Flower Garden Preparation

QuestionI live in Sunset House zone 5, midway between Seattle and Everett (Washington state, USA). I have two plots of land, pretty nearly identical. Both have lots of weeds and grass clumps, both have g

yellow lilliesWhen yellow lillies are done blooming do they need cut back? if so when?

QuestionWhen yellow lillies are done blooming do they need cut back an how long after finished? Thank you AnswerHi Sue, Thanx for your question. I would cut off the spent blooms but dont cut off any of the le

Coral bells not blooming in 3rd year

QuestionI planted Heuchera Palace Purple in a shady border in the summer of 2004. They bloomed nicely in 2005, but this year Ive gotten no blooms whatsoever. They appear healthy with plenty of leaves. I cant figure

Casablanca Lilies

QuestionMy Casablanca lilies bloom with their heads drooping. Their glorious trumpets face the ground, and this makes it difficult to use them for cut flowers. I live in Central Florida, and this is their seco

Problem Day Lillies

QuestionI have day lillies that will bloom until middle to late July. Then the blooms seem to dry up & the only thing left is a black seed or something. What can I do to correct this? Is there anyt

varigated dogwood

Questionthey are bushes , not trees ------------------------- Followup To Question - we have 4 varigated dogwood bushes..we have the onset of pink leaves....this happened to two others and we lost them......we sh

Black Eye Susan / Little Joe Pye Weed

QuestionThanks for the answer. Could you suggest perennials for full shade other than ferns and hostas? I live in Northeast Ohio. ------------------------- Followup To Question - I have never had perennials but s

Seed Pods on Day Lillies

QuestionLast year I had day lillies planted in my front yard. They did very well. This year I have had a few flowers, but not as many as last year. I now have seed pods on the plants. I am n

honeysuckle vines cape orange. They dont bloom. Why?

QuestionI bought three with blooms then planted them. They havent bloomed since. Whats the problem? they are growing vines but no flowers. I the full sun. AnswerHi Shirley, Thanx for your question. Usually, w

caring for daylillies

QuestionI recieved a potted red volunteer daylily as a gift from coworkers. When I brought it home it was beautiful with one big red flower open. When I woke up the next morning, it was completely whithered and fell

tomatos

Questionwhy do my tomatos get rot bottom? AnswerHi Donna, Thanx for your question. What you describe is blossom-end rot. Its cause by water deficiencies. During especially hot, dry days, the tomat

Filling in the time gap

QuestionI cheat with my koi. My pond is only 100 gallons, but very well filtered and aerated (yeah Ebay).... But because of the size, I cant overwinter them. I have built a fish cage, if you will, and every late f

SHADING CLAMITIS ROOTS

QuestionTHIS IS THE SECOND YEAR MY CLAMITIS HAS COME UP AND IT SEEMS VERY HEALTHY BUT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN A SINGLE BLOOM WHAT CAN i DO TO GET IT TO BLOOM? AND WHAT SHOULD I PLANT TO SHADE THE ROOTS? I LIVE IN ARLINGT

Astilbe - why are the leaves dying?

QuestionRecently planted some Astilbe (purple colour blooms) and, although the blooms still look fine, all the leaves around the base are withering and dying. Soaked before planting and have watered daily ... to no

Bird Bath - Flower/Plant Ideas

QuestionHello - I live in Brentwood, TN Zone 6. I have a large bed that receives full sun. I have a bird bath that is surrounded by bulbs that need to be dug up, but I would like to plant something else

Columbine problem

QuestionHi, I have grown columbine for years in my zone 5a gardens. Partial shade beds are where they have always been. This year for some reason the leaves have asort of mottling on them. Any idea what might be wro

My Peonies have a white all over the stems and leaves

QuestionMy peoneies have white all over the stems and leaves. AnswerHi Chris, Thanx for your question. It sounds like your peonies have white mold. In the fall, I cut my peonies down to the ground and t

stella doro pods

Questionon the stella doro, what are the pods that come out on other stems, after the blooms have died out?do they hold seeds? AnswerHi Diane, Thanx for your question. You are describing seedpods and af

dividing perennials

QuestionCan I divide perennials (dont know what they are) by just digging up half the plant and replanting somewhere else. Should I do this after they bloom, before they bloom, spring, fall or when? AnswerHi Bill,

Identifying a companion plant

QuestionHi Tom: We have discovered that, along with our butterfly bush, which was purchased and planted in the fall of 2005, we have another plant that has similar leaves but much different flower buds growing