Rosie Lerner

rosie@purdue.edu

716 articles by this author

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Gardeners reminded to protect pollinators

Pollinators are all the “buzz” these days with a federal proclamation designating June 19-25 as National Pollinator Week. Now in its tenth year, the focus of this designation by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and the Interior is to promote the health of pollinators, so critical to food and ecosystems. It may surprise you to learn that the honeybee is native to Europe and was introduced to the U.S. But there are also numerous other…Read more about Gardeners reminded to protect pollinators[Read More]

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Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs (HO-4-W)

Purdue Extension Publication

Correct pruning is essential maintenance for keeping trees and shrubs healthy in the home landscape. However, the thought of pruning makes many homeowners apprehensive. But this doesn’t have to be. This publication reviews the basics of pruning ornamental trees and shrubs in the home landscape.

Mystery plant, and challenging plant woes

Q.  I bought this plant from a nursery about a year ago. On and off, I’ve been trying to identify it with various online plant identification sites, but I haven’t had much luck. Could you take a look and tell me what you think? – R.E., Tippecanoe County A.  I believe your plant is one of the succulents belonging to the genus Kalanchoe. Because this genus is so diverse and numerous, it is difficult to…Read more about Mystery plant, and challenging plant woes[Read More]

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Why plants fail to bloom

Flowering plants that don’t bloom as promised can be a big disappointment in your garden. Reasons for lack of blooming are as diverse as the palette of plants from which to choose, but a little detective work can usually pinpoint the trouble. The most common factors associated with blooming, or lack thereof, include light, plant age, nutrition, extreme temperatures and improper pruning. Many woody plants must reach a certain age before they are mature enough…Read more about Why plants fail to bloom[Read More]

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Caring for storm-damaged trees/How to Acidify Soil in the Yard

Q. Several trees on my property were damaged during recent storms. Some just lost a few limbs, but others are split along the trunk. How can I tell whether the trees can be saved or if they should be cut down? What kind of pruning paint should I use on the broken branches? – I.P., Bartholomew County, Ind. A. It can be difficult to decide whether trees with severe damage should be removed. The first…Read more about Caring for storm-damaged trees/How to Acidify Soil in the Yard[Read More]

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Sour mulch can burn tender plants

Although the benefits of mulching garden plants are many, wood mulch that has been improperly stockpiled can lead to plant injury or even death. Young herbaceous plants are the most susceptible to such injury, which becomes obvious shortly after applying a hardwood bark mulch. Plants may look like they have been burned with fertilizer or pesticides, or possibly, are under severe water stress. All of the above could potentially be a problem, but apparently, we…Read more about Sour mulch can burn tender plants[Read More]

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Mystery garden volunteer could be giant ironweed/Garden Soil Samples

Q. This plant came up in my back yard last summer. It grew to over 13 feet tall. I would like to know if you can identify it. – R.D., Lanesville, Ind. A. That is an impressively tall volunteer! It is difficult to tell much detail in the photo about the flower structure, but considering the size, stem color and foliage, one possibility would be giant ironweed, Veronia gigantea. While this plant commonly reaches up…Read more about Mystery garden volunteer could be giant ironweed/Garden Soil Samples[Read More]

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Assess Pruning Needs

Now’s a good time to survey your landscape and decide what needs pruning following potential freeze injury late this winter, keeping in mind that not all plants need to be trimmed. Pruning generally stimulates new buds to develop and break dormancy, so this year we recommended delaying pruning to reduce freeze injury. We had mild conditions through midwinter, which caused some plants to emerge early from dormancy. The more recent temperatures in the teens and…Read more about Assess Pruning Needs[Read More]

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Rotten apples and Indiana Big Tree Register

Q. We have fruit trees, including Yellow Delicious, Red Delicious, McIntosh and Northern Spy. We use an all-purpose spray. The Northern Spy has very large apples, and they all rot. This past season, we didn’t get one good apple from it although it was loaded. What spray could we use for this, and what is this disease called? – W.F., Portland, Ind. A. Apples can fall victim to a number of different soft rot diseases….Read more about Rotten apples and Indiana Big Tree Register[Read More]

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Mild weather brings up the bulbs

It’s not unusual for Indiana weather to have trouble deciding what season it is. Recent warm spells have had many gardeners wondering what to do about bulbs, and perhaps a few plants that are poking their foliage through the soil. Just what should gardeners do about daffodils, dianthus and daylilies poking out of the ground? The good news is that no action is required. We’re used to seeing this happen in late winter during a…Read more about Mild weather brings up the bulbs[Read More]

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