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{ 355 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello, Maureen -
I’ve been following your column in the local weekly newspaper and enjoy both the information and your perspective on life. Today seemed like a good time to tell you that (finally) and also to, if my memory is correct, wish you a very Happy Birthday. Many years ago in one of our conversations I think you said something that had me realize that you and my sister share the day. At any rate, hope all is well with you and yours - and may your birthday be a very special day leading into a great year.
Best regards,
Bettie
Hi Maureen et. al. and Happy Day After your Birthday to Maureen. I attended the program today in Berlin and enjoyed it very much. I’m also one of three proud winners of the drawing. Because I was in conversation at the time, I missed what the drawing was for. You asked me to indicate sun or shade, I have lots of both and wrote sun, then shade though I don’t know why. What’s true is that I plan to put in a bed that gets mostly sun. If you can, please change my preference to “sun”. If you can’t, I do understand. Again, I enjoyed the program and your delightful humor and fun. Enjoy the coming months and the little miracles each day brings.
Sincerely,
Debbi W*****
Hi,
I am hoping you can tell me when I should uncover my raspberry color Hydrangea in Killingworth? I decided to cover my Hydrangea with burlap this winter to help protect it. (which I have never done before) I also put lots of leaves around and inside the burlap covering as well. I figured this might help winter it over. I plan on getting some manure to spread around it. How much should I use and when should I apply it? Plant is about six or seven years old and hasn’t been moved. I am hoping for some blooms on this bush this year as I only get one or two a year. It is in full sun. Am I on the right track? I don’t understand why I have trouble getting them to bloom, but they bloom all over cape cod. Oh Yes, this bush has never been trimmed as I have heard to say before on the radio.
I figured that the winters have been freezing the blossoms that were formed in the previous season. Do you agree?
Thank you
Jay, remove the burlap now, spread some aged manure around the plant about an inch in depth and it should do well in full sun. The buds should be just fine. I am putting an article which I wrote on Hydrangeas on my website shortly if you need more information. Good luck Maureen
Maureen,
First I would like to say that I enjoyed your visit with the Kensington Garden Club 3/26/09. I could have listened to you for hours. Second I wanted to know if you had a wonderful birthday celebration over the weekend. I did. Dinner and cake twice. I hope to be able to catch more of your lectures and have visited the web site frequently since Thursday. Keep in touch.
Karen
Dear Bettie, Thank you the birthday wishes and so glad you enjoy the newspaper articles. Take a look at the website and come to one of my Garden Earth lectures so we can reconnect. Maureen
Dear English Lady….can you tell me how far to cut back hydrangeas? or does one leave them alone? thank you so much…Deena
Deena
Please read my article about the Hydrangea by clicking the tab at the left titled Read This , Enjoy and happy gardening. - Maureen
What a delightful presentation at the Sprague Library thursday. Thank you so much. I am looking forward to a long and fruitful friendship.
Linda, Sprague Garden Club
Do you travel as far as Manchester to help plan a backyard garden? Also, do you plan in stages (do some this year and some next - to spread out the cost/work?) Thanks! Lynda
Hi Maureen, First of all I love listening to you when you are on WRCH 100.5. You helped me figure out how to keep the squirrels out of my patio containers (cayenne pepper) - Thanks! Now I need help again. I have a christmas cactus from my husband’s grandmother - probably about 20 years old. It was doing fine and now the segments are starting to turn yellow and are falling off. It is not looking healthy at all. What can I do?
Thanks
Hi Maureen: I spoke with you regarding that lovely pic with birdhouse and all the bright cottage flowers. What were they again? Oramental grasses? Shasta’s. Can you give me a list of bright cottage flowers for along my stockage fence. sun all day. I like the flowers with that white bird house picture. What is that choc. leaf one as well. I appreciate yourhelp with a list of flowers so I can do something with that empty plot I hate looking at. thanks Sherry p.s. I was sitting with the other English lady in the back. I was the first one to come to the lecture. i think you will remember me ha ha
Lynda
I am glad we had the chance to meet. Maureen and I look forward to working with you and George to create your garden in Manchester.- Ian
Maureen,
We enjoy listening to you on WRCH. Thanks for all your tips. What perennial plant/shrub can be planted in a partial sun area by the north side of my house. I want something that wil grow to approx. 2-3′ and, if possible, bloom. Thanks. Mary Ann
Hello Maureen, I bought a house last fall, It has a rather large What I’m told is a
Butterfly bush. Should it be cut back and if so how far ? also love your show on WRCH very helpful and enjoyable.
Kevin
Dear Mary Ann, the following are some suggestions for the north side of the house:
Azalea, Clelthra (Summersweet) blooms in August and is fragrant, Mountain laurel (extremely slow growing), Itea blooms in June and is lightly fragrant, Kerria Japonica blloms in late April and May, bright yellow flowers, but will continue to bloom on and off through the season and Rhododendron Yakusimanum - a lovely long blooming small rhododendron. Hope you can find one you like amongst these. Good luck Maureen
Dear Sherry,
Ornamental grasses, Shasta daisy, Lobelia Cardinalis, Liatris, Daylilies, Russian Sage, Peony, Ligularia, Summer phlox, Hollyhocks, The chocolate leafed plant was Eupatorium Chocolate (its a hybrid of Joe Pye weed). Good luck Maureen and I do remember you.
Dear Sandra, Make sure the cactus is in a sunny spot, away from drafts and water it well once a month. Do not feed it. Let me know how its doing. Maureen
Kevin
Your butterfly bush should be cut back to two feet from the ground and add aged manure around the base. Happy gardening. Please feel free to contact our office for any design help you might need. Maureen
Hi Maureen, Thanks for the info on my butterfly bush. I bought tulip’s at Easter
time, now I would like to put them in the ground anything I should be aware of
so they will bloom next year ???
Thanks for all your advice,
Kevin
Can A large angel trumpet tree be planted outside this year and make it through the winter? This plant has spent the summers outside and brought inside (after being cut back)for the winter. The plant is old and in a large pot about 30 inches in diameter and about 30 inches deep.
English Lady, Everywhere I look, I see read your wonderful articles and see your amazing love for nature’s precious gifts. This is simply a note to say THANK YOU for all that you spread and share in love. I know that all of us and nature herself are in gratitude.
I was inspired some time back to create inspirational note cards and one particular I am feeling inspired to gift you in honor of your passion in the world. I do not yet have a website for you to review my cards just yet, although with a mailing address it would be my honor and pleasure to send you my card.
Spring re-birthing blessings,
Renya
Renya
Thank you for your kind words. I look forward to your note cards.- Maureen
Hi Maureen,
I enjoy listening to you on your monthly show on WRCH. I hope to attend one of your lectures soon. I have a couple of questions for you. First, regarding my Black Eyed Susans (the large perennial variety) - for the past couple of years they have been getting black spots on the leaves. The flowers are healthy and there are plenty of blooms, but the leaves look terrible. They are in my front garden and get full sun all day. What can I do to eliminate the black spots? Secondly, my summer phlox get the white mold on their leaves - what can I do to get rid of/control the growth of the white mold? They are in a location that gets full afternoon sun. Thank you very much for your help. Also, I heard that you were publishing a book. Is it out yet? If so, where may I get a copy.
Every year we get grey mold/mildew on our squash plants. We’ve tried different chemicals, the latest of them being captan. None of which seems to help or get rid of it. Is there anything else we can try or do??? Thank you.
Carrie Albrecht
Maureen - I heard on light 100.5 this morning that you have an article about orchids on this site, however I cannot find it. Can you please tell me where its located?
Thank you!!
Linda
I planted early this year. March 15. Beets, radishes, turnips and swiss chard. Followed advice to plant as soon as gorund can be worked before last frost. There were no frosts, however it has been cold and wet. Radishes (already one harvest) and turnips seem to be prospering, although I am concerned there are no signs of turnip root bulbs and they are going to flower! Beets sufferig and dieing off. Swiss chard never germinated, and what did is week. I know beets and swiss chard are related (both doing poorly) and turnips and radishes doign well (both have similar needs). Does this appear to be more of a nutrient problem (high nitrogen, low phosphourous/pottasium) or damping off due to wet/cool weather? HELP!
I was wondering if you could give me any advise on how to get rid of the primrose that is overtaking my yard. It is full of prickers so it is hard to pull up and there are shoots coming up everywhere!
THANKS!
My Rose of Sharon bush has black, they look like some kind of insect eggs, on the end of the stems at the buds. What is it and how do I get rid of it?
Thank you,
John
I just bought a beautiful lollipop gerbera with one beautiful flower. There are a couple
of buds in the process of blooming. This morning, I discovered that one of the flower buds was eaten by “something”. I’ve had the same problem with sunflower buds. I keep the flowers on my 2nd-story deck. What is eating them, and is there a way to prevent this?
I also have questions about planting a green giant arborvitae. How far apart must they be planted for a privacy screen, do I have to amend the soil, and what is required for watering?
Thank you…happy summer!
I absolutely love you and all that you have done to help me with my gardening. My question and problem is that I have cats that love to leave me presents in my new garden and I have no clue as to what to use to make them do there business elsewhere….HELP……Irene
Hello! I have something eating my Blue Muffin shrub. The leaves have lots of wholes all over them, some eaten completly. I also notice some brown/black specks along the backs of the uneaten portions of the leaves. I do not like to use chemicals…is there a natural remedy to save my plants? Thank you!!
Maureen,
I have a 14 year old Japanese Maple tree that is about 12+ feet high. It is in the middle of our front lawn and my husband wants to move it. His wish is to move it to an area garden. We had lost our birch trees in this area garden last winter due to a terribile ice storm. He finds the japanese maple to be in an odd spot but I have sentimental attachment to this tree and do not want it to be killed. Is it possible for this to be moved and if so what would be the most safe way to do so? Thank you for your time, Erin
We live on lakefront property and having trouble with the messy Canadian geese.
Do you have any suggestions?
How do you keep birds from building a nest in potted flowers?
Erin
Moving a tree of that size requires many strong bodies. Your husband will need to trench around the base of the tree to create a 3′ diameter rootball that is at least 20″ deep and then burlap and tie the ball with sisal twine. This is something that needs to be done properly or you will lose the tree. If you are able to get the tree moved then plant it with lots of manure and be sure to water it. Another thought is to create a planting bed around the Maple and create this area as a focal point in the front lawn.
Best of luck
Maureen
Deborah
Please click on the link at the top of the page that says The Eco Shop and you will see a natural product to deter geese and other waterfowl
Thank you
The English Lady
Can you tell me when and how to move Iris and Hosta. Thank you.
Joyce
Be sure to use manure when you dig up the plants and move them to an area where they have room to grow. Once planted give them plenty of water. Good luck.
Maureen
Joann, put some small sticks on the edge container and loop black cotton around them and across the middle so that it forms an invisible covering. Good luck Maureen
Deborah, go to the eco shoppe on the website and click on for the product for the goose problem. Good luck Maureen
Dear Tammy, on the website click on what to use in the garden and then click again to order Pyola organic spray, that should do the trick. Good luck Maureen
Irene, try putting some cayenne pepper in the area where the cats do their business. Good luck Maureen
Joyce, on the website click on “what to use in the garden” and click on that site for Pyola spray, that should send off the scavengers.
Green giant arbs should be planted so they are six feet apart, mix manure, peat and kelp meal (which promotes root growth) in with the soil. Do not plant the shrubs any deeper than they are in their container and water deeply and thoroughly through the season for their roots to establish. Good luck Maureen
John, on the website click on what to use in the garden and you will find an organic product to help with the tree. Rose of Sharon must have full sun, good drainage and steady moisture to do well. Good luck Maureen
Kate, I know the feeling that primrose called the evening primrose is really rampant and the only way to get rid of it organically is to pull it up and throw it away in the garbage. Good luck Maureen
Jeff, Did you add some lime, and a combo of two handfulls per sq yd of blood meal, bone meal and fish fertilizer to the soil before planting? However, if you used a copious amount of manure that gives any veg garden a good kick start and with the weather we have been experiencing I do believe that damping off will definitely be a part of the veg garden problem this season. In the meantime good luck with any produce that comes in well for you. Regards, Maureen
Linda, look under articles on the website or in the search box type in Orchids. Let me know if you can’t find it. Regards Maureen
Marcia, unfortunately the angel trumpet tree will not survive outdoors through our winters. It would need to be in zone 9 to do well and we are in zone 6. At least you can enjoy it outside during the summer. Regards, Maureen
Hello,
I enjoyed this afternoon’s program at St. Mary’s in Manchester. What do you recommend for a compost bin? Commercial ones seem small and expensive. I have seen instructions for building your own, but since we are not particularly handy, I just have a designated spot in the woods for compost…not very efficient!
Thanks,
Deb
I missed your “recipe” this morning on WRCH for powdery mildew. Would you email it to me? Thank you
Maureen, I attended your lecture in Manchester, Ct., 6/14/09, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and enjoyed it very much. I am a member of the East Hartford Garden Club and in a month or so we will be planning next years programs. I would like very much to suggest having you come to our club and give one of your lectures. Would you please tell me the cost for your lecture and requirements? Thank You, Karen Johnson
I put tomatoe plants in about 3 weeks ago, and out of the 10 plants , 4 plants have come up with curly leaves in the middle. I have used a weak solution of miricle grow 2 times, and don’t understand why this is happening, the same thing happened to me last year but I had problem with more plants. Any suggestions as to why this is happening and maybe how I can stop it. Thank you so much in advance. Sue
Sue, the weather this spring is not being kind to vegetables especially tomatoes that need an abundance of sunshine to do well. I hope you put manure in the soil and I suggest you add some organic fertilizer that you can get from the garden center. Make sure you keep them well watered while they are growing as tomatoes are made up mostly of water. Good luck Maureen
Karen, I thoroughly enjoyed being with all of you. Call my office at 860 767-7319 and speak with Nancy and she will give you all the info.
Regards,
Maureen
Jane, obtain a one gallon sprayer and fill with water, add two teaspoons of baking soda and two teaspoons of vegetable oil. Only spray in the morning when the temperature is low. The 160 rule for spraying applies because if the temp is 80 and the humidity is 80 = 160 its too hot to spray. Good luck Maureen
Deb, A structure is not necessary for the compost pile as long as the volume of material is at least three cubic yards. However, if you want a structure, the following is a simple one to make:
Wood and wire compost bin - Build a 3ft x 3ft portable bin using four sides made of 3ft x 3ft pieces of 1/2″ hardware cloth fastened to 2 x 4s. Hinge one of the sides and place hooks and eyes on the edge opposite opposite the hinges, creating a door for the bin. Set up the bin close to your garden; when the bin is full, move it to another convenient location and begin a new pile. I will put an article on the website in the next week on composting. Good luck Maureen
Good luck
Carrie, it sounds like downy mildew. Immediately remove and destroy all vines affected and dispose of them in the trash. To avoid squash diseases choose resistant cultivars, rotate crops and choose planting sites with good air circulation and excellent drainage. Water the soil and not the foliage and don’t handle plants when they are wet. Dig weeds by hand and put down a thick mulch of hay, straw or leaves. Good luck Maureen
Dear Carmela, A fungal disease causes black spot especially in damp weather. Take off all damaged leaves, don’ t splash the foliage when watering . Water in the morning and spray with an organic fugicidal soap. Good luck Maureen
Carmela, I hope to get my book published by the fall and will have info on my website for people to obtain it. Thank you for your interest. Maureen
Dear Maureen,
I very much enjoy your talks on WRCH 100.5 and I always learn so much from you. Last week you mentioned using chewing gum in mole tunnels. I have moles in epidemic proportions and have tried various methods to rid them from my yard, but never heard of chewing gum. I am willing to give this a try and hopefully choke all the moles I can!! Is this chewed or unchewed gum?
Thanks so much
Debbie
Debbie, chewed with a little flavor left in it is good and also try exlax (because we all know what exlax does). Moles certainly really epidemic. You can also check on my website “what to use in the garden” and click there for an organic mole repellent. Good luck Maureen
I just planted a garden with hosta, bleeding heart, brunnera, ferns and virginia bluebell. Most of the plants are doing fine, but something is eating the virginia bluebell. It has round holes in the leaves and much of the leaf is disappearing!!!
Any thoughts? Slugs?
Thanks, Delores
Dolores, it definitely sounds like slugs. Slugs love moist surroundings and we’ve certainly got that with all the rain.
1. armed with a flashlight, handpick slugs at night and drop them in a bucket of soapy water.
2. Sink shallow containers like tuna fish cans of beer in soil near plants, put a cover with holes so that beer will not be diluted by rain or other animals drinking it.
3. Put spoilt yogurt in cans for the same effect
4. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the stem bases of your plants.
5. Repel them with an oak leaf mulch or drench the soil with wormwood tea.
Try any one of the above and I hope it helps. Good luck Maureen
HELP! I have these VERY fine-stemmed vines growing EVERYWHERE in my garden! How do I get ride of them? I keep pulling them, but they come back even worse! (Thanks!!)
Claudia, You need to keep pulling them up as part of your weeding regime. Do not use chemicals, stay organic and help heal our planet. I have the same problem with these weedy vines, especially with all the rain, they are really prolific. Its a matter of keeping the garden clean, which means healthy and getting a bit of exercise. Good luck Maureen
Love your radio and one of these days I’ll get to a show that’s not sold out.
Had this cherry looking tree, grew wild, nice for three years that suddenly died. Dug below the surface and found a circular knot like those apples trees in “The Wizard of Oz.”
Sound like disease to you?
Could someone who hates your trees feed it something like anti-freeze or something else to kill it without killing surrounding fauna?
Kyle
Maureen, I really enjoyed you at st. mary’s Church in Manchester, CT. I have a really large Bleeding Heart. When Is the best time to split it and how do I do it safely?
Thanks,
Brenda Knickerbocker
Dear Brenda, I really enjoyed being with all of you at St. Mary’s the other Sunday and felt your enthusiasm for your gardens.
The best time to divide any perennial is right after they finish blooming. Separate the overgrown plant with two forks back to back . Press the handles of the forks together; then force them apart to lever and split the clump of the Bleeding Heart in two. Split the two sections in half the same way. Cut away any woody shoots and dead roots from the divisions. Plant the divisions immediately not any deeper than they were originally, put manure in the soil planting mix and water well. Good luck Maureen
Kyle, it sounds like a canker disease that affects many fruiting type trees. The girdling of the roots from this disease causes the tree to die. Poor drainage also adds to the problem. Do not plant a tree in the same place, as this disease is carried in the soil. Maureen
Hi Maureen
Help!! The deer have munched my day lily buds and I believe they have started on my tall phlox. Any suggestions? Thank you
Karen
Hello
I enjoy listening to you over the radio. I do have a problem with my rose plants. They flowered beautifully last month but now i see the leaves disappearing on the rose bushes and they seem to be dying. Can you help!!!
Maureen: I have many stella diorio lillys, they bloom for a few weeks and then go to seed. I am dead-heading all the time. how can I prevent them from seeding too soon.
I have violets overtaking my stone patio. How do you get rid of them?
I” appreciate some help for my trees, first summer they did very good. This summer not so good. dry looking burned, and more. I have follows the instructions since day one but no luck. it the {blue point juniper} ever green. thankyou.
Ian - here is the recipe for Bannana Nut Bread (my grandmother Cameron’s)
1/4c shortening, 3/4c white sugar, 3/4c sour milk (dollop of vinegar in room temp. milk), 2c flour, 1 egg, 1/2tsp soda, 1/2tsp baking powder, 1/4tsp salt, 1/2cnuts, 2 bannanas, mashed. Cream shortening and sugar, add egg, then milk slowly with flour,soda, powder and salt, then nuts and bannanas, folding just enough to mix. Bake in loaf pan 1 hour. Enjoy! George nixed the idea of the hammock, so thanks, but not just yet. The tap is still leaking and the grass is not growing! I think the rain drowned it~ Lynda
Rose, This season is very hard on all plants. Beginning last winter, the cold drying winds played havoc with the evergreens and all the rain and lack of sun is not helping any trees, shrubs or perennials. Be patient and hopefully August and September will bring good nourishing sunshine and all the plants will rebound. In August, apply an inch of aged manure from the garden around in all the borders and around the trees. Keep the garden clean, deadhead and re-edge the borders for a crisp look. Good luck Maureen
All roses are having trouble because of lack of sun and too much moisture. Keep the ground clean around them, pick up any diseased leaves, and adapt a “wait and see attitude” until the sun comes out. Do not feed. Maureen
Karen, check the website, “what to use in the garden” and click on for an organic deer repellent. The deer have started on my summer phlox and I need to go out and spray this morning before it gets too warm. Good luck Maureen
Maureen, I love to listen to you in the morning on 100.5. As a result, I am getting interested in putting flowers and shrubs outside and looking for lots of color. A couple of questions….my rhododendron bushes are very large. Can they be pruned back? Right now there is lots of new growth — if we prune that off and reshape the bush some, will it flower in the spring? What is the best time and how low should we go??
Second — I would love to add some Tiger Lilies to my rock garden. When is the best time to plant them? Do they come in a pot or do I need to plant bulbs for next year?
p.s. My Hydrangeas are beautiful!!
Help1 the voles are still active and destroying my perennial bed. I’ve tried mole/volex, used cat liter, smoke bombs, the water bottle to create a vibration and flushing out the tunnels by running water from my hose through their tunnels.
What else can I do?
Debbie
Paula, prune the rhododendron, right after it has finished blooming in the spring, prune from the bottom up and from the inside out, but only by a third each season.
Tiger lilies, plant in September in full to part sun in deep fertile but well drained soil. out of strong winds. Mulch with manure or compost or fine bark mulch to keep the soil cool. Deadhead after blooming and after the tops die, cut the stems to a few inches above ground. Maureen
My tomatoes have been struck by the blight. I’m really sad about ripping them all out and throwing away all of the full size green tomatoes. Is there anyway I can salvage the green ones that haven’t gotten spots or grown mold?
Karen, take off the green tomatoes and bring them into the house. Put them in a sunny window to finish ripening or in a brown paper bag to ripen. Enjoy Maureen
Hi Maureen
I just thought I’d drop you a line . I am an english lady ha ha , and came across your site whilst doing some research on landscaping companies ran by women .
I live in the North East of England and am currently keen to branch off from my fathers small company (based 200 miles from me ) .
Have you any tips with regards to my quest ? I feel even more eager having looked at your wonderfull site and work .
Many Thanks
Helen
I recently e-mailed a ? about my dogwood - bust since then I’ve been reading your comments on your website and realized I would like for you to come out and look @ mu to look @ my “disaster” of a garden and give me a quote on ripping it all out and revamping it - there is no “rhyme or reason” to the “things”" groving in it
Please call me at 860-627-5229
However - I work crazy hours so the best time to reach me is Wednesday’s anytime or after 5:30 on Tuesday or Friday
I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
white powder on hydrangeas.
Wayne, its powdery mildew. Buy a gallon sprayer - fill with water, add 2 teaspoons of baking soda and one teaspoons of vegetable oil. Spray in the morning but only if the heat and humidity combined do not total 160 degrees. Probably waiting until next week when the weather will be kinder is the best idea. Good luck Maureen
Barbara, I’ve passed the message on to the office and they will call you to set up an appointment. I’m sure we can sort out your mess. Maureen
Helen, I will be in touch with you shortly, when my feet touch ground. As you know during the season there are not enough hours in the day. Maureen
Hopefully, you will be able to advise me what to do in keeping squirrels from chewing the bark off my Japanese Maples. It appears the branches are beginning to die off, and eventually I’m afraid I will lose the trees. Lynne
Hi Maureen, I have a friend who has a Duranta. It is very beautiful. She says all the leave are falling off now. They are still green. Not yellow. She has it in a sunny spot. I know it is a tropical plant so Sunny and water is good. Do have any idea why the leaves are dropping off?
I think my first message got lost.
Hello Maureen, I have a friend with a Duranta plant. It is very beauful. The problem is that the leaves are falling off. The leaves a green. I could understand if they were yellow. I know that the plant is tropical. And she has it in in sunny warm place. She waters it regular. Can you help with this problem? Kathy
Kathy, I think your friend may be over watering the Duranta, which is a member of the Verbena family. Only water when the top four inches of the soil are dry and do not fertilize it now while it is in a shocky condition. Take it inside for the winter in a sunny room away from temperature changes and draughts. Maureen
Lynne, check the website “what to use in the garden” and click on the site and check the organic deer repellent, it will also work on squirrels. For a home remedy try cayenne pepper at the base of the tree or put a mesh screen around the trunk or wrap with burlap. Maureen
Hi, I have 3 hydrangea plants, which are huge, the blue ones flower all summer but the pink, purple on only had one bloom this summer. Now my question is: I do not cut the old twigs on the plant until Aug., read that somewhere, but how can I downsize my bushes. They are over 4 feet tall and around 8 feet in circumference. They are overtaking my other bushes. My husband wants to cut them down real low and I’m afraid they will not do good again. Any help you can give me. I tried going on your website search engine but I can’t find it, I’m computer illiterate on these things.
Thank you,
Toni
My black eyed susans look beautiful at first, but they grow so tall they just fall over. What can be done so this won’t happen next year?
Thank you
Hello -
I hope I will not be the only person writing to you about this column, but I was heartbroken that someone whose business promotes healing the earth one garden at a time would write an entire column promoting winged euonymus for fall color. For almost a decade now, the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) has been working to make state residents aware of the environmental damage caused by non-native invasive plant species. A list of the top ten worst invasives always includes the winged euonymus, precisely for the reasons you pormoted it in your column, self-fertility, large fruit set, and adaptability to diverse growing conditions.
I hope you will take a look at the materials put together by the Connecticut Invasive Plant Council and CIPWG and will consider writing a retraction of your recommendation in a future column.
Thank you.
Heather Crawford
former member CIPWG
Madison Conservation Commission
Maureen, I have a huge rhodendron on the side of my house, I want to cut it back, when it the right time? How do I do it?
Dear Maureen:
Thanks for the opportunity to ask questions…I have 3 different types of Clamatis. I don’t know their names, but one blooms extra large saucer size white flowers, another blooms the same type of white flowers, but they are about half the size; the 3rd one is a more common purple flower. Right now they are all out of bloom and look like they are dead (all dead leaves with some green). My husband insist that I cut them back, but I think I will kill the plants if I do. Please tell me how to trim the dead leaves/stems without affecting the plant. Thanks so much!
Kay, Clematis does not need to be pruned to promote flowering , in fact pruning can reduce flowering; however, plants may need to be cut back to prevent an untidy tangle of shoots. The large flowering hybrids can be cut back in late winter to 12 inches from the ground and the small flowering species can be cut back immediately after flowering to keep them within their space. Good luck Maureen
Linda, the right time is as soon as the rhododendron has finished blooming to control size and shape. Cut the branches to the shape and size you want, making clean cuts with sharp tools , cut just above small green buds on young plants and for straggly old shrubs cut back in early spring to within three feet from the ground . A rhododendron can also be relocated as it is shallow rooted and is amongst the easiest plant to transplant, but no deeper than it is in the ground now and with manure and peat in the planting hole mix and keep it well watered. Good luck Maureen
Dear Heather, thank you for your comments and drawing my attention to the article I was not aware was being printed. I wrote that article many years ago before this non native plant became the trouble maker it is today. I am writing a retraction with my next article. Again thank you and I am indeed passionate about healing the planet and not allowing any creature to over take others or the environment. Maureen
Nancy, all the perennials, grew tall this season because of all the rain, next season hopefully we should be back to normal and you will not have to stake the plants. Maureen
Maureen,
We truly enjoyed you presentation at the Rowayton Community Center last evening. We left after your lecture only because we both need to get to work early.
What a truly enjoyable and informative talk you gave last weekend. So glad we came. We love our Garden and now will tend it even more lovingly after hearing your comments. Thank you ever so much. You and your ancestors are truly treasures to a needy earth. Sincerely,Brian K
Toni, go into the search box on the website and type in Hydrangeas - an article I wrote on the care and pruning of Hydrangeas will come up to help you. Good luck Maureen
Dear Glenda and Brian, I’m so glad you enjoyed my talk last evening; it a pleasure to partake in an evening where so many garden lovers are on the same page as myself. Thank you for being a part of it and I and my ancestors sincerely appreciate your tender loving of this earth. Warm regards, Maureen
Kathy, yes the Duranta is a tropical plant with lovely racemes or panicles in summer. The problem could be that it is being over watered which can cause root rot. Check the soil and if it is still moist four inches down then wait to water again. Do not fertilize at this time of year or when a plant seems to be in distress like this one. Good luck and keep me informed of what happens. Maureen
I planted a trumpet vine about 5 years ago, it is full and still sending shoots however it has not one single flower on it - never even a bud. Is there anything I can do to hasten the blooms along ?
Where would I find on your web site ,the information on Hydrangeas that you mention the other day on the radio the other day.
I have a hibiscus plant that does not look good; I bring it in every year in Oct. and
keep it in a not too bright room and pretty much leave it alone except for water about every week or thereabouts. Right now, it got a bunch of yellow leaves which I pulled off and it has two buds at the top. It is very scrawny looking. Should it get cut back and if so, how far? After the two buds come out? Should it be getting lots of light all winter indoors? I go to Fl for 4 mos. in Jan. but my son takes care of my plants as he lives here.
Thank you
Fran, the hibiscus needs to be pruned in the spring by taking out the old wood by a third. Keep it watered in the winter when the top four inches of soil are dry to the touch, do not feed it and a sunny window away from drafts and direct heat is advisable. Maureen
Lorraine, trumpet vines take a while to bloom rather like the climbing hydrangea, which can take about four years (like mine on the barn wall, but well worth waiting for). However, in the meantime, prune the vine now, removing it from the structure it is attached to and see if the main shoots are very old. If so, cut them back to the strong young shoots at the bases of the stems. Then tie the pruned vine back into position on its supports and I think you will get bloom next year and attract the humming birds, this vine is one of their favorites. Put some manure and mulch around the base. Good luck Maureen
I want to plant rose of sharon. When is the best time to do so. I also want to dig up and move my Iris, when is that a good time.
Thanks
Carole
We have 2 intertwined clematis plants growing up a trellis, one that is supposed to bloom early and one that is supposed to bloom late in the season. Neither has bloomed for about 4 years. They face southwest and get plenty of sun during the summer. We get a tremendous amount of foliage, but no blooms. I tried adding lime early in the spring, but still no blooms this year. The greenery completely takes over the trellis, so it seems healthy. They are about 8 years old, could they be too old to bloom? What do you suggest to get blooms? Thanks for your help!
Julie, clematis does not need pruning to promote flowering , in fact pruning is likely to reduce flowering, if you have been doing that in the past. However, with the tangle you have you may need to prune a little. The large flowered clematis that blooms in mid summer can however, be cut back in late winter (March) to one foot from the ground. The small flowered variety can be cut back to keep them in their allotted space right after flowering. Add some manure and mulch around the base (the same as you would with roses). Good luck, hope you get bloom next season. Maureen
Carole, transplant the Iris this weekend with manure in the planting mix, but do not plant them deep, only enough soil to cover the horizontal roots to prevent them from falling over. Plant the rose of sharon next May. Maureen
I am planting my spring bulbs and I would like to know what the best way is to deter squirrels, etc. from digging them up.
Diane, the squirrels will not bother daffodils but if you are planting tulips or other bulbs, they do enjoy those, so buy an organic liquid deer repellent either from the website on what to use in the garden or from the garden center,soak the bulbs then allow them to dry in the sun and the squirrels will be deterred by this product. Good luck Maureen
My Christmas Cactus has tiny white bugs in the soil. They hop around whenever I water it. It has never been outside so I am stumped. I have had this plant for over 10 years without problems. Please help.
Cindi
Cindi, sounds like white fly. Buy some Safer solution, its of course organic, wash the plant in the sink and spray with the solution then repot the plant in new potting soil after cleaning the pot well with white vinegar and water. Good luck Maureen
Very well done site. Huge amount of information. Ian, trying to find the recipe for manure tea. Your organic fertilizer. Thanks Johnny and Debbie and Doby
Debbie, Johnny and Doby, the recipe for manure tea is on my February gardening tips which will be up shortly. Manure tea is the best stuff. Regards, Maureen
Hi English Dady, my question is, why has may purple grape vine grapes stop growing half way through the season. I used to get great full grapes in late Aug to Sept. Am I not doing something wrong? the vine is about 9 years old. Thanks, Donna
Can you tell me if it is harmful to put wood ashes from a wood stove around roses. Don’t want to kill them. Also if you have any magical way to get chipmonks out of the yard I would be very happy. I love to listen to you when you are on 100.5 in the morning.
Virginia, do not put the wood ash around the roses. Quite often people put altogether too much wood ash on the gardens. Around the roses, dig some cut up banana peels into the soil for potassium and calcium in the forms of egg shells. Maureen
Donna, grapes need rich soil in the form of compost and manure with a ph between 5 and 6. Test the soil, it may be deficient in nitrogen, potassium and magnesium resulting in the stunted growth. Use soaker hoses for watering and from May through August, keep the ground damp but not soggy. During spring through July position the grapes on the trellises so light penetrates through the foliage. Pick off leaves and small shoots near flower clusters to let in light. Remove or thin clusters to increase berry size and improve quality. Good luck Maureen
in February or March
I have a Harry Lauder walking stick that doesn’t seem to be growing. It gets new shoots that grow straight. Two years ago my husband cut the shoots but I told him that I would ask you before he cuts it again. I sent an e-mail but didn’t receive a response. Cutting or not cutting it is about the same size as when we purchased it, approximately 4-5 years ago. It is in direct sunlight. I have not fertilized it with anything. Any suggestions? Thanks, Luann
Luann, Do not cut the shoots and it will continue to develop, albeit slowly as that is how it grows into the wonderful contorted shape over the years. Just add some composted manure and mulch around the base but not touching the trunk which only encourages small creatures to gnaw on the wood. Good luck Maureen
My husband and I go camping in the summer. We have a place in Niantic CT. We spend our weekends there starting the end of April. The problem that I have is every hanging plant I have bought or any type of flowers I put there dies. There is very little sun, mostly shade. Would you know what kind of plant I could get there. I can’t put anything in the ground as the squils or chipmunks eat them, so I try to use a hanging plant. Thank you so much.
Rose Brown
I have two butterfly bushes in my backyard. I did not trim them back last Fall - my question is when is it best to trim them back this Spring? Also what type of fertilizer or supplement would enhance their growth? Thanks, Sarah
We have several lilac bushes, one older one, rather large (10 feet tall, about 10+ feet around). My husband pruned them (from the top) when we moved into our house 10 years ago. We didn’t get blooms again until 2 years ago. This week, he’s been pruning again, and I’m wondering if I’ll have to wait another 8 years for blooms. I do trust him when he tells me he needs to thin out the vines underneath, but he’s also an artist and sculptor, and the lilacs now look like lovely, minimalist sculptures! He’s left a generous gaps between each stalk of several inches, and it looks quite sparse. Is this the right thing to do? Obviously, it’s too late to discuss now, but …. Thanks in advance.
I was listening to you today (and I always try to listen 100.5) and you mentioned not the red stuff today (assuming dyed red cedar mulch) please tell me if it is detremental to my food plants. I put it around apple trees, blackberries, blueberries, hazelnut shrubs and a cherry tree. Any other plants I should be worried about.
Best Reguards,
Katrin Wood
Katrin, use the fine bark brown mulch, not the red, it has chemical coloring. Try to only use organic products in the garden. Take a look at the front page of the website under ‘lectures’ and I invite you to come to one that I am giving in your area, that will help you with organic gardening including the vegetable garden. I am sure you will find one as I am lecturing throughout the state. Maureen
Isabelle, Please ask your husband to put away the pruning shears. Lilacs should only be pruned about one third immediately after they have bloomed otherwise you are pruning the buds which flower next season. Hope you do not have to wait too long for bloom. Maureen
Hi Maureen,
I have a Wisteria that has taken off and continues to send runners all over, even in places that I don’t want. Is there anyway to stop this plant from over taking my patio? Thanks for your help! Catherine
Sarah, now is the time to cut back the butterfly bushes to about one foot from the ground, add some manure and mulch around the base. No other fertilizer is needed if you add a two inch depth of manure to all the borders. Maureen
Rose, Impatiens grow very well in the shade and there are some lovely colors in this plant. add some variegated vinca vine to hang over the edge of the planter and enjoy. Maureen
can i find out how to grow horse radish?? sun, part sun. can i use the horse radish root i can but in the supermarket?? and i’m sure there’s a lot more information i would need. thank you.
alice
DEAR MAUREEN….MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT LILACS…WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GIVE THEM A PRUNING OR A LITTLE HAIR CUT? BEFORE OR AFTER THEY BLOOM….? THANK YOU SANDIE WELCH
How and when do I cut back the hydrangeas? I had a couple of flowers last year, now on 3/19/10 there are a lot of very dry 2-3 foot dry stalks coming out. Prune or not?
Thanking you in advance,
C. Pasterczyk, So. Hadley, MA
Charlotte, on the home page of the website type in the search box ‘Hydrangeas” and in amongst the articles you will find info on complete care of the plant. Good luck Maureen
Sandie, immediately after the lilacs have bloomed, but do not wait as they set their new buds quite quickly. Maureen
Alice, start plants from root cuttings in moist, rich soil. Horseradish roots can grow to several feet deep, good soil prep will encourage thick, straight roots. Plant root pieces in early spring with small ends down and the large ends two to four inches below soil level, space them one foot apart. To control the plant either plant it in an out of the way area or dig up completely each year and replant. Water when needed particularly in late summer and fall, when the plants do most of their growing. Pick a few spring leaves for salads and use a spading fork to dig roots in mid fall. I also enjoy horseradish especially with some roast beef and yorkshire pudding. Good luck Maureen
Catherine, from April on prune it every two weeks, this will keep it under control and very likely produce more bloom. Good luck Maureen
Dear Maureen,
I was so sorry to miss your lecture today in Canton. A good friend of mine was able to be there and enjoyed it very much! In telling me about your talk he mentioned there was a brief conversation about your dog’s diet and veterinarian. I have struggled for years with my labrador’s grain allergy and would love to know what resources you mentioned.
Happy Spring… Jill
Just had an immediate question on my hydrangeas which are beginning to have buds on them……with the upcoming cold snap predicted for next week, should I cover them so buds won’t be damaged? I have five different ones in my yard and they look like they will all bloom this year. What should I cover with, if needed?
I listen regularly to you on the Wednesday morning radio show with Mike and Alison. Great tips! Thanks!
Linda, you do not need to cover the hydrangeas, they will be fine. Have a great gardening season and continue to listen to the show, for more gardening advice. Regards, Maureen
Hi Maureen,
I’m confident you can answer this question for me.
My orange poppy perennial plan did not bloom last year - Just the greenery. It had bloomed in prior years. What can I do??
Thanks, Jean
Hi Maureen,
I was at your lecture last evening in Enfield. Someone asked you about getting rid of clumps of moss on roof tops. I thought I heard you say “white vinegar”. How should I go about this? Thanks
Sweet Autumn Clematis - I’ve read it self-seeds to the point of annoyance. Of course I’ve already planted 2 of them. Any suggestions? (I have no problem digging them out.)
Woodland Gardens - I have beautiful woodlands behind my house, but it’s almost impossible to plant anything because of all the tree roots. Where we could get a shovel in, I was able to plant a couple rhodies and hostas. I can’t berm because of drainage issues. I thought of just throwing down a little garden soil and placing some more hostas on top which I’m pretty sure would grow down into the soil. Any ideas for me?
Grass burned by dog urine - Anything you can do to treat grass that is burned by urine from our female dog?
Thank you so much for all your help - Sandie
P.S. Do you have a nursery in Essex?
Sandie, prune the sweet autumn clematis hard now before growth begins, by cutting them down to just above a healthy pair of buds eight to twelve inches above the ground. I have three of the against my milk shed and this weekend will prune them. The flowers and fragrance are so beautiful in late summer.
In the shade plant azaleas which are shallow rooted and mountain laurel as well as perennials, astilbes. trillium, sweet woodruff,lamium, lady’s mantle, anemone, aruncus, campanula, helleborus, for late winter color, day lily, iris cristata and siberian iris, beebalm veronica and vinca minor as a ground cover. These are just a few suggestions for which you need only a few inches of top soil.
Sandie with regard to the dog problem, you have to water the area to help wash away the urine and try a spray of water, a little cayenne pepper and garlic in a gallon spray container, won’t the grass or the dog but sometimes deters animals. Good luck Maureen
Mary, 1 cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water in a sprayer. Good luck Happy you were there on Wednesday. Maureen
Jean, Poppies require full sun and nutritious (which means manure) evenly moist and well drained soil. All poppies need a site protected from wind and morning sun and afternoon shade is the best location. Poppies are happy if left undisturbed but they can be divided every five years or so. Divide in late summer as the new leaves are appearing from summer dormancy. Poppies make great cut flowers and should be cut when the buds begin to open. Recut the stems in the house and dip an inch or two in boiling water for a few seconds to sear the ends, stand the flowers in cold water for several hours before arranging. Sear the end again if you cut them while arranging. Good luck and enjoy the poppies which I hope will bloom this year. Maureen
Jill, the name of the natural veterinarian is Dr. John Oulette, 1260 Durham Road, Madison and his phone number is 203-421-3300. Good luck Maureen
I listen to WRCH everyday while I am at work I pay more attention when your on the air, because I need to hear what you have to say about todays gardens. For the last two years I have had a container garden using five gallon buckets and also decided to try 18 gallon totes without covers of course to try root vegies. I have to say IT WORKED I had beets and tunip radishes and potatos I thought that was pretty good. I have tried just about every imaginable vegie if it didn’t work I didn’t do it the following year. I did a LOT of test buckets just to see if I could do it most worked I tried things that people said I would never grow in a bucket the biggest challange was corn to find a way so that it would produce and guess what we had corn last year there was not much but it was enough I will be doing it again this year. I do have questions because I had a big problem with slugs last year could not get rid of them to save my life is there something that can be used thats safe around kids and animals?? The other is what is your opinion about the blight we had last year do you think we will have the same problems this year and what do you feel can help prevent it best? I lost a lot of tomatos from that. Also powder mildew on my cucumber leaves, yellow squash, and zuccinni leaves, any suggestions? I do know that the rain did us no justice last year. I think anyone who wants fresh vegies can grow a garden no matter how little space they have, the topsy turvvy and other products like that seem to do well I know folks that it worked for and some that it didn’t. I think buckets are best. A garden can be done with a little creativity and a green thumb. The cutest thing was when my neighbor tried growing pepers two years ago and couldn’t I decided to grow them for her we had hot pepers comming out our ears. I will be waiting to hear you on the radio..
HI, WHATIS THE BEST TIME TO TRANSPLANT A HYDRANGIA BUSH? I LOOKED UP HYDRANGIAS AS YOU SAID BUT NOTHING CAME UP. BLACK SPOTS ON HOLLY BUSH– IS THAT MILDEW? THANK YOU
I like to listen to your advice on NPR radio and now I need your advice regarding wisteria. We have 2 nice bushes growing along the fence and when we bought it 4 years ago it bloomed only once, the first year and never since. I tried to trimmed as much as possible what else I can do to force it to bloom? Thank you.
I am new to gardening. I have listened to you on the radio and read your column. I hope this isn’t a silly question but you mention using manure all the time and for March you said to not disturb soil around the roots but dress your garden beds with manure. Does this mean just put on a covering of manure all over the beds? If so how deep should it be? And then you just leave it there?
Thanks for your help and I really do enjoy listening to you on the radio.
Gale
I am looking to make a rock garden could you please help me in choosing the right plants. There is not direct sun where I am looking to plant, so I will need plants that will do well in the shade. Thank you for any help you can give me.
Donna, the following are a few ideas for the shade - not too large in size for the rock garden:
To anchor the rear of the rock - plant a serviceberry tree, a native tree, with smooth gray bark, early cream blossom and pink berries in summer that the birds love.
Azaleas, Clethra or summersweet - a lovely shrub fragrant, white in mid summer. native mountain laurel.
Perennials - anemone, aruncus, astilbe (so many lovely colors in this one, with early, mid season and late blooming varieties with foliage that stays attractive), campanula, lily of the valley, bleeding heart, foxglove, day lily, heuchera, iris cristata and iris siberica, creeping phlox, veronica, viola. This should make a lovely garden for you. Good luck Maureen
Gale, put the manure all over the beds about two to three inches thick and leave it there, it will gradually seep into the soil and help soil structure and awaken nutrients down below. Add manure now, July and October and you can cover with a two inch layer of brown fine bark mulch in late April. Maureen
Yola, on the home (front page) of the website look at ‘recent posts” for wisteria and click on that - it should help solve your situation. Maureen
carolann, transplant the hydrangea at the beginning of May and do not plant it any deeper in the new hole than it is now, add manure to the planting mix and keep it well watered.
No the black spot is not mildew but is a fungus. Prune off the affected leaves and spray with a sulphur solution from the garden center, either under the name of fungicidal soap or a sulphur or copper spray.
Good luck Maureen
Lisa, Whatever works for you, carry on using it - buckets galore! For the slugs put a rock or log near your buckets so the ground beetle can hide under it and they eat lots of slugs. Also around the buckets put a copper wire, you will find the slugs will not cross the wire. For the tomato blight - when the sun comes out in a few days put a sheet of plastic over the soil and leave it there until you are ready to prepare the soil for planting, this method will suffocate the spores of the blight. Good luck and let me know how many buckets you get to produce. Regards, Maureen
Jean, it seems that you have a poppy that only blooms every two years and is called a bi-ennial. If they have been in the ground for a few years you may want to divide them in spring or summer after the leaves disappear. Good luck Maureen
Can I put manure on my double knockout rose bushes to give them a boost?
I was referred by a friend and am hoping you can help. I recently planted some winter Daphne and spread mulch around it. I came home to find that my greyhound had created a big hole where one of them had been. I planted my garden in a raised garden, so that is protected. Any tips to keep dogs from digging around plantings? I tried sprinkling cayenne pepper and that was not effective.
Maureen, Last year total amount of bucket was 72 five gallon buckets and 45 totes heres the list from last season, Tomatos, Cucumbers, Green beans, Egg plant, Broccolli, Califlower, Yellow squash, Zuccinni, Kolarabi, Corn, Lettuce 4 kinds, Onions, Beets, Turnip, Carrots, Bussel sprouts, Cabbage, Radish, Cantalope, Honeydew, Water melon, Acorn, Butternut squash, Potatos, Sweet peas, Bell pepers, about 6 different types of hot peper, and lots of herbs. This year its will be cut by about half I am just getting ready to get started spring is comming soon have lots to do thanks for the info.
I saw you on Washington County (maine) TV. You were very informative.
When is the best time in spring to transplant 12-18″ blue spruce trees &
are they affected by wood stove ash in the soil?
Great lecture this evening at the Ridgefield Public Library! You mentioned a good hill grower, willow leaf I believe, but I did not catch the full name of the plant. Could you please pass on the full name? Thank you.
jean
Loved your talk in Ridgefield tonight! I have a Japanese maple whose branches are dragging on the ground. Is it safe to prune them now, or should I wait till fall?
Thanks so much
Red Lily Beattle devoured all my lilies last year. I heard that black pepper would
prevent them from doing it again. I already have several this year in the garden.
How much pepper do I use? Should the pepper be combined with anything else?Do I have to see the beattle and pour the pepper on the beattle or is simply pouring it on the ground good enough? How often do I treat the garden — once
a week or daily? I sure hope you can help.
Rosemary, put manure around the roses and on all the borders now and also in July and October - everyone needs to build up the soil with this wonderful organic matter. Manure is not a fertilizer it builds soil structures, retains nutrients for when the plants need it and is a wonderful all around great natural bi-product. Maureen
Jen, try hot sauce and garlic oil with water or as the farmers used an egg-water mixture. Mix 4 eggs with 1 gallon of water, spray plant thoroughly and repeat after rain. Good luck Maureen
Bernie, up in Maine the frost stays in the ground longer so transplant the small blue spruce as the soil warms in May. Put manure and peat in the planting mix. A little wood ash but very little is good in the veg garden for potassium but I suggest you test the soil to see if you have a potassium deficiency and if not do not use the potash especially if it came from trees that were chemically treated. Maureen
Hello Jean, I’m so glad you enjoyed the lecture and was happy to see everyone. The plant that will help erosion is Willow leaf cotoneaster. Maureen
Jan, you can prune it now to shape it and lift it up from the ground, as the pruning cuts will be covered with the new foliage growth. So pleased you enjoyed the talk. Maureen
Joyce, the red lily beetle is a real pest and I suggest the best organic way to control the larvae is to spray with organic Neem oil and when you see them you can also pick them off and squash them and throw them into the garbage. Maureen
I have a campsie in Niantic CT. I would like to know what kind of hanging plants I could put there as it has very little sun. Mostly shade and everything I have put there has died. can you suggest something.
I have a Clematis Paniculata and thought I read somewhere that this variety of Clematis should be pruned each year. Is this correct and if so when should this be done and how much should be pruned?
Many Thanks!
Nancy, prune now and remove all dead shoots and trim vines back to the first pair of buds. Glad you reminded me to today prune my clematis paniculata on the milk shed. Good luck Maureen
Rose, Impatiens enjoy shade and Fuchsia like partial shade, morning sun is best. Both need fertile, moist well drained soil with plenty of manure. Fertilize with organic fertilizer and water often in summer. Before frost take Fuchsia indoors, reduce watering, and allow leaves to drop. Water lightly until spring and then cut stems back to a few inches and in May repot if root bound. Good luck Maureen
I have an African Violet which has grown to just over a foot in diameter. It flowers for a long time (a dark purple blossom) and is very beautiful. Recently, some small flies (I believe to be fruit flies) have decided to nest there. Is there anything can I do to get rid of the fruit flies without harming my African Violet?
Thanks,
Stephanie
Stephanie, use any of the following as sprays: a drop of rosemary oil in water, garlic oil in water, Neem oil or Safer solution from the garden center - all of these are organic. I also love my African Violets and use Safer solution myself if I spot a problem, which happens often in a closed up house after the winter. Good luck Maureen
Hello! I love to listen to your show on 100.9! I live in Western Mass, and have recently bought my first house. The street I live on has times of brisk traffic, and I would like some suggestions for both noise and sight blocking plantings that won’t be too costly. The area is east facing and has full sun. Please let me know what you think.
Thanks
Suzanne
Suzanne, you can use the American Arborvitae that tolerates wet or dry soil, sun or partial shade, which grows quickly and has a narrow, upright form that will not outgrow its space. It is also has dense foliage which will help to absorb traffic noise Good luck Maureen
hello,
Last summer I planted some perennials (black-eyed susans) & slugs began to eat away! I did the beer traps which worked but I want to stop them early before the flowers bloom. Any suggestions? I need pet friendly ideas please!!!
Thank you!
Hi Maureen,
I heard your comment on Miracle Grow while listening to WRCH on April 15th. What other plant food should I use?
Thank you so much,
Kathleen
My husband and I have lived in our home for 19 years. When we moved into the home (built in 1860), we found this bamboo.
We have tried EVERYTHING to get rid of this dreadful plant. When it rains, it grows bigger and bigger. The neighbor has been complaining since it is now on her land. We have dug it up, put bleach on it, cut it down and many other things to no avail.
Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kathy
I can’t find the place in the wbsite where it tells you how to cure the tomato problem from last year. What do I do to kill the diseased soil. Thanks, Stacy
What is a good way to get rid of bittersweet vines that are taking over everything in our flower beds and trees?
You gave a presentation at the Enfield Garden Club on March24th and told us about some non toxic sprays to use on the plants to keep insects off them. Could you please send me the directions to make this solution? I am hoping it works against red lilly beetles which are now trying to eat the lillies that are just coming up.
I live in Avon, CT and had an unusual discovery today. Last fall, I pruned one of my Magnolia trees that was crowding our walkway. I made a clean cut of at least four inches across the base of a twenty foot branch. The branch was then thrown near a then dry, small riverbed, which runs through the woods on our property.
This morning, while walking down the driveway I noticed pinkish white blossoms peeking out from behind the trees alongside the riverbed It looked to me like a Magnolia tree was growing right out of the ground. To my amazement, the same Magnolia branch was lying just where I had tossed it, but now it was covered with beautiful blossoms.
There were no roots coming out of the branch and the thick end was just resting on the damp soil. I thought I would share experience with everyone and wondered how unusual it really is.
I just returned from my local nursery with a container of rooting hormone as I intend to try to give this MIGHTY MAGNOLIA another chance at becoming a tree to behold. I owe it at least that much!
A friend of mine told me that you sell toad houses?
Hi. We have a stream running along the side of our property which has dense brush in moist soil. Is there a way to get rid of all the junk (without the use of chemicals), and create a natural and pretty habitat for wildlife?
Susan, unfortunately the only way to remove the debris is to cut it down and then dig out the roots. I have a stream in the moist shade on my property and enjoy moss along the banks, together with some fallen tree trunks, great habitats for wildlife and some fragrant honeysuckle and summer sweet which keeps bad bugs at bay and encourages birds and butterflies. Maureen
Joanne, We do not sell toad houses but they are easy to make. I’m sure you have a cracked terracotta pot around with a large enough crack for the toad to enter. Turn the pot upside down on a shallow lid or saucer with rocks on the saucer, which need to be kept moist and place the ‘homemade’ toad house in a shady less traveled area of the garden to encourage the toad to set up residence. They eat about 200 of the ‘bad’ bugs each day. Maureen
Vic, that’s wonderful, however, it can happen. Your branch obviously had buds ready to bloom when you cut the branch and put it in the right environment for it to continue to put forth bloom. Definitely try the rooting medium although you may have to wait quite a few years for it to become the mightly magnolia, but well worth the experiment. Thanks for sharing. Maureen
Ellen, the only organic way, which is our philosophy, is to cut down the vines to keep them in check. By the way the bittersweet oil is also beneficial to counteract the effects of poison ivy, so at least it has some good points. Maureen
Stacy, check under garden tips and in the April tips you will find info on solarization to help remedy the tomato blight. Maureen
Jackie, Neem oil is the solution to the red lily beetle. Maureen
Kathy, unfortunately you have a fast growing problem. And wet weather does not improve it with regard to invasive bamboo. Chemicals do not work and I would not want you to use them. I suggest you cut the bamboo down in areas where it is most encroaching and you could also dry it and sell it as it is a valuable commodity for many constructural uses. Sorry there is not an easy answer. Maureen
Kathleen, on this website under ‘what to use in the garden’ click there for all organic products for the garden. Maureen
Deb, a carton of unflavored yogurt, buried up to the rim in the soil where the slugs congregate will draw them to their fate. Maureen
Hi, Do you have something to kill Lily beetles? I bought some sprays in the store and it lasts for a little while and then the beetles are back…They eat all the leaves on my Lillies..would appreciate any info you can give me.
Hello, I have a weeping cherry that did not look good at the end of the summer, most of it turned brown and looked like it was dead. Don’t know if we trimmed to early or to much. This year only 1/2 of the tree bloomed. What should I do?? and will the other 1/2 come back?? When and how do you trim a weeping cherry?
thanks for your help
Laurie
Laurie, if the tree was pruned too much the only remedy is ‘time’ and wait for it to regrow. Cherry trees should never be pruned in fall when their leaves are falling, late winter is the best time for deciduous trees when they are dormant to be pruned, which stimulates growth and the results are delayed until spring. I suggest you take a wait and see attitude. Put manure in the soil around the base of the tree for to replenish soil structure, do not fertilize. Call an arborist for a consultation to check if there is any disease in the tree that may have entered the new cuts after pruning. Good luck Maureen
Mary Lou, Use organic Neem oil on the beetles. If you cannot get it in a local store, click on this website ‘what to use in the garden’ and click there. Maureen
I have a calla lily plant that I planted outside, the problem is, it is falling over, do I need to plant it deeper in the ground? I would appreciate any advice you can give me.
Thank You
We are interested in the lecture on Fri-June 18th at Apricots(Farmington) with the American Lung Assoc. Is there a tea or lunch and what is the cost? Looking forward to it. Thank you. Sue
Greetings Dear English Lady,
I love listening to you on WRCH and have had to be careful to not be late getting into work by doing so!
We have forsythia that have grown at least six feet high and drape beautifully, but they are not very full inside - should we prune them more than just the trimming we usually do? If so, how much of a “hair cut” do we give them?
Thanks for bringing such pleasure to the morning airwaves.
Gail in Manchester
Hi, when is the best time to prune a japanese maple? Also our bridal wreath for some reason this year has bloomed green on the top of the bush only, the bottom has just branches. My husband pruned it last year, can you help? Thank you. Elaine
Elaine, avoid pruning the Japanese maple as it is leafing out now in spring. Late winter such as in March is the best time to prune this tree, the tree is without leaves and its easy to see plant form so that it could be pruned to good effect. Prune the bridal wreath after it finished blooming so it will have time to grow and set buds during the summer and hopefully fill in the bottom branches. Put manure around the base of all plants. Maureen
Gail, prune the forsythia when its finished blooming by cutting old wood and each year remove about one third of the stems at ground level. Maureen
Lucille, never plant any plant any deeper than it was in its pot. The Lily as all Lilies need sun or partial shade in deep, humus rich soil with manure, well drained and out of strong winds. Mulch with compost or a fine bark mulch to keep the soil cool. Water during dry spells and feed with manure tea, or fish emulsion from late spring to early fall. Stake tall lilies and deadhead after blooming. After the tops die cut the stems to a few inches from the ground. Deer, woodchucks and moles relish lilies. For deer and mole control check the website under what to use in the garden. Good luck Maureen
Sue, It’s a lunch at 12 noon and I suggest you get in touch with Katelyn M. McShane at the American Lung Association at 860-838-4363 as she is dealing with that aspect of the event. Maureen
Hi Maureen, I love listening to you on Lite 100.5. I try not too miss a show. I need help with my lilac tree. I’m really not sure about the maintenance. When and how to trim. I have some blossoms this year but it seems fewer than last.. Help!!
Marilyn
Hi Maureen,
Your son was very helpful yesterday. We are adding on to our outside deck, .. in front are many flowers that need to be moved until our new deck is complete. We had to dig up Iris’, Bleeding hearts bush, and a few others.
I hope to see you again one of these days, thought about you often. We met when you came to Fellowship church many years ago. A lot has happened since then.
So happy your business is doing well.
Blessings,
Marge
Marge, glad Ian was able to help yesterday. Hope all is well at the Church and I know Pastor Steven and Sandra are enjoying their retirement, I get the news from Don Robertson. Enjoy your garden. Maureen
Marilyn, a hand full of lime around the base and manure and hopefully the lilac is in full sun. Remove spent blossoms and remove the suckers from the base in November. Maureen
I have had a palm tree plant for years. We put it o0utside in the summer. It is now early May and I noticed it is sickly and has a furry like substans on it. Maybe some kind of bug. We keep it in the bathroom and there are no other plants in there with it. What can I do to save it?
Two months ago we had to remove a cedar tree from our ‘garden’. I asked the company to leave the wood chips for me so I could use them as mulch. I’m ready to use it now but recently heard conflicting thoughts about. Can you tell me if it’s safe to use these untreated wood chips in all our gardens, even up against our house (we have a stone foundation)? Will bugs or termites be attracted to it? Also, how thick should I spread the mulch? I was thinking 1-2″ now, then add 1-2″ more when the weather really warms up in late June.
Thank you in advance for your advice and I love listening to you on WRCH every month!
Dawn in Prospect, CT
Dawn, You can use the cedar mulch but as with low nitrogen mulches like wood chips the nitrogen level is temporarily depleted from the soil, so make sure you first lay down a two inch layer of manure, mixed with blood meal first to boost the soil nitrogen levels. You need to only put down one two inch layer of mulch in the spring and then again when you put the garden to bed in fall.
Richard, Buy Safer solution (sulphur) from the garden center and after running water through the soil in the bath tub for about ten minutes, spray the soil and the leaves and then repeat as suggested on this organic product until the furry substance disappears.
hi. I have Lilac trees in my yard. They used to get tons of blossoms, but as the years go on I get less and less. I had my husband cut off about 1 ft off the top of each last year, and still not many blossoms! What can I do???
Beth, why did you cut the top off? Just curious. Lilacs need full sun and lime and manure around them in early Spring and fall and the spent flowers should be pinched off immediately after blooming. You could also give them a root pruning when the bloom is over. About a foot from the trunk base, take a sharp spade and dig into the roots sharply which often encourages better growth and bloom. Good luck
Maureen,
I noticed an orange/red beetle (about the size of a ladybug) on my hybrid Asiatic or Oriental lilies the other day. Today, I found (and picked off) about 2 dozen more of the same bugs mostly on the Asiatic lilies, but I did find one on an astilbe. I have never seen these bugs before. Do you know what these bugs are? What is the best way to deal with them? They definitely were eating the foliage of my lilies as there were holes in the leaves.
Thanks for your help,
Diane
Diane, this is the red lily beetle that has been attacking lilies in recent years. Buy organic Neem oil from the garden center and use that, it works well on this pest. Maureen
Maureen,
Thank you so much for the information on the red lily beetle. I have another question for you, and it is in regard to a double mock orange bush that I planted about 4-5 years ago. It is about 5-6 feet tall and very healthy, but I have never had any blossoms on it. I planted it because I love the smell of the blossoms, and it is very disappointing to have none at all. I have not done much pruning of the bush because I wanted it to grow and fill in. What can I do to encourage blossoms?
Thanks again for all your help,
Diane
Hi Maureen!! Can you please tell me your thoughts on burying uncooked shrimp shells (12 inches deep at least to prevent rodents from digging up) as a way to create more fertile soil? My mom does it and I was wondering if it truly is good for the soil?
Hi Maureen and Ian,
I wanted to let you know that after all the manure I spread last year in my garden beds, I now have a few bushes that are flowering for the first time since we have lived here - over 5 years. As you say - manure is magic. I am off to enjoy the blooms.
Hello Maureen,
I have been listening to you on the radio for quite a while and have enjoyed it immensely.
I have two questions, where can I get an orange azalea, not coral, not peach, not pink, but bright tangarine orange?
Also, what would be a good time to move my hydrangea? It’s in the back of my garden and I would like to move it out so you can see it.
Look forward to hearing from you. Thank you..
Dear Maureen,
I really enjoy listening to you on WRCH and find I have a question. My daughter recently purchased a home with a beautifully landscaped yard.She has a wisteria(?) growing on an arched trellis that is quite mature and looks to be very healthy. The owner said it had never bloomed and it appears that this will be the case this year as well. What can she do to get it to bloom?
Thank you
Elaine
Hi
I am hoping you can tell me how to get rid of a pesty plant called Gingermint. Two years ago, a friend of mine gave it to me to put in my herb garden, and failed to tell me that it would take over. Don’t get me wrong, I love the mint, and I have since found another location for it, where it would not be such a problem. In the meantime, I have tried to remove it from the roots in my herb garden several times, but it is unstoppable. I have Gingermint in my Parsley, Cilantro, Tarragon, Chives and Basil. Any suggestions?
Mary
Hi Maureen,
Enjoyed hearing and seeing you at the Wallingford library. I have a problem with scale on my euyonomus. Oops I think that spelling might need help? What can I do to get rid of it.
Thankyou
Mary, all the mints are invasive, I always tell people to plant mint in containers to control it. So you need to dig up the mint and if you still enjoy some of it, plant it in containers. I will be going into the garden tomorrow to dig up even more mint as it continues to appear in my own garden. But if you enjoy mint tea and don’t like the aphids that munch in the garden, put some mint tea in the aphid area and they will disappear. Good luck Maureen
Elaine, check the home page of this website and you will see the article on how to get the Wisteria to bloom. Good luck Maureen
Melanie, a number of shrubs have been affected this season by that particular fungus - get a gallon sprayer, fill with water, add a squirt of dish soap, a teaspoon of vegetable oil and a dessert spoon of baking soda. Spray in the morning before it is too sunny and not when it is windy. Good luck Maureen
Frances, leave the poison ivy alone and stay away from it. It will not affect the water supply and there is no 100% method to get rid of it. Maureen
Carole, call Prides Corner nursery in Lebanon. Its a wholesale nursery that has Girard’s Hot Shot an azalea that has orange flowers. Ask them to whom they retail this plant.
Move the hydrangea now into the sun, and do not plant it any deeper than it is in the earth now and mix manure in the planting mix and keep the plant well watered. Maureen
Sara, keep spreading the manure and you will have the best gardens ever. Maureen
I am renting a lovely little house that has a lot of yard. I have been reading about your “garden not a yard” and found it very informative. However, I do have a problem I cannot get rid of. Grubs, and the moles that come along with them. I have tried putting non-pesticide solutions on the lawn, but to no avail. I have animals, and I cannot stand any type of pesticide (no matter how “harmless” ). Do you have any suggestions on how to get rid of these creatures for good?
A lot of back yard is “sinking” due to the lack of roots in the grass. Most disturbing!
Thanks so much.
Mary Crotty
Hi, I heard you speak on 100.5 while I was in my car. I thought that I heard you say that there was an organic treatment for lawn grubs. I do not like to use chemicals because my small grandchildren play on the lawn and I also have a small puppy. Could you help me with this problem?
This winter we had 8 pine trees cut down from our front yard. Now we have sun light and a clean slate for landscaping. We have a historic house and I would like to have plants that would reflect that time period of 1840. What plants would should I look into for planting?
I missed what you said about pruning lilacs on Thursday. We have lilacs that my husband has been pruning by taking out the large branches (low to the ground) to promote growth. We had a lot of new growth, but they didn’t seem to bloom this year. Any suggestions?
I enjoy listening to you on 100.5. I also enjoy the Friday Photos.
I have a patch of rhubarb in my garden that has been healthy for at least the last five years and when I cut one section of it the stalks were hollow. Any insight you could give as to the problem would be appreciated.
Beth, Prune the lilacs after they have finished blooming immediately before they set their buds for next year, by removing a few of the oldest stems a few inches above ground level each year. Remove spent blooms by pinching off or flower formation for the next year may be inhibited by seeds forming. Maureen
Charlotte, all the following are the old fashioned plants. Magnolia tree, crab apple and pear trees, serviceberry, native tree for early spring bloom, pieris, peonies (which should only be planted in September), lavender, roses,hydrangeas, viburnums, lilac. Hope you like some of them. Maureen
Joseph, on the home page of the website http://www.theenglishlady.com click on ‘what to use in the garden’ and you will see what you need. Our company is organic and my family’s landscape philosophy for four hundred years has always been organic, so glad you are doing the same. Maureen
Enjoyed your program at
the Plainville Woman’s Club. I have a couple of questions When do I prune a holly bush? And what can I use on my hostas. Every year something eats them. Thanks.
Kathleen, get a gallon sprayer, fill with water, a dash of dish soap, two teaspoons of vegetable oil and three cloves of crushed garlic and spray on the hostas to keep the munchies away. Maureen
Dear Maureen,
I planted beautiful mountain laurel plants last year and right from the start , some leaves
turned yellow and had brown spots on them. My question is, is this a watering problem? Too much or too little?, or something else altogether? Can you help?
Sincerely,
Robin
Robin, we have had plenty of rain so far this season, so you do not need to add extra water. The wind of last winter played havoc with the broad leaf evergreens, but they will bounce back. Just put some manure and peat around the base and mulch with a fine bark mulch around them to protect the roots (these plants are shallow rooted) and the mulch will also keep warmth and moisture in the soil. Maureen
Help…..I am trying to control a 30 year old forsthia …I chopped it down to the ground and of course it is sprouting back up…in lieu of digging out the roots…is there a killer like Brush-Be-Gone.,I would be successful with? Similar situation w/ invasive lily of the valley.
Thanks in advance, Dianne
Dianne, chopping the forsythia down to the ground, is not the answer, to keep it in control, prune out the oldest branches and the weakest of the new shoots. You are very lucky to have lily of the valley, which was my grandmother’s favorite. It takes about ten years for these plants to do well, and I suggest that any extras donate to other gardeners, I’m sure they will be delighted with this delicate fragrant gift. Maureen
We planted a pear seedling two years ago and now it is about five feet high. Should we snip a foot off the top so that the botton trunk will grow more branches and fill out?
My sister lives in South Carolina and is having a problem with brown spots on her Leland Cedars and Junipers. She said that it was from bag worms. She had heard on the radio about people having problems with bag worms and that there was something natural to get rid of them but did not catch the name. I beleve that she said that it was some kind of bacteria that attacks the bag worms. I told her that I listen to you on the radio and that you might know of something that would be natural or might know what the radio station there may have been referring to. Your help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
No Karen, I did not get it. Send it again please. Maureen
Nancy, your sister’s junipers and Leyland Cypress have cedar apple rust which is an airborne disease and needs the junipers, cedars, apple trees and Amelanchiers to take hold. If she checks this website under ‘what to use in the garden’ she will find an organic remedy for this problem, if this fungus has not gone too far. If it has infected over 50% of the tree then she needs to remove them and if the state allows, burn them in the fall. If she decides to plant others of the same species then she can expect the same problem within two years, as that is the life cycle of this disease, especially as there seems to be apple trees and Amelanchiers, host trees in the area. This disease can travel by wind up to ten miles.
Maureen
Hi Maureen,
My daughter, Valentine the Clown, Diana Sheard and I, so enjoyed last Wednesday evening with you in Cheshire, at the Senior Center. So Great!!!!
I learned more, of course, and wish you a day late belated Birthday. Enjoy!
I just came from having lunch with a friend at Whole Foods in W. Htfd, and grabbed my Thyme plant, Swiss Chard, Sage, and a cardinal plant that I am going to place in my one big hanging basket on my back porch. Is that a good idea?
Pat Senich
Maureen,
I have a huge problem with ragweed in one of my perennial gardens. I have dug it up for a few years now and it keeps coming back and spreading. What can I do to get rid of it once and for all? Will I be able to plant anything in that area? If so, when.
Also, when is the best time to cut back ornamental grasses? Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Karen
My lilacs are way overgrown, what time of the year is best to cut them back and how much can I cut them?
I also have a broom bush and was told I can cut it down to the ground in the fall, is that correct?
Can’t wait for you feed back
Thanks
Francine
I sent in a question about the pruning of a pear tree and I don’t understand what “Your comment is awaiting moderation” means.
Good morning
I have enjoyed listening to you during the week on the radio as I drive to work - I have found your advice to be very helpful - I was wondering if you might tell me when the best time is to prune holly bushes - Thank you for your guidance
Sue
Good Morning,
I have a very well established perenial / heirloom garden in Westfield MA. I love to take cuttings into my home where I can enjoy them all day. I have also started a separtate cutting garden. I am looking for ideas both perenial and annual for plants that are great for cutting but also appealing in the garden when blooms are taken. I have both sun and shade.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Charlie, some perennials for cutting are: Achillea Corontion Gold, Achillea Paprika, Achillea Summer Pastels (all Achilleas are also great as dried flowers), Delphinium, Echinacea Purpurea and Echinacea White Swan, Lavender, Helianthus, Liatris, Lupine, Sedum Autumn Joy, great as a dried flower, sprayed gold, silver and bronze in a Christmas arrangement, Shasta Daisy, Summer Phlox - just a few for you to consider. Annuals - Cosmos, Nicotiana, Zinnia and Sun flower - plus many more you are sure to find in the garden center. Maureen
Sue, you can prune holly now as any new growth will cover any stubby pruned ends. Maureen
Karen, after blooming, prune the pear tree by about 25% and to keep the natural shape. Maureen
Francine, Lilacs should be pruned in late November taking out the shoots from around the trunk and pruning the shrub by about one third. After blooming which is now, pinch off the dead blooms to prevent seeding.
Broom needs minimal pruning but you can cut back flowered shoots to a new bud or side shoot.
Maureen
Pat, so glad you all enjoyed my talk. The thyme, swiss chard and sage need to be in a ground level container with manure and be watered often. The cardinal plant can be in the hanging basket. By the way thanks for the birthday greetings, except it was my colleague Jack’s birthday and will send along your good wishes. Maureen
Karen, do not snip anything off the pear, allow it to grow naturally with strong roots, water it and give it manure around the base. Maureen
Elaine, we do not grow plants as we are a full service landscape and home company. Take a look at the website, I think you will enjoy. Ask one of the garden centers if they can acquire the plant for you. Good luck Maureen
Maureen,
I have a huge problem with ragweed in one of my perennial gardens. I have dug it up for a few years now and it keeps coming back and spreading. What can I do to get rid of it once and for all? Will I be able to plant anything in that area? If so, when.
Also, when is the best time to cut back ornamental grasses? Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Karen
Hi
My peony plant had buds about5 years ago, but something cut them off. Since then, it has not bloomed. I did separate the plant and both plants are doing well, but neither one blooms. What are your suggestions? Thanks, Dotty Also I love your radio show and your Friday photos.
Dotty,
After Peonies are separated it takes a few years for the plants to produce bloom. Apply a little manure around the base and keep the plants watered, as Peonies need water to do well. Keep enjoying the show and the Photo Fridays. Maureen
I resent you a message on June 1st about ragweed and ornamental grasses and I didn’t get an answer back. I think the problem might be that there was another Karen asking questions also.
Hello, I had the great pleasure of attending your recent seminar at Vernon Manor in Vernon, CT. I told my sister in New Jersey of my wonderful informative visit with you and she asked if you could please advise her why her lovely dogwood tree has like a kind of mold or fungus going up the bark and some branches of the tree. She is so afraid of losing the tree planted in memory of her husband many years ago. What can she do to eliminate the mold or fungus from the trunk/bark of the tree? Please advise. Many thanks to you. Lore
I wrote the other day about Bloomerang Lilacs and have not heard back. The original blooms have gone by (I did remove them) and no new ones are appearing. I am wondering what I am doing wrong or do I need to wait awhile. I was under the impression that they bloomed all the time until the fall. Thank you for any help you can give me.
I planted some hydrangea, knock out roses and forget me not with “miricle grow
soil” thay do not seem to be growing much if any. The hydrangeas are turning to the browish color but still full. These are very small plants to start. Can I or should I give them any more miricle grow on the surface? What can I do to help them with new growth?
Thanks for any suggestions
Marianne, do not use miracle grow at all, it is a poisonous chemical, get rid of all chemicals. You are not feeding the most important element of growth which is the soil which needs only composted manure around all the plants now, in July and again in October, just a couple of inches everywhere. Manure is all you need on the garden. Manure builds soil structure, making a rich environment for all the plants to flourish. Also make sure the hydrangeas get lots of water, in the wild they were originally found near wetlands and enjoy moist conditions. Don’t worry about the brown tips on the hydrangeas, this will disappear. Maureen
Lore, many of the trees have ‘lichen’ on the trunks because of all the damp weather we have been experiencing, it does no harm and tell her not to try to remove it and certainly not to use any chemicals in the garden. Maureen
Maureen,
I do listen to your radio shows as often as work allows as I love them.
I have two concerns
1. can you plant one iris and they will reproduce or come back annually.
2. most important! I was given a weeping cherry tree(pink flowers) and they took it up from their yard(carefully removing root ball they said) and over to my yard right away. It has been in ground for couple of weeks, watered daily, but leaves are far more droppy then should be and some of the leaves at the tips (lower leaves) are not turning brown? Dark like dead leaves? Partially anyway. Suggestions?
I have a butterfly bush that has gotten out of control (I’ve had it for one year) and I did some pruning of it late Winter but I didn’t know to take it down to the base so it was not done properly (I just trimmed it). It has not started to bloom yet and I’m wondering if I can take it down to the base or just wait out the summer and do it properly next late winter/early spring. It has really taken over the rose bush next to it so I’m concerned about both plants. Thank you for your help.
Hello,
I have a question regarding white ants outside in my flower garden. They seem to be preventing my flowers from growing. I want to get rid of them without hurting the flowers that are struggling to survie and without using pestisides. Any advice?
Melissa, buy Safer solution (organic sulphur) from the garden center and spray on the plants. The white ants are aphids and with all the damp weather we have experienced they are in the garden in large number, or you can go on the web and type in lacewings and buy some and they will eat the aphids. Maureen
Justine, you cannot cut the butterfly bush down now but can to within one foot from the ground at the end of next March. You can however, trim off a few of the butterfly bush branches away from the rose for now. You may want to move the rose bush in late August, so that both plants have room to breath. At that time cut the rose bush down to about two to three feet from the ground, keep soil covering the roots when transplanting and do not plant it any deeper in the ground than it is now, make sure it has good drainage and add manure to the soil planting mix and water it well until the ground freezes, in October place some brown fine bark mulch around the base. Good luck Maureen
Fae, Irises are perennials and will come back each season and will reproduce more plants and in three years you can divide the iris for even more plants. When you plant the iris only cover with soil half way up the rhizome or root, just so it does not fall over. if you plant it any deeper it will not bloom.
Don’t worry about the weeping cherry, it is just in shock from the transplant, water thoroughly for half an hour each week.
Maureen
Maureen,
I have a huge problem with ragweed in one of my perennial gardens. I have dug it up for a few years now and it keeps coming back and spreading. What can I do to get rid of it once and for all? Will I be able to plant anything in that area? If so, when.
Also, when is the best time to cut back ornamental grasses? Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Karen
Good Evening!
I am having a problem with my tall phlox. The leaves have brown spots on them. They are starting to die. A couple of the stems have broken off at the bottom and are laying on the ground. My friend is having the same problem with hers. We live in Stafford Springs, Ct. and Somers Ct. Is it some type of bug? I hope you can help.
I heard you speak in Vernon and enjoyed your talk very much. Thank you in advance for your help. Kathy
I must be doing something wrong. I’ve sent my questions three times and haven’t heard anything from you. Hoping to hear from you soon. I really enjoy your radio segment.
Something is “eating” the leaves on my rose bushes. Many of the leaves have little holes on the leaves. Help please. Thank you.
PS I have used the lime for my lilacs and will prune in November as you suggested.
Kathy, the wet weather is affecting the phlox causing powdery mildew, black spots on the leaves, browning and shriveling, spray with an organic sulphur solution from the garden center weekly and remove and destroy infected plants. Summer Phlox cannot be planted close together in dense clumps or airless spots, also need full sun, well drained soil with lots of manure. In the meantime if they have been in the ground for three years or more, divide any non infected plants in August and make sure they are properly spaced. Good luck Maureen
Hi ,
Do you have a recipe that uses white vinegar to kill weeds on a patio?
Thanks
Why do I keep getting slugs in my garden? I put a tray of beer nad they seem to go in and drown but can I use something else that will work better?
I was wondering if you have a remedy to keep RABBITS out of the garden? Seems there are more this year than ever.. I have a fence - 3-4 ft high, they jump it! Your help would be greatly appreciated!! Susan
I listen to you on WRCH and always learn so much from you. You once answered the question I have on air, but unfortunately I did not catch all that you had to say. My question is this: Every year when my Black-eyed Susan come up, the beautiful green leaves always become spotted with black. I keep thinking it will not return with the next season, but it always does. What is it and how can I get rid of it? Will it affect my other perennials within my garden?
Thank you in advance.
Connie Klanica
Connie, on the front page of the website ‘what to use in the garden’ you will find organic Pyola, which works very well on all plants with black spot. Maureen
Nancy, try a container of yogurt buried up to the rim in the soil, it attracts the slugs and they will fall in and the rest is history. Or the other method is dry dog food, buy some cheap food, take out what you need that evening and wet it to make mushy piles. Put these piles down where you know the slugs congregate in the evening and go back an hour later and you will find the slugs have gorged on the dog food and cannot move, ‘a captive audience’ or ‘the last supper’. Scoop up the slugs with a shovel and put in a garbage bag and throw them away. Maureen
Kathy, on a sunny morning sprinkle a combo of one quart of water to one quarter cup of white vinegar on the weeds and they should be dead by evening. Maureen
I am very concerned about my climbing rose bush. It is about 6 years old. This year it started out with loads of buds, but before I knew it, the leaves were full of black spot. It will be leafless if I take off of the bad leaves. Will I need to cut this bush way down in order to save it? What do you suggest?
Thank you.
Maureen,
I listen to you on 100.5 on the radio at work, and I so enjoy the information you provide to the listeners. I’m in Massachusetts and wanted to ask you what grows well in shade??? I have a beautiful backyard, rich green grass (thanks to my husband) and then woods behind our lawn…but I’d love to plant something with color. My husband says nothing will grow because it is wet and shady…Can you suggest anything? I’d love to sit on my deck out to some beautiful flowers…Thank you…Patti Baran
By the way, great talk show on Thursdays. You share many, many ideas for the public. Truly appreciated.
I was listening to your hour show on 6/17/10 and caught the tail end of a subject. I believe someone wanted to know if there is a home spray for bugs/critters on the vegetable garden. You mention 1 gallon of water, 2 tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of oil. Was this correct, or did i miss part of the conversation and use of this item. Please advise. Thank you.
Another question. I recently cut 6 head of Broccoli from the Vegetable garden, each had grey/black worms in them………what is this from and, is there anything i could have done to prevent this. I was always told never to spray plants/produce that you are going to eat…..Help! Please advise.
I am overwhelmed at the abundance of hydrangeas blooming this year! I have shrubs loaded with blooms that haven’t bloomed in years…was wondering if you have any idea why they are so hearty this year? (not only in CT, but in the NE…) Thanks!
Chris, join the crowd, all hydrangeas are blooming profusely because of the rain in early spring and up to this point. Hydrangeas are a wetland plant and love lots of moisture and manure in the soil - lots of water. Enjoy Maureen
Rebecca, BT an organic also known as Bacillus thuringiesis gives excellent control of these creatures. Also rotating crops is an excellent idea as when you plant vegetables continuously in the same spot, disease organism that feed on that plant flourish. Also a naturally balanced soil with plenty of manure and of course keeping a clean garden just adds to success. Maureen
Rebecca, one gallon of water, three crushed garlic cloves, a squirt of dish soap and a teaspoon of vegetable oil for those munching bugs and critters. Maureen
Patti, for shade, there are many lovely ferns, foxgloves, bleeding heart, early, mid season and late blooming astilbes (great for cutting) aruncus, columbine, campanula, helleborus, heuchera to name but a few. Enjoy sitting on the deck with your shade garden in view. Maureen
Carla, on the front page of this website, click on what to use in the garden and find Pyola, a great organic spray for the black spot. Do not cut the bush down. Prune it by two feet in October and about two feet from the ground next April. In the meantime make sure it has manure and mulch around the base. Maureen
Susan, sprinkle cayenne pepper on the ground - they do not like this and it will also help keep squirrels away from plants. Maureen
I appreciate your answer about the use of pyola for the black spot. As I looked at the product, it seemed to be for insect control. Just wanted to be sure I have the right thing. Thank you.
The leaves on my Asiati Lillies are covered with Black wet globs that are eating the leaves. What is it and what is the best way to get rid of it or them. Thank you for your time.
Sharon, that is the residue of the red lily beetle. Buy some organic neem oil from a garden center and use it as directed. Maureen
Hi Maureen,
I am having a problem with my tall phlox. Every spring they start to grow and look healthy but then all of a sudden the leaves begin to go yellow and the tops seem to be shriveling up. They do not produce blooms anymore. There is no powdery mildew on the leaves. I am at a loss and I am ready to rip them out and start over. Is there anything I can do to save the phlox?
Thanks!
Rebekah
Rebekah, Phlox need full sun and well drained soil with plenty of manure. They are heavy feeders and benefit from a scattering of organic fertilizer in late spring. Water frequently for best results. Make sure they are spaced well apart as they require air movement between them to avoid disease problems. If they are planted densely you will experience mildew, ratty leaves and small flower heads, which seems to be your problem. Therefore you will want to divide them in early fall. In the meantime remove any spent flower heads to prevent seedlings taking hold which will crowd out their more desirable parents. Good luck Maureen
I have a beautiful purple clemaitis vine I am trying to root. Nothing seems to be happening. Can you help me and tell me what I am doing wrong, please!
June, you do not tell me how you are trying to root the clematis. Do you mean rooting in a rooting medium or in the ground? If it is in the ground, hopefully you have not planted it any deeper than it came in the pot and have manure and mulch around it and are watering it deeply weekly. Maureen
I thoroughly enjoyed your talk in Enfield this year. You mentioned using dogfood to rid the garden of slugs. Is there anything else I need to do other than just put a handful of dogfood out? Did I need to put water out as well. I remember you said they eat it and then the food absorbs water and they expand so I was wondering about the water part.
Thanks for this and your delightful inspiration.
Suzanne
Suzanne, in my garden tips which will be up on the home page of this website in the next few days will give you all the tips for slug control, you will find these solutions at the end of the August tips. Enjoy Maureen
We’ve been looking forward to vegetable harvesting an heirloom seed we recently purchased, Costenza Romanesco, a type of squash with leaves similar to zucchini. Alas, yesterday one leaf was wilted & today the rest of the plant is wilted. We’ve removed & thrown the wilted plant in the garbage…too bad because it had buds & several squash started on it. The garden is on a timer & watering isn’t a problem. The rest of the plants don’t show signs of wilt right now but we’re concerned. What can we do to save them?
We share your enthusiasm for organic gardening. Thanks for all you do. Look forward to hearing from you soon.
JC, plant basil around the tomatoes to keep away tomato horn worm, put manure around the base and mulch for extra moisture and keep them well watered as they are hydroponic (full of water) and need it in the hot weather. My July and August tips that will be up in the next couple of days on this website will give you more tips regarding all pests and the vegetables. So glad to hear you are in sync with organic gardening, keep up the good work. Maureen
I am having a very difficult time with my millionbelles and white aphids as well as black spots - I have used Methellium (not sure if I spelled it right) and systemic treatment - I cannot seem to radicate these horrible insects and am once again afraid they will destroy my beautiful hanging plants - any suggestions? Thanks!
Kathy, in a one gallon spray container, filled with water, add a squirt of dish soap, a teaspoon of vegetable oil and three crushed garlic cloves, which will help with the aphids and the black spot.
In the meantime, dispose of any of the leaves that have the black spot. Do not use any chemicals. Add manure to the soil in the hanging plants and mulch to keep them moist. If you build the soil with manure it will keep the plant healthy and much more disease resistant. Maureen
Hi Maureen,
I so enjoyed meeting you at the Old Lyme Library the other night. You were delightful and so informative!
I did not have the entire recipe for the organic ‘garlic” spray to use on my butterfly bush. I only wrote down 3 cloves of garlic, don’t have the amount of dishwashing det. or the rest of the formula. Please email me the info. ! My butterfly bush will be very happen!!
Daphne, one gallon spray container, two teaspoons of vegetable oil, a squirt of dish soap and three crushed garlic cloves. Spray only in the early morning, observing the rule of 160 which is the temperature needs to be below 80 and the humidity below 80 with as little wind as possible. So glad you enjoyed my talk. Maureen
Thank you!!
Daphne
Hello - I transplanted several lilac bushes last year - I have been told that I should have trimmed them back quite a bit - I didn’t do that, and they didn’t bloom hardly at all this year - should I trim them back a foot or so this fall or now to encourage more bloom? Thanks!
Steven, hopefully when you transplanted the lilacs you did not plant them any deeper in the ground than they were originally, otherwise they will not bloom. They need full sun, manure and a sprinkle of lime around them. Lilacs usually take a couple of years before they bloom after being planted or transplanted. Do not prune them this fall or you will get no bloom at all, lilacs set their buds immediately after they finish blooming in the spring and you would prune any chance of bloom for the next year. When they have bloomed remove spent flower blooms or bud formation for the next year may be inhibited by seed development. Good luck Maureen
Dear English Lady,
Where to start. In my side sunny garden, I have 2 pole granny smith apple trees. They are old enough to produce fruit, tho the last few years the squirrels have been cleaning the tree of fruit long before harvest leaving me with nothing. However this year, one tree especially, is growing lots of fruit, but more than half has fallen off. I did have a problem with some creature burrowing under ground in the garden near the tree, not sure who, but I think he’s gone. Can you tell me whats happening? I seem to be loosing my gardens to critters. Do chipmunks eat dill and parsley, any kind of new young growth? And how do you keep raspberry bushes under control?
Cynthia, sprinkle cayenne pepper on the ground where the chipmunks congregate, which will help to keep them away. The underground creatures are probably moles and voles. Put exlax down the holes which they will eat and it will get rid of them.
Prune, the bearing canes of the raspberry bushes off at ground level immediately after the harvest as finished. To avoid spreading disease, do this when the canes and leaves are dry. Dormant prune every year in very early spring before growth starts. Cut off any spindly canes and thin the remaining ones to leave 2-4 of the largest, straightest canes per foot of row. Cut off any suckers that sprout outside the row also. Cut the remaining canes back to 4 to 5ft and tie the canes to your support systems. These methods should help control the bushes. Maureen
My andromeda ( 3) do not bloom, yet there are 2, 10 feet away that bloom
quite well. Why ??
How aggressive can one be with pruning?
John, Andromeda require partial shade and rich soil with manure, good drainage, evenly moist and well mulched to protect the shallow roots . Prune after flowering to remove dead wood by about one third. Remove spent flowers for good bloom next year. If lace bugs are a problem control with a gallon sprayer filled with water, a squirt of dish soap and two teaspoons of vegetable oil. Make sure the one that is not blooming is planted in the right spot. Maureen
I’m not sure if you’ve ever covered this before but… if a gardener is in an older home that was ever painted with lead paint, even if it is now covered with siding, please remind them to never plant edibles in the soil near the house. Lead leaches out of weathered paint and can stay in the soil for a long time. Plants absorb this lead and it is very dangerous for children and pregnant women in particular (yes, all of us as well) to eat anything grown in this contaminated soil. Keep the door yard beds for colorful flowers only.
Patricia, thank you for your information, of which we are aware as we are certified regarding painting home and know that any home before 1978 has lead or asbestos problems. But I will make sure I reiterate to my listeners on WRCH 100.5 and my lecture audiences about planting the edibles away from the home. Thank you again Maureen
Hello! We are having such a hard time with grubs, moles and most recently a skunk, all of which are doing quite a number destroying our lawn. We tried Grubx but it hasn’t seemed to help at all. Can you please advise and help us save our lawn? Thanks in advance!
Susan G.
Susan, do not use any chemicals - grubx. check on the home page of this website and click on what to use in the garden for an organic mole repellent and next year, in late March or early April, click on the same site for organic grub control, less grubs, less food for moles. Good luck Maureen
Hello to the English Lady,
You helped me sooooooooooooo much last season with how to prepare for Winter as I did everything you said and everything seemed to come back very healthy!! Thank You!! I have gotten several dozen roses off my climbers but now they seen to not be budding and maroon in color also the stems seem to look dry and not healthy!! Pls help as gardening is so theraputic for me and I do not have much else calming hobbies if any or anything to help me thru this tough time in my life…….Thanks, Sharon!
Several years ago I planted a rose bush in my back yard, near a building that ubutted my property (they have since remove the building and want to put up of fence that’s fine except my rose bush is now on their property. What I want to know is can I transplant the rose bush and if so how. Thanks for any help you can give me.
Bernie, in September, prune the rose bush down by about one half, dig it up keeping the roots covered with existing soil and replant it immediately but no deeper than it is in the ground now, put manure in the planting mix and then mulch around the base, keep it well watered on transplanting and weekly until frost. Good luck Maureen
We have a ground hog that has eaten all of our dahlias except a few. Is there something we can do to prevent this from happening going forward. It is starting to eat other plants. We have not had this problem in the past just this year. Please Help!!!!!!!!
Georgette, you can get a ground hog cage and leave it open for a few days with a few nice titbits to entice this creature or have a ground hog catcher come and get this fellow, as it needs to be taken many miles away from your garden or it will keep coming back. Maureen
Hello, I heard you on the radio this morning on WRCH and you offered a solution to someone regarding red beetles eating up lilies…..I wasn’t able to hear the solution, would you please share it with me? Thank you kindly.
Mary Anne, buy organic Neem oil from the garden center for this problem or on the home page of this website, click on what to use in the garden and order Neem oil from Gardens Alive. Maureen
I would like to know when to prune holly bushes? Thank you
Christine, prune the holly bushes in late winter either late March or early April before the new growth begins. Maureen
Hello, I enjoy your talks, radio show and your email updates. Please tell me what is eating my “Snow on the Mountain” ground cover. It’s eating the entire leaf system. They are one year old.
Sheila, on the home page of the website, click on gardening tips and scroll down to the end of August tips for many insect remedies for your problem. Maureen
I am new to gardening and want to be successful. We planted 3 tomato plants (Burpee Big boy and Beef Steak tomatoes) with a few tomatoes growing on each plant - it looks like the growth of the tomatoes has stopped and are stunted as they are still small in size. I did notice today that one tomato is starting to turn red but is still small in size. I was expecting nice sized plump tomatoes but it appears not to be happening. I did put manure around when I planted them, I make sure there is plenty of water and they do receive sun all afternoon. Any recommendations of what I should do to get the big tomatoes that I was hoping for? Thank you.
Beth, be patient, all the tomatoes are slow to form this year, you are giving them the right treatment and will love the rewards. Enjoy, Maureen
I have a few questions I hope you will answer for me. When can you spilt grasses and transplant them? How do you trim knock out roses and do you do that in the fall? Our mulch seems to disappears very quickly and we still get weeds. We are wondering if we should put something else in our beds. We were told that the mulch will help to keep the plants moist. Is that true or should we do something else with our beds?
Darlene, cut the grasses down to about one foot from the ground in April and then divide them. In October, prune the roses down by about two feet and add manure and mulch around the base and next April prune the roses down to about one foot from the ground and add more manure and mulch.
On your borders, add manure April, July and October to build a rich soil environment and you can add a fine bark mulch over the top or just have the manure as a mulch which will keep in the moisture. After weeding sprinkle an organic weed pre-emergent that has a corn gluten base made by Bradfield Organics, which many garden centers stock and will help retard the weeds for about a month at a time. Maureen
Hi
My morning glory plant is growing like crazy, but I have no flowers. Any suggestions
Thanks Beverly
Beverly, all bloom is later this year, so be patient and you will be rewarded, hopefully you have some manure around the base of the plants to nourish that soil. Maureen
Dear Maureen,
This is just a note to say thank you. I listen to you on WRCH all the time and this is my first visit to your website. WOW! This is great!
Growing up, my dad always had organic gardens. He never believed in chemicals and he passed that belief on to all 6 of us kids. However, I wish he were alive to share all the wonderful, natural, organic remedies you have shared with everyone. He would certainly be impressed. I feel closest to him when I’m in my gardens and often wish he were here to share your ideas with him. Thank you for all you do. God bless! Heidi
Dear Maureen,
Is there a rule of thumb for splitting and transplanting perennials? I have some coneflowers and lillys I would like to move and I’m not sure when to do it? Also I have some Stella d’Oro and Rosey Return lillys-should I give them 3 years of growing before I split and move them? Thank-you so very much for all your help!!!!!
I have just created a garden bed. I know it is very late in the season, but I want to put the new area to work (I’m too excited to wait until Spring).
What can I plant?
Is it ok to plant clover now?
Can I transplant mint and lemon verbena now (I have loads in another garden) ?
One final question - there are many Phlox growing in an abandoned property nearby - could I transplant some Phlox to where it would be fully appreciated?
I thank you deeply for whatever help you can give.
Pam, hand weed your garden and add manure now and in October. Do not plant until September as the heat will stress any new plants. Do not plant mint in the garden as it will take over, only plant mint in containers and do not plant clover for the same reason (clover does indeed fix nitrogen from the air into the soil but is invasive). The manure is the best idea for nitrogen. Any plants you install in September should be planted only as deep as they are in the earth now and keep watered through October. Good luck Maureen
I had a rose bush that looked like it was going to die. I heard you on the radio about using compost when you plant a rose bush. I transplanted the rose bush about a month ago using one half compost and then soil. It is blooming beautifully. Thank you so much.
Question: do I need to dig up my gladiolous bulbs in the fall or can I leave them the ground.
Jeanne, so glad your rose bush is doing well. In October, prune the rose by about two feet and put manure and mulch around the base for winter soil building and protection.
Dig up the gladioli corms in September, let them dry in the sun and store them in a brown paper bag in a dark cool place. Maureen
Hello…..I am a first time viewer and have enjoyed your website. I was wondering if you or any of your readers can help me get rid of a large area of Japanese Knotweed. It is taking over and I have not had any luck in destroying it. PLESE HELP
Linda, Japanese knotweed is also known as ‘killer bamboo’ and I suggest the following as an organic but often used method to rid the garden of this pest.
First clean away all old sharp canes and buy a strong large heavy duty plastic tarp which will smother the knotweed and deprive it of sunlight. Some shoots will attempt to push up through the tarp, as soon as you see this, trample them down. Weight the edges of the tarp and any seams otherwise the knotweed will escape their doom. To avoid the ugliness of the tarp in the garden, put soil over the top and plant in that soil making sure no rips have appeared underneath. Good luck Maureen
I have 4 clematis that climb up a trellis to my deck, approximately 10 ft high. I have many beautiful flowers every year and I have never cut back the plants. The bottom 4 feet of the plants are now all woody and I am not sure if I can cut it back. Should I cut it back? and if so how far? Thank you.
Jill, clematis like moist, well drained soil, keeping the roots cool with manure and mulch but planted in the sun. Lightly prune the vine immediately after flowering, and remove all dead shoots and trim vines back to the first pair of plump buds. Untangle vines growing on walls and tie them to a trellis in a fan pattern. Maureen
My yellow and green squash seem to have a mildew like substance on them. They are blossoming, but no fruit. I have used manure, watered, and are growing nicely. One or two of them are NOW wilting. Any suggestions?
OK, here’s my hugh dilemma. I have around 1/2 an acre on my property. My grass consists of 100% weeds. Many trees and shrubs need pruning. My flower beds you can’t see anymore because they are overgrown with weeds. And I have many bugs that I don’t care for around especially at night when I have my outside lights on the house on and they conjugate around the front door. I use bug lights, but that doesn’t seem to stop them. So, needeless to say I am very much overwhelmed as to where I begin to tame all this explosion of work. It has gotton to this stage, because I had a business and worked 24/7 and didn’t take care of t he property as I should have. I no longer have the business, but do have this hugh project that I need to concentrate on and quite honestly do not know where to begin. So if you can please enlighten as to where I shoud begin and what I should do/use it would be most appreciative. Thanking you in advance for your time and consideration into my dilemma.
Sincerely,
Zenaida
Zenaida, why don’t you call the office at 860-767-7319. From what you are telling me with the multiple problems, I think a consultation might be the answer to set you on the right road for your garden. Regards, Maureen
how do i keep the leaves on my black eyed suzies from getting black? i see other black eyed suzies with beautiful green leaves. why are mine turning black? what causes this and how can i prevent it? thank you
Doreen, try a spray of seaweed extract which you can find on the website under ‘what to use in the garden’ - this often effects disease causing organisms or the spray in a one gallon container, filled with water of five crushed garlic cloves, a squirt of dish soap and a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Spray only in the early morning when it is cooler and there is no wind. Maureen
I have a millipede problem.. How can I get rid of them without using chemical sprays etc.
Do you know of any organic way to eliminate them ?
Thanks
Joe
Joe, try red pepper dust or a mixture in a one gallon sprayer filled with water of five crushed garlic cloves, a squirt of dish soap and a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Maureen
Hi
First i want to say i enjoy you 100.5 in the morning driving to work. I have a few questions i purchased a house in January and the landscape is all over te place so i want ot move some Azaleas, grass bushes (i don’t know the correct name for them), some irises and peonies is this a good time to do this? Also, how do you get rid of the little buggers in house plants (the little black nats) they are in the plants at work as well?
Hope Your summer is going good
Ali
Allison, transplant your plants mentioned above in September, and do not plant them any deeper than they are in the earth now, and add manure to the planting mix. With the peonies, which can only be transplanted in September, make sure the pink eyes on the root system are only one to two inches below the soil surface. Cut down the peony foliage to six inches from the ground after the first hard frost in November.
I would like the recipe for mold, and leaf curl.
I have a lilac that has some curl {crunchy } to the leaves and a peony that is pretty white with mold.
Thankyou in advance.
I enjoyed your talk at MBC last Wed. very very much. L
Lorraine, spray the leaf curl on the lilac with a one gallon sprayer filled with water, two teaspoons of baking soda, a squirt of dish soap and a teaspoon of vegetable oil.
For the peonies, they are getting too wet, use the same spray on them but they need more ventilation and in September I suggest you transplant them so that they get more air circulation around them. Do not plant them deep, make sure the pink eyes on the roots are only a couple of inches below the soil and after the first hard frost in November, cut them down to six inches from the ground and add some manure around them. Glad you enjoyed my talk. Maureen
Hi Maureen: Just wondering if you have any suggestions to get rid of nut grass in a lawn.
Thanks Pat
Pat, nut grass known as nut sedge is difficult to get rid of but there is an organic remedy.
What you will need is 4lbs of sugar, yes I said sugar, per 1000 sq ft of lawn and a garden hose sifter. In preparation for the treatment, water the lawn, but do not saturate, but be sure the soil is moist. Sift the sugar onto the lawn, walk in regular straight lines just as if you were mowing. Turn the handle on the sifter so that the sugar falls onto the grass evenly. Continue turning the handle the entire time that you are walking. The sugar will nourish microbes that benefit the the lawn and eat the nut grass.
Water down the sugar, spray the lawn again with the garden hose, but do not saturate it to the point of water running off or you will lose all of the sugar, that you just deposited.
Do this treatment in spring when you would first seed and feed the grass as well as two or more times throughout the growing season. By the end of the season all the nut grass should be dead. Let me know how it goes. Maureen
NEWLY PLANTED SHRUBS, WESTERN EXPOSURE. (ALBERTA SPRUCE, MOUNTAIN LAUREL, FALSE CYPRESS, AZALEAS) USING SOAKER HOSE TO KEEP THEM HAPPY IN THIS DRY SUMMER. DO WE WAIT UNTIL SPRING TO USE ORGANIC FERTILIZER?
Martha, DO NOT FERTILIZE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. However, you can add some peat and manure around these evergreens which is not fertilizing but helping to keep a strong soil structure for these plants. Also in October add some more manure and peat and some mulch to protect the roots through the winter, as these evergreens are shallow rooted and with hard frosts can heave out of the ground. Maureen
Hi.. After listening to you on the radio I checked out your web site. It is very interesting and I could spend alot of time there! Well done!
I see you recommend a product called mole-relief for moles.. will it work for voles also? I am so frustrated with them this year.. my plants are just dissapearing one after another. Would you recommend the mole-relief?
Thanks so much Carol
Carol. yes the mole relief will work on voles, even though voles spend less time below ground that moles. On the website, click on ‘what to use in the garden’ and go to dry mole relief. Maureen
Hi Maureen -
I have a new Shasta Daisy plant that I bought in April and it bloomed beautifully, until something started eating the actual flowers - and now the leaves are also being eaten. What can I do to save this beautiful flower?? I tried to look for your Garlic Spray receipe on your website but could not locate it anywhere. Thank you very much for any assistance you can give me.
Rita Kirsch
Rita if you look on the homepage of the website - you will find the recipe amongst many others, also check for pest tips under gardening tips on the home page. They are all tried and true. Maureen
Have problems with moss on the driveway. Have put down white vinegar and it helps but does not destroy the driveway that has turned green. Any suggestions. Love your Friday news letter.
Shirley
Shirley, use Soda Crystals which is sold as washing soda and is a salt. Sprinkle the salt on the driveway and wet it down gently with the hose and in a few days, the moss will turn brown and you can remove it with a spade or a broom. Maureen
Regarding Gardenia plants.
I love them dearly, these are my favorite flower plants. I can get them to grow beautifully and achieve flower buds however, I am having a problem getting the buds to open up instead, the buds just falls off the plants. I have misted the pedals becasue I was told that they love moisture but, I am not having any luck. What nutrient(s) are my plants lacking?
Aida, Gardenias are difficult to bloom at home but adjusting to new conditions slowly they are not impossible. Grow them in equal parts loam, sand and acid peat moss. Keep the soil evenly moist and give bright light in summer, sun in winter and at least 50% humidity. From spring to fall feed once a month with an acid fertilizer or a solution of one ounce ammonium sulphate to 2 gallons of water. Mist foliage daily to discourage the red spider mite. Give a deep soaking in the sink or a pail of water once a week and a refreshing shower at the same time. The reason that buds drop off is if the night time temperature is above 70 degrees or below 60 degrees, or if there are drafts and if the humidity drops below 50%. Good luck and let me know how it goes. Maureen
I have 3 beautiful hydrangea bushes. The leaves are lush and bloom yearly but one bush has never had any flowers and the other 2 only get 1 or 2 flowers yearly.
What could be the problem? thank you
Carol, in early September, cut out or shorten some of the oldest branches by a third, and thin out some of the weakest new shoots. Always cut just above a vigorous side branch. Put some manure around the base of the shrub and do not touch it again. Leave up the ‘wooden sticks’ that you see when all the leaves have gone and next season make sure it gets plenty of water and some more manure in April. Maureen
I would like to know, when peonies should be cut back. I certainly would appreciate hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Sharon Biondino
Sharon, put a light application of manure around the peonies in September and cut them down after the first hard frost in November. Maureen
When and where will manure tea be available for retail?
Donna, in the next few weeks for the manure tea so keep at eye on the website and I’ll also announce it on WRCH 1005. between 8 and 8.30 A.M. on my next show on September 16th. Its great stuff - liquid gold! Maureen
Hi, E.L.,
Enjoy listening to your monthly call-in hour on the Morning show, WRCH. My problem: About June 20th I bought and planted 3 milkweed plants, hoping to attract monarch butterflies. Well, to date, I have not seen a single butterfly around or on the plants. Also, the leaves are turning yellow and falling off all 3 plants. One other piece of information: A landscaper planted them for me. I’m not sure if he fertilized them. I’m awaiting a response to this question from him… Help, please! What to do! Thanks, in advance. Herb
Herb, get some bagged manure from the garden center and put around the plants at about a two inch depth and some fine bark mulch, the manure will build the soil and the mulch will keep in moisture. Do not fertilize at this time of year, dispose of any plant debris on the ground and keep the plants well watered each day, in the morning and evening if possible. Maureen