Q. Could you tell me about the weed in the attached photo? I see them everywhere. Last year at the Celery Bog park, I noticed big piles of them where someone had gone through and pulled them. Is it something new to our area in recent years? And is it considered invasive? – PB, Lafayette, Ind. A. This notorious pest is called garlic mustard; it’s an invasive, biennial species that quickly colonizes where it lands….Read more about Garlic Mustard[Read More]
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]
While some spring flowering trees and shrubs performed admirably this season, some species had few or no blooms at all. In addition, some plants were so late to leaf out they had many of us concerned that they had died overwinter. Some shrubs such as forsythia flowered only on the lower branches, where snow cover provided good insulation. While it is still possible that these plants may continue to show effects of the harsh winter,…Read more about Where Have All the Flowers Gone?[Read More]
Q. I hope you can help me. I like to plant a garden. My problem is my potatoes. They develop holes in them later on in their development. These holes are about a quarter-inch in size and about a quarter-inch deep. I don’t find bugs or anything else on them, so maybe it is the soil. I have rotated my crops, have tried different kinds of potatoes and, last year, and tried a kind that…Read more about Question & Answer[Read More]
Rhubarb, also known as pieplant, is an herbaceous perennial grown for its unique, tart flavor of the thick leaf stalks (petioles). Rhubarb sends up its thick, edible stalks early in the spring, a much-anticipated harbinger of the coming growing season. Harvest can begin as soon as the stalks are large enough to cut and continues on through late spring. You can cut the stalks with a sharp knife, but be careful not to injure any…Read more about It’s Rhubarb Time![Read More]
Growing your own garden transplants from seed may take some extra work, but it does have its advantages. You’ll have a much wider choice of species and cultivars since most garden centers have limited space and tend to carry primarily the plants that sell quickly. Rather than having to buy a dozen of one type of tomato when you only need one or two, you can grow just the amount of each plant you…Read more about Gardeners, Start Your Seeds[Read More]
Q. I am sending you some pictures of my shrubs that are in front of my business. This winter was very difficult on everyone and seems to have taken its toll on my shrubs. I think I know what your answer is going to be. But here goes! The foliage that has turned brown/rust color is on the front of all four shrubs. The backs are not as bad, since they were against the building….Read more about Question & Answer[Read More]
Q. I recently received a flower bouquet with some pretty blossoms I do not recognize. Do you know what these might be? A. Known as wax flower in the florist trade and botanically as Chamelaucium, this plantis native to Australia. The star-shaped petals come in shades of white, pink and lavender and some bi-colors. The needle-like, citrus-scented foliage makes a nice filler material for floral arrangements. This shrubby plant is hardy only to about 20…Read more about Question & Answer[Read More]
Winter’s howling winds and frigid temperatures are challenging for all woody landscape plants. Although our plants are fully dormant at this time, the plant tissue is still subject to losing too much water – a condition called desiccation. This year’s unusually heavy and consistent snow cover provides good insulation, and most plants went into winter with a good moisture supply this year. However, when the ground is frozen solid and freezing temperatures are accompanied by…Read more about Winter Desiccation of Woody Ornamentals[Read More]
Q. Enclosed photo is of a soft maple about 50-55 years of age. These brownish growths began a few years ago but were much smaller and fewer. This year they seem to have multiplied by 10 times. I’m sure the tree is doomed. Three soft maples were in our yard when we moved in 45 years ago. Will the other two become infected? – R.W., Crawfordsville, Ind. A. The good news is that the brown…Read more about Question & Answer[Read More]
