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Question: Hello Anne, Thank you for your time. I have a few different chili pepper plants. This will be their third year. Now that it is winter I was wondering how should they be pruned? I look forward to your reply. Thank you.

Anne Clapp: From my experience chilli peppers are annual plants that are killed by cold weather. I usually save the seeds from the last pods to replant for next spring. If you have some that have grown for more than a year just do whatever you did to them last winter.

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Question: Dear Ms. Clapp, Per your instructions I planted cuttings of Pineapple sage in peat moss amd sand. What do I do now after it has rooted? Thanks! Rene

Anne Clapp: After the cuttings are rooted you can pot them up in a good quality potting soil. A small 3 inch pot is probably large enough for each cutting. Keep them in a warm area with good light and keep them watered until all danger of frost is over next spring. A little liquid fertilizer in March will make the plants more vigorous. They can then be put out in the garden in late April. You will have to keep the plants pinched back to keep them a compact size. If roots start growing out the bottom of the pots you should transplant them to a larger pot.

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Question: Anne, I have a gardenia house plant, I had it outside all summer & it was beautiful. We brought it indoors and it later developed a web across the leaves. I sprayed ortho spray (outdoors). We left it outside 2 or 3 weeks. Brought it back indoors. It looked great and even bloomed 4 or 5 flowers. Couple of weeks, after it got dry looking & brown leaves as is now. We have been watering and miracid fertilizer as always. We're taking the yellow & brown leaves off . Please tell us what to do, if anything. Thank you, Tony C.

Anne Clapp: Gardenias inside need a lot of light and the plants need to be watered enough so that the soil remains moist but not wet. The plant should be allowed to have a dormant season when it does not bloom. It does not need fertilizer until the spring when it is time to put on new growth.

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Question: My hibiscus blooms and leaves are smaller and blooms are not dark red but light colored. They are loaded with blooms and buds but just not as attractive. Hope you can help us. Thank you.

Anne Clapp: Hibiscus comes in all colors so the plant may be a variety that is not supposed to be dark red. Small leaves could be the result of not having enough sun, not having fertilizer when new growth is being formed or not enough moisture in the soil.

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Question: Hi Anne, I planted 3 large leaf ligustrums next to our house and they are growing like crazy, up to 9' . I'm so tired of pruning them so I called an extension agent and he said that they could be moved. Now, what do you recommend to put in their place? They got morning and some afternoon sun and are next to azaleas that will grow to 5' max. I'd like a dark leafed plant to show up against our light brick. Any suggestions would be so appreciated. Thanks.

Anne Clapp: You might try one of the Japanese hollies that look like boxwoods. The foliage would be a good contrast t the azaleas and would be pretty against a light wall. Stokes holly would also work in that area. Leucothoe, either drooping or coastal, would also work well.

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Question: Hi. How do I force tulips indoors? I don't have any trouble with paper whites. Are they the same? Thanks in advance, Vicky

Anne Clapp: Tulips need more chilling time than some of the other bulbs we force for indoor use. They would need to be refrigerated for at least 8 weeks before you plant them. Some people use a cold frame outside to get the cold temperatures. If you put them in the refrigerator be sure there are not any fresh fruits or vegetables stored with them because the ethylene gas given off by ripening fruits does harm the flower in the bulb. The chill time seems to be the major reason people have trouble forcing tulips.

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Question: I have a china tree. I would like to root it by planting the seeds or take clippings to plant at my golf course. How do I "root" this tree? Thanks, Rose

Anne Clapp: The plant that I know as Chinaberry is a Melia, a tropical tree in the mahogany family. It would not be hardy in this area. I think there are some other plants with white berries that people in this area call Chinaberry. If you are growing it, it obviously is hardy. Chinaberry trees grow easily and quickly from seed. Just take the seed from the tree after it gets ripe. Plant it about 1/2 inch deep. The seed just lies dormant in the ground until late spring when it will start to sprout. Chinaberry trees grow fairly quickly. Before you transplant any tree to your golf course make sure it is a plant the superintendent would like on the course. Some trees produce too much trash and spread so quickly they kill out grass.

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Question: Anne, I've been trying to establish a zoysia lawn over the past few years by planting plugs. Some areas seem to spread better than others, in fact some areas do not take at all. In these cases, the grass eventually disappears. Some areas allow weeds to grow in the midst of rather wide zoysia area, which is surprising considering the density of the zoysia roots. My questions: 1. How do I improve the success of the plugs and how/when do I do a better job of preventing weeds? 2. Any possibility of a focus area on zoysia (e.g. on-line, News 14, WPTF?) Truly appreciate the knowledge that you share. Regards, Tom M.

Anne Clapp: When you have trouble establishing grass in specific areas of a lawn it helps to get a soil test to see if there is a nutritional problem in the area. The kits are available from the state agronomy lab on Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh or you can get them from the county office of the Cooperative Extension Service. Another problem may be compacted soil. Tilling and amending soil in areas where you have a problem will speed up the spread of the plugs. Weeds will grow in Zoysia – but there just aren't as many of them and they don't do as much harm to the grass as they do to fescue. Cool season weeds like chickweed and henbit may be controlled with a pre-emergent weed killer applied in early September. Crabgrass may be controlled with a pre-emergent applied in mid-to-late March. It took me three years to get our Zoysia lawn established with plugs. The major weed problem is fescue grass deposited from seeds from the neighbors lawns when they re-seed every fall. I try to keep it under control by pulling everything green during the winter when the Zoysia is brown. Broadleaf weeds can be controlled in ”brown” Zoysia with a broadleaf weed killer in early spring before the grass starts to green up.

As for more information on Zoysia – maybe one of the commercial growers might want initiate that sort of effort.

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Question: Hi Anne Clapp, How do I keep cats from "pooping" in our yard? I use the commercial dog/cat repellents and that seems to work as long as it doesn't rain and wash away the granuales and the liquid sprays. I'm looking for
perennial plants I can plant that will repellent these critters.
They're neighbors' cats and do nothing to keep their animals under control. I have bare spots in the yard that they love. The spots are under trees so the shade prevents grass from growing. I do have shrubs that are growing. Help! Mary

Anne Clapp: I don't know of plants that are repellent to cats. One method of controlling some of the damage from cat and dog fertilizer is to treat the spots with gypsum to neutralize the excess nitrogen. In areas under trees where growing grass is a problem you might replace the grass with some of the shade tolerant ground covers such as liriope, mondo grass, vinca, ajuga, hosta, partridgeberry etc.

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Question: Ann, Is it too late to plant shrubs (evergreens) now that we have weather hovering in the low 30s and frost has fallen? If I still can plant shrubs, what should I do to assure it has a chance to survive? Also, any suggestions for a particular type(s) of evergreens to plant this time of year. Gracias, Manny

Anne Clapp: Container grown shrubs may be planted in the Zone 7 and higher areas of the Carolinas as long as the ground is not frozen. The planting area should be watered when we do not have rain during the week. Watering is also important when we have a lot of wind that dries out the plant faster than the root system can absorb water. After plants are in the ground mulch them with 3 or 4 inches of pinestraw, bark or mulched leaves to insulate the soil and roots. I have never had much luck winter-planting shrubs that prefer really hot weather – such things as hibiscus, oleander, windmill palm, Indian hawthorne and some viburnums. Most conifers and hollies do well; camellias and azaleas are safe.

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Question: Dear Anne, Can I plant a couple of Rosemary plants right now, successfully? And what variety do you recommend for this area? I like the fuller fatter looking ones. Thanks, Anthony

Anne Clapp: I have the best luck starting Rosemary in my garden in the spring. Our soil can get a bit wet during the winter and if plants don't have a good root system established they can have problems. If you have place with very good drainage and can protect the plants with a temporary protection from the wind – I used the non-woven landscape fabric – the plants should live. The best variety I have tried is Arp but there are several others that will work.

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Question: What is the difference between a thanksgiving cactus and a Christmas cactus? Someone here at work is telling me it is how there leaves are - spiked and nonspiked. Thank you,
Melody

Anne Clapp: Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus and Easter cactus are common names given to plants in the genus Schlumbergera. There are many hybrids of S. truncata, S. russelliana and S. bridgesii that bloom from October to April. Some have more spiked leaves than others and some have blooms of red or pink or orange or yellow or white. They are called Thanksgiving cactus if they happen to bloom in November, Christmas cactus if they bloom in December and Easter cactus if they bloom in March. Bloom time is usually determined by temperature, moisture and hours of light, not the points on the leaves.

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Question: Dear Ann, First off, I am a true FAN of yours! My Mom passed way 3 years ago and I received her 2 christmas cactus. one was white and the other was absolutely spectacular! It's colors range from pink to fuscia to coral to red. I really didn't know how to take care of them until a lady told me to put them outsie in the shade. My husband re-potted them and made 6 pottings. I went to bring them in around the end of October and the bulbs were set. Ann, they have about 250 bulbs on each one. One is fuscia and the other is coral, along with the white ones.

My question is, how can I pollenate them between the white and the pinks? Can I just use a q-tip and put some of the pink pollen with the white one? I have a coral one over a white one, so can I just "jiggle" the coral one on top of the white one? I know my Mom would be so proud to see them now! I would like to make a "NEW" color in Honor of her. Thanks alot for all your HELP!!!!!!!!!!! - Sherry D.

Anne Clapp: Christmas cacti are members of the genus Schlumbergera that are usually propagated from cuttings. Some of the color variations have been mutations of the plant from which the cuttings were made. Because the plants you have may be from different species of plants or may even be sterile hybrids that will not produce seeds it may be difficult for you to cross-pollinate the plants you have. You might want to read one of the books on Christmas Cactus to learn a bit more about their history and botany.

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Question: I have a bed of day lilies and iris with bamboo grass in them. I have dug up the lilies and iris. I have pulled out the bamboo grass since it has died from the cold. Should I replant the lilies and iris with a chance of the roots of the bamboo grass still in the plants or should I just throw away the plants and start over with new ones. - William C.

Anne Clapp: Bamboo grass is an annual and grows from seed each year. Your plants may be replanted in the beds without a problem from the roots of the bamboo grass but you may have problems from the seeds of the plants. Hand-pulling the weeds in the spring and a good layer of mulch will help keep the pest down for next summer. You could also try using a pre-emergent grass killler in the beds next spring.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have two questions for you. My basil has lots of flowers now, and I would like to save the seeds for next year. How can I tell if the seeds mature enough so I can cut the flowers and save them?

My second question is that I have some lemon grass bushes outside but I do not want to dig them up to bring them inside, is there a way for me to save those lemon grasses from the cold winter? Thanks so much for your help, Helen

Anne Clapp: The seeds of basil appear after the flowers drop off the plant and continue to grow. The seeds should start turning from green to brown when they are mature enough to harvest. Lemon grass is a tender perennial that is killed to the ground at the first hard freeze. I have never had any luck overwintering the plant in the ground outside in the Raleigh area. I have heard from some gardeners who say they have gotten their's to come back the next year by cutting the leaves off after first frost, then mounding a mulch over the root system and covering it with a clay pot.

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Question: Hi, My rubber plant got hit quite badly by the cold and is in pretty rough shape, but I was hoping to salvage some of it, as it is about eight years old. It has a strong odor, that is a lot like the smell of pumpkins (after Halloween). Are these fumes dangerous for my grandchildren or pets? Thank you, Sue in Vermont

Anne Clapp: I think you may have what is known as a dead rubber tree plant. The odor is from the decaying plant tissue and should not be dangerous, just unpleasant. Your plant is a tender tropical, ficus elasticus, that will not withstand temperatures below 30F at all. It is a zone 10 plant that will have some damage below 40F. You might cut the plant off just above the ground and see if it comes back but I would think the plant did not survive its night outside.

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Question: Anne, I enjoy your segments on Ch 14. Thank you. A friend's sister sends her plants every spring that are "trailing spinach." Looks like a vine and doesn't climb. She says that the spinch tastes like spinach and it looks like spinach. It is going wild during this cool weather. Do you have a source for the seeds or plants? Thanks a lot. I'll be looking, Kay

Anne Clapp: Trailing spinach is often used as a climbing plant in the garden. It grows very well on a fence or trellis. Look in the seed catalogs for Malabar spinach. It is often listed as an ornamental plant but it is edible, and really quite tasty. Most of the large seed catalogs list it. Try Parks Seeds and Burpee. You do have to start the seeds indoors and transplant the seedlings outside when it gets warm. Soil temperatures need to be above 55 degrees. It takes about two months to get a plant large enough to start picking leaves.

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Question: Every year when I take my potted plants inside they are healthy and beautiful. In a couple of months they look sick and begin to die. I have them in the only window in my house that seems to get sun, however it if filtered through a blind. I keep a gro lite on them for 8 hours a day. I keep them watered. Is there anything else I can do for them to keep them from losing their luscious green? I have heard that you should mist along with watering, how often should I do this. How do I know when they need water to prevent me from overwatering?

Anne Clapp: There are several tricks to keeping plants healthy when you bring them inside for the winter. Start by slowing their growth down a bit by not fertilizing them in September and bring them inside before it gets too cold. Your plants need to be inside before you turn on the heat in your home in the evening. Keep them in good light and keep them watered but don't over-water. Separate the plants so you know which ones need to dry out before you water and those that need to be kept evenly moist. The only way I tell when my plants need more water is to stick my finger down in the soil about an inch. If it feels wet, don't water. Over-watering has killed more houseplants than under-watering. Most plants do not need misting if your home is comfortable to you. Some tropical plants may like an occasional misting. All plants would like to be washed off once in a while. Putting them in the kitchen sink and spraying them to rinse the dust off the leaves will work; so will putting them in the shower for a few minutes. Your plants will not be growing as vigorously inside so they do not need to be fertilized as frequently as they did when they were outside.

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Question: Dear Anne, Hi! I live in Camden South Carolina and I have a Banana plant given to me by a neighbor that's nearly six feet tall. He dug it up and told me to wrap it in paper and keep it in my basement until the spring and replant it. Do you have any additional care instructions that may be usefull for my Banana tree? What is the ideal temperature for storing my tree? Do they enjoy sun or shade or both? Do they thrive in a particular type of soil? How often do I water my tree in the growing season? Do I need to water the plant over the winter months and most importantly, what time of the year is best to replant my tree? Please help!

Anne Clapp: Some bananas are actually hardy in your area and the Raleigh area as well. They may not set fruit because of the short growing season and the top may be killed to the ground, but the roots of several banana plants are winter hardy. If you are wrapping it to store over the winter put it in an area that does not get below freezing and don't water it. They need full sun to grow well and prefer a rich, loamy soil. Do not plant the banana outside until all chance of frost is over. The soil temperature should be over 50F. Keep it watered once it is in the ground and fertilize it every other week.

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Question: Anne, I have four beautiful christmas cactus that I manage to bring into flower every year and have even managed this year to be successful with cuttings. But my problem is when they get any size at all some parts of the cactus get sort of a creased look and eventually fall completly off. Any idea what I could be doing wrong - I cannot seem to find the answer? - hope you have some ideas. Thank you, Christobel

Anne Clapp: I think the problem is lack of moisture during the summer. Christmas cactus is a succulent, not a dry soil cactus. They need rich soil, light shade and should not dry out completely between waterings. The larger, older cactus may need more frequent repotting, or more frequent watering.

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Question: Can you advise on whether English Ivy needs to be cut back over the winter to allow fresh growth in the spring or must one simply cut back the runners to control its growth. It seems that there is a lot of old growth, collection of leves etc and would this cause eventual rotting ? If so how close does one crop the English Ivy without killing it. Thanks, Henry

Anne Clapp: I don't think you can kill English Ivy by cutting it back. I've seen gardeners use a string weed trimmer without damaging the plant. To control the growth the plant needs to be cut back more than once a year. I cut my ornamental ivy back in the early spring just as it starts putting on new growth and keep it cutback when it exceeds the space I want it to cover. That means that some years it gets cut back in April, June, August and October.

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Question: Hi Anne, I'm trying to take a cutting from my rubber plant. All was going well until my daughter accidentally fell against it snapping the branch off iv kept it wrapped in moss and clingfilm, if i potted it now would it grow roots because it hasn't started to grow any yet.

Anne Clapp: It is worth a try. It may not work, but you haven't lost anything. Keep it well watered and cover the entire plant with a plastic bag.

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Question: I have a group of trees that had an enormous amount of shoots coming forth and the other day I found all of the young trees (3-5yrs old) had all of the current years vertical limbs cut off? The odd thing to me is that each of the eaten limbs were cut off as if they were done with a doctors scapula, perfectially systematical, each resembled an ice cream cone, i.e pointed top was left on the main tree. The diameter of the limbs were from 1/4 to 3/8"s around. The top half of the limbs naturally fell to the ground. I have pursued them at night and day with NO results for any identification. Could you help me identify the culprit and possibly a solution, tks! Jim D.

Anne Clapp: Is it possible that you have beavers or muskrats in the neighborhood? The damage you describe sounds like the damage that rodents make when they chew off limbs or cut down a tree.

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Question: My lawn and mulch areas are covered with little mounds of very small, round, soft dirt balls. It almost looks like something has dug down into the ground, but I can't locate anything in the mounds. I can step on them and it is just like flattening a little pile of dirt. The next day, there are just more of them. It doesn't seem to hurt anything, but is unsightly. Are you familiar with something like this and if so, what can I do about it? Thanks

Anne Clapp: You probably have an earthworm active in the ground. It is common this time of year. Nothing to be worried about.

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Question: We have several cactus plants. We have heard that they have to be dry before they will bloom. We also heard that you need to put them in a dark place for 2 weeks. Could you please tell me when to stop watering them and when to place them in the dark and when should they start blooming. Thanks for your help, Connie

Anne Clapp: There should be a segment running currently on News-14 about getting a Christmas cactus to bloom. It needs to be kept cool and dry until it sets buds—then water it. The plant needs daylight during this entire period.

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Question: Another question about the schefflera, it seems to have a sticky substance on the leaves. What is this and would cutting it back help? - Maria

Anne Clapp: The sticky substance is the honeydew secretion from an insect such as an aphid or whitefly. You can wipe it off with a soapy rag without harming the plant. Check the plant for signs of insects and get rid of them as well.

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Question: Anne, Gardenia is in a large pot outdoors – Now some leaves are turning yellow – Can I prevent this if so how can I do this? Lantana is in the soil outside. Will it survive the winter? How does one care for the Gardenia and Lantana over the winter? Thank you very much for your time, Jawahar

Anne Clapp: Many gardenias are winter hardy in the ground in the Raleigh area. The lantana Mrs. Huff is hardy in the winter as long as you do not prune it until the spring after it starts to put on new growth. There are several lantanas on the market now that will survive our winters in the ground. The yellowing of the leaves on your gardenia is the natural loss of the older leaves on the plant. It is not unusual to see at least a third of the leaves turn yellow and drop off the plant in the fall.

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Question: Hello: We live in Toronto and the weather is starting to get cold. We brought in 2 healthy hibiscus plants and the leaves immediately started turning yellow and dropping off. What causes this and what can we do? Thank you. Cliff and Bonnie

Anne Clapp: Hibiscus and many other houseplants react to the change in temperature and humidity when they are brought in the house for the winter. The usual symptom is for the leaves of the plant to drop off just as our deciduous plants do as they go into winter dormancy. Many gardeners have found you can reduce the amount of yellowing and leaf drop on hibiscus by bringing the plants in at least two weeks before the heat is turned on in the house.

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Question: What do I need to be doing in hopes of having blooms by Christmas? I brought the plants inside September 1 and decreased watering. Also, what is the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus? Thanks.

Anne Clapp: We have done a segment on getting Christmas Cactus to bloom that should air this week or next.Don't fertilize the plants until they start putting on new leaves. The trick is cool nights down to 45 degrees or so and withholding water until the plants set buds. If the cool temperatures arrive early you have a Thanksgiving cactus; if the cool nights come a bit later you have a Christmas cactus; if it blooms in the spring it is an Easter cactus. The plant is a hybrid of Schlumbergia truncate and S. russelliana and there are many cultivars on the market.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have three leyland cyprus trees ranging in height from 12 feet to 15 feet, very close to my house. I am thinking of moving them to a different location on the lot. Is it possible or will the trees die after the move? Any suggestions for the move will be appreicated. Thanks for your time, Pammi

Anne Clapp: A Leyland cypress the size of yours needs a professional with a tree spade for a successful move. The plant will have a very large rootball and the combination of the size of the top growth and the weight of the rootball make such a move very difficult for a homeowner unless you have a front-end loader or similar equipment to move the plant. As quickly as Leylands grow and as inexpensive as they are you are probably better off planting new trees instead of moving the ones you have.

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Question: A couple of days ago you had a item called a deer scarier. It was a bamboo looking bowl and stick maybe it had something to do with water? I wanted to know more about it? Thank you, Beth B.

Anne Clapp: The item is a deer frightener. It was developed in Japan where most are handmade by the gardener. It is a tube of bamboo that fills with water, then empties suddenly causing the back end of the bamboo tube to hit on a rock making a noise to frighten or startle deer. The one at the fair was from The Garden Hut in Fuquay Varina. Plans for making them are in many of the books on Japanese landscaping.

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Question: Anne, I rescued what I think might be an orchid. I think it was pot bound, as what seemed to be the roots were overflowing the pot. When I took it out of the smaller pot, there was a cork like substance around those roots with a light, sort of fuzzy root protruding out of the bottom of the cork. How should I replant this? I have looked on some sites, but it is very confusing. I know orchids are tempermental, but how is the best way to care for it. do you leave the cork? can you use potting soil? There are two bulbs on it at present. Thanks.

Anne Clapp: Orchids are often mounted on cork or bark slabs instead of being put in pots. How you repot it depends on the type orchid it is. Most people now pot orchids in a special bark mix or an expanded clay material that does not decay. The roots need a lot of air so orchids are not planted in a peat based potting soil. Check with some local nurseries about potting instructions. Many of them do have classes on potting orchids. Members of the local orchid society also help people learn to repot and care for orchids.

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Question: I have a young Eucalyptus tree however I cannot get it to grow. Parts of it dies out and I clip the dead areas away. I have it planted in our yard. When I asume it is dying out it suddenly has bluish green leaves appearing from another shoot. What can I use or tips you can give me? Thank you. I really enjoy your tips. - Dee

Anne Clapp: Eucalyptus can be temperamental to grow. It does not like really acid soil so adding lime to the area might help. It also needs very good drainage so make sure it is not getting too wet. It needs to be in a protected area where it does not get cold winter winds.

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Question: Hi Anne, We planted 21 wax leaf ligustrums in our back yard to have a privacy fence. We live in Houston, Texas. However they are dying on us. The branches turn brown and die without dropping any of the leafs. I have taken samples to different nurseries and they all have told me that it is not a plague (no evidence of disease). Some have told me too much water other no enough water. It is urgent since the plants die fast. HELP!!

Anne Clapp: Ligustrum does like to grow in acid soil so the pH of your soil might be a problem. The also do not like to have wet roots so the soil water table may be too high in your area and your plants are drowning from too much water. I would also check with your Texas cooperative extension service; one of their master gardeners might be able to diagnose the problem for you.

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Question: What type of shrubbery do you plant for a wet area near or close to the front area of the house?

Anne Clapp: There are several evergreen shrubs that will grow well in wet soil and would work near the front of a house. Leucothoe, Illicium (flowering anise), wax myrtle, and Devilwood (Osmanthus americana) are possibilities. Some chamaecyparis are also tolerant of wet feet. Chamaecyparis thyoides, the tree know as Atlantic white cedar will tolerate damp conditions and some of the smaller plants will as well. Trees such as dahoon holly, loblolly bay and sweet bay magnolia might work if you want a taller plant. There are also some perennial plants such as cannas, Japanese iris, and the yellow flag iris that also grow with wet feet if you want to mix some colorful plants in the area.

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Question: Do you know of any way to keep a gingko tree from bearing fruit? I know it's too late for this year but we are hopeful for next year. Thank you.

Anne Clapp: No! That's the reason we recommend that people buy a male gingko tree. The fruit does stink!

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Question: Hi Anne, I would like to put grass seed on my lawn now. Does the lawn mowing preventing them from germinating? Also, I would like to cut the top of my evergreen to stop them from growing taller. Do they actually stop growing? Do they function normally when they stop growing? Thanks for your help, Helen

Anne Clapp: Newly seeded grass should not be mowed until it has a good root system developed. You risk pulling the new seedlings out of the ground so wait until the new grass is at least four inches tall before you mow it. As for cutting the top out of evergreens, topping a tree will permanently change the shape of the plant as it will try to develop a new central leader. This causes a curved branch at the top of the plant that weakens the plant and produces a plant that does not have a very attractive shape. Some evergreens are natural dwarfs that will grow very slowly and lightly trimming the new growth on the plant will keep them smaller. You might try shearing about one inch of growth off the plant each year to see if that will keep it the size you prefer.

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Question: Anne, Three years ago I built planters around my oak trees and put in hostas and they are doing very well, but the soil in the planters seems to shift down about an inch or so each year. If I add new soil this Fall (@ 4 inches) will the hostas find their way up or do I need to dig them up, add soil, and then replant? IF so, should I do that now or in the Spring? Thanks for your help. Barbara

Anne Clapp: If you add four inches you should remove the plants or at least lift the crowns of the plants with a spading fork before you add more topsoil. If you add only two inches the hosta could be left in place. You may want to add organic material on a yearly basis in the future. Adding topsoil and composted manure as a fertilizer in the spring adds soil depth and nutrients for the plants at the same time.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have two questions for you. I have a huge pencil cactus thats probably about 15 feet tall and just as big around. I need to bring it in for winter and I have a place that will suit it well for the heighth but not for the circumference of it. Can I trim it down some or do I just need to put it in the ground. We live in Louisiana and I have read it can take temps. as low as 25 degrees. But if I need to transplant to the ground what time of the year do I do this. My other question is about a huge wisteria plant that I have. Of course wisterias grow crazy and this one has done that very well. The only problem is that it never blooms. What could be the problem? I would appreciate any advice on these two subjects very much. Thank You, Jana M.

Anne Clapp: There are three major reasons for wisteria not blooming: not enough light, too much nitrogen fertilizer and pruning the blooms off before they develop. I would make sure it gets a lot of light, prune it back after all the wisteria in town have bloomed next year and make sure it is in full sun. I am not sure which cactus you might have but it may not do well in the moist soil of Louisiana during the winter even if the temperature is warm enough. Cacti are happiest in warm, dry climates so you are probably better off keeping it in a pot on a sun porch or other heated space.

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Question: Hi Anne, I recently dug up my peonies in an attempt to move them because they did not look happy. They were quite yellow and had black tips on the leaves. When I dug them up, I noticed what looked like small galls on the smaller
feeder roots. I can only assume this is root rot nematodes. Is there anything that can be done for these peonies or should I throw them out? Thanks! Courtney R.

Anne Clapp: Root knot nematodes do infect peonies grown in sandy soil. You can dig the plants, remove all the infected roots and replant the healthy ones. Older books say that the dormant roots of peonies can be treated by submerging them in 120 degree water for 30 minutes. You will have to replant in an area that does not contain nematodes and that may be a problem in you yard.

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Question: Will lavendar lantana survive winter in the Beaufort County area (Washington, NC)? I don't think it is hardy enough for Wake Co. I've heard you say "Miss Huff" is hardy for the Raleigh area, but many others are not. I have a lavendar lantana that I want to give to my sister in Wash., NC. JTL

Anne Clapp: Most lantana camara cultivars are not hardy in the ground in the Washington, NC area either. Miss Huff and a couple of pale yellow varieties will over-winter. The rosy lilac colored Lantana montevidensis is a low sprawling plant that will be hardy in zone 8. You really have nothing to loose by trying to grow it outside.

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Question: Hello: I recently purchased a heavenly bamboo nandina but I read that they can be very invasive and hurt other plants around it. Is this true, also will it bear fruit if it is planted alone or do I need to plant more than one? Thanks.

Anne Clapp: Nandina will grow and produce berries even if only one is planted. They do seed in freely so you have to be diligent weeding the seedlings out in the spring. I enjoy the plant in the landscape and cut the berries off after Christmas so they don't get spread by the birds.

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Question: Hello Anne, I have a camelia that has a white film on the leaves, looks like some sort of mold. How can I treat it? Thanks, Sharon

Anne Clapp: A white film on the back of camellia leaves is most likely to be an infestation of an insect known as camellia or tea scale. The insect may be killed using the insecticide Cygon which is a systemic insecticide that will help kill the insect inside the waxy protective coating. Another product that works well is horticultural oil that smothers the insect. When using the oil spray make sure you spray the back of the leaves. Either treatment leaves the covering in place on the leaves. It will darken and be less obtrusive but the only way to remove it is to wash the leaves of the plant – and with over 200 camellias in my yard I don't have the time.

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Question: I have reddish pink mushrooms growing in my front yard. What kind are they?

Anne Clapp: There are lots of varieties of reddish colored fungi in lawns in this area. I suggest you find a reference book at the library to see if you can find a mushroom similar to the one you have in your yard.

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Question: I have four large hibiscus plants. If i plant them outside will they live during the winter?

Anne Clapp: It depends on what hibiscus you have. The shiny leafed Chinese hibiscus is not hardy in this area. The Rose of Sharon, the large flowered “Lord Baltimore” types, Confederate rose types, the large red coccineus and swamp mallow are hardy. Most will die back to the ground in winter but will come back in the spring. The Rose of Sharon will loose its leaves but the woody stems are hardy.

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Question: I have a Confederate Rose that I started from a cutting from a friend's plant. Mine is in a large pot and is now about 5 ft. tall. I'm wondering if I can leave it outside in the pot for the winter or should I put it in the ground and if so, when? I plan to give the plant to my daughter who lives in Carolina Beach. Will it do o.k. in that area? The plant is too big to transport in my car from Raleigh to the beach now. Can I leave it in the pot and wait until late fall after it blooms and it's time to cut it back and then cut it and move it to the beach and plant in the ground in November? JL

Anne Clapp: Your Confederate Rose hibiscus would freeze if left out in a pot in the Raleigh area. They will live in the ground in this area. Your plan to allow the plant to bloom, then cut it back and transport it to Carolina Beach is the best option. The plant is hardy in the ground in our coastal regions.

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Question: Dear Anne, How can I kill dandelions and other weeds growing in my bed of perwinkle without killing the perwinkle? Thanks.

Anne Clapp: Hand pulling existing weeds and using a pre-emergent weedkiller is the safest way to take care of broadleaf weeds in periwinkle. Spotkilling the weeds with an herbicide spray either by painting the weeds with the diluted spray or using a funnel of some sort that will direct the spray to the weed and protect the groundcover will work but I found it more tedious than handpulling weeds. You can make a funnel by cutting the bottom out of a plastic milk bottle or bleach bottle; place the large opening over the weed and pull the vinca or periwinkle out of the area to be sprayed, spray through the small neck of the bottle so weedkiller coats the weed. Be careful moving the funnel from one plant to another because the drip could harm the periwinkle. It is usually easier to kill weeds during the fall and winter when the periwinkle is not actively growing.

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Question: Hi Anne, I recently planted several Lamb's Ear plants in my garden and, to my dismay, have noticed multiple holes appearing in the leaves throughout the plants. I know something is eating them, but what? I have never seen any slugs/snails on the leaves, or their tell-tale trails, nor have I seen any other bugs. What insect loves Lamb's Ear and how do I kill it!?! Thanks, Laura

Anne Clapp: There are several beetles that work in the night to eat holes in the leaves of plants. About the only way you will see the varmints is to go out at night with a flashlight to see them do their work. Powdered Sevin will work as an insecticide to get rid of them. Spray late in the afternoon for best results.
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Question: Hello Anne, I have a camelia that has a white film on the leaves, looks like some sort of mold. How can I treat it? Thanks, Sharon

Anne Clapp: A white film on the back of camellia leaves is most likely to be an infestation of an insect known as camellia or tea scale. The insect may be killed using the insecticide Cygon which is a systemic insecticide that will help kill the insect inside the waxy protective coating. Another product that works well is horticultural oil that smothers the insect. When using the oil spray make sure you spray the back of the leaves. Either treatment leaves the covering in place on the leaves. It will darken and be less obtrusive but the only way to remove it is to wash the leaves of the plant – and with over 200 camellias in my yard I don't have the time.

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Question: Dear Anne, How can I kill dandelions and other weeds growing in my bed of periwinkle without killing the periwinkle? Thanks, James B.

Anne Clapp: Hand pulling existing weeds and using a pre-emergent weedkiller is the safest way to take care of broadleaf weeds in periwinkle. Spotkilling the weeds with an herbicide spray either by painting the weeds with the diluted spray or using a funnel of some sort that will direct the spray to the weed and protect the groundcover will work but I found it more tedious than handpulling weeds. You can make a funnel by cutting the bottom out of a plastic milk bottle or bleach bottle; place the large opening over the weed and pull the vinca or periwinkle out of the area to be sprayed, spray through the small neck of the bottle so weedkiller coats the weed. Be careful moving the funnel from one plant to another because the drip could harm the periwinkle. It is usually easier to kill weeds during the fall and winter when the periwinkle is not actively growing.

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Question: Hi - what do you recommend for killing chickweed in centipede grass? I'm currently using Ferti-lome Weed-Out Lawn Weed Killer without much success. Thanks, JYB, Southern Pines

Anne Clapp: The MCPP component in broadleaf weed killers is effective in getting rid of chickweed in centipede grass. The instructions usually recommend using the product at half strength on centipede lawns. In order to kill the chickweed that usually means you treat the lawn then wait 10 days and treat it again to get rid of the weeds without harming the grass.

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Question: It is Sept. 13, 2004 and I have three red crepe myrtle trees and have kept the blooms clipped and these trees on now on their third blooming period.... Can I help promote those late blooms by inserting fert. sticks/stakes in the ground this time of year or is there a chance of any harm to the tree. These stakes are fert. for flowering trees and shrubs? I always use them in the spring but wondered if there would be a benefit of using them on these trees now. I live in Broken Arrow, Okla which is near Tulsa and about 75 miles south of the Kansas line. Regards, Linda G.

Anne Clapp: Crepe Myrtle trees are not as fond of fertilizer as some other flowering trees and shrubs. By giving the plant a little fertilizer in the spring you encourage new growth that produces blooms for the year. If Crepe Myrtles get too much nitrogen the do not bloom as well so I would not fertilize any more than a light feeding in the spring.

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Question: I have a schefflera that doesn't seem to be doing very well. I'm growing it indoors but recently moved it outside (last week). I'd like to cut it back but don't know if its too late in the growing season to do that. Plus, I have tiny brown spots on the undersides of the leaves? Is it diseased? If I cut it back, should I change the soil too? I enjoy your show and your website....Maria

Anne Clapp: I think your tiny brown spots are scale insects, a common problem on schefflera. They would cause the general decline I health of the plant. If you have patience you can wash all the leaves of the plants and remove the little insects that cling to the leaves and stems. I have found that the Bayer insecticide that is labeled for killing scale insects will work on houseplants but you do have to spray outside. As long as you are going to keep the plant inside you could cut it back in the fall before you bring it in the house. I would also repot it to help control the insects which could be in the soil as well.

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Question: Hi Anne, We have wild mushrooms growing in our backyard. They seem to be multiplying extensively. We dig them out and seem to get triple the amount grow back. We live just west of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Is there some sort of spray or powder to put on them to kill the root system. Thank you, Mroser

Anne Clapp: Wild mushrooms are a fungus so there are some fungicides that will kill the spores in the ground. The two that I have heard are used in the area are Heritage and Prostar. You may want to find a licensed pesticide operator to apply them for you.

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Question: I have a nice lawn of Bermuda grass. But I have noticed patches of short clover growing. How can I get rid of it without making ugly brown areas?

Anne Clapp: The Bermuda grass will soon be going dormant and turning brown. The clover will continue as a green plant after the Bermuda goes dormant so you can wait until the grass starts its color change to take the weedkiller to the clover.

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Question: Hi, I have a question: I have three beautiful plants of Lantanas in vases and I would like to move them inside, when the weather gets too cold. However, I have a problem: the plants are infested with white flies... I tried spraying them several times with insecticides that are supposed to destroy them, but they are still infesting my plants. I don't want to bring them inside with other flowers and infest those with the flies and if I leave the Lantanas in the garden, the winter will kill them (I live in southern Maine). How can I get rid of the flies and bring clean plants in the house? Thanking you for your help, and waiting for your answer. Mariacristina

Anne Clapp: White flies can be a real pest and they multiply so quickly that it is difficult to control them completely. Sometimes washing a plant with insecticidal soap making sure you get the bottom of the leaves and the areas where the stem connects to the leaves will get the insect under control. Another method is to use several of the yellow sticky traps in a plastic bag with the potted lantana to keep the plant isolated from other plants that might be harboring the insect. You also might try taking cuttings of the plants. Clean the cuttings carefully for flies and their eggs and then stick the cuttings in a peat-sand mixture and cover them with a plastic bag to maintain a high humidity level until the cuttings root. It is easier to clean insects off small cuttings of a plant than to clean an entire plant.

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Question: Anne, I have 3 large and 2 small hibiscus plants that are currently in large pots. I want to bring them in for the winter and put them in my sunroom. What do I need to do to get then ready to bring inside? What temperature does the sunroom need to maintain to keep then healthy through the winter months? Thanks, Allyson

Anne Clapp: I would prune the plants back to a reasonable size to keep in the house and treat them for insects so you don't bring any insects into the house with the plants. As long as the temperature in the sunroom does not go below 45 degrees they should remain healthy.

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Question: Hello, I recently saw on your show, you using a hand/foot core aerator (you step on it and it pulls 2 plugs out)--where can I find that tool in the RTP area (I live in Apex and havent had any luck finding one). Thanks, Dan

Anne Clapp: I just saw one at the Lowes on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. Mine is several years old and I got it from Gardener's Supply mail order catalog.

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Question: Good morning Anne, I viewed your segment, "Renovating A Fescue Lawn, " and saw that you had a step-on aerator. This is what I have been needing for sometime for my smaller grass areas. I am currently using a pitch fork which does not work all that well. Where can something like this be purchased? I really enjoy you gardening segments on TV14.
Regards, Jack M.

Anne Clapp: I recently saw a step-on aerator at the Lowe's in Raleigh. It was a dark green and made of a heavy weight metal that looked like it would be quite durable.

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Question: Hi Anne, I am growing chilli peppers in pots on my balcony. They get around 5-6 hours of direct sunlight and diffused light otherwise. Two of my plants are having a weird problem. The leaves are getting curly and kind of folding .... appears little sickly (not yellow though) but surprising produces chillies albeit less frequently than others. I am wondering if they need some particular mineral or so. Thanks a lot for your advice and suggestions. Regards, Nilanjan

Anne Clapp: The symptoms you describe for your chilli pepper plants could be insect or disease problems. You could try using insecticidal soap to see if the new growth on the plants improves. We are nearing the end of the pepper season so I do not think you would have time to try any other remedies this year.

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Question: Hi, I was hoping you would fill me in on what I missed on one of your segments. I think I heard that there is a plant that's helpful for keeping gnats and mosquitos away. I think you were putting a pot on a doorstep at the very end of the segment. Will you please give me the information that I missed? I would be thrilled if there is such a plant that could help.

Anne Clapp: We were talking about the group of carnivorous plants that grow wild in eastern North Carolina. The pitcher plant and the venus fly trap were the two I worked with. They are bog plants and may be grown in containers. They do attract insects and eat them but I don't think four or five plants in a pot would put a dent in the total number of insects that fly around our yards during the summer.

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Question: We planted yellow squash this year. We have blooms but no squash. What have we done wrong? A farmer told us that the seven dust we put on it kept the bees from pollinating them? Thanks, Liz E.

Anne Clapp: Sevin dust does kill the pollinating insects just as it does the other insects so that could be the problem with your plants. It is also possible that you have not had both male and female blooms on your plants at the same time. If you look at the back of the blooms where they are attached to the vine you will see a small squash shaped bump at the bottom of female blooms. The male blooms attach straight to the vines without that little round segment.

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Question: Hi Anne, My cats have damaged my bradford pear tree. What can I do to repair it and keep the cats away. Thank You, Audra P. from Cochran, GA.

Anne Clapp: I will presume they have scratched the bark which is the only way I can think of that cats could damage a Bradford pear. Mother Nature usually takes care of that kind of damage but you will want to keep an eye out for any insect problems. Spraying with insecticidal soap may be all that is necessary. To keep cats off the tree you may want to make a cylinder of chicken wire around the trunk. Something five inches or so larger than the diameter of the trunk should give you something the cats can't climb.

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Question: Hi Anne! Some of my oak trees have oak mites. This is causing the leaves to discolor and fall off prematurely. These are very large trees so spraying them with a pesticide is not an option. What can I do to eliminate this problem?

Anne Clapp: I know about aphids, oak kermes scale, oak leafminers, oak lecanium, oak loopers, oak webworms and orangestriped oakworms but I do not know about oak mites. In general the recommendation is to clean up all the leaves as they fall and remove all debris from around the tree in the fall. Most insects that damage the leaves of deciduous trees in the late summer or early fall do not do permanent damage to the tree because the leaves have done most of their work producing food for the tree for the year. You may want to contact the cooperative extension service to see if they have other recommendations.

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Question: Hi Anne, I have a problem with my pineapple plant. The leaf tips are turning brown and drying up. Yet there's new growth coming from the center of the plant, so I'm hoping that the plant isn't dying. Would you have any suggestions regarding what the problem might be and any possible solutions? I would also appreciate any advice on the proper care of this plant. Thanks from Cindy in Newfoundland.

Anne Clapp: Brown leaf tips often mean problems with soil moisture. It could be allowing new growth to dry out or it could be chemicals such as fluorine in the water supply. Even in the pineapple fields in Hawaii the plants get brown tipped leaves but the plants thrive and bear good fruit. You could try using rain water for watering the plant. Make sure it has lots of light and keep it watered but don't allow the plant to stand in water.

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Question: There is a running flower in bloom now. The color of bloom is red. I have seen it on someone mail box post. What is the name of this flower?

Anne Clapp: If the vine has very fine leaves and the flower is small but a brilliant scarlet red it may be Ipomoea coccinea, popularly known as cardinal vine. It is a member of the morning glory family and is an annual that reseeds readily.

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Question: I recently moved to NC from NH, and I found something very peculiar in my yard when I first mowed the lawn. It's a large pile of a strange grey substance that looks like a small boulder but is the consistency of soft mud -- and it is growing. At the very least, the area I flattened and smoothed over with my foot is now all bubbly and rocklike in appearance again. Do you have any idea what this strange thing/matter is? Thank you.

Anne Clapp: Welcome to North Carolina and a new world of gardening problems. The mass you are describing is a fungus that grows in many of our lawns during the summer. I use a small hoe to remove the growth from the soil. When it first comes up you can dig it out and discard it in the trash. Eventually the spores in the ground that produce them are exhausted and after a few years the problem will disappear. They don't seem to cause any harm other than to be unattractive.

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Question: Dear Anne, What are the best vegetables to plant this time of year in a space that doesn't get much (if any) sunlight outdoors? Thank you, Meg

Anne Clapp: Spinach, lettuce, kale and chard are doing nicely in a shady area outside for me. At least you can have a fresh salad every once in a while.

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Question: Hi, I planted cana lillies 2 years ago and they have never bloomed. They grow beautiful tall green foliage, but have never bloomed. Do you know why?

Anne Clapp: The usual reason calla lilies don't bloom is lack of sun. They do like high light levels but do not like the heat of afternoon sun. The do not need a lot of fertilizer and too much nitrogen will make them produce lots of leaves.

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Question: Hi, I'm looking for some indoor plants (small or large) that will help me with my allergies.