Q. I gathered some bittersweet branches last fall. These are the decorative red berries gathered in the fall for winter arrangements in the home. I have saved some well-developed seed but can’t get them to grow. I stored some in the freezer for a time, yet neither did they sprout. I’m wondering if they must pass through a bird’s digestive process to sprout. The seed appears to be encased in a thick shell. If so, […]
Q. What do I focus on now in my flower gardens? Should I be pruning things before winter? Do I need to clean up the perennials and maybe put down some mulch? What do I do to get a couple of rose bushes ready for winter? – Mike Wadsworth West Lafayette, Ind. A. Autumn frosts will soon take their toll on the garden. Head outside with a pair of pruners and begin cutting perennials off […]
Q. I bought five new rose bushes last spring and planted them in front of my front porch. The area had been well mulched, and the usual clay soil was greatly broken up several years ago when junipers were planted there. The junipers became diseased and died in many places, so we took them out. We thought we shouldn’t plant anything there right away, so we left the area undisturbed for a year. I planted […]
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 two dwarf apple trees that are four to five years old but have never produced any fruit. I fertilize them every fall. Are there other things I should be doing? – Duane Nagel, Rensselaer, Ind. A. Are your trees blooming? It’s not unusual for dwarf trees to need up to five years before becoming mature enough to bloom. Overfertilizing with nitrogen, a lack of sun or improper pruning may cause a lack […]