Category: Advice

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When to Plant a Magnolia Bush

Photo by Fadadomar

TheGardenLady received this questin from Betty:

When is the best time of year to plant Magnolia bushes?

TheGardenLady never heard of a Magnolia bush; but since there are about 80 different species of magnolia that are native to the eastern United States and southeastern Asia as well as hunderds of named hybrids, there might be a plant that has the common name of Magnolia bush.

One difference between a bush and a small tree, TheGardenLady was told, is the height- a bush is under 20 feet tall and a tree is over 20 feet tall. So you can see how arbitrary the word bush can be in a plant name. That is why it is imperative to ALWAYS give the Latin name of a plant when asking a question about a plant. With the Latin name, the person answering your question knows exactly which plant to talk about.

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Acid for Hydrangeas

TheGardenLady received this question from Martha:

How can I add acid around my hydrangeas?

Because hydrangeas like an acidic soil – especially if you want the blue blooms- you can supplement the fertilizer and add acid.  Know that not all the hydrangeas will change color. Usually it is the pink and blue hydrangeas that can have their flowers change color, not the white or red hydrangeas.

Any of the following will help: aluminum sulfate (1/4 oz. per gal. of water) which can be bought in many garden stores, egg shells, coffee grounds which you can get free, TheGardenLady was told, at places like Starbucks,  ground up orange or grapefruit peels.

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Mike McGrath will be in Princeton on June 7th


Sustainable Lawrence Presents: An Afternoon with WHYY Radio Host Mike McGrath “You Bet Your Garden”

A Rare Sighting in the Greater Princeton Area

Organic Gardening, composting, Organic Lawn, & Organic Tomato lovers
Come to hear, see, and ask questions of Mike McGrath – Lecture
and Demonstrations, Q &A, A Book Signing Organic Afternoon

WHYY/NPR Radio Host of the Nationally Syndicated Garden program
“You Bet Your Garden” Tomato and Compost Expert Supreme

MIKE McGRATH

“Get Your Lawn Off of Drugs” and Container Gardening, Compost, the Best Organic Tomato Plants”

Former Editor in Chief of Organic Gardening Magazine
Garden Editor of WTOP Washington DC
Columnist for GreenPrints Magazine
Author of McGrath’s Book of Compost; You Bet Your Tomatoes, and
Kitchen Gardening

June 7th 1 PM 3 PM

The Lawrenceville School Kirby Arts Center
Rt. 206 Lawrenceville Boro

$5.00 donation at the door
Rain or Shine

For more info go here.

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Diseased Marigolds

                                              Alternaria

TheGardenLady received this question from Helen.

I just put in marigolds next to my tomatoes, as companion plants. I think I’ve overwatered them and it’s been rainy in Ithaca this year…White spots are forming on them. I don’t have a digital camera handy, or I’d show you what they look like. My daughter says they have the chicken pox! Do I dig them up and replace them with new ones or do I just try to dry them out? I worry if they stay, that they are diseased and will just get worse-maybe attracting pests… What’s your advice?

Not seeing your marigold plants TheGardenLady thinks you have diseased marigold plants. Heavy rains and winds can carry a disease called alternaria to ornamental plants. See here.

Even though TheGardenLady has not seen the marigold plant and the problem, TheGardenLady would pull out the sick looking marigolds which are cheap to replace. The reason for this suggestion is because you might get a similar fungus, a fungus in the same genus, on your tomato plants and this alternaria or Tomato Early Blight damages the tomato plants and fruits. See here.

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What to do with your plants when you go on vacation

 

TheGardenLady received this question from Steph.

I am going away for 4 weeks from mid-July and I don’t know what will happen to my plants! I can’t get anyone else to water them and I am afraid they will die…I’ve been nurturing them for about 1-3 years now…I have a ficus/rubber plant (Ficus elastica ‘Robusta’), a yucca (not too worried about this one) and still young/small Cycas revoluta/Sago palm. The sago palm is already suffering as one of its leaves is turning increasingly yellow, and I never know if this happens because of sun burn or lacking/excessive water. How can I ensure my beloved plants (I’ve even named them!) do not die while I am away? The only outside space I have is a small balcony which is west-facing and is battered by the sun from the early afternoon onwards (and is subject to temperamental UK weather).  

Going on vacation and leaving plants can be a serious concern. 4 weeks is a very long time to leave plants untended. Two weeks is about the longest time that plants seem to be able to tolerate. You are really trying to “push the envelope.”

I have been told that bonsai growers will rent a van and pack all their bonsai in the van and drive with the bonsai wherever they go when they go on vacation. Of course, this is an extreme measure, but it is a suggestion.

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What Are The Newest Plants This Year?

I am sure that TheGardenLady is not alone in wanting to know the newest plants developed for the garden each year.

Does TheGardenLady’s readers want to be the first in his/her area to have these new plants? Or is the gardener looking for just that special plant for just that special area in the garden – a new plant that might be deer resistant or color coordinated, like a hydrangea that changes from pale pink to emerald green, for the special garden or a  plant that grows a special height in the location planted.

To that end of being one of the first to know which plants are coming out in 2008, TheGardenLady has contacted Novalis, the group that introduced the Double Knock Out and Pink Double Knock Out roses.

Hypericum ‘Mystical Beauty’

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In recent years Hypericum has risen to the top 50 cut flower stems in the world, making it the most successful berry producing shrub ever. With the introduction of the Mystical Series, you can enjoy Hypericum that were exclusively bred for the cut flower industry in your own garden! What does this  mean? It guarantees beautifully colored fruits on perfectly branched varieties for your enjoyment whether it’s in the garden or as cuts for your home. A large red berried form, Mystical Beauty will fill your fall garden with interest and your floral arrangements with lovely colored hips! Hypericum can be used as a specimen plant or in drifts where they can truly show off. Rust resistant.

  • New rust resistant varieties
  • Bright yellow flowers in spring!
  • Salmon-pink berries are great for floral arrangements in the fall
  • Exposure: Full Sun Spacing: 3’ Average Height: 30-36”
  • Water: Well-drained soils Cold Hardiness: Zones 5-9

Continue reading “What Are The Newest Plants This Year?”

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Gardening In Maine Near Acadia National Park

 

Acadia National Park – Photo taken by beforethecoffee

TheGardenLady received this question from Clive:

I am a UK citizen and live in England.  Recently I purchased some waterfront land looking out towards Acadia National Park, in Down-East Maine. In the next year I hope to have an all-year-round house built on the land, which I hope to visit a few times each year. For the most part the land is wooded with some cleared areas going down to the tidal beach, with a deepish gulley as the boundary to one side of the land going down to the water. I am keen to find about any plants that I could introduce. I intend to keep the land (apart from a small grass-mowed area around the house) in a ‘wild’ state for the benefit of the plants and wild-life. Can you suggest any plants/shrubs/trees etc., that I might consider planting – given the fact that they will not be tended? The total area of land is about 7 acres. Any help that you can give would be much appreciated.

Congratulations on getting a summer home in one of the prettiest states in the US and wanting to garden there.  As a Brit. I feel certain that you will create a showplace. My suggestion would be to plant plants native to Maine. Of course, you can plant other, non-native plants, but this column will support planting native plants.

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Planting Flowers in Maine

 

TheGardenLady received this question from Maryjane:

I summer in Maine under white and Norway pines.  The soil is acidic.  I want to plant flowers. What suggestions can you make for raised beds?

How lovely to summer in Maine and create your own flower gardens.

Your letter does not say whether you want to plant annual or perennial flowers to enjoy during the summer. Do you want a show garden or a cutting garden? Or do you want to plant flowering shrubs like azaleas, hydrangeas or roses?

There are many annual and perennial flower suggestions for flower beds. To decide what you would like that grows well in your area, it would be nice to walk around and see what is growing nicely in your neighborhood.  Besides the soil acidity,  you have to consider the amount of sun or shade where your beds will be located; so looking at your neighbors gardens or public gardens will let you know which plants are most successful and which plants you like. Since you are writing to TheGardenLady at this time, you apparently want to get an early start on choosing your plants or seeds and won’t have the time to look.

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Outdoor Gardening Things To Do In The Winter

 

It is January and though it is winter for many of us there are still a few outdoor gardening things we can do.

If your ground is not frozen, you can still take soil tests  – take separate tests for lawns, vegetable and flower gardens or shrub borders. You can get your soil test from your local extension office.

And if you soil is not frozen you can apply lime as needed – your soil test results will tell you if you need lime (do not apply lime if your ground is frozen).

You should still be adding organics (your garbage) to your compost pile or bin see TheGardenLady10/24.

Whatever time of year, all year round, you can always prune Dead Wood on trees, shrubs and vines. Be sure the wood is dead when you are pruning in the winter and not just dormant.

But if the ground is frozen or there is lots of snow, this is the best time to be snuggled indoors reading all those gardening books you received this holiday season or borrowed from your local library. And now instead of fattening sugar plums dancing in your head, you can plan and have dreams of your garden in 2008.

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Taking Care of Ferns

 

TheGardenLady received this question from Johnathan:

My girlfriend just bought me a fern plant.  I never grew or even had
plants, but I just got my  own apartment. I need to know how to take
care of them and how to get them to grow up to 10ft.

TheGardenLady wrote the Dec.3rd post How You Can Better Help TheGardenLady so She Can Better Help you because letters like this do not give enough details.

There are so many ferns that grow to 10ft tall, how can anyone give you the perfect care for the one you were given unless you give the name of the plant or at the very least, a good, clear photo of the plant? What might be good care for one type of fern may not be the best way to care for a different type of fern.

Two websites that have photos of ferns are here and here:

Google places relevant and excellent ads on TheGardenLady blog. TheGardenLady does not choose any of the ads, she just writes the columns. But one ad on TheGardenLady blog that might have a photo of your fern is the company Paradise Palms.  On TheGardenLady site it is listed as Lady Palm Ferns and when it is clicked the company has photos of numerous different ferns.

Each of the fern nurseries has a phone number where you can call to ask your question about your particular fern. But remember, you have to give the nursery people more information than you gave TheGardenLady. At the least they will want to know the name of the fern you were given.

Or if you do not have a name of the plant, but do have a good photo, resend your question to TheGardenLady with the added information.  Or if your apartment is in the States, take the entire plant to your local extension office.

Good luck. I really do wish I could help. Even if you get the information you want from someone else, TheGardenLady would like to know what kind of fern you were given.