Rosie Lerner
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 […]
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
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, […]
Question & Answer
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 […]
It’s Rhubarb Time!
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 […]
Gardeners, Start Your Seeds
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 […]
Question & Answer
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. […]
Question & Answer
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 […]
Winter Desiccation of Woody Ornamentals
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 […]
Question & Answer
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 […]
The Big Chill
When winter temperatures dip below zero and winds howl across the prairie, gardeners may worry that their trees and shrubs are taking a beating. No need for doom and gloom yet – most hardy landscape and orchard plants are reasonably able to cope with most of our winters, including our recent polar vortex. Many factors influence plant injury, including plant species and cultivars, degree of plant dormancy and overall plant health. How low the temperature […]