Q&A

Q&A: Water Lilies

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Can you suggest some long-blooming plants for my water garden?

Q&A: Fall Planting

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve heard fall is a good time to plant. Is this true for all plants, and can you give me some more specifics about timing?

Q&A: How do I ensure that agaves will survive the winter?

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On a recent trip to the Southwest, I fell in love with agaves. I've found some that are marginally hardy in my zone and I'm thinking about purchasing them next spring. Is there anything I can do to ensure they survive our winter?

Squash Pruning

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I relish 'Buttercup' squash, but is there a way to prune it without hurting production too much? The vegetation rambles over an area 40 by 60 feet...

Q&A: Why Are My Coneflowers Dying?

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

My coneflowers (Echinacea) bloom then wilt, turn brown and die. What can I do?

Q&A: How do I locate the microclimates in my garden?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Discover the warmest areas, or microclimates, in your garden where marginally hardy plants will thrive

Q&A: Any advice for growing mesclun in a cold frame this winter?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mesclun (pronounced mes-CLOON), the Nicoise dialect word for a mixture of tender, young salad greens, is the ideal crop to start in a cold frame around the time of the first frost.

Q&A: What is late blight?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I heard there’s a disease spreading this year called late blight that affects tomato and potato crops. Should I be worried?

Sunflower Seeds

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I have tried to harvest sunflower seeds, but small worms or fungi take over. How should I harvest and preserve these seeds?...

Q&A: What can I plant instead of the invasive Japanese barberry?

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I like Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), but I know it’s invasive. What do you suggest as an alternative?

Trial Roses at the University of Tennessee

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New varieties of roses that are disease resistant and planted less frequently than Knockouts.

Q&A: Growing Raspberries

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I would like to grow raspberries this year. Do you have any advice?—SS, New York

Reaping Rewards of Ornamental Rhubarb

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ornamental rhubarb provides a showy display

Yellow Nutsedge

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Every summer when the weather turns hot, my lawn is covered with yellow nutsedge. In the past, we've tried renovating the entire lawn—tilling, raking, and replanting—but to no avail. Is there any solution short of replacing the top six inches of soil in my lawn?...

Q & A: Black Walnut Leaves

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Is it safe to use black walnut leaves in compost?

Sterilize Soil

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sometime back I read something in Horticulture about using a microwave over to sterilize soil. I have not been able to find it again. Could you provide me with the information?...

Q&A: How Do I Freeze Vegetables?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Can I freeze my garden’s vegetables, like the frozen veggies in the supermarket?

Q & A: Christmas Rose

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I saw an ad for a Christmas rose. The photo and additional text showed the plant was a hellebore. I always thought the common name for hellebores was Lenten rose. Can you clear this up for me?—PK, W. Va.

Q&A: Garden Games

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What are some outdoor games I can play with my children and barbeque guests—without worrying about damage to my garden?

Q&A: Drought-Tolerant Annuals

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I have a sunny patio where I put containers of blooming annuals last summer. I had a hard time keeping up with the watering. It seemed like I needed to water before and after work or they would wilt. Can you recommend annuals that can withstand some dryness?

Q&A: How Do I Cold Stratify Perennial Seeds?

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I've ordered some perennial seeds that need to be cold stratified. How do I do it?

When can I plant broccoli?

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What is the earliest date I can plant a fall crop of broccoli and not have it bolt?

Pineapple plants

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Could you please tell me how to grow a pineapple plant (Ananas comosus) from a store-bought fruit?...

Q&A: How do I assure my Christmas cactus will bloom in time?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera xbuckleyi) are easy to keep and so long-lived they often become family heirlooms. Here's how to keep yours blooming on time

Q&A: Should I Use Floral Preservative?

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Should I use preservative for the bouquets I cut from my garden?

Q&A: Chicken Commitment

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How much care do garden chickens require?

Q & A: Storing Canna and Elephant Ears

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Cannas and elephant ears aren’t hardy in my area. How should I store them over the winter?

Q & A: Groundcover Under Pines

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’m planting an area beneath 30- to 40-foot pine trees. Is there a groundcover for shade that can live in pine needles?—D.T., Tenn.

Flower Blasting

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Some of my bulbs were disappointing this spring. They produced flower stalks, but the flowers themselves either never opened or were misshapen. I examined some of the buds and found that they were brown and dry inside. What can I do to get better results next spring?...

Q & A: Planting Acorns

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been admiring some native oaks recently and thinking about starting some from seed to make a grove at the back of my yard. Is there any special trick to sprouting acorns? — MJ, S.C.

Seed Storing

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I know that it is important to store seeds where they are cool and dry, but I am wondering if it would be even better if I kept my leftover seeds in the freezer...

Q&A: Starting a Woodland Garden

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I have a wooded area at the edge of my property and I’d like to turn it into a woodland garden. Do you have any advice?

Q&A: Rose Vocab

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been looking at some “low-maintenance” roses in a catalog. Can you tell me what they mean by “disease resistant” and “self cleaning”? Can I really believe these roses won’t get diseases?

Q&A: Ornamental Grasses for Shade

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I love ornamental grasses, but all the ones I see at the garden center are labeled for sun. Will any survive in my shady landscape?

Q&A: Hostas Identity Crisis

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The hostas looks different at almost every location, even though they started out from the same plant.

Pruning Grape Vines

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When I pruned my grape vines this month they bled badly. Will this harm the vines or prevent fruit set?...

Q&A: Fall Vegetable Garden

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve heard fall is a good time to grow certain kinds of vegetables. Which ones? When should I plant them?

Q & A: Fall-Flowering Plants

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What can I plant that will flower into the fall?

Q&A: Pruning Sedge

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Should I prune my sedges (Carex)? How and when?

Indoor Plants

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I consider Tahitian bridal veil to be a delightful houseplant. I’ve heard that it can be grown as a groundcover in greenhouses. Can you tell me how to care for it?...

Q&A: Getting Rid of Raspberries

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Aside from constant vigilance, any thoughts on how to get rid of raspberry without getting rid of everything else too?

Q&A: Starting a Compost Pile

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is the year I’m going to start composting. Do you have any advice to help me get my compost pile going?

Winter Herb Growing

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I'd like to grow some herbs indoors on the windowsill. Which ones grow best during the winter months?...

Monkshood

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For 20 years I have had a clump of monkshood that comes up vigorously every spring. About June the bottom leaves blacken and drop. It manages to put out a flower or two, but it is getting worse each year. I gave a part of this plant to a niece, and she won a prize with it! I’ve moved mine three times with no success. So I must be doing something wrong...

Composting

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Some years ago I heard discussions about injecting compressed air into compost pile either with a lance or a perforated pipe laid under the pile. Have you heard about doing this, and are there any problems with it?...

Q&A with Bob Polomski 30

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Readers' ask about African milk tree, crowded boxwood, seed storage, and mini roses

Christmas Cactus Care

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I have just purchased a hot pink Christmas cactus. What should I do throughout next year to ensure that it blooms again in time for next Christmas?—AW, Pearisburg, Va.

Q&A: Growing Leeks

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Lately leeks have become available at my supermarket, and I’ve enjoyed cooking with them. Are they hard to grow?—SW, Troy, Mich.

Compost Pile

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Could you please discuss the merits of putting weeds in the compost pile...

Native Ornamental Grasses

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Can you suggest any ornamental grasses that are native to the United States?...

Organic Herbicide, Clematis Wilt, Overwintering Pelargoniums

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Corn gluten meal, a yellow powder that is a by-product of the wet milling process, has long been used as an additive to animal feed...

Q & A: Marker Plants

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It never fails—I end the growing season with a good grip on what’s growing where, but come spring I manage to step on at least one dormant perennial. Any advice for a forgetful gardener?—BB, Idaho

Q&A: Nonblooming Daffodils and an Unruly Shrub

Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Question: Potentilla bushes—I have three of these in my front flowerbed. They have outgrown the space and in the center they look dead. Can I trim them down to half their size now or do I need to wait until after they have bloomed? I also was given what was told to me to be daffodils. They have beautiful green leaves but no flowers. How do I get them to bloom?

Magnolias

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I started four magnolia plants from seed. They are now about two inches tall and in a sunny indoor location. Should they be transplanted outdoors in the spring?...

Alliums

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

My favorite summer-flowering bulb is Allium giganteum. I plant new bulbs every fall, following cultural directions exactly. The first season they produce healthy foliage and perfect flowering stalks. The second year they put out sparse foliage and have no flowers. I live in Zone 4 and wonder if I should consider this bulb an annual in my area...

Heat Islands

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I've recently moved up North and miss my southern plants. I know I can grow them as annuals, but I would like them to survive winters outdoors. Is there anything I can do to improve their hardiness here in Zone 6?...

Q&A: Getting Rid of Crabgrass

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can I get rid of crabgrass in my lawn? It was awful all last summer. Is there something I can do in spring to fend it off?

Q&A: Signs of Slugs

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I know that slugs love hostas, but are there other plants they especially like? Also, what does slug damage look like?—TO, N.Y.

Q&A: Ornamental Grasses: Friend or Foe?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If I plant ornamental grasses will they take over my garden and become invasive?

Q&A: Trade Names vs. Cultivar Names

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I noticed plants’ cultivar names are sometimes in quotation marks and sometimes not. Is this a typo or does it signify something?

Highbush vs. Rabbiteye Blueberries

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Understanding the difference between highbush and rabbiteye blueberries. Learn which to grow.

Q&A: Moving Flower Bulbs

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When is the best time to move flower bulbs from one spot to another, fall or spring?

Q & A: The Fall Veggie Garden

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Is it true I can harvest a crop this fall?

Canna Pests, Pruning Dwarf Oleander, Propagating Oriental Poppies, Cold-Hardy Crape Myrtles

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Some kind of insect has been feeding on the young growth of my cannas. The leaves are frayed, tattered, and shot full of holes. Some appear to be sealed together with webbing. What’s going on, and how can I control it?...

Q&A: Black Plastic Weed Control

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I installed a trickle-irrigation system in the vegetable garden last year and am very pleased with the results. Should I lay down black plastic over the systems this year for weed control?

Q&A: Vinegar As Weed Killer

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Is it true I can use vinegar as a weed killer?

Q&A: Designing with Variegated Plants

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’m thinking about adding some plants with variegated leaves to my garden next spring, but I’m nervous about making the scene too busy. Do you have any advice for how to place them? —BH, Conn.

Q&A: Starting Cyclamen From Seed

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve tried four times to grow cyclamen from seed. Do you know of a sure-proof way to succeed with this?

Q&A: Replanting Tulips

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I received a pot of blooming tulips for Easter. Can I plant the bulbs in my garden and expect them to bloom next year?

Q&A: The Right Mowing Height

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve heard I should mow my lawn to a certain height. What is it, and why?

Q&A: Attracting Bees

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Can you recommend some plants that are particularly attractive to bees? I’m hoping to lure many bees toward my vegetable garden so they will also pollinate my veggie plants and help ensure a good harvest.

Q&A: Seedling Shrubs

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When transplanting a seedling shrub into a larger pot, can I skip the intermediate sizes and put it in the largest pot I have?

Honing in on Honeysuckle Woes

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I have an old honeysuckle vine that seems to get a fungus/insects every year.

Glorious Hydrangeas

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We have a border of six-foot blue-flowered hydrangeas that bloomed three years ago and again this past summer (but not in between). To diddle with the flower colors, I fed each one a tablespoonful of ground limestone. Disaster! The flowers were mottled green and brownish, and looked like dried bouquets. Should I cut back the bushes? Should I feed them? What must one do to have glorious hydrangeas?...

Q&A: What Causes Variegation?

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I’m curious—what makes certain plants have variegated leaves? Is this an adaptation for survival, the way cactus features are or the way flowers are built to appeal to pollinators?

Growing Crinums

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Can you give me information on crinums? Catalogs say they are hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. I live in USDA Zone 6, where the ground remains frozen for weeks. I am skeptical but intend to try growing some in pots...

Q & A: Roses from Seed

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

My neighbor’s rose bush has lots of hips. We’ve never thought about starting roses from seed before, but it has some economic appeal. Is it possible?—DL, R.I.

Q&A: Improving the View

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There is a telephone pole directly in my line of sight when I look out my kitchen window. Any suggestions for how I can hide it? For a few reasons, I don’t want to plant a tree.—BG, Mont.

Q & A: Fall Fertilization

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Should I feed shrubs in the fall?

Plant Spacing

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In designing this year’s garden, I'd like to know exactly how many plants I need for my flower border. In the past, I've overplanted and have ended up transplanting or giving away the extras. Are there any general rules of thumb when it comes to plant spacing?...

Cactus Seeds

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How do I go about starting cactus seeds indoors?...

Q & A: What is micropropagation?

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I recently heard the term “micropropagation” during a radio interview with a nursery owner. I didn’t catch the meaning of the word. What is micropropagation?—TS, Los Angeles

Q & A: To Clean or Not to Clean?

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve noticed that some of the gardens in my town get a good fall cleanup and others do not. Which way is better? — CD, Rome, NY

Air Ferns

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Are air ferns really plants? Since they need no sun or water, do they survive on just moisture?...

Q&A: Fungus Gnats Swarming Houseplants

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I mistakenly introduced a houseplant from a less than desirable source into my home and it was tainted with fungus gnats. Now they are everywhere! What can I do to get rid of them?

Q&A: Weeping birch looking sad

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Question: My weeping birch seems to be "half" dead. One side is leafing out, but the other is not. What causes this and how can I save this beautiful tree?—EG, by e-mail

Q&A: Intriguing or Invasive Ivies?

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Question: I have ivy growing to the top of several tall oak trees. Is this dangerous to the long-term health of these trees? Should I take it down?

Q&A: Non-Flowering Dogwood-What to do?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I purchased a Flowering Dogwood last year. The info says that it’s supposed to bloom rose-colored flowers in the spring, but it didn't. What have I done wrong?

Q&A: Getting Bogged-down

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can I create my own swampy bog without leaving my hose on all day?

Q&A

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What is the correct way to prune a Physocarpus ‘Summer Wine’?

Onion Harvesting

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I've been told that if I knock over the tops of my onions, they will be ready to harvest earlier. Is this true?...

Pepper Flavor

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This year I grew 'Ace' pepper plants, which produced many, many fruits. Unfortunately the peppers were bitter, and I threw them all on the compost pile. Is it the soil?...

Growing eggplants in cold climates

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For two years I have tried and failed to grow eggplant. I start the seeds indoors, move the seedlings out to the garden after the last frost, and water and fertilize them throughout the summer. But the plants, which look perfectly healthy, produce only flowers, and these often fall off without producing fruit. What am I doing wrong?...

Q&A: Why Isn�t My Redtwig Dogwood Red?

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Several years ago, I was struck by the beauty of some redtwig dogwoods and made a point of buying the same variety. They are healthy but much taller than the ones I saw, and they’ve never looked as colorful. Do they need special care?—MB, Minneapolis, Minn.

Q&A: Deer-Chewed Rhododendrons

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:23:04 GMT

Deer jumped over my fence and ate all the leaves off my rhododendrons this winter. Can I expect the leaves to grow back, or should I replace these shrubs?

Dry Leaf Tips

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I have corn plants (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana') that seem to be growing well except that the tips and sides of some of the leaves turn brown and dry. This happens not only to the lower leaves but to the top leaves as well...

Spring-Flowering Shrubs

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What have I done wrong with my spring-flowering shrubs? I grow rhododendron, forsythia, bridal wreath, lilac, and dogwood. I try to take good care of them, but the flowering is so disappointing every year! I fertilize them with 10-6-4 in spring, water well in summer, prune and shape them by mid-October every fall, and mulch them well in December. Too much loving care perhaps?..

Q&A: Keeping Slugs Off Hosta

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I want to grow hostas but every time I’ve tried, they’ve been eaten to death by slugs. I don’t want to use any sort of chemical pesticide. What can I do?—DM, Bettendorf, Iowa

Q&A: Blooming Wax Plant

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A favorite houseplant has finally set some flower buds. What steps should I take to be sure it blooms?

Cherry Trees, Fuchsia, Diseases, Water-lines

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

My sweet cherry tree has produced no fruit the last two years, though it had a few tasty cherries the year I planted it. Is there some special fertilizer I should be using? Could the ants I've seen on it be causing a problem?...

Q & A: Indoor Hanging Basket

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Do you have any suggestions for creative indoor hanging baskets for winter? I’m reusing the plastic pots I had hanging on my porch over the summer.—BD, Ward Hill, Mo.

Q&A: How to Prune Climbing, Rambling Roses

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve never pruned them and don’t want to jeopardize next year’s growth by being too much of a bully or too timid with my pruning shears. How do I know what to snip?

Q&A: Changing Plant Names

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Sometimes as I read my gardening books and magazines I come across a Latin plant name followed by a parentheses that says another name the plant was formerly known as—which is often more familiar to me. Why do the plant namers do this to us?

Q & A: Bulbs Under Trees

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What are some bulbs that will grow and bloom in the shade under trees?—DW, Lenox, Pa.

Planting Bulbs

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I am a little confused about bulb planting depths. I understand that different species need to be planted at different depths. But what happens in nature? When these plants reproduce by seed, how do the bulbs magically end up at the right depth?...

Q&A: Hope for Hollyhocks?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I bought and planted some hollyhocks this year and they bloomed beautifully. Will they come back next year?

Q&A: What To Do With Grass Clippings

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When I mow, should I bag the grass clippings or leave them on the lawn? I’ve heard conflicting advice.

Mums, Shrubs, Cannas, Walnut Leaves

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I finally moved into my own home, and last fall I planted dozens of colorful mums in the beds along the driveway. None of them survived the winter. What should I do this year?...

Q & A: What is �limbing up�?

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I was told that some of the overgrown shrubs at my house should be “limbed up.” What does that mean?—GG, Texas

Q&A: What�s an heirloom tomato?

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve heard a lot about “heirloom” tomatoes. I understand their appeal having tasted a few varieties, but I wonder, what exactly qualifies a tomato as “heirloom”? —AM, Mass.

Q & A: Planning Ahead�Winter Gardens

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’m planning a winter vacation. I’d like to visit a public garden with great winter interest, so I can learn some things to improve my own garden’s winter look. Where should I go?—Casey, Michigan

Q&A: Out-of-Control Dracaena

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I have a dracaena plant in my living room that has grown very tall. Its bare trunk looks ugly. I prefer to see its leafy top, but its up too high. If I cut the trunk, will a new top grow?—EV, Fla.

Q&A: Are Grow Lights Necessary?

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I grew a small vegetable garden last year with reasonable success. This year I want to start my plants indoors, to get a jump-start on the season. Do I really need grow lights or is the light from a western window sufficient?—MS, Smithfield, R.I.

Night-Blooming Flowers

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Being a nonconformist and a night owl, I thought it would be interesting to grow flowers that can be appreciated at night. Can you suggest some night-blooming flowers that can be grown outdoors?...

Q&A: Beat the Tomato pest of the south

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When I grow tomatoes, It doesn't matter what kind, they grow well for a while, start to produce fruit, and then the leaves start to brown and wither from the bottom up.

Jacobean Lilies

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

My pot-grown Jacobean lilies have never flowered in the seven years that I’ve had them. Please enlighten me as to their proper culture...

Clematis pruning

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When and how should I prune clematis vines?...

Q & A: Poisonous Houseplants

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve heard there are a lot of poisonous houseplants. I have many indoor plants and I keep my son’s cats here when he travels. Should I be worried?—WB, Las Vegas, Nev.

Q&A: Bluebells and bluebells?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I bought what was labeled bluebells from an online catalog. When they arrived, I found that it was something completely different.

Rose Remedy

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I have several roses, both climbers and teas, that have many nice leaves but no flowers. Why, and what is the remedy?...

Surfaced Tree Roots

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The roots of our five-year-old maple tree are on the surface of our lawn. Is it advisable to add more loam over these roots? Will the roots continue to come through or will the tree suffocate?...

Witch Hazel

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I'm looking for a plant that will perk up my dreary winter landscape. A friend of mine suggested witch hazels. Can you tell me more about them?...

Terrestrial Cymbidium Orchids

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I had two cymbidiums outside last summer. Although there was practically no rain and I was not home to water them, each plant bloomed as never before. I have heard that orchids need misting and thrive in the jungle. So why the lush flowering?...