NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN FOR JUNE 8, 2013

NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN FOR JUNE 8, 2013

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QUESTIONS I HAVE HAD LATELY

BY GLADYS JEURINK

1. FLOWER BUDS ARE FALLING OFF. WHY?

The main reason is last year’s drought. Water well now and mulch to preserve moisture loss.

2. LEAVES ON MY PLANT HAS TINY SILVER SPOTS AND MANY WEBS. MY DWARF ALBERTA SPRUCE TREE IS AFFECTED THE MOST. WHAT DO I DO?

The problem is probably “Spider Mites”. Wash the Mites off with a strong water spray and watch all summer. “Spruce Spider Mites” love hot weather. If they get really bad you can use a Miticide spray but water usually works just fine.

3. STEMS ON MY PLANT ARE THIN AND CROWDED, FLOWERS ARE SMALL, AND THE LEAVES WILT OR TURN YELLOW. WHY?

They can be affected by last summer’s drought or may be starving. Apply fertilizer and water it in.

4. ORNAMENTAL GRASS IS DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CLUMP. WHY?

The grass roots get so thick in the center of the clump that they die off. Also the center is shaded by the outer stems so it does not get the light it needs. Spring is the time to dig the entire clump, chop it into pieces and replant. If you have too many pieces share some with your friends. Or you can cut into the clump and leave a piece of the roots and remove the rest. George uses a reciprocating saw with a pruning blade to divide his grass.

5. MY DAFFODILS HAD SMALLER BLOOMS AND FEWER FLOWERS THAN USUAL. WHY?

Daffodil bulbs are affected by crowding. Some may even be pushed to the top of the soil. Wait until the leaves turn brown and then dig and separate the bulbs. Replant now.

6. MY PEONIES ARE FLOPPING OVER AND SOME HAVE EVEN BROKEN OFF. WHAT CAN I DO?

Some plants flop in a heavy rain or strong wind, especially when they have heavy blooms . For them I try to have supports ahead of time. You can plant sticks or branches among your tiny plants to give them support. The Garden Centers have rings with “holes” for the plants to grow through that work fine. Those rings have legs of various lengths that you can adjust for different plants. They have one that is specifically for Peonies.

If you have this problem each year, think about how much you fertilize your plants and what kind of fertilize you use. Too much nitrogen early in the season without sufficient light can make your plants “leggy” or “spindly” and thus not able to support the blooms.

7. MY YOUNG STEMS HAVE BEEN CHEWED THROUGH AT GROUND LEVEL. I ESPECIALLY HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH MY TOMATOES. WHAT CAN I DO?

You probably have “Cutworms” and you need some kind of defense. When you put out new seedlings in the spring or in the fall for a fall garden, make a collar to push down in the soil around each plant. I like cans with both ends cut out to place around each plant. Make sure they are big enough for the stem to grow. Tubes from paper towels or toilet paper will work for a short time until the stems get tougher. George uses #10 food cans he gets from a cafe for his tomatoes. In fact they can take care of most plants in a vegetable garden that are bothered by “cutworms”.

8. AFTER THE LEAVES HAVE FILLED OUT ON MY PLANTS I START TO SEE HOLES. WHAT CAUSES THIS?

This can be very irritating as there are many insects or diseases that can do this. Usually an insect has its favorite plant so your diagnosis can be made by the name of the plant. “Potato Beetles” like Egg Plant, Peppers, Tomatoes and of course Potatoes. You can pick these off and dump in soapy water. Sprays you can use include Seven, Bacillus Thuringensis (Bt), Spinosad (Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew), Eight, or Bifenthrin. “Insecticidal Soap” works well but you will need several applications as new ones hatch out.

9. I HAVE SEEN MANY HOLES IN THE LEAVES OF MY CABBAGE PLANTS AND OTHER PLANTS IN THE CABBAGE FAMILY. WHAT IS CAUSING THESE?

Little white Butterflies appear quite early in the spring and love to lay their eggs on any plants in the Cabbage family and they can lay quite a few! Suddenly we see many holes in those leaves from the Caterpillars that hatch. Bacillus Thuringensis (Bt) and Spinosad (Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew), again works well as the Caterpillars eat the insecticide as they eat the leaves. Bt and Spinosad are both registered for organic gardens. When buying Bt read the label as there are several different species and each has its favorite insect to destroy.

10. I STARTED MY SEEDS IN THE HOUSE AND HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT “HARDENING OFF THE NEW SEEDLINGS”. WHAT IS THIS?

When taking new seedlings outside you need to treat them gently. The change of temperature, intensity of light, and the stronger winds can set them back. Put them outside for increasing lengths of time during the day and then at night if the temperature goes below 50 degrees F. Some of my plants I put on the North side of the house to “harden off” or get used to the outside. I don’t plant them in the ground until they have been “hardened off” and used to the changes.