Q. Last year, I put in a new lawn. It’s doing well, except, recently, it began leaving a rust-colored powder on my shoes. Is that something that will affect the health of my turf? — Jason Burks, West Lafayette, Ind. A. The powder is actually millions of microscopic spores produced by a fungus called rust. There are several different rust fungi that cause rust. The most common one on Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, fescues and […]
It is not unusual for annual flowers, such as impatiens and petunias, to look a bit peaked about the middle of summer. For some plants, such as pansies, stock and snapdragons, stress from summer heat turns off the initiation of flowers. But most flowering annuals are fairly heat tolerant and can be revived with a little pinch of their stems and a sip of nutrients. Though for the most part, our temperatures haven’t been all […]
Q. I transplanted and divided some peonies last year. This year, the foliage looks good but some of the buds are small and black and have never fully developed. What’s wrong with them? — Cindy Polley, West Lafayette, Ind. A. Peonies have few pests or problems. The most frequently occurring pests are botrytis blight and leaf blotch, both fungal diseases. Especially prevalent during wet springs, botrytis affects leaves, stems and flowers. Spots appear on leaves, […]
As the dazzling display of spring-flowering bulbs comes to a close, it’s time for a bit of spring cleaning. Now is the time to remove spent blossoms and prevent seed production from stealing needed carbohydrate reserves that can be better saved for next year’s bloom. Even though the foliage that remains is not very attractive and, in some cases, is downright unsightly, resist the urge to cut those green leaves off the plants. The health […]
Q. I used to have many kinds of peonies with excellent large blooms. But they no longer have many blooms, and the foliage seems to have some kind of disease. I am almost ready to kill them off. What can I do, or should I destroy them? — Diane H. Jungels, Rensselaer, Ind. A. Cladosporium leaf blotch of peony, also known as red spot or measles, is a common disease in Indiana. Look for distinct, […]
Q. We are building a new home and in the side yard are two, huge 16-year-old blue spruce. We are trying to save them so we designed a retaining wall to include these trees, but huge concrete trucks have had to go rather close to them. I’m worried they have damaged the roots. The trees have dead tips hanging from some of the branches. What can I do to help save these beautiful old trees? […]
Q. I have four large trees in my backyard, causing quite a bit of shade. There is a pine, an oak, ash an and a maple. The lawn is too dark for grass, and the quantity of leaves is overwhelming in the fall. I’d like to take down one tree but can’t decide which one. I don’t feel particularly attached to any, although the pine screens the neighbor’s yard somewhat. All seem to be roughly […]
If you saved last year’s poinsettia plant, and you want it to flower in time for the holidays, now is the time for action. Poinsettias need about 8 weeks of special handling to force them to re-bloom. Poinsettias are sensitive to photoperiod — the length of the day. Actually, it’s the number of hours of darkness that is most important. Poinsettias flower during short days, with long periods of darkness each night. In the home […]
Q. My Siberian iris plants grow and bloom well, but the plants have a dead spot in the center of each clump. What do I do? — Caryn Hildreth, Lafayette, Ind. A. Many perennials, including iris, grow in an expanding circular pattern. This is their way of spreading to new locations. This growth pattern usually leaves behind a dead center, which works to the benefit of the plant since the new growth is more vigorous […]
Q. How deep should mulch be at the base of a tree? I usually put a light coating around the trunk, in a circle, but I see some professional landscapers making big mounds. Does that keep more moisture in? — Shirley North, South Bend, Ind. A. Generally, a layer of mulch should be 3-6 inches deep, not a volcanic pile like you see around some trees! Even at this reduced depth, it should be pulled […]