Marianne’s Responses
Rhododendron revitalization
Posted by Reds | August 2, 2014My rhododendron hedge was over 8 feet tall and no light was getting to the base of the plants. The top portions of the plants were leafy, but only about 2 feet at the top. It was very dense also, and lots of dead branches were there below the leafiness. I cut the plants back to about half and now ...
Mystery plant: Tall stalks, yellow flowers, big leaves
Posted by Joe Bush | July 31, 2014What is this plant? I got it from someone on Craigslist and it is in my garden in two different areas. It has tall stalks of yellow flowers. I like the leaves. It looks like a Ligularia to me. Maybe the Rocket?? It is young and it has not bloomed yet this year.
Why won’t my Crepe Myrtle bloom?
Posted by Don O'Haver | July 30, 2014We have a Crepe Myrtle that hasn't bloomed for two years now. Is there something I can do to help? I have another that I planted at the same time that is blooming nicely!
How to pollinate Shasta viburnum for more berries
Posted by oaktree | July 29, 2014I have an 8-year-old Viburnum plicatum tomentosum "Shasta" that is beautiful and flowers well, but produces few berries. I am reading Michael Dirr's book on Viburnums, and he suggests the problem is pollination, or "viburnums's trend toward self-sterility," and "for the best fruit set, another seedling or clone of the same or closely related species should be in proximity." Would ...
Helping Gerber daisies bloom again
Posted by Pat Brown | July 29, 2014I bought a couple gerber daisies and put them in a planter. They bloomed for a few weeks, then nothing. I have beautiful green leaves but no blooms. How often are they supposed to bloom, and how do I get the daisies to bloom again?
Stakes or twine for tall zinnias?
Posted by Dick Palmquist | July 28, 2014My zinnia are the varieties that grow up to two feet tall. The lower branches break off and the plants tend to fall over. Should I tie up the plants by wrapping twine around the plant, or should I stake the plants? The stakes throughout the garden do not look good and make for a plant that does not look ...
When to prune hibiscus
Posted by Marilyn Shilling | July 27, 2014 | Marianne's FavoriteWhen is the best time to trim back a hibiscus plant in Florida? How should the plant be trimmed? Our plants are taller than the roof of our one-story home.
Lantana cuttings
Posted by jess perez | July 26, 2014How do you plant cuttings of Lantana?
Why did my Zingiber zerumbet change color?
Posted by Nayda Rivera | July 25, 2014My Zingiber zerumbet has always bloomed pink and this year it bloomed green. I don't understand why. By this time they are usually red and big. Is that normal?
How to hand pollinate squash and pumpkins
Posted by Tammy Bryant | July 24, 2014I have various squash and pumpkins that blossom. But, they aren't producing this year. What can I do? I don't seem to have any bees or other bugs to help.
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