Marianne’s Responses
Help me preserve my late husband’s rose garden
Posted by tlm2006 | November 1, 2014My husband, who passed away two weeks ago, loved tending his roses. I do not know anything about roses but certainly want to learn so I can keep his rose garden beautiful. There are eight bushes. I do know he would cut them back sometime in March. Is there something I should be doing between now and then? Also when ...
Green sprouts on garlic bulbs
Posted by woltzen | November 1, 2014I planted garlic bulbs about a month ago and green sprouts are popping up through the soil. Will this garlic still be okay, or do I start over? I live on the south hill of Puyallup. Also my garlic from last year is still a little green. I dried it for at least a week on my deck last August. ...
Tips for moving herbaceous peonies
Posted by Pamela Higgins | October 30, 2014My daughter lives in Denver and will be moving to another home in Denver in January. She has six mature herbaceous peonies which she would like to move. Is it possible? When is the best time to move them? I have heard that peonies don't like to be disturbed once establishedâany tips? Root prune and prep now?
Surprise lilies? Naked ladies?
Posted by dee borg | October 30, 2014I have a flower bulb that has a pinky, peachy flower. I was told they are called "surprise" lilies. There are no leavesâjust a stalk and a flower. I would like to know the name of his flower. Thanks, Dee
Don’t feed the birdsâexcept hummingbirds
Posted by bob deHaas | October 29, 2014Thank you for your article on feeding birds. I've been trying to send out the same message for many years. Our wooded, shrubbed, and water-featured half-acre has been insecticide and feeder free for many years. We also notice a huge reduction in summer insects as our hungry resident birds now must perform that duty for us. The only exception I ...
Okay to feed birds in cold weather?
Posted by Beverly Isenson | October 29, 2014 | Marianne's FavoriteI don't put out birdseed, having noticed rodents on the ground beneath the bird feeders. However, I do suspend suet after night temperatures drop into the 30s. Some seeds fall from the suet to the ground, but apparently not enough to feed rodents. Am I deluding myself?
Is Casoron safe to use around perennials?
Posted by dogluvr | October 18, 2014I use Casoron in October and March to keep our rockery free of weeds. It works great. I would like to use it along our chain link fence line to keep our neighbor's grass and clover from coming into our plants. Also, I've read where it can be used around perennials but I am hesitant to do that as I ...
What to do with oriental lilies in winter
Posted by | October 16, 2014My oriental lilies did very well in pots this year. Can I leave them in pots out in the yard for the winter and plant them in the ground in the spring? Not sure how to winter them.
Why won’t my Paulownia tree blossom?
Posted by | October 13, 2014 | Marianne's FavoriteHi, Marianne, I have an 18 year old Paulownia tree, about 40 feet tall with a 30 foot spread. Although it's a pain to rake up the elephant ear size leaves in the fall, it provides great shade for the patio and BBQ all summer long. For a few years it also had beautiful clusters of purple blossoms, but hasn't ...
Why won’t my hydrangeas bloom?
Posted by Ruth N | October 13, 2014Why won't my "Endless Summer" hydrangeas bloom? The one-year-old plant is in shade until 3â4 p.m. and the four-year-old plant is in full sun until 4 p.m. Thank you for your time, Ruth in Rochester
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