Ask The Gardener

The members of the Port Washington Garden Club answer your gardening questions!

Q: What can be done to tulip and daffodil bulbs that have to be dug up before the foliage dies back?
A: Temporarily heel them in, then let the green foliage die back naturally.

Q: What colorful shade loving plants are there? What about plants rabbits don't like?
A: Astilbe, Bleeding Heart, Bergenia (Saxifrage), Trillium, Aconitum (Monkshood), Columbine, Lobelia. Rabbits don't tike rhubarb, Ligularia, and Bleeding Heart.

Q: What's the best treatment to renew old lilacs? How far back can you cut them before you kill them?
A: You can cut old lilac bushes back to the ground to rejuvenate them, or cut back younger bushes by one-third each year.

Q: If you know you have red clay soil, how can you amend it without sending a soil sample in?
A: Work in peat moss and sand.

Q: How can I get rid of slugs in the garden?
A: Use a small dish full of beer, or a partially filled beer bottle on its side. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth or crushed egg shells in the garden (slugs' soft bodies don't like the sharp edges).

Q: How can I control aphids?
A: Use ladybugs and praying mantises to get rid of aphids. Or, soapy water can be sprayed on the plants.

Q: How do you safely eliminate ant mounds from your garden without destroying the plants? If left alone, will the ant colonies kill the plants?
A: You can pour insecticide or boiling water down the ant mound. Ant colonies can kill plants - the air pockets they create with their tunnels can kill the roots.

Q: What's the best tasting tomato?
A: Brandywine is a good-tasting big tomato; Sun Gold is a good cherry tomato.

Q: What can I do to a rose which is now growing (but not blooming) in shade?
A: In Spring, dig the whole plant up and move to a spot that gets at least six hours of sun.

Q: What is the best magnolia for zone 5?
A: A good magnolia for our area is the Star Magnolia.

Q: What are some good ground covers that will take over a lawn that gets full sun (South exposure) and is at a 45 degree angle?
A: Moneywort and Crown Vetch are good ground covers that wilt outgrow the grass on a steep slope. Sweet Woodruff is a good ground cover for shade.

Q: What is the best way to even out a bumpy lawn?
A: Fill in the Iow spots with topsoil and then use a roller to even out the lawn. Reseed if a lot of soil covers some areas.

Q: Is there are treatment for "brown rot" on pie cherry blossoms?
A: Spray fungicide until the blossoms open, cut off the affected limbs after growing season is complete

Q: What's the secret to growing Clematis?
A: Let the top stay hot (sun) while keeping the roots cool with mulch. Use a little fertilizer.

Q: What's an expeditious way to handle the drought I think we're due for?
A: Make thick beds of mulch and water deeply to make sure the roots get the water.

Q: What needs to be done to keep Creeping Phlox looking nice after a few years.
A: Cut it back and let it start over.

Q: When should irises be divided?
A: Divide irises four to six weeks after blooming (July/August). Otherwise, you may lose some blooms for the next season.

Q: How can I amend my perennial beds without disturbing the plants?
A: Dig in bone meal and mulch around the plants near the roots.

Send your gardening questions to mail@portgardenclub.org.
PLEASE tell us where you are located so that we can properly answer questions on climate and cultivation!

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