Common Questions Answered

I have mealybugs, how do I get rid of them?

papiospring-nhn — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Mealybugs love houseplants as well as vegetables and shrubs. If you have them on a houseplant, take a cotton swab dipped in a mixture of water and vinegar or just plain rubbing alcohol and brush them off the leaves. You can also use a sponge soaked in soapy water to wipe off the leaves. Mealybugs are small pink insects that leave white cottony masses on leafs. When you see the white masses, use one of the afore-mentioned remedies.

If you spot mealybugs on an outdoors plant, check around for ladybugs. The ladybug is a great biological controller of the pesky mealybug. Other control methods such as spraying with an insecticidal soap or using an insecticide such as malathion is also very effective. A tell tale sign of the presence of mealybugs is sooty mold. Sooty mold is a blackish fungus that grows on the gel like excrement of the mealybug. Wipe the mold away with soapy water and them spray with a fungicide.

We seem to have many maple trees in our neighborhood, do you have any information about them?

papiospring-nhn — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:21:00 GMT

The maple tree is widely spread geographically and with 100 species and countless varieties to choose from, you should be able to select one for your landscape. I hesitate to try and get too specific because the maple family is so diverse and is suited to a variety of climates and soil types. The foremost reason for choosing a maple tree is for shade, closely followed by beautiful leaves and outstanding fall colors. For a spectacular show, plant a red maple (Acer rubrum). The sugar maple and some of the cultivars such as the 'October Glory' maple will provide a treat for your eyes in the fall.

There are a few species of maple that have rather soft wood. The silver maple and the box elder maple grow quite quickly and produce wood that is weaker and more brittle than many of their relatives. Another factor to consider when planting a maple tree is the dense shade they create. Trying to grow something around and under that dense canopy is difficult. Plants that will do well in a maple trees shade are euonymus, pachysandra, or periwinkle.

My neighbor suggested I use some lime, what is it for?

papiospring-nhn — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Lime is most often used to add calcium to the soil which raises the soil pH. By raising the soil pH, you would be able to place plants in acidic soil that would require a neutral or alkaline soil conditions. Lime also helps open thick clay soil to moisture and air penetration which assists in the decomposition of organic matter.

The only way to be sure if you need to add lime is to have your soil tested. If the pH reading is below 6.0, add lime. If the soil test indicates that your soil is short of calcium and magnesium, add lime. Lime can be added at any time and most recommendations for lime placement is on top or placed very shallow in the soil and then watered in. A good example from the plant world for quick response to lime is the clematis. Quicker growth and plant health can be observed in just 1 season after lime is applied.

Can you suggest a good lily to buy, there seems to be so many varieties?

papiospring-nhn — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:12:00 GMT

You are certainly correct with your observation of lots of lily varieties. Lilies present a bewildering amount of choices. There are about 80 species and hundreds of lily hybrids to choose from. So suggesting a good one for you to grow would be quite easy, as they all are quite beautiful. I suggest looking at purchasing your lilies based on color and bloom times.

Lilies are categorized into several classes. The most common are species, Asiatic, Aurelian, Trumpet, and Oriental hybrids. Each of these categories will deliver somewhat different bloom times. If you are looking a late spring bloomer, I would suggest an Asiatic hybrid. Later summer bloomers can be found in the Oriental hybrids category. When you have established your desired bloom time you can then choose the colors. Bloom colors of lilies offer so many choices from single color blooms to intricate, multiple color combinations. So to answer your request for a good lily choice, I suggest these two: Jacqueline from the Asiatic category and from the Tiger lily family, Sweet Surrender.

Why are some tree trunks painted white?

papiospring-nhn — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Not knowing what kind of tree trees you are referring to, I am going to assume that they were fruit trees. The traditional way to protect fruit tree trunks from heat and sun is to paint them with a thick coat of lime and water. Most of the time the lime and water are heated to make the coating last longer. This method is called whitewashing. The white paint will reflect the sunlight and thus keep the bark cooler.

Some tree trunks are painted with white latex paint to prevent the killing of the bark by sudden temperature changes in late fall and winter. I have been told that adding rabbit repellent to the paint helps protect the tree from winter foraging of the bark.

Will My Tart Cherry Tree Pollinate My Sweet Cherry Tree?

jeff-nhn — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:25:00 GMT

The quick answer to this question would be no. But who likes quick answers? Plus, when I'm told no to a question of mine, the next thought that pops into my head is why wouldn't the trees pollinate each other? Tart cherries are biologically capable of pollinating your sweet cherry trees but the bloom time of the tart cherry does not overlap with the normal bloom time of a sweet cherry. The needed pollen source is not available at the needed bloom time.

Do you know of any recipe for organic pest or fungicide control?

papiospring-nhn — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:10:00 GMT

Yes, I do have a recipe that I copied from my wife. She copied it from another source that she has forgotten. So my apologies to the original author for this recipe but it does work. Puree 6 or so garlic cloves in a blender with about 2 cups of water and a few hot chilies like Jalapeños. Strain the puree into a spray bottle and add 1/4 t-spoon of liquid soap.

Spray this homemade potion directly on your plants. Insects and fungal diseases should avoid the plants that were treated. Keep this spray bottle around because you will need to retreat after each rain or watering.

Can you suggest a biological control for aphids?

papiospring-nhn — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:54:00 GMT

I believe one of the best insects used for biological control of aphids would be the ever popular ladybug. Ladybugs are also referred to as lady beetles or ladybirds. Ladybugs will forage with gusto on an aphid diet. Other insects that will whet a ladybugs appetite are mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies.

Ladybugs can be purchased in small or large quantities. They will need enough food and water to keep them around long enough for them to lay eggs and begin another generation. Try to offer them a hibernation site on your property if you want them to winter over in your garden. Stack some dead leaves, hay or straw, at the base of a fence to allow them to have a place to hibernate over the winter.

What does the term hydroponics refer to?

papiospring-nhn — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:38:00 GMT

Hydroponics entails growing plants without soil. Plants are placed in a liquid solution and supplemented with a liquid fertilizer and grown to maturity with out any soil around the roots. There some commercial vegetable growers that use hydroponics to produce fresh vegetables, like tomatoes, and deliver them to supermarkets all year around. The tomato plants are held upright by a mesh like fabric at the base of the plant and the roots are visible growing in the tanks of water below. Just imagine a fish tank with roots in the water and vegetative growth on top of the water.

Home grown vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes. peppers, cucumbers, radishes and herbs are good candidates for hydroponic gardens. I know there are websites that describe the process of starting a hydroponic garden or even how to grow an individual house plant hydroponically. Hydroponics could be a great hobby with the reward being fresh vegetables from your own pots or tanks.

What does the term 'micro-climate' mean?

papiospring-nhn — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:33:00 GMT

A gardening professional speaking at a conference stated that just about every yard has a unique micro-climate. Micro-climate means that a unique climatic condition is created by buildings, house location on the lot, wall location, berms, and other factors that are a little different in most every location. Knowing and observing the climatic conditions in your yard will help you place appropriate plants in locations where they will thrive vs. another area in the yard where they may struggle. For instance, knowing where the prevailing winds strike your yard would help you choose a location away from a windy location for a tender plant.

Another topic that gets a lot of discussion is borderline plant hardiness. The micro-climate in the yard may allow you to successfully plant a zone 6 plant in a zone 5 location. Placing the zone 6 plant in a protected area of the yard that is sheltered from the north wind and where it gets more heat from a southerly exposure to the sun will very likely allow the plant to be grown successfully. A good rule to follow would be is "don't fight your site". You will save time, money and energy by working with your micro-climate rather than fighting it.

What does the term 'evergreen' mean?

papiospring-nhn — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:26:00 GMT

The term evergreen is a catch-all word for a plant, tree, shrub, groundcover, vine or perennial that retains its foliage year around. Most often evergreen is used to label a tree or a shrub. The term semi-evergreen is also used to describe a plant that looses their leaves in the winter in cold areas and keeps their leaves all year in warmer climates.

Evergreen trees come in 2 general types. There are the thin leafed or needle leafed evergreen trees such as a fir or spruce trees. Most of the needle type are usually very cold hardy. The other type are frond or wide leafed trees such as the palm or magnolia trees. Most of the wider leaved evergreen trees are not cold hardy so they are found in warmer climates.

Do you have any information about edible flowers?

papiospring-nhn — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:25:00 GMT

I do have a little info on edible flowers due to what my wife told me after attending a luncheon at a friends house. She was served nasturtium flowers atop of her salad and she commented that they were tasty and they made quite an attractive presentation. Not knowing that flowers were edible, I went looking for information. I will preface my comments with the statement that not all flowers are edible. Check with a poison control center before sampling any plant.

I found that flowers from bee balm, chives, daylilies, dianthus, hollyhocks, nasturtiums, pansies, roses, sunflowers, tulips and violets can be eaten and they provide an array of interesting tastes. Many food flower affection-ados prefer to grow their own tasty flowers so that they can be sure they are raised organically and do not contain any pesticide residue. Wouldn't the flowers in the picture make for an attractive dish?

How do I prune azaleas?

papiospring-nhn — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:03:00 GMT

Pruning a young azalea plant after the plant is through blooming will promote lateral branching and a more compact form. Prune lightly at the very tip of the branches for best results. Older azaleas should be pruned by removing larger branches from the interior of the plant. Removing the larger branches will allow more light in and the sunlight will inhibit disease. Cut away all dead or diseased wood below the infected area.

Older azaleas can be rejuvenated by cutting back the entire plant to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. If this method seems too severe, cut back the older plant over a 3 year period by pruning a third of the branches each year. Prune your azaleas in early spring before new growth begins.

How can I clean and disinfect my pots from year to year?

papiospring-nhn — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:57:00 GMT

A very simple and effective way to clean pots is to use a solution of 2 tablespoons of bleach in 1 quart of water. Wash and scrub the pots in the bleach solution. Leave the pots soak for an hour or more, then rinse and let them dry. Use this same bleach and water combination to clean garden pails and your pruning shears. Pruning shears can easily spread virus and fungus diseases as you move from plant to plant. If you are pruning obviously diseased plant material, it is advised that you use the bleach solution after each pruning cut so as to keep from spreading the virus or fungus.

What does the term "Hardy Bulb" mean?

papiospring-nhn — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:54:00 GMT

Hardy bulbs can be described as bulbs that can be left in the ground safely all year around. Heavy frost and freezing of the soil around the bulbs will not harm a hardy bulb. Many fall planted bulbs are hardy bulbs. The most familiar of these bulbs would be tulips, crocus, daffodils and hyacinths. All of these bulbs are planted in the fall and produce beautiful spring color.

Tender bulbs are bulbs that cannot survive freezing temperatures or frozen soil. Tender bulbs can be left in the ground in warm climates but will die if left in the ground in colder climates. These bulbs must be dug up each fall and placed and wintered indoors and replanted in the spring. A very well recognized tender bulb would be the amaryllis. In fact most amaryllis are grown indoors in northern climates.