Q. I had a severe problem with black spot on my roses last season. What can I do, and what can I use to prevent it this year? –Ruth A. Beer, Syracuse, Ind. A. Black spot is a serious problem on roses in Indiana. Black, circular spots with fringed or uneven margins form on upper leaf surfaces in the spring and summer. Spots may also develop on canes and leaf petioles when the infection is […]
Q. This spring I got two hibiscus trees and discovered they had spider mites on them. I took them outside and fought them all summer. When I brought them inside, the mites were still there. One day, I sprayed with a spray that I was told to use. They lost all their leaves. Now they are starting to get new leaves. How do I keep the mites off them? How do I care for a […]
Q. I have one ‘domestic’ walnut tree. Every year, just before I think they are ready to be harvested, I come to the tree to find it has been stripped bare. I assume the culprits are squirrels. How can I tell when they are ready so I can get to them first next year? – Irvin Goldstein A. Collecting the nuts before they are truly ripe would lower the quality of the crop. You’re better […]
Most gardeners don’t think about burying their roses, but that’s essentially what they should do to protect them from winter’s extremes. Similar to hibernation in animals, roses and other woody plants go through a dormant (rest) period in the winter. The first step to winterizing roses is to keep them healthy through the growing season. Gardeners should protect roses from insect and disease damage and maintain adequate fertility and moisture. After several killing freezes in […]
Q. Three years ago, I transplanted a couple of peony bushes, which were nice and green, from a neighbor’s yard. Last year, they were green in the spring but the leaves started turning dark brown, some black, with no blooms. This year was the same, except they had a few blooms before turning brown and black. Why is this happening, and what can I do to save them? – Jane Clary, Rockport, Ind. A. Peonies […]
Q. My rhubarb has some type of bug. It’s planted at the edge of my garden. It’s not as hearty as it was in the past, and now it has brown spots. – Phyllis Clark A. Crown rot can cause brown, sunken, water-soaked spots on the base of the leaf stalks. Leaves yellow, and stalks collapse and die. The disease thrives in waterlogged, heavy soils and attacks the crown and base of the stems. In […]
Q. I was given a large hibiscus plant as a house-warming gift. Several months ago, the leaves started turning brown, and I found tiny, white, flying bugs on both sides of the leaves. I bought a pesticide that was labeled for hibiscus and control of whitefly and mealybugs. I am on my second can of the spray, but the plant has not improved. What can I use? -Elois Goerz A. Whiteflies are common pests of […]
Are your posies looking peaked? Anemones anemic? Daisys in the doldrums? These are the dog days of summer and though our temperatures haven’t been all that stressful, most areas have had substantially more rainfall than usual for this time of year. While, for the most part, the moisture has been helpful, heavy rains can wash away much of the available nitrogen, making it unavailable for plant uptake. A bit of supplemental fertilizer, applied alongside the […]
Q. I have magic lilies that have not bloomed for two or three years. The foliage comes up in the spring, but there are no blooms in the summer. Do I need to move the bulbs? If so, when? – Marian Fouts, Walkerton, Ind. A. When bulbs (including daffodils) get crowded, they will cease flowering. If you have a thick mass of magic lilies (Lycoris &emdash; also called surprise lilies, naked ladies and resurrection lilies), […]
Q. I am wondering what kind of tree, besides a willow, likes moist areas. I have an area in our yard that does not drain well and was hoping to solve the problem by using a tree. I can’t use a willow, due to my neighbor not really wanting one. He is worried about the roots. Thanks! – John D. A. Plants may take up some of the water and could reduce the excess moisture […]