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My sacred lily bulb seems to be shrinking. It had a stem and leaves, was about 12" tall in the garden. Don't I fertilize it enough? - Luseland, Sask.
ANSWER.
This bulb does need regular feeding during it's growing period, however, it is more likely that the bulb did not receive enough moisture. These are very thirsty bulbs. In their native country they grow in swamp-like conditions. Next year, provide more water, and you will see the stem and leaves grow to three or four feet. That will indicate that the bulb has also increased,
considerably, in size. Botanical name: Hydrosme rivierii.
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The apple trees in our back yard are sprayed each spring with a dormant spray, and yet the apples have worms. What more can we do? - New Hamburg, Ont.
ANSWER.
I am presuming that the dormant spray you have used is the lime sulphur and dormant oil combination. Both should be used. As well, areas under the trees must be kept very clean. Pick up ALL fallen apples. Do not add them to the compost, but rather place it with your weekly garbage. Any apples, allowed to lie under the tree, increase the chances of overwintering insects which will infest the following year's crop.
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We live in southwestern Ontario in an older subdivision. The tree currently
in our front yard has become a hazard to people passing by on the
sidewalk. We plan to remove this tree and replace it. A neighbour
has offered us a maple however, this tree is approx. fifteen feet
in height. Can we successfully transplant this tree into our
yard? If so, when is the best time to transplant? - Kitchener.
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ANSWER.
A fifteen foot maple tree would be virtually impossible to hand transplant. The amount of root ball required to successfully re-locate this tree would be quite massive and would require heavy equipment by a professional operator. If you are willing to go to that expense, the best time to transplant would be in the fall - preferably early to mid September.
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We have just erected a gazebo and want to know what vine to use for fast coverage. We
have young children and do not wish to have anything that blooms and attracts bees. What do you recommend? - Kitchener, Ont.
ANSWER.
A quick growing vine that will give protection from the sun is the Virginia Creeper.
Within two years, this vine will have completely covered the gazebo with lush green foliage turning to a brilliant red in autumn.
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Now that a hard frost has hit our region, should we cut down the hollyhocks and
rudbeckia? - Calgary, Alta.
ANSWER.
Although they are sold as perennials, they are in fact biennials. You may want to
leave them stand until they have dropped their seeds in order to ensure plants for next year.
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Can you suggest plants that are compatible with strawberries?
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ANSWER.
There are two plants that are compatible. Borage planted among the strawberry plants will attract bees and, thus, ensure polination of the strawberry blossoms. Lettuce can be planted next to strawberries with no adverse effect - no known benefit for either lettuce or
strawberries.
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Can the florist variety of carnations be grown in the garden?
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ANSWER.
There is a variety of florist carnation which can be grown in the garden. The
carnation is a member of the Dianthus family. The variety Dianthus caryophyllus is the same variety that florists grow in greenhouses. As a garden plant it is usually referred to as a
border carnation. In Zones 6 & 7 they can be grown as a perennial. Border carnations will grow 1 1/2 to 2 feet in height. Their double blooms are 2 inches in size and quite fragrant.
These come in a variety of colours and bloom from early summer to fall. In Zone 6, some winter protection i.e. a mulch, is recommended. Carnations should be planted so that the crown, or top of the root, is level with the soil surface. If it is planted deeply, the plant will die from crown rot. Carnations are a short lived perennial . They will lose their vigor after the second year, and should be replaced with new plants at that time.
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My father, who lives in Elizabethtown, Pa., and I, who also live on the north shore of
:Long Island, N.Y. are interested in growing calla lilies outdoors. Is spring the season to plant these bulbs? Will they fare well in our particular area.? - K.n Long Islands, N.Y.
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ANSWER.
Yes, Calla Lilies are planted in the spring. They can be grown in both Elizabethtown, Pa. and in Long Island . While they are not winter hardy in your areas, they make beautiful additions to a garden planted in full sun or where they receive partial shade over mid-day. Before frost arrives in the fall, lift the rhizomes and allow to dry for one week indoors. Store in dry peat moss or perlite or vermiculite in a 40 to 50 degree temperature. The botanical name for Calla Lily is Zantedeschia or also called Richardia.
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Can you possibly tell me where in Texas do Black Walnut trees grow? Thank you.
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ANSWER.
To the best of our knowledge, Black Walnut is grown in north eastern Texas. There
are some growing in the more south central area of Texas in the area of Martindale and Lockhart, although they are scarce in that region.
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I tried to grow Foxtail lilies in two gallon pots. It didn't work. I now have all of the lilies out of the pots. Can I store them for the winter or should I put them in the ground? - D.S.
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ANSWER.
These lilies are generally planted in the fall when tulip bulbs are planted. Spacing should be 24" to 36" in groupings of three or more. Some winter protection (i.e.: a rose hood) is recommended in the northern regions.
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Both my husband and I are avid gardeners. This year, we decided to expand the variety
of bulbs in the garden. In September, we purchased 100 bulbs which included tulips, lilies and flowering onion. Unfortunately, we did not get them all planted and now we have a shed full of
bulbs (mostly lilies and tulips). Can we plant these bulbs in the spring or have we lost our investment to the cold? Calgary
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ANSWER.
Unless you have a good supply of pots and a cool storage area where you can set potted tulip bulbs for six weeks before forcing them in a warm room, I'm afraid the tulips will not survive until spring. Lilies can be stored in dry peat moss in plastic bags, set in the crisper of the refrigerator. Plant as soon as the frost is out of the ground in spring.
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I am trying to find out how to force tulips to bloom indoors. I bought my tulip bulbs
in the fall and was unable to plant them. I would like to try to find out how to do it indoors on my own and force them to bloom. I am a very new gardener, as you can see. Thanks. - L. C.
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ANSWER.
The main requirement is temperature. Using a 6" pot and a good potting soil mix,
plant 4 or 5 bulbs. Set the bulbs deep enough so that at lease three inches of soil covers the bulbs. Water it well. Set the pot in the refrigerator or an unheated garage for six weeks. After
which you can place the pot in a warm room. When growth is visible, place the pot in sunlight in the window. Mist them occasionally, since they would normally receive dew if out doors,
and the air in springtime is generally quite damp.
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I live in the state of Washington and have a new colonial style home. I am looking
for a way to make the entrance a classy style and soften the horizontal edges of the porch and the walkway that passes laterally in front of the house. This is a two storey home at the
top of a 25' upward slope from the road. There is a two car garage on the right. The front walkway goes from the driveway to the front door. On the left 1/3rd of the house, there is a porch with a white railing across the front of the house with two large white round pillars in front of the large double door entry. There are dormer windows on the second storey of the house. The house is gray with white trim and black front doors. - E.H.
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ANSWER.
I presume a panoramic view exists from the verandah since you mention a 25' upward slope. Plant material used in front of the verandah or on the slope should not block the view or any architectural features. You might consider lining the walkway with a boxwood hedge which
can be trimmed to a formal shape. If the house faces north or east, I suggest planting a Bloodgood Japanese Maple to soften the edges of the porch. If the house faces south or west, you might consider a Saucer Magnolia. These are of medium height and spread which will produce a broader effect. Viewing a two storey house from the bottom of a 25' slope, you want the house to look broader rather than higher.
The area in front of the verandah could be planted with spreading English Yew (Taxus baccata repandens) or alternatively a Tamarix Juniper.. (T. Juniper 'Tamariscifolia').
There are a few things not to do.
- Modern plant materials are inappropriate with
colonial architecture, as are the use of moonray
lights or other lights of that nature. Coach
style lanterns should be used.
- Use of plastic either in outdoor furniture/arbour
or ornament is also inappropriate. It is
preferable to use wood or wrought iron furniture
and terra cotta ornaments.
- A modern landscape with an historical style
architecture does not blend. They will stand
apart from each other. Hence, the importance of
keeping the landscape in a style associated with
the time period of the architecture. (Even though
a colonial style house was built yesterday, the
architecture is a recreation of an historic style).
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Are Red Maples self pollinating?
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ANSWER.
Yes, Red Maples are self pollinating. The male and female flowers appear in clusters
on the same tree.
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