| ASK ALISON PLANT & GARDEN ADVICE |
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| I hope you find this advice column helpful and informative...please feel free to contact me with your questions and/or comments. Please advise if you wish me to use your first name when posting the question. Don't forget the seed exchange....if you would like me to post your seeds as available for exchange please let me know. |
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| Q: What type of red or white perennials would you suggest for a garden that are a bit different? From anonymous - March 26, 2001 A: Personally, the following are a selection of white perennials you may want to consider: Moonflowers (they open in the evening and have a very nice scent), Balloonflowers, Gypsophila Paniculata (perennial Baby's Breath) or Liatris Spicata Alba (white Gayfeather). As for the red perrenials, I am partial to Cardinal Climbers, Maltese Crosses, Daylilies and Astilbe Fanal...although there are many varieties of Astilbe to choose from that are red. If you want further info on any of these plants please let me know. Q: "Hi Alison just to let you know the Maltese Cross and the Geraniums I planted last Thursday night are all coming up but I also planted some zinnias nothing from them yet"....any ideas? Anne Barnier - March 27, 2001 A: Great on the Maltese Cross' and Geraniums. I just planted them for my second set of seedlings. Zinnia seedlings do not like root disturbance, it is best to plant the seeds in peat pots or sow directly only after ground has warmed. Be careful not to over water to reduce mildew. Let me know if the Zinnia's start to grow for you and please keep me up to date with respect to if they survive the transfer. Q: How do I get grass to grow when a female dog causes patches? Any long term solutions? Anonymous - March 30, 2001 A: First, you can keep a hose handy and spray after each time she pees. This will dilute her urine and the acidity killing your grass. The vet can give you pills to feed your dog called Greenums that reduce the acidity in your dog's urine. For the patches gone brown, rake them first and throw down some grass seed. Try to keep your dog from peeing on that spot again for a while. Q: I purchased a Mandevilla, Alice du Pont, and any growing tips would be appreciated. Anonymous - April 06, 2001 A: These vines are beautiful, however, be forewarned about spider mites. The flowers on this vine attract spider mites in a bad way. If you want to have these vines in your garden I suggest planting them away from any area where you will be inhabiting for lengthy periods i.e. patio. As well, these vines are stated to like full sun although by mid-summer you may find they are starting to die off a bit. The summer sun actually gets too hot for them. I suggest putting them in a partially shadey area. As well, don't forget to pinch em back to encourage a more bushy vine than a long stringy one if left unpinched. Q: I have had a mock orange bush growing for about 4 years and it just won't bloom. Any ideas? Gerene - May 27, 2001 A: I know the usual about mock oranges with is they are pretty hardy, need full sun, are pretty vigorous (they can withstand up to 1/3 of their growth to be cut right back), that if you cut them back it will promote more vigorus and full growth but I was not sure as to why yours wouldn't be flowering. Through asking around a bit I found out that there are three things you may have to adjust. The bush must be in a full sun location, it may also benefit from a phosphorus fertilizer or bone meal but, most likely, it is the next thing that may be causing your problem. If you cut back your bush in the spring you are probably cutting off many of the flower buds as is true if you prune it in fall. So if you are doing this every year, try leaving it for a year and see what happens. I was told these bushes are much like lilacs (which I didn't realize I probably did at my old house because my old lilac never bloomed either!!!). You may think you are helping by pruning it but you could be cutting off future blooms. Or else, just cut off the dead branches in spring. Let me know how this works for you. Q: I have a question about Hostas? Can they be divided? Ann - June 2, 2oo1 A: Yes hostas may be divided provided you do this once the plant is well established...I would say 3 - 4 years after you purchase the plant to be safe. Once autumn comes and the leaves are pretty much dead simply uproot the plant taking care to carefully dig around the entire ball. Lightly shake off the excess dirt and divide. Replant each half of the hosta. Make sure to water once your replant it. Q: Our neighbour has an Arctic Willow Hedge that was damaged over the winter. He is asking us for advice as to when to "prune it". I haven't been able to find the actual listing in my gardening books. Any advice? Gerene - June 2, 2001 A: Ahhhh the Salix Purpurpea a.k.a. Arctic Willow Hedge....very common for screening. Arctic Willow (and Alpine Current in case you were wondering about these) are deciduous shrubs which can be kept to a height of 3 - 5 feet. Trim the sides of the hedge to encourage branching in all directions. Wherever you prune, the plants will re-grow and fill in. These hedges can be pruned at anytime except in early fall to retain their shape. Trim the base so it is wider than the top to allow light to penetrate to the lower parts of the hedge. They will form a dense, green hedge from top to bottom. |
| DISCLAIMER: I do not take any responsibility and am not liable for any loss that may occur from the advice provided on this page. |