Q. I bought five new rose bushes last spring and planted them in front of my front porch. The area had been well mulched, and the usual clay soil was greatly broken up several years ago when junipers were planted there. The junipers became diseased and died in many places, so we took them out. We thought we shouldn’t plant anything there right away, so we left the area undisturbed for a year. I planted […]
Q. My ornamental grasses are still in place in my yard. They looked nice all winter. When and how do I cut them back? When do I divide them? –Fleet Walker, Nashville, Ind. A. Ornamental grasses can be cut back any time from fall to spring, but I like to leave them in place over the winter. They bring motion and texture to the garden when they’re desperately needed! By late winter, heavy snows and […]
Q. I had a severe problem with black spot on my roses last season. What can I do, and what can I use to prevent it this year? –Ruth A. Beer, Syracuse, Ind. A. Black spot is a serious problem on roses in Indiana. Black, circular spots with fringed or uneven margins form on upper leaf surfaces in the spring and summer. Spots may also develop on canes and leaf petioles when the infection is […]
Q. This spring I got two hibiscus trees and discovered they had spider mites on them. I took them outside and fought them all summer. When I brought them inside, the mites were still there. One day, I sprayed with a spray that I was told to use. They lost all their leaves. Now they are starting to get new leaves. How do I keep the mites off them? How do I care for a […]