Browse by Popular Gardening Tags

Should I prune my Annabelle hydrangeas?

Sure you can prune your Annabelle hydrangeas. Except, do not prune in the spring or early summer. Annabelle hydrangeas bloom on new wood on stems that have begun growing in the spring, so if you prune the new growth before they bloom, it will be the following year before you see a blossom. Annabelle...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 07-19-2008
Are there many deer resistant ground covers?

Well, hungry deer will eat almost anything, but there are several ground covers that show Resistance to deer. Ajuga is the first plant that comes to mind. Most ajuga is quite tolerant to multi-zoned planting conditions. Ajuga is also colorful and when these plants reach maturity they will provide excellent...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 07-15-2008
What does the term 'available water' mean?

Available water is an important term in the world of plants and gardening. Having a pond 10 feet from a garden would seem to define the term 'available water', but it does not. Wilting plant leaves can be caused by too little or too much available water. A plants roots need to be able to extract...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 07-08-2008
Can you suggest a few easy perennials to grow for a beginning gardener?

Sure, here are a few easy to grow and care for perennials. Except for giving them regular moisture, you can plant them and forget them. One of the first perennials to come to mind is the hosta. There is a reason you see a of of hostas in gardens and landscapes. They are tough and they also thrive in...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 07-02-2008
When is the best time of day to water my plants?

Watering in the morning is usually the preferred time. But sometimes work schedules preclude watering in the mornings. Watering any time of the day can be done, especially if you are using soaker hoses or watering with a wand. Applying the water below the foliage is the goal. When watering is done late...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 06-26-2008
How many kinds of Coleus are there?

I guess I do not have the answer to your question. Would lots, or many, or over 300 be helpful? The colors and types of coleus may be a little mind-boggling but every year more color combinations are created and all of them complement other foliage or are just plain gorgeous when planted in you garden...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 06-24-2008
I am stuck with heavy clay soil, what can I do to quickly grow attractive plants?

Recently, I was able to observe a neighbor who had an identical problem. Their basement wall evidently had a leak and the dirt had to be dug up around the foundation in the front. The many years of amending the soil was replaced with the heavy yellow clay soil when the dirt was filled back in around...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 06-22-2008
What materials should be used to tie plants to stakes or supports?

I have seen many different materials used to tie plants to stakes, even thick wire. Using the wrong material to tie a plant can cause serious plant injury. I have seen fast growing trees tied tightly to a tree with wire. As the trunk grows, the wire will cut into the bark and eventually cause a serious...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 06-06-2008
Is moldy mulch harmful?

Raking some older mulch may give you a good look at mold on the wood chips or decaying plant material. Mold is actually one of the factors that works along with the decomposition of the wood chips. The mold is not harmful. You can decrease the amount of mold by raking your mulch periodically which helps...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 05-30-2008
What factors influence a plants ability to flower?

I think that a lot of backyard gardeners choose a plant that will flower with a favorite color or scent. Then, after waiting the appropriate amount of time for the flowers to appear, disappointment. I get many requests for information about why a particular plant does not flower. Some of the answers...

Posted to Common Questions Answered (Weblog) by Bill-nhn on 05-26-2008

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