Marianne’s Responses
How to prune hydrangeas?
Posted by Cindy Bartel | August 16, 2022My hydrangea is on its third summer right now. First year I didn’t cut it at all because it was small and I didn’t get many blooms the first year. Second year (last year) I cut it back (don’t remember how much?) and now the blooms are huge and the stems flop and touch the ground. The sprinkler does hit ...
Follow up to my Agapanthus question
Posted by Debbie Nighswonger | August 16, 2022Thanks for your response to my first question about my Agapanthus Blue MidKnight. You had said in your reply that I was lucky in my zone 8 garden to have even one flower and that the groups were possibly too small yet to produce much. I did go ahead and scratch in some Osmacote Plus. These were in containers several ...
How to overwinter Mums in containers in Western Washington
Posted by Debbie Nighswonger | August 16, 2022Every year I’m purchasing the large containers of Mums for Fall color for my garden from Costco because I’ve been unsuccessful at overwintering them. What is the best way to save them for the following year? I live in Port Townsend zone 8. Picture is borrowed from internet.
How to take care of Agapanthus ‘Midnight Blue’?
Posted by Debbie Nighswonger | August 3, 2022I have four Agapanthus ‘Midnight Blue’ that are not thriving in my Full sun garden in Port Townsend. They were transplanted 5 years ago into some local “magic soil” (amended composted soil). This is the first year I’ve even had a bloom and it is sparse. What would you recommend? I don’t routinely fertilize. Click here for our YouTube page ...
Trumpet vine
Posted by Cheryl Nikolao | July 27, 2022I submitted a question Sunday and do not see a response yet. I have a trumpet vine that I trimmed back to the bare stems last fall . It grows up over a wooden yard swing. and has got huge. However, I am getting sprouts of the vine all over my yard. How do I control it and or just ...
How to control Trumpet Vine?
Posted by Cheryl Nikolao | July 27, 2022Not sure if this is the correct name. Here is the problem, back one winter we had a long hard freeze, I thought my honeysuckle vine died. So I planted this trumpet vine . This has beautiful rust/orange trumpet blossoms all summer. The problem is I am getting sprouts all over my yard from this plant.. I can not control ...
How to take care of Hydrangeas?
Posted by Marianne Binetti | July 17, 2022I was gifted a small Hydrangea last fall and want to ensure I nurture and care for it correctly. Once the pink blooms are spent, what do I need to do?
Can you recommend any arborists?
Posted by Debra Richey | July 12, 2022Thanks for your recent presents at Molbak’s! Could you please recommend some arborists who would be able to prune the trees in our yard in Woodinville. We’re especially looking for arborists who could open up the canopies of our Japanese maples. Click here for our YouTube page for more answers to questions! For more information on Arborists watch this ...
Manual Edgers Recommendations?
Posted by vickie ward | July 11, 2022I purchased a manual edger from the Tacoma Home and Garden Show around 15-20 years ago. The manual edger has a wooden handle similar to a garden rake. The blade on the end is triangular and one side is serated/saw toothed. It was called The Shark. It is the best garden tool of all! I used it, abused it, never cleaned ...
What to do with empty garden space?
Posted by DEBBY Lanka | July 11, 2022Marianne, We recently had a landscaper remove lots of trees, rocks and bushes from our property, but now I don't know what to do with the beds, except pull weeds. I had thought we were going to "garden" in this area but it's too late to put tomatoes, potatoes, corn in. So, now I have this huge empty garden space ...
Search the Ask the Gardening Expert library
Looking for a quick resolution to your problem? Marianne has answered thousands of gardening questions. One may be similar to yours. Try searching our library to get the answer you need -- fast!