All Questions
4
votes
2answers
79 views
What kind of palm tree is this and how do I care for it?
I bought a new house and have this palm tree in the front yard. No one lived in the house for over two years so it's been neglected but still looks healthy. What's the best way to clean it up and have ...
4
votes
1answer
55 views
Low maintenance evergreen shade-tolerant container climbers for UK
I'm new to gardening and looking for a some climbers to put in my North facing lightwell. It is very sheltered and gets a little bit of sun in the summer evenings. I have bought two very large ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Is my old, extremely leggy broccoli plant going to give a decent crop?
I have an old broccoli plant which went in some time in the autumn, survived the winter and in which you can just see the start of florets forming.
It is extremely long, maybe a metre, which makes it ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Sowing cucumbers, seed on its side and cover in clingfilm?
Instructions on the packet of cucumber seeds I'm holding say I need to:
Plant the seed on its side
Cover the pot with clingfilm after sowing
I get that these are measures which will help ...
3
votes
3answers
77 views
How do I prune an apple tree so it will grow short?
I was just wondering, is it possible to prune an apple tree so that it will grow short? I just would appreciate not to have to get a ladder or anything to be able to get fruit. Is it possible and a ...
2
votes
3answers
99 views
Mushrooms in the grass
I live in Phoenix, AZ and had some grass (sod) laid in the yard 3 weeks ago. Now, each day, clumps of mushrooms are now popping up all over the lawn.
How did the mushrooms get in there?
How can I ...
1
vote
0answers
53 views
What might a UK seed packet labeled “crfincr” contain?
I have a packet of seeds labeled only: "crfincr". Any idea what they might be?
A clue in how this name is constructed is given in another packet labeled "baswlk" which means "basil (wilkinson's)".
...
3
votes
3answers
56 views
How can I get rid of ticks in my garden?
Is there anything I can buy or do to have less ticks in my garden?
2
votes
1answer
41 views
What is the right way to prune a mulberry tree?
I've planted a dormant bareroot 2' tall mulberry seedling, and I'm wondering what sort of pruning is required. It's a full size tree, not any sort of dwarf variety. It has several branches already.
...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
Irrigation timer with setable delay before start
I live in a climate that is sufficiently variable that it doesn't lend itself to programmed irrigation. At present I use simple mechanical timers. Put a sprinker in place, turn the timer on, and go ...
6
votes
3answers
67 views
Hardy plants for wind break in the Rocky Mountain West?
Here in Montana, high winds are a common cause for both gardening problems and poor energy efficiency in homes (as well as maintenance issues). Can anyone recommend some low-maintenance plants that ...
5
votes
2answers
103 views
How can I stop mold from growing on the surface of the soil around my potted plants?
I've been growing some apples from seed. I had four growing in one pot, then transplanted them into four separate pots. They have survived the transplant I believe, but one of the pots has a ...
4
votes
1answer
62 views
Why don't my Roma tomatoes reach full size?
I know it's only spring time, but I have lots of little blossoms on my container tomato plants. All are ready to bloom into tomatoes. They often do not reach full size. In fact, I just pulled off ...
2
votes
2answers
61 views
Would a forsythia at edge of kitchen garden cause problems?
We have a rather small garden and would like to start growing some vegetables and herbs. We already reserved a part of our garden for this, but at the edge of this part there currently is a forsythia ...
5
votes
1answer
62 views
How to flatten chicken wire?
We're trying to flatten chicken wire (for our raised bed fence) that came in a roll originally. Any tips?
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Planted Ginger but it decomposed
A month back, I had planted the small portion of Ginger root in the pot and daily watered it moderately. Seeing no results so far, today I cleared the pot and saw that Ginger root started decomposing ...
3
votes
2answers
112 views
What are some reasons why a blueberry bush's leaves turn yellow?
I have two types of Southern Highbush blueberry bushes, Misty and O'Neal. This spring, I noticed that their leaves are yellowing as shown in the photos below:
Misty:
O'Neal:
They are in 100% peat ...
4
votes
2answers
140 views
Is there a way to save this half-dead evergreen tree?
I just moved into a home and this tree is planted in the yard. Half of it seems to be in good shape but the other half has no leaves and seems dead. I'm not sure what, if anything, I can do to save or ...
3
votes
1answer
47 views
How to best care for mature trees?
I've got several mature trees in my yard. I just moved into the home and for the last two years not a lot of care was given to the trees. As a first step I've removed all the trees that were scattered ...
1
vote
2answers
54 views
Should mulch be mixed with something else?
I've noticed that when professional landscaping services put mulch in an area, it smells. However, mulch by itself doesn't smell. I'm wondering what do they mix mulch with and why?
I just moved into ...
2
votes
3answers
107 views
Placing nitrogen fixers around established trees?
I have several young (1-4 years old) fruit trees and am considering planting nitrogen fixers around/underneath:
white clover (ground cover)
lupine (herb layer)
siberian pea shrub (shrub layer)
It ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
How soon / how often can I divide comfrey?
I planted comfrey last spring (3 crowns) and they grew very vigorously. I did a minimal amount of cutting (pretty much just to remove flowers).
I'd like to propagate them. It's common advice that ...
3
votes
1answer
71 views
What is this bush/tree and can it be heavily pruned?
I have this growing in our back yard here in the Pacific North West US:
(Photo taken in late March)
It's full of these drooping white flowers and (what I think are) new red leaves. Feels kind of ...
4
votes
2answers
93 views
An evolution in grafting
My question stems (pardon the pun) from two ideas:
That trees live for a very long time and that there have been many evolutions of trees in that time.
It is possible to graft trees of the same ...
2
votes
2answers
59 views
When to garden what?
I'm new to gardening, and I'm slightly confused by something. How can I tell what seeds / plants should be planted in a certain season? For example, I'm having trouble telling if there are general ...
4
votes
2answers
97 views
If it's possible to overwater a plant, then how do plants grow hydroponically?
This is confusing me since I am new to the idea of hydroponics. I have read that it is possible to damage a plant by overwatering it, so how can plants live with their roots submerged in pure water? ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
What kind of fertilizer should I give to an average mature shrub?
I've got a decently mature shrub in the backyard that is about 10 foot tall. It is starting to bloom with pinkish flowers. I'm wondering what kind of fertilizer should I give it for early spring.
...
2
votes
0answers
28 views
Transplanting into seedling starter?
I have four apple tree seedlings that are in one pot and they're getting too big to get enough light for each of them. I have some pots that I bought to transplant them, but I bought some of this.
...
2
votes
2answers
52 views
How do you organically handle lubber grasshoppers that destroy gardens?
Last summer I had a problem with black grasshoppers with yellow stripes on them, which I identified as Lubbers. Now I grow everything organically and all my plants are heirloom varieties, so last year ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Are antibiotics helpful when propagating a plant
I have seen opinions that dipping stem cuttings in a topical antibiotic such as Cicatrene which has a number of different formulations which include sulfates or zinc assists in propagating cuttings. ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
Received a plant; need help identifying it [duplicate]
I recently inherited this plant, and am not sure of what type of plant it is or what its needs are (as far as watering, light, temp, etc.). Any help in either respect would be greatly appreciated.
...
0
votes
2answers
61 views
Help identifying this plant?
I honestly have no idea what this plant is. It seems to be some type of vine. I took a few pictures i will put below. As you can see there is some other plant growing in the same pot with the long ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Can self-pollinating plants cross-pollinate?
I recently purchased a top hat blueberry shrub. According to the leaflet it came with, it is self-pollinating. Does this mean that it can self-pollinate, or that it only self-pollinates? Would getting ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
What plant is this and what do I do with it?
I now work at a new desk and inherited this plant.
Click to enlarge.
What is it and what can I do with it (to fix it or trim it)?
Indoors, no sunlight.
I am not a gardener :)
1
vote
1answer
34 views
How much nitrogen per bale in a straw bale garden?
I recently read a NY Times article about straw bale gardening. It says that you should add about 2 1/2 cups of 20% N fertilizer or three pounds of blood meal and feather meal per bale. Add water, wait ...
3
votes
0answers
53 views
Plant coming up under creeping junipers and in other parts of perennial gardens
As I said above I just noticed shoots of plants coming up throughout my garden. They are a red color tip attached to very long bright green/yellow roots. Would like to know what this is and how to ...
2
votes
3answers
116 views
What is happening to the leaves of my Ipomoea (Morning glory)?
What could be the reason to cause this discoloration of the leaves? The discolored parts you see here get thicker over the time until the green color disappears. It does not seem that the leaves dry ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
How do I flatten my soil to apply gravel?
I have dug up a section of my lawn to apply gravel. The soil is now very lumpy and I am wondering how to flatten it out?
2
votes
2answers
63 views
How can I renew a Dieffenbachia that has lost all its lower leaves?
I have two Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) plants in pots in my kitchen. One looks great, the other is struggling because I have not done a good job of keeping it watered. It has lost a lot of leaves, and ...
1
vote
0answers
31 views
Nepenthes ice watering
I have read about watering orchids with ice which slowly releases water and doesn't over water and I figured watering my highland nepenthes with frozen distilled water would be a good idea and they ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Help identifying vine in orchid
I have a large collection of indoor orchids in good health. Recently though a strange vine has appeared in one of my indoor orchid pots. I'm not sure if it's a weed or pest, or some sort of ...
2
votes
4answers
201 views
Shade-tolerant climbers?
I'm hoping someone has had good experience with a climber that tolerated partial to full shade? Most climbing flowers seem to need full sun, but we have a space in our backyard that would look great ...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
How can I rejuvenate a privet and hawthorn hedge?
I have a mixed hedge which is about 6 feet high. I think it is privet and hawthorn.
Currently, it is very top heavy in terms of the growth, and it has a lot of bare stems lower down. Please see the ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Can sunlight be simulated?
Can you use certain consumer-lights for simulating sunlight?
I know not any light will suffice, since they do not contain the same wavelengths as sunlight and whatnot.
Or are there special lights ...
2
votes
2answers
53 views
Can I save these tomato seedlings?
Due to terrible weather my tomato plants did not get enough light during germination.
The result: Too long stalks on all my plants.
Can I save them now by transplanting it? Can I transplant it to a ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
How to keep lollipop plants round
I've got a few potted lollipop style plants around the house. (Round spherical foliage on a single trunk.)
Was wondering if anyone has any tricks on how to prune a lollipop plant to keep it round. ...
2
votes
3answers
67 views
Getting gardening stakes in stony ground
I need to get some stakes into the ground surrounding my garden, as my neighborhood has large populations of deer. However, the ground is pretty stony, so just physically forcing the stakes down into ...
4
votes
2answers
160 views
BEST Plants to attract Ladybugs and Praying Mantis, from your experience
I have looked around and I have seen some recommendations for plants to attract ladybugs, for example, a few sites list that alyssum works well.
I am hoping to find out others experiences about ...
1
vote
2answers
76 views
Should we add gravel to the cacti soil mix for succulent?
I made a custom cacti soil mix for succulent, which is 1:2:1:1 of potting soil, pumice/perlite, coir and fine vermiculite.
I think it should be quite loose, should I add gravel?
4
votes
1answer
41 views
What to look for in a good electric chainsaw?
I will need it for clearing large tree limbs and small trees, mostly for storm cleanup in a medium sized yard surrounded by mature, healthy trees.
I am looking for recommendations for safety and ...
