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I planted irises last fall and only half of them bloomed. Do you know why?Bearded iris grows from rhizomes, which should be planted just at soil level. If yours were planted too deeply, they may be indicating their distress by not blooming. Wait until July or August to dig and replant them. The soil should be well-draining, with some organic matter worked in. After digging, trim the leaves to about 6 inches and place each rhizome so the top is just below the soil surface, spacing them 1-2 feet apart. |
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Is elephant ear a perennial and how do I care for this plant?Elephant ear is a nonhardy plant in cold winter areas, so it needs to be dug out and stored each winter. It does well in sun or partial shade and requires a rich, evenly moist soil. It grows quickly each summer and provides an outstanding tropical look to the garden. |
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Should daylilies be cut back after blooming, and when should they be fertilized?You can keep Hemerocallis, or daylily, neater in appearance by cutting the flowering stalks down to soil level when flowering stops. These are easy-care plants, performing best when they receive fertilizer (5-10-10) in the spring prior to bloom and another application in late winter. |
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Something is bothering my hosta plants. The leaves look like they have holes in them and some even lThe two most common reasons for holes in hosta leaves early in the season are slug damage and hail damage. Slugs will leave a silvery slime trail and can be controlled by handpicking at night when they are active, traps or baits (read and follow the label instructions carefully). Hail damage (or other physical damage such as that caused by trampling) may occur much earlier in the season and only become apparent when the leaves have fully unfurled and begun to grow. |
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Watering PerennialsThe amount of water a garden needs depends upon climate and weather conditions. Where summer rains are frequent, the garden may need irrigation only during an occasional dry spell. In parts of the arid West and Southwest, watering is one of the gardener's biggest chores. |
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What do I need to do to prepare my hibiscus for winter?If you have the hardy hibiscus or Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), you don't really need to do much of anything. If you have the tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus sinensis) growing as a potted plant, then you need to check it all over for pests and then gradually begin acclimating it to the lower light levels it will have indoors. Move it gradually to a shadier location, but do not leave it outside when temperatures drop below about 50F. Then move it indoors to the sunniest spot you have. Keep it out of drafts and keep the humidity around it high if possible. Expect some yellowing of leaves in protest of the move. Reduce watering and fertilizing as the plant's growth slows. In spring, reverse the process to reacclimate it to the outdoors. |
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What time of the year are peonies propagated? Please describe the process.Native to China, peonies don't enjoy being moved, so when you plant them, make sure they are in a permanent location. They will thrive for years without any need to divide them. Wouldn't it be nice if all perennials were so easygoing? |
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What´s the best location to plant my perennial phlox plants?To some extent the answer depends on what type of phlox you have. The woodland and stoloniferous creeping phloxes would do fine on the north side of the house in partial shade or morning sun, and creeping phlox (P. subulata) would do fine on the south side. Carolina phlox would probably be okay on either the south or the east side as it is a fairly adaptable plant. The tall garden phlox (P. paniculata) however, prefers full sun with a good rich and evenly moist soil, needs good air circulation and should not be watered from overhead if at all avoidable. You might want to experiment and see which of these locations works better. |
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