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Article: These questions are from real people asking real questions. Perhaps it will inspire you to ask some yourself. Cool New Years! From Louis: Do you supply seeds of Phlox Subulata? I am sorry to tell you that there are no seeds for Phlox Subulata. They are grown by vegetative propagation, i.e., you either root a cutting or divide a clump up and make new ones. With Phlox Subulata, it is very easy to do. Hope you have fun with this one. get ready From SHomeSpa: Do you know how to kill yucca plants? We had about fifty, cut them down and they multiplied by ten each. Sorry, I would send my husband down because he can kill anything, but unfortunately, he needs to work here. haha. I would suggest "Round Up", that kills most anything I have ever tried it on. It needs to hit the leaves and then travels down through the roots for a total kill. Let me know how you make out. From Penny: I want to make some Herbal Vinegar...any suggestions? Herbal Vinegar is easy and fun to make. Take a bunch of fresh herbs or a combination of fresh herbs, place in a sterile bottle. Warm white vinegar to almost boiling, pour over herbs in bottle and seal. If you use a cork it is best to dip the cork closed bottle top in parafin to insure a tight seal. Let the vinegar stand for at least three weeks for the flavor to develop. Keep it in a cool, dry place. You can add hot peppers, garlic, peppercorns, etc. to make your own gourmet conbinations. Bee ready From Christopher: I need to know if rosemary herb is perennial or annual. Rosemary is a perennial but only in warm climates like the Mediterranean. In the United States, it grows happily outside till almost frost, then it has to be brough inside. Our houses are usually too dry for this herb, so give it frequent or daily misting and never, ever let it to dry. Enjoy this wonderful herb in your food, in your bath, or as a relaxing aroma. From Raymond: Does anyone have a natural spray against white fungi in my perennials? Try 1 (one) teaspoon baking soda to one gallon water, mix well and spray. The white fungi is probably powdery mildew. From R.T.: My wife and I have a question on Mums. We live in Iowa. We would like to know how to preserve our mums during the winter. Do we need to dig the bulbs up, or can we mulch over them so they'll bloom next year, spring, etc. Mums are semi-hardy perennials. They don't have bulbs. The best way to keep them over is to mulch them AFTER the ground has frozen to keep them frozen and dormant until Spring. If they remain frozen during the January and February thaws, they usually thrive. In fact, if you find the right location, they can almost become a pest. Here in New Hampshire, they are not too dependable, but in the right sheltered place, they will grow and multiply. If I get them mulched, then I usually get a good number to survive through the winter. Also, make sure to pinch them back regularly until July 4th. Then they will be full and bushy, otherwise they can become very leggy. it's a snew year From Gail: I am not sure which is year round, perennial or annuals. I really don't know if anything is year round, but what I think you are getting at is which comes up every year and which only lives a year. Annuals live one year, that is where the name comes from. Perennials, meaning through the years, come up the following year(s). A perennial is defined as a plant which has a life expectancy of two or more years. Then we have biennials, which come up for just two years. Perennials have a season of bloom then stop, where Annuals will bloom all summer. Sheila wrote: I want to know if there are flowers seeds I can plant now in the fall for flowers next year. It is Oct 9th 1998. I planted some Larkspur and they are baby seedlings now, wonder if they will make it thru Winter. I also planted seeds of hollyhock and the seeds of some pink perennial sweetpea. I figured that must be how nature propagates these plants. I live in zone 6b, Plymouth MA Thank you and Happy Gardening. Sheila Hi Sheila! It is true that nature propagates her flowers this way, but usually she does it earlier in the season, plus late of course. The earlier ones are usually the ones to survive. You live in a mild area so you may just make out. Just to make sure, I would take some mulch(salt marsh hay is TERRIFIC) and cover your new babies up before the ground freezes too hard....???around Thanksgiving where you are?? Hopefully you little progeny will put down enough roots so it can survive the winter .You have nothing to loose but a few seeds and everything to gain if it works out. Next year though, try to do this in early July and you will have much better results. Happy Gardening to you, Go and Grow. Ben & Ruby wrote: > How do you store dahlia bulbs in the winter? For Dahlias, harvest tuberous roots in fall, keep away from drafts, and store in vermiculite or dry sand at 35-45F (2-7C). Happy gardening and stop by a visit again. Kate Wrote:I am interested in a plant my mom picked up for her house in Orlando: it is called "cat's whiskers" and I have never heard of it! I've checked several databases to no avail. Is there another name for it? The information I'm looking for is: preferred soil condition, light conditions, estimated growth potential, perennial/ annual, how far to plant between, etc. In other words, we know nothing about this plant (although my stepfather says it's lovely!) As the only member of the family with Internet access, I was called (in Tucson) to solve this problem. Can you steer me in the right direction? Take a look at this picture, if this is it, then it is a member of the African Violet and Gloxinia Family. http://home.pathcom.com/rmyhr/alsobia.htm There is another cats whiskers called Orthosiphon Stamineus. So far I can find many nurseries that sell it, but not a clue of what it is and what it looks like. There is a reference in the medicinal plants articles that you can make Java Tea from it and it is good for the kidneys. I have never heard of it before either, but the African violet one in the picture is quite beautiful. Thanks for writing me and good luck with the pretty plant. cozy and warm Travis wrote:: Do you bring a penta in during the winter? Hi Travis, I would definitely bring it in. To my knowledge a Penta is not winter hardy. Thanks for writing me and if I can be of further help, please email again. Jim wrote: We have two different types(of perennials)one is astilbe the other is aster. How should they be pruned, if at all in the fall. Hi Jim! Neither astilbe nor asters require pruning. You might want to remove the spent blooms from the astilbe for neatness, but is not necessary. If you want to remove the dead plants before snow flies, just remember to not cut off anything green, most will start sending up little leaves around the base in the fall. I hope I have answered your question and if you need any more information, please email me again.Happy Gardening Marge wrote: I will be moving in a couple of months and want to know if I can dig up some of these bulbs and store them for the spring. Thanks - Marge BTW we live in Michigan Hi Marge, I think Michigan has about the same weather as New Hampshire, so I would give it a try (after all, what have you got to loose?). Most bulbs need a dormant period with cold, so dig up your bulbs, store them in a plastic bag with some peat moss, and if it were me I would keep them as cool as possible for the winter. A refrigerator is perfect but the coldest place in a cellar maybe if that is not available. You don't want them freezing and unfreezing, so a garage is not usually a good place. They will go dormant at about 40 degrees and keep well. For auld lang syne rlbblr wrote: Hi Nancy!I have just decorated my yard with tons of Mums!! Question that my Mom and I have a dilemma over! Are Mums perennials? I say yes...she says no! I was wondering what to do to keep them "safe" through a Maine winter....I absolutely adore your web site.....it is my most useful bookmark on my desktop! Keep up the great work.....and thank you SO much!! :o)Sincerely ,Brenda Dear Brenda, goes to show ya, Mom doesn't always know best!! Mums are perennials, they are marginally perennial here in the Northeast because they are more Zone 4/5. The only way I know how to keep them coming back is to mulch them heavily AFTER the ground freezes, November or December. Our January and February thaws are what kill them. So keep them frozen until April and usually they survive. I also suggest trying to put them in the most sheltered place you can find. If they like where they are, they multiply like mad. Remember, next June, you must start pinching them back until July 4, or they will look like a leggy giraffe not mounded beauty. Many people find that is too much work and treat them as a disposable plant. Many thanks on your kind words about our site, it makes me so happy that you like it. We are almost neighbors, so if you are in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire sometime, please stop by for a visit. Go and Grow
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