climbers

QuestionHi Tom, I have had a Akebia Quinata for 3 seasons it is quite huge very healthy looking is supposed to flower from may to june but at the begining og may it had 2 small flowers on the whole thing and that w

easy to maintain

QuestionI am helping a friend with a 5 ft x 10 ft space that has the following problems: 1. My friend is lazy and doesnt want to work in the yard 2. The soil is not soil, but sand 3. She has no money to invest in th

flower indentity

QuestionMy digital camera is on the fritz or I would send a picture, but it is a fairly easy plant to discribe, see if you can tell me what it is. My brother dug it up in a field(fence row) in eastern Kansas. I th

pruning astors

QuestionWe were wondering if it is a good idea to prune astors. Would it hurt them? AnswerHi Mary, Thanx for your question. I would not recommend pruning asters at this time. Asters can be pruned like m

Book

QuestionIm looking for the ultimte authority on choosing and caring for perennials. Im gardening in Spofford, New Hampshire. Thank you for you consideration of my question. AnswerHi Christine. For my m

tools

QuestionWhich type of hoe would you suggest for the garden? AnswerHi Walt. As with most things, it depends on what you need it to do. Heres a run down on what different hoes are good for: A draw hoe (or gard

Siberian Iris

QuestionDue to a recent bad hailstorm her in the Chicago area (Zone 5), We have some major repairs to do to the exterior of our home. I need to move a large siberian iris Steve , but I am not sure how or when

Verbenas stopped blooming

QuestionI live in HOuston Texas. About 4 or 5 weeks ago I bought a couple of very healthy looking 8 inch potted verbena plants from a nursery and planted them in a full sun area that I believe has good drainage. &nb

follow-up

QuestionTom; So Ive ordered Ice Plants (assorted colors) for a west-facing border. Flossflower, Blue Fescue (but Im taking your advice and not putting under orange tree in company with ground morninglory!), Baths P

hardy? mum Goldcrest

QuestionI bought several mum pots but theyre not identified as hardy. They are the Goldcrest variety. Please tell me if these are hardy. I am in zone 7a. Thanks! AnswerCourtney, Yes I am pretty sure if they are cus

BLACKEYED SUSANS/DAY LILIES/IRIS

QuestionI JUST PLANTED BLACK EYED SUSANS.DO THEY SPREAD AND FILL IN NICELY. I SEE SO MANY LARGE BUNCHES AS I TRAVEL THIS SUMMER? WE PLANTED DAY LILIES 6 YR AGO. THIS SUMMER -JULY WE HAD MANY FLOWERS THEY ALL

care for perennials after foliage is over

QuestionI am new to gardening... I have lots of hostas in my yard. When their flowering is over, do I leave the stalks alone, or clip them off? Thanks. AnswerHi Nina, Thanx for your question. When

Transplanting a Perennial

QuestionI have what I believe is called August Lilly. This plant begins with just green foilage in the spring...it looks like daffodil leaves. No flower comes up in spring, the leaves die down and then i

perinnals

QuestionI am looking for a website where I can type in a perinnal (such as coreopsis, sedum, spirea, dianthus, etc.) and I will get back simple details for caring for that specific kind of flower. I would like

Raising Horseradish

QuestionWhy is it that the strength of processed horseradish varies so much? When is the best time to dig the roots? Sometimes the finished product is very hot & on other occasions it is quite mild. &n

Hardy item for a large planter

QuestionI am looking for a hardy plant to place in a half whiskey barrel sized planter. I want something that is going to be fairly large (2+ feet high) and not something that someone would want to grab and pl

Winterizing potted shrubs

QuestionDear Courtney, This year, I potted a 3 arborvitae in a 5 gallon pot, and a green and yellow euonymous in a 3 gallon pot. I live in Freehold, NJ 07728 which I think is Zone 7, but Im not sure. My ques

Pruning Hibiscus

QuestionHi Courtney, I live just north of Toronto, Zone 5b, I believe. This past summer I planted a perennial Hibiscus that was producing huge flowers (one about every few days for a few weeks at the end of the sum

red twig dogwood bushes

QuestionHi Courtney, I would like to know if the Varigated Red Twig Dogwood bush is acid loving. I have a number of these bushes and some are going well while others are stunted. The stunted ones are unfortunately u

Big Mature Tree

QuestionHi, Laura-- I asked you a question previously and you gave such a good answer that I came back for more. I looked for a tree person, but they were all on vacation. Here goes... My neighbor has a