In the Grow (Q & A)

The following question and answer columns are currently written by B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist and are distributed to news media around the state by the Purdue University Agricultural Communications. Columns from June 1995 - January 2006 were authored by Bev Shaw, Advanced Master Gardener.

Q. I was wondering if you had any solutions for tomato rot. I throw my grass clippings on the soil to keep the weeds out. Does that have anything to do with it? – RM, Tinley Park, Illinois. A. Blossom-end rot is a common problem of tomatoes; it’s named for the black, leathery scar that develops on the blossom end of the fruit opposite the point of stem attachment. The black scar tissue is caused […]

Question & Answer Protecting Rhododendrons from Winter Winds Q. I planted a new rhododendron a couple of months ago, and the leaves are already turning yellow and curling up this winter. The plant is on the west side of the house, which was the sunniest location we have. Is there anything I can do to save it? D.L., Lafayette, Indiana. A. Extreme cold and high winds are especially tough on broadleaved evergreens such as rhododendron because […]

Q. I have small evergreen trees planted in my yard. They are the small, slow-growing type. They are around 8 years old. Every fall the yellow jackets start swarming around them, crawling in and out of the inside of the tree. They don’t seem to hurt it, but it looks like they are trying to find something – acting like a honey bee on a flower. But these have no flowers. They don’t bother us […]

Q. We have several firebushes whose leaves never turn that spectacular red in the fall. They just remain green until they fall off. We have fed them spring and fall, and yet there are several other firebushes, treated the same, whose leaves do change color. Any suggestions? J.L., Terre Haute, Indiana A. Fall color or lack thereof is affected by a number of factors, including genetics of the plant and environmental conditions such as temperature, […]

Q. I live on 6.5 acres of land that is completely surrounded by a few varieties of tall pine trees, over a hundred of them. When we moved here 4 years ago, the trees were very full and looked very healthy; however, this past year or two I have noticed many of them seem to be losing their limbs, starting at the bottom, and it seems to be spreading. We trimmed the trees that line […]

Q. I’ve attached photos of my hydrangeas. While they both produce blooms, both seem to have problems. The paniculata Vanilla Strawberry, as you can see, is kind of sparse, not full like others I’ve seen. I believe the other is an arborescens Annabelle. This one never grows more than about 18 inches high and gets very droopy, requiring a lot of water. Both get morning sun and more later in the day. Annabelle is shaded […]

Q. This year some of our peas started to die. This would start by the (rusty) post where my husband anchors a pea fence. Then the disease spread to other pea plants in the row. It went from the post and progressed east. The plants west of the post did not die. Attached please find a couple pictures. I’m sorry that I did not send this earlier, as all the plants are ready to die […]

Q. I have been wondering for several years why don’t we have any old-fashioned ladybugs? I know they disappeared about the same time Asiatic lady beetles appeared. I haven’t seen any info on this. and no one seems concerned about it. Is there no concern for an endangered species? Or is it only our area that they no longer seem to live in? – B.P., Orland, Indiana A. There are thousands of species of lady […]

Q. Could you tell me about the weed in the attached photo? I see them everywhere. Last year at the Celery Bog park, I noticed big piles of them where someone had gone through and pulled them. Is it something new to our area in recent years? And is it considered invasive? – PB, Lafayette, Ind. A. This notorious pest is called garlic mustard; it’s an invasive, biennial species that quickly colonizes where it lands. […]