ... A: Thanx for your question. Coreopsis seeds are available at most garden centers, even Walmart. In ...
moving perenials in zone 4	10/7/2007
Q: I have moved a few blocks away from a house that I am selling and would like to move a few ... A: Thanx for your question. It is a bit late to be moving plants in zone 4 however, if you heavily ...
Crepe Myrtle	10/6/2007
Q: We planted our Crepe Myrtle near our garage about 4 years ago and now we realize it needs to be ... A: Thanx for your question. I would wait until next spring right after the last frost. Prune the ...
rocks as weed stoppers	10/5/2007
Q: I want to fill my flower bed with decorative stones to stop the weeds. I do have plastic down and ... A: Thanx for your question. Weeds always have a way of finding the oddest places to grow. Even ...
moon plant - bush	10/2/2007
Q: When do I cut this plant back? A: Thanx for your question. If by moonflower, you mean the datura, jimsonweed, Gabriel's trumpet, ...
Zebra Grass	10/2/2007
Q: We love our Zebra Grass. It grows beautifully here in NE Oklahoma. It is such a special addition to ... A: Thanx for your question. I apologize for not getting to you sooner. The only way to control these ...
lillie pods	10/1/2007
Q: I have multiple different kinds of lillies. The ones I am referring to are a dark red. they have ... A: Thanx for your question. The pod should be dry and brown and starting to shrivel. If you're ...
calla lily	10/1/2007
Q: I have a calla lily is a pot that I am planning on bringing in for the winter. How much of the ... A: Thanx for your question. I apologize for my late reply. Allow the plant to go dormant on its own. ...
Day Lilies	9/28/2007
Q: I received a bunch of dug up day lilies a few days ago. I have them in a bucket of water right now. ... A: Thanx for your question. Take the day lily rhizomes out of the water, this will rot them. If you ...
Mums	9/28/2007
Q: How can I make mums grow back the following year after I purchase them? I live in the northeast. A: One of the things that causes mums to die in the winter is the fact that the ground heaves. That ...
Fuscias	9/26/2007
Q: How do I winterize my fuscias? I work at a Dr.s office and our porch has hanging baskets and I ... A: Thanx for your question. The best way to winterize fuchsia is to bring it indoors, cut the plant ...
Perennials	9/25/2007
Q: I have a whole side of my house that gets NO sun at all. I want to have some pretty flowering ... A: Thanx for your question. It is going to be difficult to find a lot of flashy perennials for shade. ...
moon flowers	9/24/2007
Q: My plants bloomed beautifully and have since gone to seed? formed small prickly balls-- how do i ... A: Thanx for your question. Moonflowers are also known as datura and jimsonweed. All parts of the ...
Amaryllis Storage	9/23/2007
Q: I have about 10 amaryllis bulbs that that I transplanted in the outdoor garden in the Spring after ... A: thanx for your question. I keep my amaryllis in a long planter and I never remove them. I just set ...
Gladiolas	9/23/2007
Q: I planted glads this year for the first time and after a couple have finished blooming the flowers ... A: Thanx for your question. The things you speak of sound like seeds to me. They may be kind of ...
fall planting	9/22/2007
Q: I live in zone 6. Lakes region of NH. I want to start planting a colorful fall garden. Suggestions ... A: Thanx for your question. For fall color use chrysanthemums, asters (there are beautiful New England ...
Tiger Lillies	9/21/2007
Q: This is the first summer I have planted tiger lillies. They bloomed beautifully. Now my question ... A: Thanx for your question. With any bulbaceous plant, allow the green growth to continue growing. ...
planting mums	9/18/2007
Q: I wanted to plant some mums up in front of a guardrail that runs along our yard but was told that ... A: Thanx for your question. Sometimes plants do not do well if they are near the road line and a lot ...
hydrangeas	9/18/2007
Q: My Mom has 3 hydrangeas that she wants to move, she does not know the name of them but they bloom ... A: Thanx for your question. In a hot climate like Georgia, hydrangeas will benefit from some shade in ...
day lilies	9/17/2007
Q: I live in Rochester, NY on Lake Ontario...sandy soil. I got some day lilies in pots as a gift. It ... A: Thanx for your question. Your day lilies will do much better in the ground, however, if you must ...
Moon flower	9/17/2007
Q: I was given a moon flower as a gift. I planted it next to my iris and it has flourished. It is the ... &nb