Rosie Lerner

rosie@purdue.edu

716 articles by this author

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Purple Coneflower Named 1998 Perennial Of The Year

The Perennial Plant Association has named the purple coneflower cultivar ‘Magnus’ as the perennial plant of the year for 1998. Known botanically as Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus,’ this cultivar and species was selected for its outstanding performance as a sun-loving, long-flowering perennial that is easy to grow. Purple coneflower is native to the midwestern plains, though the cultivar ‘Magnus’ hails from a Swedish nursery and is named for the plant’s breeder. Purple coneflower as a species…Read more about Purple Coneflower Named 1998 Perennial Of The Year[Read More]

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December “In The Grow”

Q: I have several hills of rhubarb. For the past three years, the rhubarb has had skinny stalks despite fertilizer, etc. Knowing this probably means I need to divide and re-plant the roots, I need to know when is the best time to do this. Also, I have red seedless grapes that are young and have only been harvested for two years. The grapes are sweet, but extremely small. How does one produce larger fruit?…Read more about December “In The Grow”[Read More]

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Please Don’t Burn Your Leaves

The recent Arctic blast that visited our area made for a rather dramatic leaf fall in many neighborhoods. With large quantities of leaves blowing around their yards, some people may be tempted to resort to the old-fashioned and effective method of burning. However, in addition to being illegal in many areas, leaf burning leads to air pollution and is a health and fire hazard. The smoke from burning leaves contains a number of toxic and/or…Read more about Please Don’t Burn Your Leaves[Read More]

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Please Don’t Burn Your Leaves

B. Rosie Lerner Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist The recent Arctic blast that visited our area made for a rather dramatic leaf fall in many neighborhoods. With large quantities of leaves blowing around their yards, some people may be tempted to resort to the old-fashioned and effective method of burning. However, in addition to being illegal in many areas, leaf burning leads to air pollution and is a health and fire hazard. The smoke from…Read more about Please Don’t Burn Your Leaves[Read More]

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Mulch for Winter Protection

Winter mulch isn’t necessary for all garden plants, but it can mean survival for some less hardy ones. Winter mulch has a different purpose than summer mulch. The main benefits of winter cover are to protect against wide temperature fluctuations in the soil and to prevent extreme cold temperatures from harming plants. The goal is to keep the plants dormant, rather than to keep them warm. If plants are kept too warm, they may break…Read more about Mulch for Winter Protection[Read More]

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Mulch for Winter Protection

By B. Rosie Lerner Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist Winter mulch isn’t necessary for all garden plants, but it can mean survival for some less hardy ones. Winter mulch has a different purpose than summer mulch. The main benefits of winter cover are to protect against wide temperature fluctuations in the soil and to prevent extreme cold temperatures from harming plants. The goal is to keep the plants dormant, rather than to keep them warm. If…Read more about Mulch for Winter Protection[Read More]

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November “In The Grow”

Q: I have hardy kiwi vines that have been planted for six or seven years. Last year they bloomed, but the blooms dropped off. This year they bloomed, and it looked as if little fruit set on. Then those fell off. What could the problem be? I was supposed to have both male and female plants. — Aldona Short, Valparaiso, Ind. A: Several cultural factors can contribute to premature fruit drop. Unseasonable spring frosts often…Read more about November “In The Grow”[Read More]

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Grow a Windowsill of Flavor This Winter

Although the outdoor garden may be getting ready for its long winter nap, you can continue to harvest the fresh flavor of herbs by growing a windowsill garden. Many herbs, including dill, parsley, thyme, chives, oregano, and mint, are adaptable to growing indoors in a sunny window. While some of these herbs may grow to be several feet tall in the garden, thankfully, they will be much smaller in the indoor garden where their root…Read more about Grow a Windowsill of Flavor This Winter[Read More]

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October “In The Grow”

Q: HELP!! The bagworms are killing my trees. How can I stop them? What importance are bagworms to the environment? Do they do any good? If stripping the tree of all its nutrients is their only purpose, I’m for trying to get rid of them! Besides killing my trees, they form a strong web that allows them to cling to the side of my house, my lawn furniture, the outside grill, etc. Hope you can…Read more about October “In The Grow”[Read More]

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Outstanding New Plants Named For 1998

Four new garden plants have been awarded the prestigious honor of being an All America Selection (AAS) for 1998. These new cultivars have been judged as superior in their class based on their performance in test gardens all over the country. Lemon Basil ‘Sweet Dani’ was selected for both its culinary and ornamental value in the garden. ‘Sweet Dani’ was bred by a team of Purdue University researchers for its strong lemon scent and its…Read more about Outstanding New Plants Named For 1998[Read More]

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