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Question:
I have 165 arborvitae in a hedge row. I was
told to use 7 pounds of fertilizer to a plant . That
sounds like a lot of fertilizer. Donald, Cranston, RI
Mort's
Answer: That is a half a ton. That is a lot of fertilizer.
You can use a tire iron and punch a hole just beyond
the leave drop in between each arborvitae on both sides.
Each hole goes down about 6 inches. Fill the 328 holes
with 10-6-4 fertilizer. This will take about 500 pounds
at the most and will take care of your arborvitae for
5 years.
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Question:
We have a screened porch that is not heated in the
winter. We are building an aviary for finches.
What plants can you recommend? Bob, Johnston, RI
Mort's
Answer: You can have a indoor Japanese garden with
dwarf shrubs. Hanging fuschias, verbena, lantana and
long throated flowering hanging plants will enhance
the environment in the spring, summer and fall. They
will need to be moved to a heated area for the winter.
Dwarf evergreens of Andorra or San Jose Juniper in containers
will add color in the winter. Robin¹s Nest Spruce
is a low compact dwarf that birds love. A dwarf Japanese
maple, Acer Palmatum, has red or green finely cut leaves.
It will defoliate in the winter. I prefer clay pots
in a third sand and two-thirds potting soil mix.
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Question:
What is the best way to get rid of Japanese Bamboo?
Ann, Skoharry, NY
Mort's
Answer: Japanese Bamboo or Mexican Bamboo is not
really bamboo. This reed like plant is the most invasive
and persistent weed on the east coast. Many target sprays
only knock them down. I have found that I need to be
as persistent as the weed itself. Cultivating the area
every week will discourage them but not kill them. You
have to dig out all the roots. If you cut off one little
hair root, the plant will come back to haunt you like
Dracula from the grave. Before the leaves unfurl, they
look like little red asparagus spears. When the spears
pop up, is the best time to attack them and dig out
all the root. This means loosening all the soil around
them and gently pulling out the root. If it does not
come easily, then you have probably broken the root
and will have to dig deeper into the bowels of the earth
to get all the root. Often times, because of the breaking
off of roots, you will find a little stump under the
ground.
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Question:
How can I get rid of Japanese Bamboo? I have tried
every conceivable herbicide without success. Charles,
Watertown, NY
Mort's
Answer: This plant is the most invasive plant that
I know. It has taken me 12 years to completely eradicate
it from my garden. Polygonum cuspidatum is a domesticated
knotweed from Japan. It is also known as Mexican bamboo.
P. cuspidatum has to be dug up as it appears. You have
to remove all the roots by hand. Loosen the soil around
each plant before extricating it slowly and methodically.
Be careful not to break any roots including the smallest
hairs. The new shoots appear after a rain with little
red spear shaped leaves. Knotweed is definitely a persistent
weed. Herbicides will only knock it down but will not
kill it. Never let them go to seed.
Question:
How do you get rid of Bamboo? Nancy, Essex,
CT
Mort's
Answer: Some folks mistake Knotweed for bamboo.
Simply digging out bamboo will work. This is not the
case for Knotweed. You will have to dig out all the
small fibrous roots of the Knotweed. It is definitely
a weed and the herbicides just knock it down without
a permanent solution. It may take years to eliminate
it. Dig it out as soon as the little red tops appear
of the surface of the soil.
Question:
I am getting stung by bees in my flower garden.
What can I do to prevent this? Delores, Quaker Hill,
CT
Mort's
Answer: Apply protection to yourself in a spray
or spray the plants. Sevin will kill bees but will also
injure the flowers. Sevin can be applied before the
flower buds open. Timing is of the essence to avoid
the sons of bees.
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Question:
We have been getting red beetles on our storm
door glass in the late summer. There are mulched beds
not to far away and we live not too far from woods.
What are they and how can we get rid of them? Jean,
Garrison, MN
Mort's
Answer: There two dominant kinds of beetles that
show up in the fall. Soldier and Asiatic beetles eat
wood and breed in soil. Your nearby mulched beds can
be protected by putting a barrier between the soil and
the mulch. Black plastic or landscape matting will provide
the needed divider. A downside is the beetles are breaking
down the wood mulch to create a richer nitrogen based
soil for your plants. Ammonia glass cleaner will drive
them away temporarily. Spraying the area with a insecticide
will kill them. Sevin or malathion applied to the surface
of the mulch will work. Follow directions on the labels.
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Question:
My soil is very hard. What can I use to plant bulbs?
Gabriela, Cumberland, RI
Mort's
Answer: You can put the hose under presssure into
the hole to soften your task. Allow the holes to dry
out after the soil has been extricated. Your holes should
be two and a half times the size of the bulbs. Fill
the holes with a blend of 50% old soil and 50% coarse
sand. If you plant in your old soil, there is a strong
possibility that the bulbs will not do well.
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Question:
My soil is very hard . What can I use to plant bulbs?
Gabriela, Cumberland, RI
Mort's
Answer: You can put the hose under pressure into
the hole to soften your task. Allow the holes to dry
out after the soil has been extricated. Your holes should
be two and a half times the size of the bulbs. Fill
the holes with a blend of 50% old soil and 50% coarse
sand.
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Question:
Can we use coffee grinds in the garden? Walter,
Waterford, CT
Mort's
Answer: Sometimes using coffee grinds in one spot
will lower the ph to much. This could prove to be a
problem on lettuce plants for example. Another problem
is that it could give too much nitrogen as in the case
of tomatoes. On blueberries it is excellent. I prefer
to put my grinds in my compost pile. This will cook
them and blend them with the rest of the soil. If you
scatter them in the garden or mix them thoroughly in
the garden soil, it should not be a problem. Another
solution is to add lime to the mix.
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Question:
We tried making honeysuckle cuttings in water
without success. Any suggestions? Sandy, Taylorville,
IL
Mort's
Answer: Woody tissue is best started in sand. Take
8 inches off the ends of the branches. Remove the top
two inches. With a razor knife remove all the leaves
except the top two. You will need to build a sandbox
that is 6 inches deep. I prefer a three sided box that
I put up against the foundation preferably near the
spigot. The cuttings can be dipped in a root hormone,
auxin. The cuttings are put two inches apart and inserted
into the coarse sand only two inches. Keep the cuttings
slightly wet. These cuttings are best done in the spring
before the plant throws out leaves. It can also be done
indoors in the fall after the leaves have fallen. It
usually takes a good three months before they root.
The transplanting has to occur in the fall or spring.
So you have to leave them in the sand for a full season.
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Question:
Should we pick off the dead flowers on our
plants?
Mort's
Answer: Definitely, why waste the plants energy
on a dead end? I¹m obsessive about it. I often
unwittingly do it at my friends¹ houses. Perhaps,
that is the reason that I get a lot of invitations.
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Question:
We have deer that are pushing away the snow
to get at our ground phlox. Is there something that
we can spray on them to keep them away? Marilyn, Lebanon,
NH
Mort's
Answer: Wolf or Fox urine is available at feed and
garden shops. You cab spray the plats in the fall before
the snow cover and on the top of the snow. Their territorial
instincts should keep them away. Another product that
works well is the 10 foot high nylon green fence. This
could be very dear over a large property.
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Question:
Deer have been eating the buds of my Euonymous during
the winter. Can you suggest a good repellent? David,
Narragansett, RI
Mort's
Answer: Caster oil mixed with garlic and rotten
eggs will deter any deer to the rear. Irregular sounds
and lights at night will often frighten the deer creatures.
There is a nylon green fence that can be easily erected
to keep them away. Pie plates will often rattle and
deflect light at night.
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Question:
Why do fertilizers have different numbers?
Can I use one for everything?
Mort's
Answer: Most experts agree that we should use different
numbers. The three numbers that are required by aw represent
the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, respectively.
Higher first number fertilizers (10-6-4 for instance),
which include (2-1-1, organic manures) are for leafy
vegetables, tropical plants without conspicuous flowers,
ferns and lawns, will supply a higher proportion of
nitrogen. Higher phosphorus fertilizers, like bonemeal
(1-23-0) are excellent for fruit and flower bearing
plants. House plants that bloom, fruit and flowering
trees and shrubs, annuals, perennials, bulbs, and vegetables
that have fruit above ground require copious amounts
of phosphorus. Other excellent fertilizers with high
phosphorus content are 5-10-10, 5-10-5. 10-20-10 is
the same as 5-10-5. Directions on the package will give
recommended applications. Potash or potassium is the
third number. It is used for stem vigor and root development.
Vines, tuberous plants (bulbs, corns) and root vegetables
(potatoes, turnip, beets) need potash. Dry fertilizers
feed the soil and are released in different chemical
combinations. Bacteria in the soil alter these chemicals
and the newer forms are absorbed through the roots.
Soluble fertilizers can be directly applied through
the leaves. These are usually higher concentrations
that are diluted in water. Many people feel because
a little does a lot of good than a lot will do even
more. This thinking can cause problems in both the liquid
and the dry. Soils can build up salts, especially in
confined areas, such as urns and pots. Usually, brown
tips will appear when this occurs. Many plants cannot
tolerate excess fertilizers and often die. In New England,
we need to add lime to our soils periodically to help
release these essential elements.
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Question:
I am having a difficult time splitting my grasses.
Any suggestions? Heather, Waterford, CT
Mort's
Answer: Ornamental grasses are good candidates for
a split but often require healthy brother in laws. Cut
it back to a foot from the ground. This will facilitate
handling the passive clump. Dig a trench around the
plant as if it were a shrub. Cut under the root with
a spade. This could be two feet or deeper. Lay the plant
on its side. Slice through the top of the grass as well
as the root. You may want to cut it into quarters. I
would not make any new plants smaller than four inches.
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Question:
Where can I purchase fountains for my garden?
Bee, Stonington, CT
Mort's
Answer: If your yellow pages do not have lawn ornaments,
try your mom and pop garden center. There are companies
that just make bird baths and statues. They either have
the pumps or will have access to them.
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Question:
How can I get rid of foxtails on my property.
They are really affecting the dogs? I¹m not concerned
about any other vegetation. Irene, Reno, NV
Mort's
Answer: If you can mow them down before they set
seed, you can prevent them from spreading each year.
After the mowing, you can use a target spray herbicide
like Finale, Round-up, or Clean-up. Eventually, you
will eradicate them, especially if you mow early enough.
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Question:
I am planning on taking in my miniature geraniums
and roses for the winter. Can you give me some tips?
Frank, Waterford, CT
Mort's
Answer: They need a dormancy period in a cool dry
cellar or entry way. An unheated cool glassed in entry
is best. Water just enough to keep them alive through
the winter. You can prune the rose in the spring, when
it starts to send out new sprouts. Do not fertilize
at all until they are put out again in the late spring.
The geranium can be cut back now. Both are best left
in their pots. Some folks do take the geranium out of
the soil after removing most of the leaves. The soilless
geranium is then hung upside down on a clothesline in
the basement until spring has sprung. At that time the
geranium is repotted into a sterile mix with 1/3 sand.
It is easier for the plant to make a transition, if
it is climatized in the spring. You will find that putting
it out in the daytime only for a week or two will help
it harden to the outdoor weather. In the spring, while
it is being hardened, you can leave it in a south facing
window. This will give them a head start. I would put
them out again in the late spring.
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Question:
We just took a white birch down on the front lawn.
Can you recommend a small compact evergreen to
replace it? Jane, Norwich, CT
Mort's
Answer: Gold Biota or Alberta Spruce are both compact.
Neither requires trimming and they are slow growing
evergreens. Picies glauca conica is the dwarf white
spruce. Gold Biota is the oriental dwarf arborvitae.
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Question:
We have a 6ft. by 8 ft. plastic greenhouse.
Should it be vented? Jim, Warwick, RI
Mort's
Answer: Fungus, boytritis and other organisms can
build up in any unventilated area. Opening the door
periodically will help on sunny days to release the
heat build up and the ventilation. To be safe, you should
install a small fan for interior air movement and to
release heat build up. Your benches should be heavy
screen to allow air around your trays. You will need
to shade the poly house with a hydrated lime solution
to protect delicate plants from scolding. You will be
surprised how high the heat will get in that small area.
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Question:
Are hydroseeders affective in the fall for
lawns? We are putting in a new lawn. Mike, New London,
CT
Mort's
Answer: Hydroseeding will protect the seed through
the winter. Rye seeds will emerge within two weeks.
Fescue, bluegrass and perennial rye can take 30 days.
Any seeds not germinated will wait until spring as they
would do in the wild.
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Question:
We have cotton white masses under the needles
on our hemlocks. What can I use to get rid of them?
Can I throw the pruned branches nearby? Bob, East Lyme,
CT
Mort's
Answer: Do not throw the branches in the area. They
are best carried away to the municipal dump. Adelgid
woolly aphids are reaching epidemic proportions in New
England. Spray with a combination of malathion and diazonin.
Follow directions on the labels. The woolly aphid creates
galls and can kill the trees eventually.
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Question:
Can you recommend a house plant that will
do well in an area without windows? Michel, West Jordan,
UT
Mort's
Answer: Chinese evergreen or Aglaonema simplex can
grow in the darkest of corners. Philodendron, ferns,
Fatshedera lizei and ficus will adapt well to low light.
Spathiphyllum patini and the smaller S. floribundum
have awhite flower and will do well in low light. Some
ficus that have been grown in high light intensity will
drop their leaves in low light before recovery. It is
often difficult to ascertain the growing situation for
floor plants because they are usually imported from
Florida. English ivy , pathos and philodendron are vines
that will also do well in shady places.
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Question:
I put in a new lawn about a month ago. The
grass has come up rather well. I used fertilizer and
lime. Are there any other treatments that I should use?
Leo, RI
Mort's
Answer: You need to top dress at every opportunity
with the eventual final mix of grasses. I suspect that
you may have rye grass, if it came up so quickly. A
good mix for New England is blue grass and fescue in
addition to perennial rye. Perennial is a tough grass
for high traffic areas. Blue grass will do better in
sunny locations but requires more attention. Fescue
is a fine grass that grows in poor soil and in dry conditions.
A mix that accounts for these conditions will survive.
Top dressing with loam and new seed will crowd out the
weed seed, which is the bane of a good lawn. A fall
fertilizer of 5-10-10 will build good roots for the
winter. A 10-6-4 fertilizer will give good strong growth,
when applied next spring. In New England it is important
to add hydrated lime in the early spring and/or limestone
in the fall, if the area is shady. One dose of hydrated
each spring will suffice in sunny areas. Those four
step programs are not necessary, if you can keep the
weeds from getting established and keep the grubs away.
A good test for chinch bugs and grubs is to put a coffee
can, with the top and bottom cut out, into the ground.
Fill the can with water and the grubs will bugs will
float to the top, if present. Periodic testing in the
late spring and early fall is best. Water the lawn with
an inch of water every week. A small can that is emptied
every week will help you keep track of mother nature¹s
contribution. There is no need to water more than that.
Mow the lawn at three inches during the summer and at
two inches in the spring and fall. Established lawns
can be cut at a half inch lower each season. I do not
like to leave the clippings but some people find that
helpful. I put my clippings in my compost pile. If you
have any weeds, you would need to do that
anyway.
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Question:
What kind of treatment can I give new loam.?
Larry, Richmond, RI
Mort's
Answer: Virgin loam that comes from the woods should
be given 200 lbs of lime per 10,000 sg.ft. In the spring
and fall. Farm loam in New England can use the same
application once a year. The most important consideration
is sufficient soil depth for lawns and gardens. Vegetable
gardens should be at least a foot deep and lawns at
least 8 inches. All soils require good tilth. The best
soils are 75% organic matter and 25% mineral matter.
Adequate fertilizer and additions of manure, shredded
leaves, peat, grass clippings or other green manures
will help build body for your soil.
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Question:
When is it a good time to put lime on the
lawn? Alice, Norwich, CT
Mort's
Answer: When it is cool in the spring or fall. Apply
200 lbs. of hydrated lime for each 10,000 sq. ft. on
established lawns. Ag lime or limestone should only
be used on lawns being installed. In New England iron
based soils combine with air pollutants to lower ph.
Annual applications of hydrated lime for sunny locations
and two applications for shady places will raise ph
to a sweeter level.
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Question:
We have three miniature horses. Can we use the manure
on our plants? Sue, Salem, CT
Mort's
Answer: Only on dwarf trees. The manure has to be
at least a year old. It will sterilize itself in the
winter. I would spread that on top of the soil for flowers
and other non edibles. For my vegetable garden, I prefer
to make sure that it is well rotted. Fresh manure can
be turned under in sandy soils. This will speed up the
break down. Fresh manure can burn roots, so it is always
best to wait for at least one winter in a pile to cook
the manure. Cooking sterilizes the bacteria that might
possibly be harmful. The size of the animal isn't as
significant as digestive tract. Horses, cows and other
mammals have excellent digestive systems.
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Question:
We have a summer cottage that is on cinder blocks.
Mice are getting into the house. We tried filling
the cracks to no avail. Any suggestions? We also have
a plant with leaves like poison ivy. We tried Round
Up to no avail. The roots are really strong. What can
we do? Rita, Bristol,CT
Mort's
Answer: Until you can completely seal the foundation,
you will probably need annual visits from a professional
exterminator. Your plant may be a Virginia creeper.
It has 5 lobes instead of three but it often mistaken
for poison ivy. The best remedy for unwanted vines is
to tag them for winter digging. The roots are more manageable
, when their sap is drained. You have to dig below the
roots to kill the plant. If they are really large, you
can rig a winch or tie them to a truck or car and pull
them out. Be sure the tie is below the mass of the root.
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Question:
How can I get rid of mistletoe in my maples?
Don, Holland , VA
Mort's
Answer: This parasite plant is best removed in the
winter, when it is more manageable. It actually roots
itself into the tissue of the host branches. Herbicides
will also kill the maple. A ladder and some good gloves
will give you a handle on the problem. It may take a
few winters. The ancient Druids removed it from oaks
with golden sickles.
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Question:
We have a slime mold on top of the wood mulch.
The mulch is three inches deep. What can we use to get
rid of it? Diane, Groton, CT
Mort's
Answer: Bordeaux Mix powder will help dry out the
mulch. You can add some hydrated lime this fall. Turn
over the mulch every two weeks in the interim.
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Question:
How do we get rid of moss in our lawn? John,
Niantic, CT
Mort's
Answer: Moss is a tiny plant that thrives in wet
shady stony soil. Limestone or hydrated lime will dry
out the soil and raise the PH. You should thin or remove
the tree canopy because this situation will only reoccur
with the growing trees. This should help your growing
problem so you do not experience remoss.
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Question:
My dirt cellar in my 100 year old house has now
spawn mushrooms on the floor. How can I get rid
of the fungus? Bob, Lebanon, NH
Mort's
Answer: Mushrooms as you indicated are fungi. They
grow in damp dark areas, where the soil is acidic. This
occurs naturally in New England soils. You can cover
the floor with limestone and hydrated lime. Until you
are ready to cover the floor with cement, you will be
vulnerable to mushroom infestation. One alternative
would be to turn the floor into a mushroom farm. You
might consider growing the edible mushrooms and make
the best of this situation.
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Question:
We have mushrooms in the lawn. I used a herbicide
without success. What can I put on the lawn to get rid
of these mushrooms? Jeff, Taylorville, IL
Mort's
Answer: Mushrooms are fungi and not plants. Herbicides
are for weeds. It is probably shady in that area. You
need to apply 200 lbs. of lime for each 10,000 sq.ft.
of area in spring and fall. You can use hydrated lime
in the spring and limestone in the fall. This will raise
the PH and eventually the mushrooms will disappear.
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Question:
How can I get rid of some mushrooms in my
lawn that are under a tree? Robert, Cranston, RI
Mort's
Answer: Mushrooms and other fungi flourish in shade.
Adding limestone at the rate of 200 lbs. per 10,000
sq.ft. will lower the ph and remove the condition that
produces mushrooms. Because this problem will increase
each year ( although exacerbated by the exorbitant rain)
with the increase in shade, you should apply this limestone
in the spring and fall each year.
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Question:
I have a pussy willow that is 9 feet tall.
Can I trim it now? Joyce, Warwick, RI
Mort's
Answer: It is not too late. Trim about a foot to
two foot off the branches that are tangent to the mass.
When the leaves start to fall, they will produce the
buds for next year.
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Question:
What are some of 2000 new plants?
Mort's
Answer: There is an abundance of new offerings in
the seed catalogs. The All- America Selections include
a petunia, "Prism Sunshine" . It's pale yellow
is highlighted with a deep yellow center. Another All-
America Selection is a lemon -scented basil,"Sweet
Dani". "Bright Lights" is a multicolored
stem Swiss Chard that has won All-America status for
1998. A real promising Impatiens is the "Victorian
Rose". This double flowering blood red could be
the most popular of the All-America Selections for 1998.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has given Gold
Medal Awards to 5 landscape specimens. An arborvitae
called Green Giant is a vigorous grower with a graceful
texture It will grow to 75' and spread 12'-20'. Mahonia
beali is a deer resistant striking evergreen. It will
grow to 5". Ruby Spice Clethora has pink flowers
in July and will grow to 8'. The Bottlebrush buckeye,
Aeculus parviflora is also deer resistant and grows
to 12' and 15' wide. A much touted vine, Schizophragma
hydrangeoides, "Moonlight" is truly a clinging
vine to 40' without supports. It's noninvasive and has
a white flower in June and July.
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Question:
I have a problem with nightcrawlers. When
I cut the lawn it gets very squishy. I¹ve been
told that I am lucky. What can I do to get rid of them?
Stanley, Woonsocket, RI
Mort's
Answer: You are indeed fortunate that you have a
million landscape elves turning your soil into a fertile,
organically enriched environment to grow your lawn,
especially, if you do not have 6²-8² of topsoil.
You can add 50 lbs. of limestone for each 2500 sq.ft.
of lawn in the spring and in the fall. In addition you
can erect bird houses and baths to encourage the natural
predators. If this does not work, only then would I
put down a chemical.
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Question:
Is pokeweed poisonous? We used to boil the
tender young leaves and eat them as sweet greens. Annie,
Norwich, CT
Mort's
Answer: Pokeweed is one of the most attractive plants
with their clusters of dark purple flowers at this time
of year. Birds will drop the ingested berries in a New
York minute. That fruit is highly toxic. Boiling the
tender young leaves will remove the lesser amount of
oxyalic acid. I wouldn't advise eating it.
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Question:
We have poison ivy growing in our yews. Is
there anything that I can spray to get rid of it? Martha,
East Providence, RI
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Mort's
Answer: Poison ivy entangles other plants and cannot
be sprayed without damage to the other plants. It is
best to wait until winter when the ivy is dormant. At
that time you can pull the plants out by the roots.
Since the sap might still be present, you should cover
your skin completely. Dried vines do not have the tensile
strength of green plants and are more easily extricated
from the yews and yours.
Question:
How can I start Rose of Sharon cuttings.?
Marilyn, Watertown, NY
Mort's
Answer: In the late spring, you can take 8 inch
terminal shoots. Cut the bottom at an acute angle with
a sharp knife. Wrap the cuttings in a wet cheesecloth
and let them stay in the sun until the cloth has dried.
Build a 3 sided box against the foundation that is 6
inches deep. Dip the cuttings in root hormone and insert
two inches of the cuttings into coarse sand. In the
fall, your rooted cuttings should be ready for transplant.
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Question:
I have dried some 25 roses for a wedding.
This is the first year that I have experienced mold.
There is a worm in one of the flowers. What can I do?
Darlene, Mystic, CT
Mort's
Answer: You need to extract the worm with some tweezers.
If the discoloration is too great, you can dye the flower
buds with red ink. Florist use a gel to dry flowers.
This is better than air drying because it prevents air
borne spores from reaching the buds. You may want to
start over with the gel. New England has been very damp
this summer and I would not shoulder the blame for what
mother nature has wrought.
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Question:
Can I grow Rosa rugosa from seed? Ann Marie,
North Stonington, CT
Mort's
Answer: You can but it would be easier from cuttings.
Another method is to take runners from the mother plant.
This naturalized rose now grows wild from Maine to North
Carolina. Rhizomes grow laterally and develop their
own roots. These shoots can be cut and transplanted
in the fall or early spring before the leaves arrive.
Rose hips from the plant make excellent tea. Those hips
contain the seeds. You would have to dry the hips to
collect the seeds. This is a slow and tedious method
compared to using the rhizomes. Cuttings of 6 or 8 inches
placed in sand in the spring will root without hormone.
You can plant the rooted cuttings in the fall.
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Question:
We seeded this spring with an all purpose
seed mix. We got nothing but weeds. What would you suggest?
Ann, Portsmouth, OH
Mort's
Answer: Because of the extreme weather, I would
not reseed until fall. In the meantime I would continue
to mow it close to the ground (about an inch). Keeping
it at this height will stop them from seeding. In September,
I would rototill the entire area. You should have at
least 8 inches depth of good loam for a seed bed. If
you do not, you should either bring in the soil or plant
a garden. Quite often, old seed will not germinate.
All seed is required by law to have dates on the bags.
Year old seed has a very low germination rate. Another
possibility is that you may have planted too late. Because
of the lack of water, the weeds were the only plants
capable of surviving the summer of 99. I would suggest
a mix of roughly 50% bluegrass, 30% perennial rye, 10%
annual rye and 10% winter rye. Fertilize with 8-6-4
granular.
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Question:
Is it best to grow from seed or cuttings?
Laurie, Deep River, CT
Mort's
Answer: Any woody or herbaceous materials more easily
grown from cuttings. One reason is that you start with
a larger size, when it is finally rooted. In addition,
you have well defined areas for spacing. Transplanting
is much easier as a result of lining out the cuttings.
Some fleshy plants, such as patience and other house
plants are easily started in water as cuttings. Vegetables
and annuals are best started as seed and later transplanted
into peat pots. Seeding is best down under grow lights.
Tomatoes usually require bottom heat.( Although, most
vegetables and annuals can be started outdoors in the
late spring. Perennial seeds can be started in pots
or in the outdoor soil in late summer and early fall.
If you start in trays, you can file the seed in rows
barely into the soil. I use a layer of vermiculite over
the seed to prevent dampening off. Cuttings for landscape
material and root stock for roses, fruit and many flowering
trees are cut from terminal shoots. You can take 8 inches
and remove the upper two inches, if they are particularly
soft. All the leaves except the upper two or three should
be stripped off. The bottom part of the cutting should
be cut at as an acute angle as possible. This will expose
more cambium to start the roots. Cuttings should be
treated with a growth hormone before inserting into
a 6" bed of coarse sand. Insert only the bottom
two inches of coarse sand. I will build a three sided
box and place it against the foundation near a spigot.
Keep the medium moist. Cuttings are best done outdoors
in the early spring or indoors in the fall.
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Question:
I have slugs that are three to four inches
long in my gravel driveway. They are also along the
cement foundation along the driveway. How can I get
rid of them? Bob, Taylorville, IL
Mort's
Answer: You¹d need a keg of beer to get rid
of these slimy critters. Another more practical method
would be to spray them with a heavy lime solution. Use
hydrated lime and water as heavy as the sprayed can
accommodate. You could pour buckets of limewash along
the wall and the driveway. As the lime dries, it will
burn the slugs and help dry up the areas. Slugs need
a wet environment to flourish. Beer gets them so drunk
they lay in he sun and fry. Limewash will whiten the
foundation, but should be the most effective method.
Wash the lime off after the slugs are dead.
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Question:
I have two plants that are the same. The one in
the sun has roots coming to the top and is not
doing as well as the one in the shade. What should I
do? Peg, Olney, IL
Mort's
Answer: Dig up the one in the sun in early October
and plant it in the same environment as the well one.
It appears the plant is on a rock or some other obstruction.
It's best not to be between a rock and a hard place.
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Question:
Last year I fed the squirrels . This year
they are up on the roof and they won't come down. Are
they going to get in the house? Ann, Binghamton, NY
Mort's
Answer: It's a good possibility. Before you get
completely fed up, call a pest control company. You
could use Save traps, but it might be too little too
late. They can get into the eaves or rip out shingles
near the chimney. Eventually they could be joining you
at the dining room table. They're cute, but not that
cute.
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Question:
I have squirrels in my attic. I heard fox
urine is effective. What can I use to get rid of them?
Dan, New Orleans, LA
Mort's
Answer: I have trapped a squirrel outdoors with
a Hav-a Heart trap. After it squealed for two hours,
I set it free. All the family took off for 6 months.
I would not suggest using urine indoors. It is the odor
that makes it effective. You might enlist the help of
a professional service. You will need to block off the
entrance area that they may have ripped open to gain
assess.
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Question:
Is there anything that will accelerate the deterioration
of old stumps? Bill, Portsmouth, RI
Mort's
Answer: You can drill holes in the top of the stump
and add any strong acid. Ammate crystals make an effective
acid when added to water. You can use straight table
salt and boiling water. Naturally the deeper the holes
the more penetration. Many tree companies have stump
removers that will saw below the soil line.
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Question:
Are tea leaves and coffee grounds good for
roses? Jack, Richmond, RI
Mort's
Answer: Roses love organic matter mixed into the
soil. Since they also like a cultivated soil, it's not
a good idea to leave them caked onto the top of the
soil. Other good amendments include shredded leaves,
grass clippings and manures. Composted materials will
add to the organic structure of the soil. Rose growers
do not like to use any synthetic fertilizers. Growers
use muriate of potash for potassium; bone meal for phosphorus
and manure for nitrogen. Raise beds are good because
they provide aeration.
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Question:
How can we save our green tomatoes? Raymond,
Watertown, NY
Mort's
Answer: My sources tell me that you can wrap each
tomato individually with brown kraft paper. Place the
tomatoes in a cool dry place. You can take a few out
of the storage bin and let them ripen on your sils.
They can last up until December in the bin and ripen
within three days on the sills.
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Question:
My deceased wife planted our large 24 inch urn with
different plants each year. Can you recommend some perennial
plants that will do well? I need one in the center that
will fit in a 7 inch pot. Hank, St. Simon¹s Island,
GA
Mort's
Answer: Unfortunately, perennial plants get larger
each year. If you want to replicate your wife¹s
practice, you will need annual planting of flowers.
The edge of the planter can be hanging purple passion
or spider plants. Philodendron, pathos or ivies will
do nicely. They could last 3 or 4 years before a thinning
out. The center should be an annual replacement of Vinca
major, caladium, tuberose begonia, petunia, salvia or
any good size flower. A small size gardenia would be
wonderful but you would need to replace it with a smaller
one each spring. The old gardenia could be subsequently
placed in the garden.
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Question:
How can I get rid of weeds in my long crushed
stone driveway? Mary, Rochester, MA
Mort's
Answer: You can use any herbicide with good results
on a driveway. You can use a preemergent in the spring
to discourage seeds. A strong acid like vinegar on a
hot day will burn them.
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Question:
Can I use vinegar on my lawn to get rid of weeds?
Sam, Hanover, NH
Mort's
Answer: I do not recommend vinegar for lawns. It
will burn anything. If you do not want to broadcast
a herbicide, it can be as effective as target sprays.
The best weed control for any lawn is continual top
dressing with soil and seed until the lawn is tight
enough to starve off the weeds. All treatments are wasted,
if you do not have at least eight inches of good top
soil before top dressing.
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Question:
My lawn is being overcome by this three leafed weed
with a little white flower. What can I do to get rid
of it? Henry, Pawtucket, RI
Mort's
Answer: It looks like you have clover. In the fifties
clover was added to lawn mixes to insure fertilization.
Clover forms nitrates in the soil. If you fertilize
with a high nitrogen fertilizer, the clover will disappear.
It's what I call a martyr grass.
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Question:
Can I use vinegar as a weed control? Linda,
Niantic, CT
Mort's
Answer: Any strong acid will kill weeds. Be careful,
it will burn any plant tissue that it touches. We have
a dogwood that was damaged by a rabbit. It ate the bark
completely around the base. I wrapped the stem in cloth
but it hasn't helped. Will the tree survive? Linda,
Niantic, CT Unfortunately, if the bark is completely
girdled the tree will not survive. The outer ring just
inside the cambium of the bark, is the fibrovascular
tubes for the food and water. When these tubes are cut,
the tree can no longer take nutrient to sustain itself.
If you cut the tree down below the girdle, it might
produce new stems. This is a long shot that you can
not count on.
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Question:
Can we use wood ashes from the fireplace?
Will it change the PH? Todd, Waterford, CT
Mort's
Answer: Ashes are an excellent source of potassium
for plants. This is helpful in the root and flower production.
Potash or potassium will lower the PH and create a more
acidic soil. In soils that have sufficient potash or
excess potash, it will make the soil more alkaline.
I would add manure and bonemeal in equal amounts to
maintain the ph that is natural for your area.
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Question:
Can I use wood ash in my garden? Sherry,
Cumberland, RI
Mort's
Answer: You can use it in combination with other
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