Winter Vines for Victoria BC Deck: Sweet Peas or Ruby Moon?

Cool-Season Vines for West-Facing 2nd-Story Boxes Victorias mild winters (Zone 8b/9a) allow winter vining. Edible + Ornamental Sweet peas / snap peas: Love cool temps, bloom winter/spring. Fragrant. Ornamental Only

The 14-Month Marigold: Forcing Annuals into Perennial-Like Life

One Gardeners Experiment in Extreme Deadheading & Culture A yellow dwarf marigold grown in progressively larger pots, deadheaded daily, fed dilute Miracle-Gro, reached 3 ft with woody trunk—until wind split it. What Hap

Fall Color for Full-Sun Window Boxes in Charlotte, NC

Late-Season Annuals That Handle Light Frosts Best Bets for Color Through Holidays Ornamental cabbage/kale: Pink/white centers intensify with cold. Last past Christmas. Variegated vinca vine: Trails, cold-tolerant. Purp

White Powdery Fungus on Cherry Trees: Mildew or Something Worse?

Ornamental Cherry Decline on Cape Cod Immediate Steps Take affected leaf/stem sample to Barnstable Cooperative Extension (Deeds & Probate Bldg, across from courthouse). If confirmed powdery mildew: spray Green Cure (le

Dahlia Troubles & Overwintering Silver Nettle Vine vs. Variegated Swedish Ivy

Diagnosing Dahlia Issues & Tender Perennial Hardiness Dahlia Symptoms Browning center, stunted, leathery leaves, no blooms. Cause: Fresh manure = nitrogen burn. Or too much shade (need full sun). Good news: Tubers shou

Pruning 30-Year-Old Overgrown Cedar Hedges Around a Pool

Dont Shear—Limb Up Instead Cedar usually means arborvitae, Juniperus virginiana, or Chamaecyparis. None regrow from bare wood. Shearing browns the face permanently. Correct Method: Limbing Up Remove lower branches back

Powdery Mildew & Dieback on New Lilacs in Southern Indiana

Diagnosing & Managing First-Year Lilac Problems Powdery Mildew (Dusty Leaves) Cosmetic only—rarely kills. Rake all fallen leaves in fall to reduce spores. Next year: spray Green Cure (organic) at bloom finish. Tip Di

Bringing Impatiens & Begonias Indoors for Winter in Pennsylvania

Simple Indoor Overwintering for Two Shade Annuals Impatiens Dig, pot up. Cut back to 4–6 in stems (leave a few leaves). Sunny window, no drafts. Begonias Dig, pot up. Do NOT cut back. Sunny window, no drafts. Ligh

Pruning Lilacs to Keep Them Short: Why It Fails & What to Do Instead

Lilacs Want to Be Trees—Fighting Their Nature Backfires Why Hard Pruning Fails Cut to ground → vigorous straight shoots, no flowers for 4–5 years. Cut by half → same regrowth, delayed bloom. Even dwarf Miss Kim reaches

Overwintering Impatiens Indoors in Maine: Possible But Tricky

Yes, You Can—But Expect Challenges The Yes Plan Pot up, place in south/west window (indoors need more light). Water when dry, not wet. No fertilizer until March. Jan/Feb: cut back by half (theyll look pathetic). March:

Transplanting Lilacs: Root Ball Size, Sun Needs, and Timing

Moving Established Lilacs Successfully in Washington Root Ball Lilacs have fibrous (not tap) roots. Dig as wide as the drip line, as deep as you can manage. More roots = faster recovery. Sun Requirement Minimum 5 hrs d

Cosmos Not Blooming? Troubleshooting Green, Healthy, Flowerless Plants

Why Cosmos Grow Leaves But No Flowers in South Jersey Healthy foliage + no buds usually means one of three things: 1. Too Much Nitrogen Fertilizer with high first number (N) = leaves, no flowers. What N-P-K did you use?

Mutant Sunflower: Multiple Heads from Hybrid Reversion

Why Your Sunflower Has 6 Heads and Buds at Every Leaf Your volunteer sunflower (from septic cover soil) shows a classic hybrid reversion: multiple heads, buds at leaf axils. This happens when: Hybrid seeds revert to wil

Cutting Back Leggy Sun Impatiens for a Fresh Flush

Hard Pruning Rejuvenates Overgrown Plants If your sun impatiens are 36 inches tall and flopping, cut stems back to a few inches, leaving 2–3 sets of leaves. Expect new blooms in 3–4 weeks. Tips for Success Keep in appro

Poppies and Wildflowers for an Irish Park: Easy Color from Seed

Scatter, Rake, and Let Nature Do the Rest Poppies are perfect for a no-dig park planting. Scatter seeds on the surface, then lightly rake to ensure soil contact. Fall sowing works well in Irelands climate. More Vibrant,

Sowing Poppies and Other Colorful Annuals in a Park Setting

Surface-Sow in Fall for Spring Color Poppies (annual, biennial, or perennial types) can be scattered on the soil surface in fall. Keep moist during germination and remove competing weeds. Companion Seeds for Surface Sowi

Propagating Impatiens for Next Year: Cuttings Beat Seeds

Hybrid Seeds Wont Come True—Clone Your Favorites Instead Modern impatiens are hybrids; saved seeds produce inferior, variable plants. Instead, take 4–6 inch tip cuttings from your best-colored plants. Easy Water-Rooting

Why Hibiscus Buds Drop: Watering, Fertilizer, and Thrips

Bud Drop Is a Stress Response Hibiscus buds are extremely sensitive. If your plants are dropping buds before opening, theyre stressed. Common causes: 1. Improper Watering Youre watering 5 minutes morning and afternoon—th

Calculating Plant Coverage: How Many Gazanias for 406 Square Feet?

Spacing Depends on Desired Look Theres no universal flat coverage rule because plants spread differently. For gazanias, which dont spread widely: Dense, full coverage: Plant 8–12 inches apart on center. Visible soil bet

Overwintering New Guinea Impatiens and Fuchsia Indoors

Two Tropicals, Similar Needs, Same Pesky Pest Both plants can bloom all winter indoors with proper care, but spider mites are almost inevitable. New Guinea Impatiens Tolerant of dry indoor heat and moderate light (east