Question: I have several climbing roses that have grown very tall, and they are out of hand in my garden. Should they be pruned now, or must I wait until next spring? MCW., Missouri. Answer: If you desire you may remove a few old canes, and dead and weak wood from the climbing roses this […]
Archives for September 2009
Planting Plan for Starters
Question: We have just moved to a new house, and the yard does not have anything planted in it—no trees, shrubs, flowers, or grass. What would you suggest that we plant this fall to get a head start for next year? BY, Iowa. Answer: The first and most important landscape problem is a planting plan. […]
Tulips with No Flowers
Question: Why is it that my tulips produce just two leaves and no flowers? The leaves are large and healthy, and though the soil is poor, I dig the bulbs every other year and work fertilizer into the bed. SM, Illinois. Answer: After the blooming season, the tulip bulb has the task of producing a […]
Tulip and Daffodil Bulbs Exposed
Question: Last spring I moved to a house that has a well established perennial border. There are many Tulips and daffodils in the planting, and although they bloomed well, the blossoms were very small. When I began to dig in the borders, I found the bulbs not more than two inches below the top of […]
Starting Pfitzer juniper
Question: Can you tell us how to start a cutting from a Pfitzer juniper? L.M., Illinois. Answer: Cuttings from Pfitzer junipers may be taken now although it is rather late. About the middle of September would be a better date. Make cuttings from new wood that is firm, using tip branches three to four inches […]
Tulip Seed and Blooming
Question: This summer I saved some seeds from my tulips. When would be the best time to plant these here in Central Indiana? Would seedlings be worthwhile? How long does it take them to bloom from seeds? SNB., Indiana. Answer: Tulip seeds should be planted in a cold frame or seed flat in summer. The […]
Spring Squirrels
Question: How can we keep squirrels from digging up our lawn and flower beds in the fall and spring? AK, Illinois. Answer: In the fall squirrels are busy obeying the urge of nature to store food for winter. They store all sorts of nuts, such as acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, etc. When hollow trees and […]
Over Wintering Coleus and Wax Begonias
Question: I have many geraniums, coleus, sultanas, wax begonias and other such plants growing in outdoor beds. They have multiplied rapidly this summer and I would like to winter them over for use next year. Could you make some suggestion as to proper pruning and subsequent care through the winter? Could they be grouped in […]
Non Blooming Daffodils
Question:I have a bed of daffodils in my yard that produces many leaves but no flowers. Are they too old? Or perhaps they should be dug and divided? LS, Illinois. Answer: Daffodils are rather permanent bulbs. They divide slowly and eventually each division becomes large enough to bloom. These slow growing divisions, if left undisturbed, […]
Bark on Japenese Cherry
Question: We have a two-year-old Japanese flowering cherry tree. Its bark was skinned about a year ago, and is bad looking. Is there anything I can do to make the scar heal over? GCS., Ohio. Answer:If your tree is bruised deeply enough so that the bark is gone and the cambium layer, the live tissue […]