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December 9, 2004 Hortiscope
Q: Can you tell me how to start tiger lilies? A neighbor is going to give me some seeds, but I thought they were a bulb. When do you plant them? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have several Christmas cacti. They flower quite well, producing large blooms. On a whim last year, I decided to try cross-pollinating the flowers by using my finger tip to transfer pollen from one bloom to another. Now I have what appear to be ovoid seed pods hanging from the ends of a few segments. Are these seeds? How do I plant them? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have a spider plant that I got 6 years ago during my first semester at college, so it has sentimental value. My mother was taking care of it while I was moving between apartments. When I got it back, I managed to almost kill it by overwatering. Most of the plant is dead, but there are two leaves attached to a large piece of root that are still quite lively. How can I revive this piece of the plant? Right now I have the root in water with a little fertilizer, but I don’t know if that’s ok or if I should repot it right away. (e-mail reference)
Q: I have about 20 hackberry sprouts growing up between my picket fence and my neighbor’s chain link fence. I spent over a year cutting down trees along the fence line before I put up the new picket fence. Now they are sprouting from the stumps. The problem gets worse because the adjoining backyard that meets my fence line is owned by someone who rents out the house and will not provide any help to control these trees. (e-mail reference)
Q: This is the second year my variegated dogwoods have been diseased. Before leaf-out last spring, I sprayed with a Bordeau mixture. I have also used Daconil. Last year you recommended spraying lime sulfur in the spring. What is the name of the product? (Carrington, N.D.)
Q: I have nearly wild roses ( Rosa floribnunda) that I planted last year. They flowered all of last year and this spring before powdery mildew set in. I got rid of the powdery mildew using a spray, but they have not bloomed since. What can I do? (e-mail reference)
Q: I have two rose bushes that were planted last summer. This summer, one bloomed nicely while the other did not. What am I doing wrong? They are the same type of rose, only different colors. One nursery said that it has gone wild on me and will need to be removed. The other nursery said that it has become lazy with good care and will not go to the trouble of producing flowers. (Tulare, S.D.)
Q: I have a hedge of alpine currants that is always lush and beautiful. This year the leaves turned brown and when I looked at the backside of the leaves with a magnifying glass, I saw many tiny white things. Are these mites? I grow many container gardens, and this year the petunias all turned yellow. I used good potting soil and fertilized regularly. I had a few where the leaves turned almost white. What is this and what can I do about it? Also, many of my zinnias died almost overnight. One day a plant was fine, but the next day it was brown and dead. Is this Aster Yellows or something else? This was certainly the year of diseases and pests. (e-mail reference)
Q: I am concerned about the spread of cottonwoods in our back yard. Until now I kept the shoots down using Brush Begone, but they have extended into our neighbor’s yard. The neighbor is concerned the cottonwoods may undermine the foundation. Some time ago we had the drains drilled and found roots about 120 feet from the house. I am concerned about the potential damage that might be done outside our property line. (e-mail reference)
Q: We are first time homeowners, so please forgive my ignorance. What exactly is a pre-emergent herbicide? Is there a particular brand? Am I better off submitting a soil sample to see what I need? I also had quite a problem this year with wild mustard. I used Ortho Weed-B-Gone to kill it. Can I do the same to kill barnyard grass? Can you tell me what product to purchase? I am currently reading a handout of yours on turfgrass management. A former student of yours gave it to me. (e-mail reference)
Q: I am devastated at the thought of losing my mother’s beautiful hibiscus. She recently passed away and I transplanted her plant into my yard. I watered it and gave it some fertilizer, but every leaf is curling and every bud has dropped. The stems just before the buds are black, so I am assuming I have lost all of those buds. Should I cut them off? Is there anything else I should do? (e-mail reference)
Q: I read about deer eating new growth off an apple tree. I came across a formula that by far outdoes human hair, soaps, is more convenient than urine and far cheaper than pepper spray and Deer Away. The recipe calls for 1 egg, 1 cup of milk, 1 tablespoon of dish soap and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Mix these up and add 1 gallon of water. It works great. Spray once a week or after a rain. I have been using it on my fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. The deer have not touched anything I have sprayed. When I tried the other suggestions, the deer would get used to it and get back to eating the plants. I ate the vegetables that were sprayed and have not noticed an effect on the taste. There is nothing in the recipe that will hurt you. I recommend it to anyone who has a deer problem! It’s probably the best tip I have ever received for gardening. (e-mail reference)
Do you have a gardening or houseplant question? Write to Hortiscope, Box 5051, NDSU Extension Service, Fargo, ND 58105 or e-mail to Ron Smith at ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu. Note to e-mail correspondents: please identify your location (city and state) for most accurate recommendations.
Source: Ron
Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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