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Question: Hi Anne, could you please tell me how can I grow my Bonsai properly? It's a fucus bonsai. It's not doing very well. I changed the pot and the soil also, even then it's not doing good. Help me.

Anne Clapp: The trick to growing bonsai is good light and correct soil moisture. When the plants are repotted you have to make sure the roots are trimmed to keep the plant at its dwarf size. Use a fast draining potting soil. Several garden centers in the Raleigh area do have bonsai soil mixes. In hot weather, if the plant is outside you may have to water at least once a day. You do not want the plan to put on a lot of growth so fertilizing must be done carefully. Some growers use a very dilute liquid fertilizer while others use a slow release granular product. There is a local bonsai society so keep an eye out for one of their exhibitions or meetings to talk with some people who have luck growing ficus plants.

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Question: I am including a picture of my lawn. I have been told that the weeds are called chicweed. Is that correct and how can I control it? In the early spring and early summer, I have the greenest and most beautiful lawn on my street. Then these weeds begin to appear and spread in sections of my lawn. This year, I made a special effort to fertilize and apply weed control just as directed on the Scott's product web site. My grass is so thick now that I am afraid to apply and more "weed and feed" product. What do you recommend and how often can I apply it without having adverse effects. Thank you. Alan B.

Anne Clapp: What you have is a plant called hydrocotyl. It is quite prolific in areas that are a bit warmer than we are in the Raleigh area and is sometimes used as as groundcover in wet, compacted soil. Use one of the broad leaf weed killers and add a bit of surfactant to make it cling to the plant leaf. Surfactants are sometimes labeled as spreader-stickers or you can use a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent.

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Question: Where can I buy large ligustrums and camelias in time for fall planting?

Also, I have a rather large camelia sassanqua bush that half appears to be dead, should I prune out the dead limbs now or will this affect blooming this winter? Thanks, Mark B.

Anne Clapp: Dead wood on camellias should be pruned off as quickly as possible. There are dieback diseases that affect them and the longer damaged wood remains on the plant the more limbs of the plant will die.

I am not sure what you mean by "large" camellia plants. Some nurseries in this area occasionally carry 5 and 7 gallon pots. I would call some of the independent nurseries and see what they have in stock or would be willing to special order for you. Architectural Trees does carry large plants. Check their ad in the News and Observer on Saturday for more information.

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Question: Hi Anne, I am having a problem with my pineapple plant. The ends of the leaves are turning brown and drying up, I have no idea what is wrong. I don't think the plant is dying because there are new leaves in the center of the plant. I am wondering if it's beacuse of the way I am caring for it. Could you tell me what could be wrong and the proper care for this type of plant. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Cindy in Newfoundland

Anne Clapp: Brown leaf tips are usually a sign of uneven moisture levels in the soil. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and do not allow it to dry out completely. Excess fluorine in the water supply may also cause leaf tips to brown. It is not unusual for leaf tips on tropical plants to get brown so as long as the plant continues to put on new growth I would not get too worried. Pineapple plants in the fields in Hawaii often have brown tips on the leaves and they produce very tasty fruit.

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Question: I love my rose bed. About 5 years ago I made a large rose garden about 8 bushes. I filled the bed with top soil. Since I have done this I am having a problem with the black mold.

I spray and try to clean up all the dead leaves and clean them off of the plants before they hit the ground. Could the topsoil be a big culprit in the black mold problem? I have other roses in my yard and they seem to be doing just fine.Where can I get the mancozeb that you mention in one of your segments? I have had this problem for the past 3 years. Thank you, Lynn from Hillsborough

Anne Clapp: I am not sure if you are talking about the fungal disease black spot or if you are talking about the sooty mold that forms on the leaves of plants after aphids have damaged the new growth. Since you are wiring from Hillsborough I suggest that you check with the staff at Reba and Roses for their recommendation for chemicals. Your problem should not be caused by the top soil you brought in but it could have been on one of the new roses that you bought. For a routine spray program to prevent black spot you could try a weekly treatment with the Bayer chemical product for roses. In January you could spray with lime sulfur as an organic control to kill overwintering disease spores.

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Question: My rubber plant is dropping leaves and the branches are becoming spongey to the touch. When you remove the stems they are wet,brown and woody inside instead of being a nice greed. If the stems are left, they shrival up and drop off. My rubber plant is very large and enjoy a nice large pot. IT is of the variety with the small thick leaves. Please help.

Anne Clapp: I think your rubber plant has a problem with too much water. I would suspect that the plant was over-watered or sat in a pan or saucer that held water for too long. The plant really needs to dry out between waterings. When potted plants get very large there may not be enough soil to retain the moisture the roots need. The plant should be repotted at least every third year and moved up to a larger pot. You may want to remove the plant from its pot and check the roots. If there are any healthy roots remaining you may be able to repot it but if there are not good roots you will want to discard it.

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Question: I have some reddish/orange lantanas which I would like to reproduce --they have the thin, less woody stems and the stems dry up during winter . Is the procedure the same as you showed for hydrangeas? Is it too late to begin the process now for plants to be used next spring? - John W.

Anne Clapp: The lantana you describe is easily propagated in the spring from cuttings made from new wood. There may be enough new wood on the plant to make cuttings as late as mid-August. You will have to have winter protection for any cuttings you make this late in the season because they will not be cold-hardy.

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Question: I have noticed many mimosa trees have died this summer. We noticed that the bark is splitting on the tree trunk and the leaves begin to wither, then it slowly dies. What could be causing this? Thank you.

Anne Clapp: The southern mimosa, Albezia julibrissin, is often subject to damage from a disease called bacterial wilt. The disease clogs the vascular passages of the tree and kills it. At this time there is no cure for the disease and it is recommended that infected trees be removed so the disease does not spread as quickly to other trees in the area. Because the tree sets many seeds and is sometimes treated as a pest in the landscape, new trees will reappear in an area within a few years.

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Question: Hello, I live in the Wilmington area and my eucalyptus tree was severly damaged by Charley, our latest hurricane. It was cut back and now has only two limbs. Should it come completely down or will it put out new growth?

Anne Clapp: Your eucalyptus tree should come back in the Wilmington area. Some will produce a new shoot from the root area and the plant will become more shrublike that treelike. I would leave the tree alone and let it recover without additional pruning or treatment.

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Question: Anne, thank you for taking the time to respond. Is there a monthly/regular schedule for fertilizing a fescue lawn throughout the year? What should we be doing now? We have lawn that has new sod and seed in some parts. Thanks again for your time. - Pam H.

Anne Clapp: The feeding schedule for fescue lawns is somewhat dependent on geographic location. In the Raleigh area the recommended feeding dates are early September (Labor Day), late November (Thanksgiving) and a very light feeding with a low nitrogen fertilizer in late January or early February (Valentine's Day). Much of the current research seems to say that the use of nitrogen in the spring increases the problems with fungal diseases in the spring. Fescue really doesn't need more than 1.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn area during a year's time.

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Question: I read your archives on the web looking for some tips for our crepe myrtle. One entry said that some white varieties are supposed to reach as much as tewnty feet and should not be pruned shorter. This is our first summer in our new house, so we aren't sure of the specifics with many of the plants. I think we might have one of these varieties. It has reached over fifteen feet this summer. Whoever did plant this crepe myrtle, though, put it in the corner where our garage connects to the rest of the house, in between the house and a walkway. Basically it's stuck in a little triangular area, and it's growing out of control at the moment. How should we prune it so that it isn't on the house or over the walkway?

Anne Clapp: You may want to remove some of the branches that come over the walkway and rub the house. Cut the limbs back to the main trunk or a major branch that is not in the way. Cut back the remaining branches removing any wood that is smaller than your little finger. Prune the plants when they are dormant, usually between November and March in this area.

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Question: I caught the very tail end of the segment on weeding Juniper beds. Can you tell me what I can spray on my junipers to kill the Bermuda Grass growing up and through my junipers. Thanks, Joey M.

Anne Clapp: There are a number of herbicide sprays that will kill grass but not other plants. Poast is probably the more widely available product but look in the herbicide section of the garden center for materials that are labeled as grass killers. Follow the directions very carefully.

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Question: Anne - On your site you answer a question about Bermuda grass growing in a Fescue lawn. "There is a product on the market called Turflan Ester that will kill Bermuda grass without harming fescue." I believe it is made by Dow Agrosciences but they don't claim it does what I want it to, which is the above. AND, I cannot find it anywhere. I'd like to give it a try. I'm wondering if California won't accept this herbicide. What can you tell me? - Nancy M. Cameron Park, CA

Anne Clapp: The Turfan ester product that is being sold in this area is produced by Monterey Chemical Co. in California. It is specifically designed to kill Bermuda in fescue lawns. For information on what can be used in California contact someone in the cooperative extension service. I am sure there is a web site from UCDavis that will have the information.

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Question: Anne, What can be done about tomato blight, it seems every year I have a problem. I rotate my garden, use sooker hose for watering my tomatoesThis year has been terrible all my Early Girl tomatoesare very small, vines went down leaving only the fruit hanging on. Fruit has awfull shapes, will not be able to use them. Thanks for your advice, Jim M.

Anne Clapp: There are some general suggestions for avoiding diseases in tomato plants. Rotation of crops is a major one but some gardeners forget that peppers, eggplants and potatoes are in the same family so you can’t rotate with any of those. Sometimes disease problems come with the plants in their planting cell so growing your own seedlings is sometimes a cure. Good garden soil with lots of organic material and a sparing use of nitrogen in fertilizers promotes fruit growth. Cleaning up well in fall by removing old plants and getting rid of them is important and don’t forget to clean tomato stakes and cages because they can harbor disease problems as well.

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Question: Hi Anne! The problem I have is with my lawn. I am getting brown patches in my lawn about the size of the bottom of a plastic bucket. Could this be be from grub worms, or is it something eating the roots? Thanks, Glen H.

Anne Clapp: There are three major causes of brown patches in the lawn. Grubs are a possibility and you can usually find them by peeling back a piece of turf. There are fungal diseases that cause brown patches during our hot humid summers. The problem seems to be worse in lawns fertilized too late in the spring. Diseases may be prevented with a lawn fungicide. The other culprit is visits from small animals including dogs and rabbits that leave urine spots on the lawn.

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Question: What are some good vegetable plants to start now in a raised bed garden? Thanks, Bill G.

Anne Clapp: There is still time to get bush beans to produce a crop and if you can start tomatoes from suckers of existing plant there is still time to get them to produce. Spinach, leaf lettuce, kale and mustard are green leafy vegetables which will work. Carrots and radish will also produce before cold weather.

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Question: Anne, I just moved here from LI, NY. I am very anxious to start gardening but I am not sure what I should add to the clay soil before I start. I also noticed that my holly bushes have clumps of white spots on the back of the leaves and black speckles on the front. Is this a fungus? What is the best way to treat it? Thanks for everything, Linda

Anne Clapp: I think you have a problem with scale insects on your holly. A popular method of control is horticultural oil spray which smothers the insects in all stages of their development on the plant. Follow the label directions about dilution and the air temperature when using the spray.

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Question: I heard that rose bush will sweat and cause it to be wet. That will cause the fungus to start. Is this true? If so how are you going to prevent it. All, so how do you prevent the fungus to get started in the first place? - Faye

Anne Clapp: Rose bushes do not sweat! Dew will collect on a bush in the morning and water will collect on the surface of the leaves after a shower from Mother Nature or your garden sprinkler. If a leaf spot disease is present on the leaves it could be transferred to other leaves if the moisture falls on another leaf. Some roses seem to have a dark green shiny leaf surface that repels the spores of the black spot fungus. Rugosa roses seem to repel black spot with a very rough textured leaf. Humans spray roses with a fungicide to prevent the development of fungus on roses. We also pick off infected leaves and clean up gardens in the fall to remove all leaves and plant material that could be carrying the diseases.

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Question: I have a mole problem. I have tried the spring traps, decon rat and mouse poison and no luck. I tried moth balls and that has got them on the move but not gone. I used grub control and I don’t think I have any. The moles are eating the roots off my red tips. I was told there is a plant you can put in yard and it will run them away. Thank you, Jerry J.

Anne Clapp: Two varmints often get confused in this area: moles and voles. Moles are meat eaters that consume grubs and earthworms in the soil. They do not do damage to plants but they do make runs that raise long tunnels in lawns and flower beds. Moles are caught with the harpoon traps that stab the animal in the tunnel. There are some sprays advertised to repel moles and there is a euphorbia that is often sold by mail order nurseries as the mole plant. So far I have found it good at making more little mole plants. Voles are vegetarians that feed on plant roots and stems. They often use old mole runs to move about the garden. Voles are also called pine mice and can be killed with mousetraps baited with apple and peanut butter. You may also use mouse poisons such as Rozol. The poison is dropped into the small holes near the runs. You keep a bait supply for at least 10 days to kill them.

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Question: All of my crepe myrtle trees' leaves are covered with tiny white bugs on the underside and a black color on the top of the leaves. What are these and how can I get rid of them and the black color? My trees are 4 years old and good size.

Anne Clapp: The tiny white bugs are probably white flies or aphids. The black on top of the leaves is sooty mold. The insects suck the leaves and leave a sugary substance on the leaf which then gets moldy. Insecticidal soap or one of the summer weight insecticidal oils will take care of both the insects and the sooty mold.

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Question: Hi Anne: I recently purchased and planted a twisted baby robinia. I planted it in an urn and took special care not to disturb the roots as the weather has been very warm here as of late. (Parksville, B.C.) Vancouver Island, Canada. Zone 7to8)The leaves are turning yellow. Could this be Transplant Shock and if so what should I do???? Thanks.

Anne Clapp: I think you may have a problem with watering your Robinia. The common name for the plant is acacia and most of the labels tell you to be careful watering the plants. They do not like soggy soil that keeps their roots wet nor do they like to be too dry. You could try some of the moisture retention crystals that are being offer in garden centers and catalogs to help solve the problem.

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Question: I have 2 oak trees that I have grown from acorns in pots on out deck. I noticed a few what looked to be aphids on them and now one of them has white furry fungus looking stuff on it. I was wondering what it might be and what I need to do to get rid of it. Thanks, Jeremy

Anne Clapp: With only two small oaks to treat I would try the simplest thing first – just wash the plants off with the hose. The next step if the problem comes back is to use some insecticidal soap; make sure you spray the bottom of the leaves.

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Question: We probably have over 200 Leyland Cypress trees. Is there anything to prevent bagworms from getting on the trees? Thanks, Mitzi C.

Anne Clapp: When you have a lot of Leyland Cyprus you need to keep an eye out for bagworms. At the first sign spray the plants with Bt (Bacillus thuringensus) for an organic gardening control or use Sevin or Orthene Insect Spray for a chemical control.

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Question: Dear Anne, I am an avid Sat morning listener and now that we have RR we can read your column here too. What I need to know is how to keep artemesia tidy. Mine gets so long and leggy. Should I cut it back in the fall and how much should I cut? Thanks, Cleo

Anne Clapp: I keep my Artemisia cut back throughout the summer. Just whack it back to a manageable size whenever it gets out of hand. It seems to survive severe trimming as long as there are still roots in the ground.

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Question: Hi, When is it safe to prune back my azaleas and gardenias? Thank you, Tony

Anne Clapp: The ideal time to prune back azaleas and gardenias is just after they finish blooming. Azaleas have already set their blooms for next spring so cutting them back now might reduce your flowers next spring. Minor trimming of gardenias could be done now because they may still have time to put on new growth before our first freeze. I prefer to do heavy pruning of gardenias in late March.

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Question: Hi Anne, I'm not sure this qualifies as a garden question, but I was wondering if you could tell me about an oak tree in my yard. I noticed a bunch of hornets swarming around the base of an oak tree and thought there was a nest. But after watching (carefully!) I noticed the hornets were actually attracted to the base of the tree because sap (I assume) was bubbling out of two small holes. I'm wondering if something has bored its way into my tree and is going to kill it. I sprayed some pesticide on the base of the tree to keep the hornets away and then dug down a little into the ground and there were 3 small green grubs (looked like small caterpillars) and a small beetle (looked like a Japanese bettle, sort of) in the ground, dying from the spray. I don't know if they are incidental to this or part of it. Do you have any ideas or advice? Thanks a lot, John R.

Anne Clapp: There are several diseases and insects that will produce the problems you describe. Bruising the tree or piercing the bark with machinery will also cause similar symptoms. If the tree is young and generally healthy it will survive without outside help. If it is a large, old tree you may want to consult an arborist who specializes in caring for trees.

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Question: My fruit on my tomatoe plants have brown spots, I have been told that this is a calcium deficency and that garden lye would take care of the problem, if this is so where would I buy garden lye? I have looked at garden stores and can't seem to find this product. Thank you, Jan F.

Anne Clapp: The brown spot on the bloom end of tomatoes is called blossom end rot. It is caused by calcium deficiency and uneven moisture levels in the soil. If the first tomatoes have a problem pull them off because they won’t be fit to eat. New blooms on the plant should be sprayed with a spray of calcium chloride or a similar calcium compound. They are usually sold as Blossom End Rot Preventer, Tomato Blossom Spray or some similar name. Spray the bloom or small developing fruit before the tomato gets any larger than your thumbnail. When planting tomatoes you need to make sure the soil has been well limed. I use dolomitic lime in my garden and put the lime in the soil in late fall when I clean it for the winter. That allows the lime to break down in the soil over the winter so the calcium will be available for tomato plants the following summer.

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Question: Anne, I have a cactus in a hanging basket that bloomed from late November through January; it's still full and green sitting near a sunny window. Would it like to be outside during the summer or should I continue to treat it as a houseplant? Thanks! - Barbara

Anne Clapp: My cactus seems to like being outdoors in the summer but that is probably because it doesn’t get treated very well in the house during the summer. They seem to do well in a shadier spot outdoors. They certainly do not like the hot afternoon sun. If you do put it outside it will need to be cleaned up well before you bring it back in the house. They do pick up insects that have to be washed off.
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Question: Hi Anne, I have an established Zenith Zoysia lawn which grows in reddish clay soil. Some areas of the lawn have started to produce knotweeds. I have been spot treating the knotweeds with a weed killer. Is there a better way to control the knotweed. It seems to spread and even grows up through the Zoysia. Thanks, Mark

Anne Clapp: Spot treatment with a post emergent weed killer will take care of plants that exist in the lawn but knotweed goes to seed rather quickly so a good preemergent herbicide used in April for a year or two may help get the problem under control more quickly.

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Question: If the Calla lilies are still green I would put them in the ground now. Daffodils could probably be put back in the ground as well. I treat most tulips as annuals in Raleigh because of vole damage and soil that gets too hot. Mt. Airy is just cool enough to allow tulips to come back but you may want to wait until October to plant them. There are several good garden clubs in the Mt. Airy area with members that should be able to answer questions about planning new flower beds. Good luck!

Anne Clapp: Hi Anne, We recently moved to a different house in Mt. Airy and I dug up some of the daffodil, tulip and calla lilies from the house we moved from. All had finished blooming with the exception of the calla lilies and I put all of the bulbs into pots of soil so I could transplant them. When would be the best time to attempt this...now or in the fall? I would also like to find out how I can get ideas for planting annuals and perinnials in a newly landscaped yard (receiving a hardy amount of sunlight as there are few trees). Thanks, Joyce Valley
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Question: My white annable hydrangea bush gets tons of buds but it doesn't open-it is 3 years old . I have the same bush about 3 feet away and get huge flowers from it but i can't seem to get this one to open. In the spring they both grow and get buds the same way but the bush just won't produce the full flower heads.What is wrong and how do I fix?

Anne Clapp: The three reasons I know for flower buds not opening are thrips, botrytis fungus and uneven soil moisture. It doesn’t make sense that two plants that close to each other would not share the same problem after three years of co-habitation. I would prune back the one that is not blooming and clean up all the leaves and debris under the plant then mulch it well for the winter. After that I have been know to explain to the plant that if it doesn’t perform it goes on the compost pile next year.
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Question: Hi: I have a bead of red Cana lillies and they are blooming. I recently read an article that said that after they bloom, the stalk should be cut to the ground. Is this true and should I do this? I spray with Ortho Systemic containing Isotox to control leaf rollers and spray with Peterson's super bloom often. Any other sugestions? Thank you. RW

Anne Clapp: Cannas will rebloom if you cut the spent blooms from the plant. I do not cut the bloom stalk all the way to the ground but I do cut it just above the leaf on the bloom stalk. In the fall when the foliage gets hit by the frost I cut the plant to the ground and get rid of the leaves to help prevent leaf rollers next spring. I do put some leaf compost over the area for a bit of winter protection.
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Question: Hello Anne! Last fall I planted a Carolina Jessamine in front of a 4’ x 8’ lattice section I built to create a “living wall.” The Jessamine has grown to a height of 7 feet and about 3 feet across but it is “thin.” I have trained the vine to grow in a spread out pattern, and it has for the most part, but new growth has seemed to cease. Should I be trimming or cutting back at the base in order for the vine to continue to flourish upward and out? Or would that cause strain on the root structure? Bill

Anne Clapp: To cover the lattice you will need more than one stem coming from the base of the plant. Keeping the growing tips cut back will encourage more side growth. To produce more than one stem from the ground you can cut the plant back to about 15 inches from the ground. Some gardeners find that using a tablespoon or so of Epsom salts sprinkled around the base of the plant in the spring will encourage new stems to form at the base of the plant.
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Question: I am looking for any number variety of toad lillies. I have a lavendar and white and a purple and white, I can get these here in Springfield, Illinois. I am obsessing over toad lillies with different colors. I have seen them on the internet, but can't find any to buy, - reds, purples, oranges, yellows, etc. Can you help me?

Anne Clapp: Three mail-order nurseries that have had several toad lilies in their catalogs are Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery in Medford, Oregon; We-Du Nursery in Marion, NC and Crownsville Nursery in Crownsville, Md. I love the plants in my garden; the rabbits and deer love them as well!
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Question: Anne, I enjoy the information you give on News 14 For Your Garden and on WPTF. Thank You for this service. Gardenia's...Is it too late to prune them back now? I
know that you should prune right after the flowers fade. How should you propagate from a existing gadenia? Is it similar to the way you do azalea's?

Thyme... I put some 10-10-10 fertilizer out and some Sevin Dust 5% out, not much, and I had only one thyme plant, it has turned brown and the small leaves have fallen off and I think it is dead. It was very vibrant. What should I do with it now? Thanks, Tim

Anne Clapp: I have pruned gardenias lightly in early July and sometimes have a second flush of bloom in the fall. When I have to do major pruning I prefer to do it in the early spring to keep new growth from being hurt by a late frost. Gardenias are propagated in much the same way that azaleas are. Some gardeners also have luck rooting them in water.

Your thyme probably did not like its fertilizer. They like to grow in fast draining soil with a pH closer to 6.0-6.5. They will survive quite well in clay and sand amended with leaf mulch compost and seem to do better without the addition of fertilizer.
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Question: We have a problem that has occurred only this year with both voles and moles in our yard. I would like to know what you recommend to rid our yard of these pests since they are destroying our sod and some of our shrubs. We have tried a battery operated stake-like device that vibrates and makes a noise but it really has not seemed to do much but vibrate and make a noise! We do not have any pets or young children and our yard is fenced in. Thanks in advance, Roxie

Anne Clapp: My two major lines of defense for voles are the mousetrap baited with apple and peanut butter and the mouse poison called Rozol. Put the mousetrap near one of the small holes where the voles are doing their damage. Cover it with a large flower pot to keep out the light. The directions for using Rozol are on the package. I put the pellets in the new holes and watch it every day to make sure there is a continuous supply of the bait available for 10 days. Predatory cats also do a good job of keeping the vole population at bay.
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Question: I am new to the area and am having trouble getting the grass to grow. I would appreciate any advice on a grass that will stand up to being under oak trees, heat, and a couple of dogs. I may be asking for the impossible but any help would be appreciated. Patrick

Anne Clapp: Welcome to the tribe of gardeners that have difficulty growing lawns in the Raleigh area. The best grass for heavy traffic in summer heat and humidity is a warm season grass such as Bermuda or zoysia but it does go dormant and get brown in the winter. Fescue, which is the predominant grass in this area, looks good in fall, winter and spring but does have problems in the heat of summer. No grass really likes to grow under oak trees so we learn to design natural areas with a few shade growing plants and a lot of mulch or groundcovers.
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Question: Last year and this year starting in April and May lasting through June the Maple tree by our deck was covered with what I thought were little white clusters of strings. They attracted flies by the hordes and got a sticky substance all over every thing. Since the hot weather hit the mess is gone, however, I am afraid it will reappear next year also if we don’t find out what it is. Do you have any suggestions? The tree is a fast growing Maple and seems otherwise healthy. These things disintegrated when you touched them. Barbara

Anne Clapp: You may have had an infestation of one of the scale insects that we occasionally see on maples. The more common one is cottony maple scale which may be controlled with a dormant oil spray. Spray the plant with a dormant oil spray in early spring before the tree begins to leaf out. There is a hose-end sprayer with oil spray being marketed this year which would be easier to use than mixing a tank of spray for a tree.
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Question: Anne, Have you ever seen the celedon green hydrangeas? The blooms are the most beautiful green. I can't seem to find them anywhere. Are they rare as none of the local nurseries carry them. Thanks, Cathy

Anne Clapp: Several of the mail order nurseries are listing green hydrangeas this year. The plant is not widely available in nurseries because it is not as popular as Endless summer, Annabelle, Pia or many of the other hydrangeas on the market. If you haven’t tried Homewood Nursery in Raleigh you might check with them. They seem to have the largest hydrangea selection in the area this year.
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Question: Dear Anne: I live in Atlanta, GA and just purchased 4 Bay Breeze Hawthorne (Rhaphiolepis i.). The sales person said to treat them like azaleas, but I do not find any mention of Hawthorne on any of the products for azaleas. Could you please tell me something about these as to sun and location. They have beautiful glossy leaves. Thank you, Donna

Anne Clapp: Rhaphiolepsis is actually a member of the rose family. They like sun, well drained humus-rich soil, and protection from cold winter winds. The older garden books list them as a zone 8 plant. Fertilizers for acid-loving plants such as azaleas and camellias would work well for your hawthorne.
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Question: Hi, I have a problem with sparrows destroying my Leyland Cypress trees. They have broken hundreds of branches on my trees. I occasionally see them hopping about incessantly from branch to branch and have seen them bite off a small branch. Have you ever heard of this problem? Is there any way to stop them? Thank you, Steve G.

Anne Clapp: I think the sparrows are probably catching insects on your plant. Check the plants carefully for signs of small bag worms or other insects. There are several techniques for keeping birds away from trees - the fake owls will work for a while, shiny aluminum pie plates tied to branches seem to scare them. There is also a bird netting that is used for keeping birds off fruit trees.
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Question: For the past 3 years having problem with my cucumber and zuchinni plants very healthy looking and some fruit on vine and then the leaves wilt and plant dies off what could be the problem and how to get rid of it. Thank you, Linda

Anne Clapp: I think your problem may be bacterial wilt. The bacteria that causes it is spread by the spotted cucumber beetle. Pull up and get rid of the infected plants. Next year, or for a second try this year, cover the sprouted seedlings with cheesecloth or floating row cover and use an insecticide for the beetles.
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Question: Hi Anne, I grew up in southern Virginia. We had a shrub in our yard that we called the "First Burst of Spring". In the springtime, it had the most fragrant little pinkish white flowers, followed by red berries which as children we use to eat. Can you tell me the name of this bush? I would certainly appreciate it. The shrub was located close to our front porch and died as a result of fire damage when our house burned down. I would like to buy one and plant it on my lawn here in Cary. Thank you, Charlie

Anne Clapp: I think the botanical name of the plant you are looking for is Chimonanthus praecox. It is also know as Winter Sweet and First Breath of Spring. Check with Cary Garden Center, Fairview Garden Center or Garden Supply for the plant.
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Question: Anne, I have hybrid rose in my yard it gave about 2 dozen 3 inch flowers in the last month. The arrival of Beatles and humid weather I used chemicals but with next rain it washes away and I have cut down the rose to a foot from ground thus no beatles can feed on the leaves. Can you recommend any disease free roses? Do you know of any root treatment which can prevent the black spots and discourage the Beetles?
Thanks.

Anne Clapp: I do not know of a root treatment that will prevent both blackspot and Japanese beetles nor do I know of a disease free rose. There are some roses that are more resistant to blackspot than others. The floribundas Sunsprite and Sunflare are both resistant to blackspot. The floribunda Scentimental also seems to be disease resistant. The Rugusa roses are also disease resistant.
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Question: Please tell me when is the best time to prune my camelias? Thank You, Janie

Anne Clapp: Sasanqua camellias get pruned in late winter or early spring because they bloom in the fall and early winter. Japonica camellias are best pruned just after they finish blooming in the early spring. This allows the plants to put on their new growth and set the blooms for next years growth. If you look at camellias right now you will notice that their bloom buds for next year are already in place.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have two bougainvilleas that I bought last year in hanging baskets and they bloomed beautifully. This year, in the same place, they have not bloomed at all. I had overwintered them inside. Do they require cutting back to bloom and/or fertilizer? Do they need to be repotted? They seem healthy. I have heard that they like to be pot-bound and a little on the dry side. I have given them some weak fertilizer and cut them back but I'm not sure if I have done the right thing. What do you advise? Thanks so much! - Courtney

Anne Clapp: I cut back Bougainvillea in the early spring and give it some liquid fertilizer for blooming houseplants. Fertilizing once a month during the blooming season seems to be enough for healthy plants. Mine seem to need repotting every other year.

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Question: I planted a Crimson Queen Japanese Maple in May 2004. It was absolutely beautiful until about 2-3 weeks ago. The leaves are now a brownish orange color and the leaves are also very droopy and feel dry. The tree is about 5 1/2 ft tall and 4 1/2 feet wide. We live in Eastern Orange County and the soil is red clay. We water it frequently and also feed it regularly with Miracle Grow plant food. The tree does not get any morning sun. It only gets afternoon sun. Everything else in our yard seems to be thriving including our newly planted grass and our vegetable garden. We would love to save the tree. Do you have any advice as to what we could possibly do for it? Thanks so much, Jennifer C

Anne Clapp: I think your Japanese Maple would have preferred not having any Miracle Grow. It does develop crispy brown leaves in the hot afternoon sun of this part of North Carolina. When you plant a new tree as large as the one you have I prefer to add a bit of phosphate to the soil at the time of planting just because it takes so long for phosphorus to move through the soil. It really doesn’t need any fertilizer until the plant begins to establish new roots. The Miracle Grow is encouraging the development of new top growth and leaves that have a hard time adjusting to our heat, humidity and clay soil. My Crimson Queen has been in the ground for 20 years and gets a good dose of leaf mulch compost twice a year. If there is a way to provide afternoon shade for the plant it should help.

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Question: Anne, I would like to root a cutting from a fig bush. The bush is probably 30 years old, very healthy and very prolific. What steps should I follow to ensure success? There is a possibility I may be able to take the whole bush. Is that a good option and if so how should I do that to stress the plant the least? And finally when I plant the cutting or bush, what are the best conditions for it? Thank you for your help, Connie

Anne Clapp: I have the best luck rooting figs in the late winter or early spring. Take a cutting about 8 inches long from dormant wood before the buds break but after you can see the swelling on the stems. Put at least five inches of the stem in the ground and water it well. Place a layer of mulch up over the top of the stem and leave it until you see signs of the buds developing in late spring. Some people will use the same technique in the fall after the leaves drop from the plant but I do not seem to have luck with rooting fall cuttings. The trick is to root figs from dormant wood.
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Question: Dear Ann, I have had my roses planted in their own individual pots for about a year. Recently, I have moved them out of their pots and planted them in my backyard. In about two hours, they started to wilt. Since then, they have not done to well.

Can you please let me know what I did wrong? It is heart breaking to see them the way they are. They were full of roses and now I am getting none. Kindest Regards, Marilyn

Anne Clapp: It is hard for roses to get acclimated to life in the ground after they have been in a pot for a long period of time. The trick is to provide them with some sort of artificial protection from the hot sun until they have reestablished a root system. They will need a light daily watering until the new roots start to develop. Do not use any fertilizer on the plants until they stop wilting.
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Question: Anne, I have about 1/4 to 3/8 of an acre that is covered with a very tall grass and receives full-sun all day long. I would like cover this area with a spread of wildflowers to attract honeybees. After mowing and baling the grass, what would be the best way to grow wildflowers from seed (organic methods only), and where can one order a large quantity of wildflower seed? Thanks! Jeff

Anne Clapp: One of the best sources of information on starting a wildflower meadow in North Carolina comes from the NC Department of Transportation. Our DOT Wildflower program has received several national awards. They have a publication that gives instructions for establishing wildflowers and they do have a source of seeds for home gardeners. Their method does recommend spraying for weeds but other than that their method is workable for organic gardening. You will need to make a seedbed in the grassy area but that can be done by cutting the grass and then using a power rake or thatcher to make a seedbed in the grassy area. The seed is then sown in place and kept watered until the new plants germinate.

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Question: I saw your program one time (before I acquired a dog) on which you applied some liquid solution to brown spots on a lawn after the dog urinates. I am now trying to find some solution to this problem. I have tried about every available product found on-line or at Pets Mart but no avail.After the dog urinates it simply burns up the grass leaving brown patches. Do you have any answers to the brown staining and grass burning problem associated with pet urine? -Casey

Anne Clapp: The trick that I always used was gypsum that is available in many garden centers. It is recommended for softening clay soils but gardeners find it useful to spread on chemical spills and dog and cat urine problems. Just sprinkle the powder on the spot and then water it in.

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Question: This is not a gardening question but I thought you might know. I see people with beautiful decorations on the outside of their houses, i.e. squirrels on the chimney and my favorite was a butterfly attached to the chimeny of a house. I was wondering if you know where to purchase these items. I would love to have the butterfly. - Betty

Anne Clapp: Several of the garden stores in the area do carry some of the house decorations like the ones you describe. Some of the Wild Bird Stores also carry some of the decorations. There are also several catalog sources such as Lillian Vernon that have carried them in the past.

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Question: Dear Anne, I have two Cleveland Pear trees in my front yard. We planted them last year. I now have tiny green balls all over the trees. Does this mean that the trees we bought are fruit bearing Cleveland pears? Thanks, Tracie T.

Anne Clapp: Cleveland pears do bear fruit just as Bradford pears do. You will want to rake up the fruit when it falls to the ground or you will soon have a yard full of strange wild pear trees. Many birds and squirrels will eat the fruit during the summer.
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Question: I have a butterfly bush that has been dropping leaves towards the bottom of the plant. I am not finding any insects but the leaves are turning yellow with a few dark dead looking spots on the leaves. My zinna's in another flower bed are doing the same thing. Could you please tell me what I need to do? Thank you for your help. Cathy S. of Raleigh

Anne Clapp: The lower leaves of plants often turn yellow and drop from the plant. These are the older leaves that have done their job and are ready to be replaced by new leaves. It is probably a natural leaf drop so I would not be concerned.

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Question: Anne, Help!!! Japanese Beetles are invading my garden! They are have especially eaten up my roses! I have some beetle bags out and have dusted with Sevin, but the beetles keep coming back! - Mary

Anne Clapp: I have used the liquid form of Sevin to keep the beetles under control but it is usually necessary to spray every day until the beetles are gone. The beetles are often attracted by the scent of the flowers on roses so if you keep the spent blooms deadheaded you will have fewer problems. I also cut any yellow or white blooms just as they begin to open and bring them in the house for a bouquet. The beetles are attracted more to flowers than leaves so if you keep the flowers off the bushes for the two weeks or so of the major beetle infestation you will have less damage to the leaves of the plant.

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Question: Dear Ann, I have a 9 year old clematis armandii that in past years has been lush and beautiful. This past spring it was infested with aphids - which I got rid of - but many of the leaves have since turned brown and died and the vine isn't looking very healthy. I have given it some fish emulsion to encourage new growth but it's not producing. Do you know what has caused it to lose it's leaves and how it can regain it's lushness? Thanks, Wendy

Anne Clapp: There are several things that might be causing Armand problems. Aphids often come to plants that are putting on lush new growth. If you wait too late to correct the problem the plant may suffer. There is still time to cut the clematis back and produce new growth before cold weather. The combination of pruning and fertilizer that you have already applied should force new growth. You might also check the root system of the plant to be sure the drainage is still good in that area of the yard and to be sure that nothing has broken the stems of the plant. Brown leaves on a plant are sometimes an indication that chemical damage has occurred or they can be from lack of nutrients from the root zone of the plant.

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Question: I have 2 very nice basil plants, 1 a genovese, the other a sweet basil, problem is something seems to be eating the leaves. I don't see any insects and I applied Sevin dust. Do you have any idea what it could be or what I need to do? I live in Fayetteville and the plants are oudoors. Need some help, Joe

Anne Clapp: Rabbits seem to enjoy basil. I now grow mine in pots so they can’t get to it. A small fence may keep them out. The books say to spray with red pepper but that makes the basil taste bad so don’t use any of the sprays that are labeled for preventing damage from rabbits.

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Question: Hi Anne! I have a peace lily growing very nicely. I cut a dry leave and this powder substance appeared. What is that? Could I have hit the stem of the bloom and it came from that? How do I know when its ready to replant? Is this plant safe for children? Thank you, Stephanie - Raleigh

Anne Clapp: The powder substance is probably pollen from the bloom. The plant is ready to move to a larger pot when you see roots coming from the bottom of the pot or when the new growth seems to wilt quickly even though you are watering the plant. The peace lily is not listed as a poisonous plant so I would consider it safe for children.

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Question: I have bought two hibiscus, and something is eating the leaves, we have sprayed insecticides on them, nothing seems to help. Also my morning glories have big holes in the leafs from something. What can you reccommend? I love these flowers, but they are not doing well at all. Thanks for your help, Mary G. of Fayetteville

Anne Clapp: Big holes in leaves could come from various caterpillars or weevils. It is best to spray when you see the pests actively working on their meal. If you sprayed with liquid sevin or one of the all-purpose garden insecticides you may have killed the pest. The morning glories are hard enough to survive a few holes in their leaves. Some insects work at night so you may not see them on the plant.

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Question: Do you know what I can do to prevent my 10 year old Yellow Lab's urine from killing my centipede grass?

Anne Clapp: You could try using powdered gypsum which is sold in garden centers to help soften clay soils. It is often used to control chemical spills and clean up after we use some ice removal chemicals in the winter. You just sprinkle a few tablespoons on the area and water it in.

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Question: I have a lot of little 3" pine seedlings popping up in my yard. Can I transplant them to a better location? How long will it take them to mature and at what rate?

Anne Clapp: It will take several years for the pine seedlings to get to landscape size. Depending on the variety of pine it may take 15 years to get a tree taller than a two-story house.

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Question: I have a resident vole in my back yard. I also have a cat and two dogs out there who can't seem to catch the vole! I don't want to put poison out because of the pets. Do you have any suggestions on how to catch/destroy the vole?

Anne Clapp: Try a mouse trap. Bait it with a piece of apple and some peanut butter. Put the mousetrap next to one of the small holes in the ground that may be the home of the vole and put a flower pot with a brick on top of it over the trap and the hole. If you have one vole you probably have several because they seem to like large families. It may take more than one trap to get the population under control.

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Question: I am a first-time gardener for vegetables. The leaves of the plants were being eaten by something (?) so I put out sevin dust. Now the plants are all yellow. Did I use too much?

Anne Clapp: You may have applied too much Sevin dust but I don’t think that was what caused your plants to turn yellow. Yellow leaves may be caused by plants under stress from too much water around the roots or from some of the wilt diseases. Plants that do not have enough nitrogen will also turn yellow. Lack of iron will cause yellow leaves with green veins in the leaves. You might check with a garden center or your local extension agent to see if they can diagnose the problem for you.

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Question: Hello Anne: Thanks so much for all your advice. I have a sweet Olive that is currently in full sun from 11:00am till the sun goes down. The poor thing is really struggling. Some of the leaves are browning and it does not seem to flower much. What might be the trouble? Should I move it? If so, how much sun should it get? When would be the best time for the move? Thanks for all you do. Neil B.

Anne Clapp: I think the sweet olive would be happier out of the afternoon sun. It also may have a problem from lack or moisture in the soil. If you decide to move it try to move the plant in the fall when temperatures are a bit cooler and the plant is not trying to put on new growth. Keep it watered if we do not have adequate rainfall.

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Question: We have a lot of trees in our back yard - nothing bigger than 12" in diameter and mostly smaller. We have cut down many of these because they are sweet gums and not pretty and have those awful sweet gum balls falling everywhere! We cut the trees even with the ground, but the stumps are still there and keep regrowing. How can we stop this regrowth? Is there any reason we have to remove the stumps, i.e. termites?

Anne Clapp: You don’t have to grind the stumps or have them removed. Just keep the new growth cut off; you can paint Roundup on the stem cut when you remove the green growth. There are some products on the market called stump rot that have directions to drill holes in the stump and pour the chemical in the holes. There are several formulas and they will vary in effectiveness. Eventually the stumps do decay and they do no harm in the process.

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Question: Would like to know what to do with outside Easter Lillies after they have bloomed? Should they be cut back and if so when? Thanks for sharing this information, Doris B. of Fayetteville.

Anne Clapp: You really don’t have to do anything to them. I do cut the spent blooms off to keep them from going to seed but you want to leave as much green material on the bulb as possible to keep the bulb healthy for next year. After the first killing frost I cut the stem back to ground level and mulch the area with ground leaves or compost.

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Question: Hi, Can you tell me (and give me guidelines for how) when I should prune camelias? I live in Durham, Thank you, Stephen

Anne Clapp: Ideally, Camellia japonicas are pruned right after they bloom which may be as late as early April in this area. Camellia sasanquas can be pruned in February because they will be through blooming by then.

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Question: Dear Anne: I have a row of leyland cyprus that I planted last fall. They were about 4' tall. They have shown good signs of growth, but in the last month or so, the central leader is leaning over and some have showed signs of drying up. The rest of the tree seems healthy. The new growth about a foot down of the tree is not growing outwards, but seems to arc and then grow out. It seems to stress the center of the arc and you can see sap where the limb is bent. What can I do? Is pruning necessary on these arcs to relieve the weight? Thank You, Theresa

Anne Clapp: Trees don't always grow like the pictures in books. When tips of plants turn brown it can be from lack of moisture, sun scald or insect damage. We had some very hot dry weather in May and that could be the source of the brown tips. As for the arching limbs, that is a fairly common growth pattern. I would not prune the limbs because that would spoil the shape of the plant. I would be careful and not fertilize the plants to see if a slower growth will help the plants recover.

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Question: I have heard that garlic is good for roses. Is it? and if so how is it used? Betty S.

Anne Clapp: Many of the books on organic gardening advocate planting garlic in rose beds because it repels some insects that damage roses and attracts some beneficial insects that will attack harmful insects.

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Question: Ms. Clapp, Is there any way to selectively kill Bermuda grass without harming the surrounding / infested Tall Fescue? Thanks, Regards, Dwight O.

Anne Clapp: There is a product on the market called Turflan Ester that will kill Bermuda grass without harming fescue. It is available in several Raleigh area independent garden centers.

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Question: I have a rubber tree plant that will not grow. I have tried everything can you give me any suggestions. It has six leaves on it. I transplanted it from a 6 inch pot to a 10 inch pot.

Also, I have a peace plant that will not grow either. I have cut back leaves and also transplanted it too, but the leaves keep dying, looks like the are burnt but is not in direct sun.

Please help, I have been dealing with these plants for over a year now. Regards, Desiree

Anne Clapp: The problem with the Peace Lily is probably water related. The brown and black tip on leaves is usually a sign of too much water. Don’t let the plant sit in water. I also find that rain water is better for watering them. Most city water supplies are treated with fluorides that cause damage to some house plants. Peace lilies seem to be fluorine sensitive. As for the rubber tree, make sure it has good sunlight. You could try watering it with a liquid plant food diluted to about ¼ strength every week during the summer growing season.

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Question: I have mounds of soft dirt/soil in my garden. A neighbor said I might have voles. How do you know for sure and how to you rid your garden of these pests? Enjoy "For Your Garden" segments on News 14. Regards, Sue F.

Anne Clapp: When I see mounds of soft dirt in the lawn area I usually think of moles eating grubs and earthworms in the soil. When I see soft areas and small, quarter-sized holes in the flower beds I think of voles eating my favorite plants. Often the moles dig the tunnels and leave then the voles come in and use the tunnels for underground visits. You can use a cat to catch both critters. Voles may be trapped with a mouse trap baited with peanut butter and apple. Put the trap next to one of the entry holes and cover it with a flower pot or small garbage can to keep the area dark. You are also allowed to use mouse poison in the holes to kill voles. The poison recommended in North Carolina is Rozol.

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Question: Anne, My wife planted a Hydrangea last year and this year, there is plenty of foliage, but no flowers. What could be the cause of no flowers? Thank you for your help. Jerry from Durham

Anne Clapp: Sometimes plants do not bloom the first year they are in the ground because the plant is developing a root system. Since the plant has put on a lot of foliage you could have put too much fertilizer around the plant during its first year in its new home. Too much nitrogen often produces new leaves and discourages flowering.

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Question: I have always been facinated with and loved hydrangeas due to the variety of bloom colors from pink to blue seen on one bush, however, I am so far unsuccessful with getting mine to bloom at all! I rooted one from a cutting of a favorite bush in a neighbor's yard, and I have bought two bushes which were blooming at the time. Each year they all put on a mass of healthy green leaves, but no blooms! After reading not to trim them back, I stopped doing that. Two plants are in almost full sun, and one is in morning shade gradually gaining more sun as the day progresses to evening. I have fertilized (watered) with Miracle Gro for acid-loving plants as I had read they preferred an acidic soil, but all to no avail! I must be doing something major wrong, and would appreciate it if you could advise me as to what that might be. (These bushes are from 2 to 5 years in age.) Thank you. - Jane

Anne Clapp: Lots of lush green growth and no blooms usually means you have used too much fertilizer. In the Raleigh area hydrangeas need protection from the afternoon sun because they will wilt and dry out in the heat of summer. If you have amended the soil with organic material and mulch with ground leaves or composted bark hydrangeas don’t need much in the way of additional fertilizer. The soil in the area is usually quite acid enough for hydrangeas.

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Question: Anne, How do you keep little bugs off of them? I enjoying reading your emails they are very helpful also. - Connie of Wake Forest

Anne Clapp: White flies usually get on gardenias no matter what you do. Some people spray with Malathion, others use Orthene. Organic gardeners use insecticidal soap, pyrethrum or the yellow sticky traps. I have used insecticidal soap, leave it on for about 30 minutes and then wash it off with a strong spray of water from the hose.

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Question: Dear Anne, We planted a line of leland cypress tress several years ago. We live in raleigh, nc and the soil here is clay. We are now noticing that the limbs are browning at the base of the trees. Several trees look this way. There does not seem to be any type of bug or fungus on the trunks or branches. What can we do to stop this browning. We love the cypress for a screening between houses. Thank you, Sandra

Anne Clapp: The lower limbs of a Leyland cypress will brown as the plant ages and light does not get to the base of the tree. The limbs also get brown if the male dogs in the neighborhood sprinkle the limbs from time to time. You may want to remove the lower branches and plant something as a groundcover beneath the branches of the leylands.

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Question: Anne, I have holes all in the front yard and a natural area. I have found a few small trees cut just below the top surface. I believe it must be voles. Is that what you suspect? How do I get rid of them? Thanks for your reply.

Anne Clapp: It does sound like voles. You can usually see the small teeth marks on the stems of the plants that were destroyed. A good outdoor hunting cat will help keep the vole population in check. The poison Rozol is approved for use in North Carolina to kill voles. You may also use mouse traps. Traps baited with apple and peanut butter seem to work well. Place the traps near one of the holes and cover the trap and hole with a large flower pot or other container to make a dark place for the trap in the daytime.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have three rose bushes in my yard. They bloom beautifully for a while. Then black spots and yellow leaves follow until the rose bushes become skimpy. I am ready to dig them up and throw them on the heap pile. I like roses, but my patience with them have come to an end. Is there a rose bush that requires little care? I'll provide soil, water, and fertilizer - no more spraying. I am tired of spraying and cleaning up the leaves that fall; however, they do seem to recover by the next blooming season. Should I just leave them along and let nature take its course?

Anne Clapp: Black spot seems to be part of growing roses in this part of the world. The hot humid summers make growing healthy roses without spraying almost impossible. The hybrid teas and floribundas that we like for repeat bloom throughout the summer usually get blackspot by their second flush of bloom in the summer. I have grown the floribundas Scentimental and Sunsprite without spraying but most of the others do need a fungicide every week. The new groundcover rose Knockout is also supposed to be blackspot tolerant.

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Question: My peonies didn't bloom. This plant--"Sarah Bernhardt" I believe is the name--has been in the ground for several yrs. and has never bloomed. It gets quite a bit of sun. The foliage looks great. I mulch in the summer and uncover in the winter. I see "eyes" I think it's called coming up early every yr. and I put out lime in the fall and an all purpose fertilizer in Mar. but still I get no blooms. How come?

Anne Clapp: Stop the fertilizer. If peonies are in good soil, have plenty of sun and are watered well they don’t need a fertilizer with much nitrogen. A little super phosphate in February might help but I don’t fertilize mine with much nitrogen. I do use composted cow manure on the plants after they bloom.

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Question: Dear Ms. Clapp, Any advice on getting Nellie Stevens Hollies to grow quickly. I fertilize spring and fall with Hollytone. Thanks.

Anne Clapp: Fertilizer, sun and water usually do the trick with Nellie. The first year in the ground may not produce much growth as the plant puts in a root system but after that the plant usually grows quickly.

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Question: My oakleaf hydrangea has quite a few blooms but the foliage is very droopy. I give it plenty of water but the leaves still look so limp. I thought this was a somewhat drought tolerant plant. This plant is several yrs. old and has bloomed before but the leaves have never looked this limp. What's wrong?

Anne Clapp: Hydrangeas tolerate heat but they don’t like it. If the plant is in afternoon shade it still droops when the temperatures are in the high eighties or above. The big leaves have so much surface area they allow a lot of water to evaporate. That makes the leaves droop. If we have another week without good rain you may need to water the plants.

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Question: Mushrooms are growing in my indoor potted plants, how do I get rid of them?

Anne Clapp: The mushrooms are harmless. Just pull them out of the soil as they form or find some small tool to rake them out if you don't want to touch them.

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Question: Hi Anne, I was hoping you could tell me what time of year to cut back my gardenia bushes. They are approx. 6-7 feet tall and right beside the deck. They are blooming beautifully now and did not know if I could wait until the fall when it is cooler to do this. I just need to shape them up a bit. Thanks for your help. - Cathy

Anne Clapp: I prefer to prune my gardenias just as they finish their first bloom in the spring. The new growth then has a chance to harden off before the first cold spell in the fall. By pruning in the fall or winter you have a chance of losing your bloom in the spring.

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Question: I saw on your website that if you use different chemicals you can change the color of a Hydrangea plant. Is there a limit on the number of times you can do this? Also, is there a way to make a multi-colored Hydrangea plant? What kind of sunlight is the best- direct all day or just a little sun during the day? Does this chemical treatment work for any other plants?
Thanks, Lori from Durham

Anne Clapp: The information on changing color in hydrangeas is specific to hydrangeas. It does not work for other plants. White hydrangeas stay white whether the soil is acid or basic. Blue hydrangeas keep their blue color in soil that is acidic. You can make the soil more acidic by adding ammonium sulphate or you can add aluminum sulfate to intensify the blue color. Red or pink hydrangeas keep their color in soil that is closer to neutral or more alkaline. It really doesn’t work to try to change red hydrangeas to pink or vice versa. The flowers get to be a muddy purple and never do return to their original color. Hydrangeas do not like hot afternoon sun. They can stand a bit of morning sun but in this climate they seem to do well with some light shade during the heat of summer.

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Question: Dear Anne, I'm still awaiting an answer about the black spot on my gardenia bushes. They are approximately 3 years old and have beautiful blooms, with the exception of the two that are covered with black "yuck" all over them. The leaves and the stems are covered. I want to save them, but I'm sure I know how. Please Help!!!!!!!!!!!

Anne Clapp: I have answered several questions about the black sooty material on gardenias. It is sooty mold that is usually caused by an early infestation of aphids or white flies that leave a sweet secretion on the plants. This decomposes and leaves the black sooty material. The easiest way to treat the problem is to spray the plant with insecticidal soap. Leave the spray on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with a steady stream of water from the hose. Gardenias are often attractive to aphids and white flies. You may spray with an insecticide to kill the insects or you can use one of the yellow sticky traps that organic gardeners use to attract the insects. They fly into the sticky tape and are glued to the surface so they don’t do damage to the plants.

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Question: Please tell me what is the proper way to start another Iris from the huge seed pod that forms at the top of the plant. I have several pods from my Iris's that have bloomed in the spring and now am trying to find the correct way to start another plant. I already know how to divide the Iris's, it is only the seed pod that I am curious about and want to learn if it can be done. Thank you so much for your wisdom on this subject. I enjoy your information on channel 14 when I can catch it. - Wilson, NC

Anne Clapp: I allow the seed pod to mature on the plant. It will turn brown during the summer and the pod will show signs of splitting. Cut the seed pod off before it splits open and the seeds are blown by the wind or eaten by birds. I put the seeds in a plastic bag and leave them in an area that is cool, dark and dry until the fall. I plant mine in an area outside where I remember to water the soil if we have a dry winter or spring. The seeds need at least 6 weeks of cold temperatures to germinate. Some gardeners start the seeds indoors by putting the seeds in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 weeks then planting them in a soilless mix as you would any other seeds. You have no idea what color or blossom type the plant will be until it blooms the first time. It may not resemble the parent plant at all.

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Question: Anne, Why are there small white spots on my newly planted tomatoe plants? What should I do? Julia D.

Anne Clapp: Some small white spots on tomatoes are white flies that are taken care of by insecticides such as malathion or by using yellow sticky traps to attract and catch the insects. Spider mites also cause white spots on foliage. I just wash the mites off the leaves with a strong spray of water. I don’t use chemicals on food but it is safe if you follow the directions about using the sprays on vegetables.

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Question: Hi, I live in the Wilmington area-we planted 2 -7' cleveland pear trees about 2 years ago-they haven't done a lot of growing -is there a special fertilizer we should be using? Also these trees are planted about 12' apart -one of the trees seems to be fine but the other trees leaves are turning brown as if there is some sort of fungus. Do you have any information on this.

Anne Clapp: I am always concerned when leaves on pear trees are turning brown. Pears are bothered by a disease called Fire Blight. The leaves and stem of the plant start turning dark brown or black at the tip of the stems. The step tip will curve much like a shepherd’s crook. One method of control is to prune out the infected areas of the plant cutting about 10 inches below the brown area. Clean the clippers after every cut to keep from spreading the disease. One way of helping plants avoid being infected with fire blight is to reduce their intake of nitrogen so do not use fertilizers with a high nitrogen content. Fertile soil and good leaf mulch around the plants are usually enough to keep the plant healthy and blooming.

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Question: Did I read years ago about using Epsom Salts in the soil in tomato plants? If so, what does it do for the plants? Thanks very much. - G Casey

Anne Clapp: Epsom salts are a source of magnesium for plants. The most common use in the garden is on roses where gardeners use it in late winter to force new bud breaks from the graft union on older roses. I don’t use it on my tomatoes. The one soil additive that is really necessary for tomatoes in acid soil is lime.

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Question: Anne, Several years ago we planted wax mytrles for privacy and they have not done well. There is a 6' privacy fence directly behind 3 of them but they get plenty of sun. They are 8-9' tall and extremely spindly offering no privacy at all above the fence. Should I prune them back in hopes of thicker new growth?? If so, how low and can I do it now in June 04? I have not fertilized them or really tried much maintenance --- your advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike

Anne Clapp: Wax myrtles will grow in sun or shade. They like a moist, acidic soil that is mulched with leaves or bark. They need watering during dry spells in the summer. They do not like lime and are not that fond of fertilizer. Pruning will help keep them in shape and pruning does encourage new growth. With the sunny location I would suspect like of moisture may be the reason for their slow growth in your yard.

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Question: What herbs are best to plant with your vegetable garden that helps "repel" bugs? Thank you.

Anne Clapp: Tansy and marigolds are probably the two plants used more frequently to repel insects in the vegetable garden. Garlic is also used.

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Question: Dear Anne, Thank you for all the great tips and information that you have shared with us on News 14. I have a red plant in a container that is red in color, has two inch leaves with darker stripes and, was told that it could be one of these common names: Roosters comb, chickens gizzard, Roosters tongue. Does any of these names sound familiar ? Thank you for your time. - Donna T., Raleigh

Anne Clapp: Another common name for your plant is probably cockscomb. The botanical name is Celosia cristata. It is a tender annual that many people dry in the fall to use for flower arrangements. There are always spectacular ones at the North Carolina State Fair each year.

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Question: Ms. Clapp, I planted carnations year before last and this year had a bounty of flowers to cut. I had no previous experience with carnations and now that they are blooming is it safe to move them and plant elsewhere? - Florence G.

Anne Clapp: Carnations do not always like our hot humid summers. I have always transplanted them in the fall or very early in the spring before they bloom. Make sure they are in an area with very good drainage because they do not like wet feet. They also need lime to reduce the acidity of our natural clay soil. While it is not the full florist’s carnation I have enjoyed growing the single carnation, Dianthus x ‘Bath’s Pink’.

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Question: Hello Anne, Got a problem with two pomegranates-one ornamental and one fruit bearing. Neither has put on any growth this spring. They are as bear as they were during the winter. However neither appear dead. The limbs are very supple and when scratched beneath the bark the under layer is green. Both have been in the ground for 3 years and have performed well until this year. They have always been slow in putting on growth, but never this slow. Any thoughts- I'm beginning to think they are terminal.

If you think they need to be replaced whats a good small tree (8-12 feet) that will grow with a southern exposure (hot and dry) blooming plants preferred.

Thank you for all your wonderful help.

Anne Clapp: I wouldn't give up on the pomegranates just yet. They may have had a problem with temperatures that were a bit too cold one night and killed the early leaves. There is usually a later leaf set that will come out in due time.

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Question: I have a front lawn of hybrid bermuda grass in the front yard and it is doing fine, but underneath is becoming a green moss that is starting to take over the yard. What can be causing this moss and how do I get rid of it without harming the grass. The grass is about 1 1/2 inches kept mowed and I water 2 times per week. I am getting really concerned about all this moss! Help! Thanks! - Alan

Anne Clapp: Moss usually occurs when soil in a yard is compacted, when there is not enough sun, when there is not enough fertilizer and when you have not applied enough lime to raise the pH of the soil. The usually way to get rid of moss in the lawn is to core aerate the lawn, then apply lime and fertilizer. Bermuda does well mowed to short lengths between 1 and 1.5 inches. You may be applying too much water to the lawn as well. That removes some of the nitrogen that would discourage the moss.

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Question: I have a Torenia plant that was in full bloom when I purchased it. It has stopped blooming but has some very small bloom "pods" on it but they don't seem to be growing or blooming again. What do I do to make this plant bloom again. It gets some morning sun and fairly bright light the rest of the day. I enjoy your segment on T.V. and also the section on the web "For Your Garden". - Jean C., Farmville

Anne Clapp: I am not sure whether what you are seeing on your Torenia or wishbone plant is an unopened bloom or a seedpod from the blooms that were on the plant when you purchased it. I have always deadheaded blooming plants to keep them going for the summer. Just snip off the blooms as they fade and fertilize with a slow release fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer for blooming plants to keep new growth forming. Just to be on the safe side you could try cutting some of the pods you see off and leave others. Fertilize the plant lightly and keep it watered and look for a new set of blooms in a week or two.

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Question: Anne, I have several large (20-25 foot) Lelands. One has recently fallen over. The root ball simply pulled out of the ground. Is this a common issue with the Leland? I have seen other Lelands on the golf courses and so on that are leaning or fallen as well. What can I do to prevent more tree loss? - Andy

Anne Clapp: When Leyland cypress fall over as you describe it is because they were not planted properly. When a root ball pulls out of the ground it usually means the roots did not get placed in good contact with the soil when they were planted. Soil needs to be packed around the roots and watered in well. Also, large plants should be staked to keep them upright until they have started putting on new root growth. Many of the large plants I have seen topple over had a root system that kept growing in a circle around the base of the plant either because they had been crowed in plastic pots at the nursery or because they were balled and burlap plants packed in a plastic burlap film that did not degrade and allow the roots to grow into the soil.

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Question: Hi Anne, My backyard used to be fescue grass but burmuda grass has about taken it over so we decided to stop fighting it and let it take over. My question is when do you fertilize it? Also, I have some 16-4-8 fertilizer, can I use it? Thanks, Ray

Anne Clapp: Your 16-4-8 fertilizer will work just fine on the Bermuda grass. It is usually fertilized in early May and again every 6 weeks until August.

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Question: I have black leaf on my gardenia bushes.It is on the stems as well. We sprayed them with Ortho Malathion Plus, and Ortho RosePride Dease Control. The plant looks pretty sad- the stems are limp, but the blooms are lovely. I don't want to lose the bushes--can you help? Thanks, Deanie R.

Anne Clapp: I think your plant has something we call sooty mold. It forms when aphids and other insects get on the plants and leave a sugary substance behind that causes a black residue on the leaves and stems. I have sprayed an insecticidal soap on sooty gardenias, left it on for no more than 30 minutes and then washed the plant off with a spray from the hose. That usually removes enough of the sooty deposit to make the leaves look better and perk up a bit. It would not surprise me that your gardenia leaves look a bit limp in this weather. It has been hot and dry and the new growth sulks a bit every day. If we don’t have rain you may need to water the plant for a week or so to allow the new growth to develop.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have some carissa hollys in my foundation plantings and need to know how to prune them in order to control/reduce their size. I started to prune out individual branches and it seemed to be adversely affecting their shape. Do I shear them in order to keep the round shape? Thanks. Amy

Anne Clapp: Carissa Holly does not have a naturally round shape but you can keep it pruned that way for many years if you combine the two techniques you mentioned. To reduce the size of the plant and provide new healthy growth that will keep the plant in good basic shape for many years continue to remove the limbs to reduce the size of the plant. This also thins out the interior of the plant so the next step in pruning won’t produce a lot of dead growth. The second pruning step is after the plant has been thinned and cut back by removing limbs trim back the tip growth that remains to produce the round green meatball that people seem to like for shrubs.

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Question: Hi Anne, If I want to remove a couple of branches growing from the trunk of a jade plant to generate new plants would I just plant them directly back into the soil or is there something else I should do before that? I haven't had very good luck with jades and I was really hoping to do this right this time. Thanks for your help. - Cathy

Anne Clapp: I’m not sure how large the branch is on your jade plant. You may be starting with a stem that is too large. I start with a stem that is about ¼ inch diameter. Break it off the main plant and allow the stem to stay in a warm area out of direct sunlight for two or three days to callus over. Then put the stem into a moist mixture of sand and peatmoss to root it.

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Question: Dear Anne, I have well water. My plants seem to not grow or die easily. I do everything I know how and even ask others for their opinion as well. My girlfriend gave me a small bamboo shoot in a small glass cup. She said all I do is water it and give it light. She has about 10 of them in her home and they are cute so she gave me one. Within a month the stem is brown and has an odor in the water. I have it in my kitchen on the window sill. It gets light but everyday it becomes more and more brown. So today my husband cut the shoot in half and I stuck it outside so the rain water can fill up the glass cup it is in. Could my well water be the problem for all my plants? If so, what can I do other than buy water?

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
AJ

Anne Clapp: First, “lucky bamboo shoots” do not like to be in direct sun. They turn brown and die. Keep it in an area that has good light but not direct sun. If your well water is safe to drink it should be safe for plants. The problem may be in not knowing exactly how much water a plant needs. They could be over watered, underwatered; they may not have the right amount of light or the fertilizer could be the wrong amount. Not all plant like the same amount of water, light and fertilizer.

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Question:Dear Anne, I have two herbaceous peonies that were here when I moved into our house 5 years ago. I don't know the varieties, but one is deep bright pink with ruffled edges and the other is white, and doubled. They have bloomed profusely (especially the white one) for the last five years - with between 12-14 blooms. This year, the white peony only had 5 blooms and the pink, while having 8 or so, was much less than in previous years.

I don't have any way of knowing exactly how old the plants are - they are in full sun, and well-drained soil. They are early bloomers, so the hot summer sun hasn't seemed to damage them. What do I need to do to encourage more blooming next year? - Leslie

Anne Clapp: The trick to keeping peonies blooming is low levels of nitrogen fertilizer, water and mulch to keep the roots cool in the summer. Remove the mulch for the winter and don’t let the soil build up over the roots. The eyes on the roots should not be much more than an inch below the soil in the Raleigh area. Sometimes plants do bloom profusely one year and don’t bloom as profusely the following year.

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Question: I purchased 3 scuppernong grape vines in early spring. Two females, and a self fertile.

Unfortunately, I never got around to planting them until now. Everywhere I read that you should plant and then cut back to three or four buds. My plants have established significant growth in the pots, and they are now about 2.5 feet tall. I do not see anything low on the stem that resembles a bud.

So my question is, if I put them in the soil now, what is the best approach to take to pruning them for the rest of this year?

I am going for a 2 line trellis.

Thanks, Mark

Anne Clapp: At this time of year I would just go ahead and plant the grapes. Keep them well watered for the summer and do your pruning in late February. You may want to order the NC Extension publication on taking care of Scuppernong grapes. It has good pruning instructions.

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Question: My boss' garden has fungus on her hybrids - it looks like a gray cloudy coating. Can you advise? - Meri Beth

Anne Clapp: The grey cloudy coating on the hybrid tea roses is probably a powdery mildew fungus. I use the fungicide Immunox to control it. The plants should be treated with a fungicide for blackspot in this area of the country but many of them are not good at controlling powdery mildew.

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Question: Last year I planted a garden and it was a disaster. I never know when to water or when to pick the vegetables. This year I have planted okra, cucumber, tomatoes, melons, and summer squash. Can you help me before I get too far into the season? I made a 4' x 8' raised garden, put in potting soil, made three rows (spaced per the instructions with the plants) and have watered every other day with my sprinkler system for about 20 minutes. The garden gets good morning & day sun but no late afternoon sun. Thank you, Ginger

Anne Clapp: I suggest you contact the local cooperative extension office and ask for a copy of their brochure on the home vegetable garden. It has good information on watering, lime, fertilizer and general care of vegetable plants. The garden should produce as long as it has 6 hours of full sun. Use a good mulch on top of the ground to keep the moisture from evaporating and keep the weeds from growing. The best time to water is in the early morning.

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Question: Hi Anne, I live in Md. I would like to plant something that could give me privacy from my neighbors and a
better view to look at. The back fence is about 50 feet long. I was thing about arborvitae hedges. I reaaly only need the plants to grow to about 8-10 feet tall. I would have to caree for them myself so low maitenance is important. I also thought about lilacs but I don't know of they would be able to provide the
privacy. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you, Robin

Anne Clapp: Arborvitae will work as will Chinese Juniper and English Laurel.

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Question: Everywhere last spring and summer there was flooding in the Fayetteville area. In Eastover, my yard was under 4" most of the summer, especially during the heavy rains. The water does drain off, but only after pumping with a sump pump. Now over half of my Leland evergreens and half of my azaleas have died. Could this be from the flooding? Should I move these plants to higher ground? Thanks, Ginger

Anne Clapp: You probably have had damage to your azaleas and leyland cypress from high water if they had that much water over the roots. I would certainly move plants to higher ground but you will want to wait until fall to move them. It is too hot and dry in the summer to make moving plants safe at this time of year.

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Question: Anne, We are trying to remove a 5-year old wysteria vine and have cut down to the stump. Can we treat the stump with something to make it rot rather than trying to dig out the root? Thank you. Shirley F.

Anne Clapp: It is hard to kill a wisteria by just cutting it down. You will probably have to spray the plant with Roundup. I have had success by cutting the plant off at ground level and immediately painting the trunk with a Roundup concentrate before the cut heals over.

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Question: Ms. Clapp: My Husband and I have Leland Cypress trees 5 to 7ft. tall and we have the following questions:

1. What time of the year do you prune them?
2. How to get them roughly the same height?
3. How to make them fuller?
4. Do they need fertilizer?

Note: We bought them when they were around 3 to 4 ft. tall and they have been in the ground for 18 months. Thank you for any advice or information you can give.

Sincerely, Charlie and Jamie W. of Fayetteville

Anne Clapp: Leyland cypress can be pruned to get them in shape in late February or early March before thay start to put on new growth. If there is just a bit of trimming needed on new growth, that could be done as late as mid-May. It is hard to get a row of Leylands exactly the same height because you don’t want to prune the central leader at the top of the tree. It distorts the shape of the plant. You could pinch the new growth at the top of the plant removing about 1/3 of the new growth in the spring and fertilize the shorter plants but not the taller ones. A light clipping of new growth on the sides of the plant will make the plant fuller but they usually fill out without pruning as they get older.

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Question: Hello, I saw your site online and I have a question. I live in Alabama, and I want to know if it is OK to put pine bark around tomatoes? Thank you.

Anne Clapp: I know of no reason not to use pine bark mulch around tomatoes. Make sure the plants have plenty of lime in the soil when they are planted to keep the soil closer to a neutral pH.

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Question: Anne, I have three established lilac bushes that fail to thrive. They are planted in an open area of my yard, semi-shaded by pine trees. The plants yield very few blossoms each year. Thanks, Kim J. of Fayetteville

Anne Clapp: I would make sure you apply lime to the soil every spring and keep the plants watered and mulched during the summer. They do not like our acid soil (common around pine trees) or our hot humid summers. Sometimes making sure they have afternoon shade helps.

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Question: I have a tree that I found growing wild on my property. It has leaves similar to a Hickory tree, but it blooms a white spiky bloom that smells so sweet. Do you have any idea what it could be or maybe point me in the right direction to finding out. I live in Lenoir, NC.; the foothills. - Tracy

Anne Clapp: You might have a locust (Robinia spp) tree. There are several that grow in North Carolina and they fit the general description.

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Question: I had my lawn reseeded last fall and some topsoil was added by the contractor. I have a beautiful lawn but lespedezia is showing up. There was none before thus I believe the seed were in the topsoil. Is there any spray which can be used without injuring the grass? - F. P.W

Anne Clapp: You could use a broad leaf weed killer labeled for use on lawns. Most manufacturers make a compound product with 2-4D and MCPP labeled for lawn weeds.

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Question: Where can I find a Jerusalem Cherry?

Anne Clapp: Jerusalem cherries are often sold as houseplants ay garden centers in the spring. Try some of the independent nurseries in the area that carry houseplants. Most of the large nurseries in Wake county have it in stock.

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Question: I have a large area where dwarf mondo grass has been planted for about four years. The grass, as you know, grows very slowly. Consequently I have a difficult time controlling weeds growing between the plugs. Are there any weed killers available that will not harm mondo grass? Thanks Paula

Anne Clapp: If you pull the weeds between the plugs and apply a preemergent weed killer in the spring and the fall it may help. Mulching around the mondo plugs will also help weed control.

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Question: Dear Anne, Twice I have planted about 18 holly shrubs in my front yard in hopes they would create a nice hedge about waist high or so that would give me a nice screen from the street. I wanted them to grow over and compliment an old rock wall that surrounds my entire front yard. The wall is about 12 inches high. Unfortunately almost all of the shrubs have died. My front yard is very hot and dry during the summer due to sun exposure and a large pen oak. I have installed a sprinkler system to help but the pen oak really soaks up the water. Anyway, I am hoping you can recommend a scrub or plant that is sun/heat tolerant that will give me the hedge or screen I seek. Anything you can recommend will be appreciated. Regards, Mike

Anne Clapp: There are several plants that might work in a very sunny, hot dry area. Before you plant anything I would recommend amending the soil with some organic matter such as composted leaves or finely shredded bark. It will help retain moisture in the soil. Also be sure to keep the plants watered during the first year they are in the ground and keep about two inches of mulch over the soil in the area that is planted. Some shrubs that might work are Glossy abelia, Japanese barberry, Dwarf Yaupon holly, cotoneaster and Ilex cornuta ‘Carissa (Chinese holly) and juniper.

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