Question
Kathy -

I planted beach sunflowers on the front part of my yard in an area about 8' x 24' next to the street (I live in Santa Rosa Beach in the panhandle of Florida). I tilled the area first and laid down a cloth barrier to keep weeds down. I planted the sunflowers from cuttings we cultivated over a three month period. At first, they came up green and beautiful - a lovely ground cover. Then something sticky and white appeared just below some of the blooms. I tried watering them more and then brown spots appeared on all the leaves. Now the stems have all withered -brown/black. It looks like they've been burned. The brown spots are still there and the blooms that DO come are small and mealey-looking. I don't know what to do. They don't appear to be overcrowded - they actually have space between plants but they look sick. We are going into our cold season and I'm not sure what to do now. Do I cut them all the way back? I did that once before and all my plants died. It is frustrating because my neighbors do NOTHING to the daisies on their side and they seem to thrive. Theirs seem to benefit from a sprinkler system, but everyone I have talked to says the culprit with my plants is overwatering.

Please help.

Answer
Hi Kim,   A good sign of over watering is black or brown tips on the leaves, I am afraid you friends are right.  

Botanical name: Helianthus debilis subspecies debilis

Description: A cheery and bright plant that graces our coastal areas, the beach sunflower performs well in many settings, provided the plants are fairly dry. It grows quickly. It spreads by underground runners, by seed and when a stem hits the ground. The leaves are deltoid shaped and toothed. The flowers are two or three inches across.

Height: 2 or 3 feet

Light: full sun

Culture: Choose a spot for this plant where you want a fairly thick ground cover. Don't plant too many because these things spread. Water them daily for a week, then every other day for a week, then reduce gradually. Once established, beach sunflower will need no extra irrigation. Too much water can adversely affect it.

Fertilize in the spring, and perhaps in the fall if you notice fewer flowers being produced. Keep an eye on where it spreads if you don't want to wake up one day and find it in the shrubbery. The runners are easily pulled up if they get out of hand. The plant also takes well to being pruned back in the spring.
 Happy New Year   kathy