dead heading iris

QuestionI have beautiful iris in my front garden. now that they are done blooming they look a bit unsightly. can i cut them back now? AnswerHi Kate, Thanx for your question. Cut off the flowering

Geranium Follow-Up and Hydrangeas

QuestionHello again! Thank you again for all your help with the geraniums. They are still opening and dying off one or two florets at a time, so I am going to wait til theyre finished, repot them and see if t

moonbeam coreopsis leaf mold?

QuestionHey Tom, Thaks for the excellent suggestions. Concerning the aphids, wouldnt I be able to see them, I dont see any critter at all on the flowers and plant. Are they microscopic? I thought they were visible

Tropical Plants

Questionwhat kind of tropical plants can be grown outdoors in New Jersey? AnswerHi Al, Thanx for your question. I live in Kansas which has major extremes in hot and cold. New Jersey tends to have a much

Care of Snap Dragon Plants

QuestionI live in Northern California where it gets really hot (zone 9). I recently purchased two snap dragon plants and planted one in mostly full sun and the other one gets the late afternoon sun. The

Question from Va. re Delphiniums

QuestionI dont know what my zone is sorry. I have a new house. The rear of the property is very sunny it has alot of sun next to a pool. I dont know if you ever did this but in my imagination I think that beca

Hostas Need Help

QuestionI started planting hostas last year and this year some came out well and some are real tiny (like 3 inches in diameter) that came out late and dont seem to grow. Since many seemed to be eaten by something (h

Gardening - Day Lillies

QuestionAfter my day lillies bloomed a bulb appears on the plant where flowers have been. Can I plant these bulbs to start more day lillies. If so, how do I do this. If not, what are these small bu

Brown coating on peony buds.

QuestionLIG, I think Ive found the answer! I started flopping through the pages of Rodale抯 Complete Garden Problem Solver and found the following (my comments are in parentheses): PROBLEM: Buds do not open,

Nonflowering Perrenial vine...what is it?

QuestionI have a perrenial vine that has huge heart shaped leaves (like a morning glory/moonflower) but much larger, up to 12. It is a rapid grower and hardy in zone 5 and will go over 25 but it does not flowe

how to handle rhododendrons

QuestionHello: I have a rhododendron plant about three or four years old. It had a few blossoms two years ago; nothing last uyear and it looks like nothing this year. What is the best fertilizer for these plants and

Perennial hybiscus

QuestionI think I know how to harvest the seed from my gorgeous perennial hybiscus. But would cutting off the seedpods (as you do on crepe myrtles) allow more blooms to form? Or do they only bloom until

rhododendrons

QuestionI just received a detaild answer to a question about rhodendrons.....when I tried to reply with thanks I was not allowed to be cause of an excess of characters. Therefore I shall reply here. My plant is fac

Growing Lupines

QuestionI have one Lupine Russells Hybrid Mix plant, which does beautifully in my Boise, ID garden. It gets seed pods each year, and I want to know if I can grow more plants from these, and, if so, how?

chinese lillies

QuestionWhen is the best time to separate lillies and what is the best way to do it?Thanks AnswerHi Mary, thanx for your question. The best time to separate lilies is in the early fall. Dig up the entir

Phlox stalks turning brown and dying

QuestionI am looking at ordering the Predator mites from worms way. Biocontrol seems to be out. The Spider Mite Destroyers is up to $87.00 plus shipping. I dont have all that many whole plants left, perhaps two whol

Polemonium Heavenly Habit Jacobs ladder

Question ------------------------- My jacob ladders have become so brown at the bottom. I water them quite often as they seem to get limpy so quickly. I planted these a month or so ago and I do have the

Transplant

QuestionChatham N.J. I have a large number of Tiger Lilys the Iam going to move to a new area in my yard. When is the best time to do this and how should I prepair the plants? AnswerGood evening, Leonard. I hope

hydrangeas in w. kentucky

QuestionI read where you answered a hydrangea question and you said you were from w. kentucky. I am too, and I was wondering if hydrangeas can grow (any type) in full sun. I have an area that gets the af

liacs

Question ------------------------- The browing is most of the plant. I have other plants planted around it and they are find. It must be the soil or watering problem. I will wait for my flowers, hopefully they will