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Question: When is the best time to take cuttings from gardenias? - Gail

Anne Clapp: Gardenias root easily on wodd that has just hardened off. If you can break the stem of the plant easily it can usually be rooted.

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Question: Is there something safe and environmentally friendly that I can spray on my Hibiscus plant to prevent Japanese Beetles from eating it alive? Terry L. from Laurel, MD

Anne Clapp: The insecticide Sevin is usually considered safe. I prefer the liquid form because it does not get on the bees that pollinate flowers.

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Question: Anne, thank you for all your help in the past! When I hear your voice, I come running!

I have a few petunias in planters; some are doing great and their containers are overflowing. Others are stuggling. Same soil, same care, same sun, etc. In the "sick" containers, the blossoms struggle to get about half-open, then just don't make it. Some don't even get that far. Some plants are dying.

When I first noticed there was a problem (about a month ago), I saw what looked like very tiny insect holes on some blossoms (not on the foliage). I sprayed these two planters with an Ortho insecticide for plants (followed specific directions). Since that time, I have seen no holes at all. I have never seen any sign of any kind of insect! What on earth is happening to these sick, struggling babies? THANKS!

Anne Clapp: I think you have a problem with the insect called thrips. They are very small and the only way most people can see them is to tap the flower over a piece of white paper to see small dots moving about. Malathion will sometimes control them.

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Question: Dear Ms. Clapp, There are too many little round bugs in my garden. (They are the size of a punch hole of the three punch holes on a piece of paper.) Every time I remove a piece of rock/brick, they crawl everywhere. Are they good bugs (like worms?) What should I do to get rid of them? Thanks for helping. Regards, Hien

Anne Clapp: The bugs you see are eating decaying plant material. They are considered “beneficial insects” but it you don't want to have so many try Sevin as a control. Some people sprinkle Sevin powder in the area where thwy see the pill bugs.

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Question: Help - please advise what is to be done about "bag worms". Just recently notice one or two on my sapling willow tree. Appreciate your feedback!

Anne Clapp: Willows are occasionally attacked by bagworms. When they are just forming the “bags they can be treated with Sevin, Malathion or one of the bacillus like Bt. Another control is to pick off the bags and destroy them.

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Question: Hi, I live in Southeast Georgia and I just bought about 5 or 6 Hibiscus plants from Wal-Mart. One is yellow, one is pink, and the others are a light orange color. I was just told that Hibiscus plants would not survive the winter here if you plant them in the ground. Do you think that it will be safe to plant them, or should I just keep all of them in large planters so that they can be brought in from the cold if needed? Thanks! Robbin

Anne Clapp: Tropical hibiscus are usually rated as zone 10 plants so very protected areas in Zone 9 may sometimes grow hibiscus in the ground during a warm winter. I know they are not hardy in Tift county even with protection so you are better off bringing them into an area where temperatures do not get below 30 degrees.

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Question: Have camillia trees...or bushes in front of old house we bought...some bloom winterish and some in late Feb. early Mar. One of the bushes (trees) has areas that the limbs at the end appear dead in different places...the other one in front of the house doesn't do that. It has been doing that for all the years I have lived here now...is it a form of disease??? that doesn't appear to be rampant...thank you...Donna

Anne Clapp: It is not unusual for camellias to suffer from dieback on the tips of limbs. Every winter most of us who grow camellias do some pruning to get rid of the damage. Cut the limb back to clean, living wood. Make your cuts at an adjoining branch or at an old leaf node where new growth may start. Make sure your shears are clean and sharp before you start pruning.

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Question: Dear Anne, I'm looking for a humane way to kill adult mice and their young. I'd rather not have the "little ones" starve to death.

I did find a poison in powder form called Racumin Rat 8, but it's not available in the US. Do you know of any other powered poison that's safe for pets and would kill adults and their young? Bob S.

Anne Clapp: Most people use one of the bait products that rats and mice take home to the nest and share with their families. The usual procedure is to use a plastic bait box that can be anchored to the ground so children and pets can't get to the bait. I think if you read the labels on the products that are widely available you will find that there are many products that will fit the bill. Most independent garden centers have someone on their staff to recommend one of the products they carry.

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Question: Anne, I'm so glad I found you! I have a gardening 911! I'm not sure what to do. I had some Dursban on hand and decided to use it to control pests. I used about 2 oz. per gal. water. I sprayed it on roses, tomatoes, peppers, anc cucumbers. 3 days later, the leaves are turning yellow and falling off. Is there anything I can do to keep from losing the plants, and are the vegetables ok to consume? I hate to lose all of my plants and veggies because of a stupid mistake on my part. Thanks for your help. I so enjoy your radio program and your gardening information on Ch 14. Sincerely, Kim M.

Anne Clapp: Dursban used to be recommended as a soil drench for soil born insects such as chinch bugs and grubs. It was not cleared for use in vegetable gardens. Check with your local county Co-operative Extension Service to see what they recommend. You may have a master gardener hotline in you local extension office or the horticultural agent may be able to provide some advice.

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Question: Dear Anne,

I live in Gainesville, Georgia. I have 3 questions for you.

1. I have 4 large gardenia bushes and they are covered with small white flies. I have sprayed the bushes with soapy water, Malethon and Sevine insecticide. What do I need to d?. The branches are all black and I am desperate to get rid of these pests.

2. I have some several crape myrtles that came up from seeds and they have never bloomed. They are about 3 years old. I fertilize and trim back during the winter months.

3. I planted 3 pink dogwood trees 2 years ago and they have never flowered. They are planted at the edge of the woods and don't get direct sun.

4. I also have a weeping mulberry tree that is 4 years old and it has never flowered.

What am I doing wrong? The rest of my flowers and shrubs are in wonderful shape and flourishing. Thanks, Peggy

Anne Clapp: One method of getting rid of the black sooty mold on gardenias is to spray with a summer weight horticultural oil. In the heat of a Georgia summer you do have to be careful because both insecticidal soap and oil sprays can damage plants when temperatures are above 80. Organic gardeners often use yellow sticky traps to protect plants from white flies. They are available from some garden supply stores or you can make one by smearing Vaseline on a piece of bright yellow plastic and hanging it near the plant. When the coating gets full of insects rub them off and reapply. Both Sevin and Malathion need to be reapplied at frequent intervals to kill white fly.

It is important to remember that seedling shrubs usually take several years to reach blooming size. Seven years is not unusual and more than that is quite common. An additional problem with seedling shrubs is that you have no way of knowing what the bloom will be like on the plants you have grown. The same answer may be true for both the dogwoods and crepe myrtles.

Dogwoods are an understory tree that blooms well in light shade. If the pink dogwoods were purchased as a named cultivar they may be grafted plants. It is possible they have been establishing a root system rather that blooming. Try using a low nitrogen, high phosphorus fertilizer to encourage blooming. Also make sure the dogwoods have adequate soil moisture in the late summer when they are setting blooms.

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Question: Dear Anne, I inherited a magnolia tree from the previous homeowners. Currently it is in a spot where it's getting crowded and I've thought of moving it to a more open area where it's growth won't be restricted. I believe the tree is about 10 years old but not terribly big - maybe 7 feet tall. Would it be possible to move this tree? What should I keep in mind to ensure that it survives the move. Regards, Rossy

Anne Clapp: A magnolia tree as large as 7 feet tall probably has a large root system. The difficulty will be moving a root ball that may weigh over 250 pounds. In the early fall you may want to root prune the base of the plant to encourage the development of new feeder roots closer to the trunk of the tree. The tree could then be moved in January or February. If you do not have a means of working with such a large root ball you might find a landscape contractor with a tree spade who could move the tree for you. If you do move the tree don't do any pruning of the top unless a branch is broken in trying to move the plant. Dig the hole so it is wider but not quite as deep as the rootball. I like about 2 inches of rootball above the ground then I spread a light soil mixture around the edge od the rootball and mulch the plant with about 2 inches of finely ground pine bark. Keep the plant watered at least once a week through the first year. It needs a deep watering, not a shallow watering for good root growth.