Marianne’s Responses
New Blackberry Bushes
Posted by Rebecca Byrd | April 13, 2020Recently planted 3 2 year old blackberry bushes in direct sun 3 feet apart. Fertilized, straw around the base of the plants, and watered daily when we haven't gotten rain. Here's the problem they are droopy. Is there something I could do that would help them look more healthy?
Identify plants
Posted by Sue Kuehne | April 8, 2020Can you identify this plant for me, please?
What is it?
Posted by Susan36 | April 8, 2020I should have added a name to this plant but I thought I would remember. The flower comes out before the leaves. My question is what is it? My other question is, it has a lot of tubers, can it be separated? When can it be divided? I’m including another picture of a smoke plant. It has no budding at ...
Identify plants
Posted by Sue Kuehne | April 8, 2020Can you identify this plant, please?
Begin a garden
Posted by Patricia Griffin | April 5, 2020Hello, we have just downsized to a community of connected homes, leaving our large family property. How do I begin a plan for a front garden for our half of the front of the house (about 30’) and down the short driveway? The entrance is directly from driveway without a walkway, it is south west facing and we are located ...
Fragrant, flowering shrub 5′-6′ tall
Posted by Cindy West | March 31, 2020Hello Marianne, I would like to add a flowering shrub to my backyard and would appreciate any suggestions. The location is in front of a kitchen window that faces East and gets direct sun for about 3-4 hours. The area is approximately 3' deep and 6' wide. It would be nice to have a shrub with fragrance and flowers that ...
What enhances or deepens color in spring annuals like Celosia and Poppies?
Posted by Kathleen Haggar | March 28, 2020After adding Osmocote to my garden, the color in my Celosias changed from yellow to orange. Some of the poppies also have a deeper, more vibrant color. Does Osmocote enhance/change bloom color?
Raised Bed soil replenishment
Posted by William English | March 28, 2020My wife has about 12 raised garden beds for vegetables. The soil in the beds are "raised bed soil". Each year she wants to "supplement" this soil with additional bags of "raised bed soil". I think this is a waste of money and time, as I have to buy it and carry it to the beds, but my gardening experience ...
Arborist mulch
Posted by braineater | March 25, 2020Do you use arborist mulch on your beds? I live on Lake Tapps andI really have a clover looking fungus living on the surface of all my beds. Would I be able to aleviate it with mulch or is their something better. It comes back within weeks if I remove it and an inch of soil. Thank you in advance, ...
Homegrown National Park
Posted by Jim Sweeney | March 25, 2020Do you think Douglas Tallamy's concept for a Homegrown National Park has a place in Western Washington? (the link is to Smithsonian magazine article) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/
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