Rosie Lerner
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? […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]