Mid - American gardener with dianne noland - January 2, 2014

GREETINGS, GARDENERS. WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US. IT IS TIME TO TALK ABOUT PLANTS. SO WE ARE HERE FOR MID-AMERICAN GARDENER. I AM DIANNE NOLAND, THE HOST FOR THE SHOW, AND I HAVE GOT THREE REALLY GREAT GUESTS. LET'S FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM. WE WILL GO FIRST TO BILL VANDER WEIT, AND HE WILL TELL ABOUT HIM. >>I AM BILL VANDER WEIT, CERTIFIED ARBORIST. MY SPECIALTY IS TREES AND WOOD PLANTS. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A DOGWOOD, KOUSA DOGWOOD NATIVE TO KOREA AND JAPAN. IT HAS BEEN USED AS A NATIVE DOGWOOD BECAUSE IT HAS BETTER DISEASE RESISTENCE AND BETTER COLD HARDY. NEXT THE QUESTION IS FROM DIANNE. I HAVE A KUOSA DOGWOOD THREE YEARS AGO, AND IT NEVER BLOOMED. ANY SUGGESTIONS? >> A FAMILIAR QUESTION WITH PEOPLE WITH FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS. SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY SUPER PHOSPHOROUS OR SUPER NITROGEN. BUT ALL YOU DO IS WAIT AND THEY WILL BLOOM. I HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WHERE I HAVE HAD A VIBURNUM THAT WAS FORMING INTO A TREE, AND IT WOULD NOT BLOOM, WOULD NOT BLOOM. SEVEN YEARS LATER IT BLOOMED. IT BLOOMED RELIABLY EVERY YEAR. HAVE A LITTLE MORE PATIENCE AND IT SHOULD BLOOM. IT IS HARD ADVICE FOR PEOPLE, BUT IT IS GOOD ADVICE. WOW. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU, BILL. IN THE MIDDLE. LET'S GO TO MARTIE ALAGNA. I AM A PRIVATE LANDSCAPER, *** PERENNIALS, SHRUBS, SMALL TREES, EVEN LARGE TREES ARE KIND OF WHAT I SPECIALIZE IN. WE HAVE A QUESTION HERE THAT I AM GOING TO TRY TO ADDRESS. LARRY, IN NORTHWEST INDIANA IS INTERESTED IN GROWING PERENNIAL HERBS. CAN THEY GROW THERE? THEY CERTAINLY CAN BECAUSE THEY ARE HARDY TO THERE. IN FACT, FIND YOUR LOCAL GARDEN CENTER, AND I AM SURE THEY HAVE THEM AND TRY TO BUY LOCALLY IF YOU CAN. THERE MIGHT EVEN BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS IN YOUR AREA THAT ARE DOING HERBS AND VEGETABLES, ESPECIALLY AND MAYBE ONLY IN THE SPRING. I LIKE TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE AND TRY TO GIVE THEM SOME BUSINESS. BUT IF THERE IS NO ONE LIKE THAT, YOU CAN BUY HERBS JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE IN THE SPRING. THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM THAT ARE HARDY OREGANO, SAGE. ALSO THOSE TWO ALSO COME IN VARIEGATED COLORS. SAGE COMES IN VARIEGATION, NOT QUITE AS HARDY AS THE GREEN, BUT YOU MIGHT TRY. ESPECIALLY WITH MICRO CLIMATE. OREGANO HAS A NICE GOLDEN VARIETY. VERY PRETTY. THE GARDEN DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GREEN. IT CAN BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT COLORS, AND IT CAN BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SHAPES. THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN'T PERENNIALIZE. THEY HAVE TO BE PLANTED EVERY YEAR LIKE DILL. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF HERBS YOU CAN OVERWINTER. LOOK FOR VARIATIONS ON THE THEME SO YOU HAVE SOME VISUAL INTEREST, CHIVES, THOSE ARE VERY NICE AS WELL. >>I LOVE THYME. >> OH, OF COURSE. >>I HAVE TO DIVE IN THERE WITH THYME. >>RIGHT ON THE EDGE IS VERY PRETTY. >>THANKS FOR THE QUESTION FROM NORTHWEST INDIANA. VERY GOOD. AND THOSE BLOOM, TOO. MOST BLOOM PURPLE. THEY ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE. VERY PRETTY. IF YOU PLANT A LITTLE BIT, I THINK YOU CAN REALLY, REALLY MAKE NOT JUST A UTILITARIAN SPOT, BUT ATTRACTIVE, TOO. >>THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARTIE. NOW, WE HAVE SOMEONE READY TO GO NEXT TO ME, JIM SCHUSTER. WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US? >> FIRST OF ALL, I AM A RETIRED UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HORTICULTURALIST AND PLANT PATHOLOGIST. I HAVE A MOUNTAIN ASH QUESTION. THAT PERSON SAID THEY HAD FIRE BLIGHT ON IT. THEY CUT THE DISEASED AREA OUT AND HAS COME BACK PRETTY GOOD SINCE THEN. THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING TO SPRAY ON IT SO THE REST OF THE TREE DOESN'T GET INFECTED. ALSO THEY HAVE BLACKBERRIES NEARBY AND THEY WOULD NOT LIKE TO DAMAGE THEM. FIRST OF ALL, LET'S DESCRIBE THE FIRE BLIGHT. I HAVE ON MY RIGHT, YOUR LEFT. A PEAR TREE WITH FIRE BLIGHT. >>A PEAR TREE WITH FIRE BLIGHT. IT HAS CURLING AT THE END OF THE BRANCH. BASICALLY LIKE A SHEPHERD'S CROOK. 90% OF THE TIME THAT IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF FIRE BLIGHT ON ANY PLANT PRONE TO FIRE BLIGHT, AND THAT'S ANY PLANT IN THE ROSE FAMILY. ROSE BEING ONE OF THE MOST RESISTANT. MAPLE, PEAR, CUTANEOUS, FIRST OF ALL PRUNE OUT THE RESISTANT AREA, SIX OR EIGHT INCHES BELOW THE INFECTED AREA. THE FUNGICIDE THAT YOU WOULD USE -- ACTUALLY BACTERIACIDE. THEY USED TO USE STREPTOMYCIN BEFORE THE DISEASE STARTED. STREPTOMYCIN LOST ITS POTENCY. YOU WANT TO FIND STREPTOMYCIN BEFORE BUD BREAK. >>WOW, THOSE ARE NICE, TOO. >>FIRE BLIGHT ON PEAR TREE LOOKS BLACK. PEOPLE THINK IT BURNT UP. ON OTHERS, BROWN TO DARK BROWN. >>ALWAYS HAS THE SHEPHERD'S CROOK. >>THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY REALLY GOT TORCHED. >>REMINDER, TOO, MOUNTAIN ASH IS NOT AN ASH. PEOPLE GET CONFUSED. JIM SAID IT IS IN THE ROSE FAMILY. ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN THE COMMON ASH. >>RIGHT. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. LOTS OF THINGS TO LEARN. WE ARE GOING TO GO TO A VIDEO E-MAIL NEXT. IT IS FROM DAN IN LEMONT. I WILL READ WHAT HE WROTE ABOUT IT AS WE ARE WATCHING IT. MY LAWN IS BEING OUT COMPETED FOR WATER IN MY FRONT YARD DUE TO A PIN OAK WITH ROOTS NEAR THE SURFACE. I AM NOT ONE TO WATER MY LAWN IN THE SUMMER DORMANT TIME. THE GRASS COMES BACK NICE WHEN AUTUMN RAINS COME EXCEPT, OF COURSE, ABOVE THESE ROOTS. OTHER THAN GIVING UP AND PLANTING CACTUS AND SAGEBRUSH, ANY SUGGESTIONS? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. A PIN OAK AND GRASS, LAWN. SOMEONE JUMP IN, I EXPECT YOU ALL THREE TO HAVE AN IDEA. I WOULD GO WITH MULCH. >>OKAY. >>YOU COULD DO GROUND COVER. BUT PIN OAK ISN'T THE ONLY PLANT THAT HAS CLOSE TO THE SURFACE ROOTS AND PEOPLE -- EVEN IF YOU DON'T MIND THE LOOK OR THE COMPETITION FOR THE GRASS WHEN YOU DO WATER, YOU STILL HAVE TO MOW OVER THEM, AND IT DAMAGES THE TREE. EVEN IF YOU PRIMARILY JUST HIT WITH THE MOWER, ARE YOU ALSO DAMAGING THE TREE. YEAH. DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, MULCH OR COMBINATION OF MULCH AND GROUND COVER. THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR GROUND COVER. SOME, AGAIN, GREEN LAWN, GREEN TREE, DO SOME VARIEGATED GROUND COVER, LITTLE BIT OF VISUAL INTEREST. AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHY YOU GARDEN. SOME PERENNIAL VINCA. SOME CAREX, SOME GRASS. LOOKS GRASSY, BUT COMES IN A REAL NICE WHITE OR YELLOW VARIEGATION. LOOK REALLY NICE, LIGHTEN UP THE SHADY SPOT. PACHYSANDRA, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >>IF YOU PLANT A GROUND COVER, CONSIDER MULCHING WITH IT. BECAUSE IF YOU PLANT ALL THE GROUND COVER IN ONE YEAR, REMEMBER, YOU ARE DIGGING HOLES THROUGH THE TREES ROOTS, AND CAN YOU SEVERELY DAMAGE THE TREE. DO ISOLATED BECAUSE THE GROUND COVER AND MULCH IN BETWEEN THAT. WITH TIME, KEEP REMOVING MULCH AND ADDING MORE GROUND COVER IF YOU WANT THE ENTIRE AREA COVERED WITH GROUND COVER. >>AND YOU HAD A SUGGESTION ABOUT COCOA. >>IF YOU USE MULCH, USE WOOD CHIPS OF ANY KIND BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE STARTED USING COCOA MULCH BECAUSE OF THE SMELL, BUT IT IS VERY TOXIC TO WILDLIFE AND YOUR DOGS AND CATS, AND THEY ARE DRAWN TO IT BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF CHOCOLATE. SO, PLEASE, DO NOT USE COCOA SHELLS FOR A MULCH. >>IF YOU ARE USING MULCH, MAKE SURE IT IS WELL-COMPOSTED OR WELL-AGED, TOO, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GET IT FRESH, PLEASE AGE IT. >>WE REALLY HAD FUN CHATTING ABOUT THAT ONE. WE WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH DAN IN LEMONT. LET'S GO TO THE PHONE, OH, FIRST OFF, LET'S HAVE YOU SEND US ONE, IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN VIDEO OR SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OR YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING IDENTIFIED, SEND US A VIDEO E-MAIL AT YOURGARDEN@GMAIL.COM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>DIANNE, DO YOU KNOW IF THAT VIDEO IS WHAT THE CALLER OR THE MAN SENT IN. >>UH-HUH, YES. >>BECAUSE THAT AREA THERE, WHERE THE TREE WAS IN THE PARKING AND THEN ACROSS THE SIDEWALK, THAT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR A PERENNIAL OR ROSE BED. I MEAN LOOKS LIKE IT HAS GOOD EXPOSURE, LOTS OF SUN, AND, YEAH! DIG THAT UP ALONG THAT SIDEWALK AND MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORS HAPPY WHEN THEY WALK BY. >>COMBINATION OF SUN AND SHADE. >>YES SHRUB BORDER. LITTLE SHRUB BORDER THERE, OR MIXED PERENNIAL BED. THAT COULD BE REALLY PRETTY, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOW IT. >>VERY CONTROVERSIAL -- YOU KNOW YOU WILL GET THAT ADVICE HERE WITH US. LET'S GO TO THE PHONE LINES NEXT, AND LET'S START WITH LINE ONE, AND IT IS ABOUT RUSSIAN SAGE. HI THERE, LINE ONE. >>CALLER: HI. I HAVE A RUSSIAN SAGE FOUR, FIVE YEARS OLD, AND IT IS UP ABOUT FIVE FOOT HIGH NOW. I WONDER ABOUT SHOULD I PRUNE THAT BACK? I AM AFRAID IT WILL GET LONG AND LEGGY AND FALL OVER, OR IF I WANT TO PRUNE IT, HOW MUCH WOULD I PRUNE? >> OKAY. IF YOU DON'T ANSWER, MARTIE, I WILL. >>I WILL ABSOLUTELY CUT IT BEING BACK. THAT'S ABOUT THE APEX HOW HIGH IT WILL GET. WHAT WILL HAPPEN, IF IT PUTS ON A LOT OF GROWTH AT THAT SIZE, THEN IT WILL START SPLITTING AND BREAKING AND PRUNE ITSELF, AND IT WILL BE REALLY UGLY. I WOULD CUT IT BACK TO -- I WOULD WAIT UNTIL THE SPRING AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE LEAF BREAK, UNTIL IT STARTS TO BUD OUT LITTLE LEAVES A LITTLE BIT, AND DEFINITELY CUT BACK ANY DEAD. BUT I WOULD REALLY CUT IT BACK TO PROBABLY -- I'D PROBABLY TAKE TWO-THIRDS OF IT OFF. THEN THAT SHOULD BE A GOOD SIZE TO START OUT. ALSO, ONCE YOU CUT THAT TOP TWO-THIRDS OFF, THEN YOU CAN SEE, AND YOU WILL, WHERE THERE ARE BIG LARGER *** STEMS THAT ARE DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT BIG GROWTH BECAUSE IF IT IS FIVE FEET TALL, I AM SURE IT IS AT LEAST THIS BIG AROUND. YOU KIND OF WIGGLE THOSE AND CRACK THEM OFF AND TAKE THEM OUT. KIND OF CLEAN UP THE WHOLE THING. >>SO FIVE FEET IS A LITTLE BIT TALL. >>THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIZED. >>HIGH ON THAT AND GO FURTHER. >> OH, YEAH. >>NEED A LITTLE BIT OF PRUNING. >>YEAH, NEEDS A HAIRCUT THERE. >>LET'S GO ON TO LINE TWO NEXT, AND THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT SUCCULENTS. HI THERE, LINE TWO. >>CALLER: HI. I WAS WONDERING, I PLANTED SUCCULENTS THIS SUMMER IN A POT, AND THEY DID JUST GREAT. I HAD THEM ON THE EDGE OF THE PATIO SO THEY GOT KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN, BUT I ENDED UP -- I BROUGHT THEM IN FOR WINTER. I WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD SAVE THEM. BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING VERY WELL. I MEAN THE SOIL, I BOUGHT THE KIND THEY SUGGESTED TO PLANT THEM IN, THE SANDY TYPE OF SOIL. I TOOK AND MISTED THEM FOR AWHILE, AND THEN THEY STARTED KIND OF LIKE THEY WERE DYING. SO THEN I GAVE THEM A GOOD DRINK OF WATER, AND THEY STILL JUST DON'T ACT LIKE THEY ARE DOING VERY WELL. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT A SUGGESTION OR IF THE SUCCULENTS CAN ACTUALLY BE BROUGHT IN DURING THE WINTER. >>YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY THEY CAN. I GROW THEM. BUT THEY ARE RELATED TO CACTI. THEY NEED A WHOLE LOT LESS WATER THAN MOST OTHER INDOOR PLANTS. YOU HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS HOW FREQUENTLY YOU WATER THE PLANT. IF YOU DO WATER AND YOU HAVE THE WATER GOING INTO A TRAY UNDERNEATH THEM, THAT POT CANNOT BE SITTING IN THAT WATER IN THAT TRAY EITHER BECAUSE IT WILL KEEP THE SOIL TOO WET TOO LONG. ALSO, CHECK THEM OUT FOR MEALYBUGS. MEALYBUGS LOVE SUCCULENTS, AND IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO BRING THEM IN, AND GET MEALYBUGS ON THE PLANT IN THE SUMMER AND HAVE THEM GO WILD ON THE ROOT SYSTEM INN THE TIME THEY ARE IN THE HOUSE IN THE WINTERTIME. >>YEAH, ALSO, ARE YOU CERTAIN SUCCULENTS YOU HAVE ARE NOT WINTER HARDY AND ALSO -- >>CALLER: UH-HUH. >>OKAY. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE A GLASSED-IN PORCH THAT DOESN'T FREEZE RELATE I HARD, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE. BUT IF YOU HAVE TO BRING THEM IN THE HOUSE, TRY TO FIND A COOL SPOT THAT IS STILL BRIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO WATER THEM VERY MUCH AT ALL. WHEN YOU DO, WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY DRY. WATER REAL THOROUGHLY, LIKE HE SAID, POUR OFF ANY WATER THAT STANDS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAY, AND LEAVE THEM UNTIL THEY ARE REALLY TRY AGAIN. DON'T BOTHER MISTING. THEY ARE TROPICAL. THEY DON'T CARE. THEY DON'T MIND INDOORS, WHERE IT IS DRY AND HOT. THEY ARE SUCCULENTS. THEY DIG IT. >>WE HOPE THAT HELPS YOU OUT. SUCCULENTS ARE VERY POPULAR AND WORTH TRYING THEM. LET'S MOVE ONTO A TREE QUESTION ON LINE THREE ABOUT OCTOBER GLORY RED MAPLE. HI THERE. >>CALLER: HI. MY -- THIS MAPLE TREE WAS PLANTED THREE YEARS AGO, AND THIS EARLY SUMMER I NOTICED THERE WAS BARK MISSING, AND THEN QUITE A BIT OF FROST MISSING. I CALLED THE GUY THAT PLANTED IT, AND HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE T HE WENT BACK TO HIS FARMING AND HE FOUND FIVE OTHER TREES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THE HOME EXTENSION OFFICE IN TAYLORVILLE, AND THEY TOLD ME JUST TO WRAP IT, THAT THIS WAS COMMON WITH SOFT MAPLES. >>IS IT ON ONE SIDE OR ALL THE WAY AROUND? >>CALLER: IT IS ON ONE SIDE. IT IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD BE. >>THAT'S ONE POSSIBILITY. QUITE OFTEN, IN THE WINTER, WE GET WHAT WE CALL SUN SCALDING OR FROST CRACKING WHERE THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE QUITE COLD, BUT THE SUN WILL BE QUITE INTENSE. THE BARK HEATS UP. AND WITH RAPID COOLING, IT WILL CAUSE SOME SPLITTING AND YOU WILL GET BARK PEELING OFF. NOW THE SUGGESTION TO WRAP IT SOMETIMES THEY HAVE USED CRAFT PAPER WHAT YOU COMMONLY SEE TREES WRAPPED WITH REALLY DOESN'T EFFECT ENOUGH OF A DIFFERENCE TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THAT'S ONE THEORY. THE OTHER THING, I DON'T KNOW, IF YOU HIT IT WITH A LAWNMOWER, THAT CAN INITIATING BARK WOUNDING AND PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED HOW BIG OF A WOUND OR CANKER YOU CAN GET ON A TREE, REPEATED BARK WOUNDING. IT HAPPENS WITH WEED WHIPS. >>IF IT IS DAMAGED, IT IS TOO LATE EVEN IF YOU WERE GOING TO TRY IT. WE USED TO RECOMMEND AT ONE TIME, TAKE INDOOR WHITE LATEX PAINT, CHEAP JUST, CRUMBIEST PAINT AND MIXED WITH NINE PARTS OF WATER, DILUTE, AND PAINT THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE OF THE TREE, AND THAT WILL REFLECT THE SUN AND REDUCE THE CHANCE OF THE SUN SCALDING AND, FREEZING, AND THAWING AND CRACKING. BY THE TAME IT WEARS OFF THE TREE, IT HAS ADAPTED TO THE THING. GENERALLY, WHEN THEY GET A TREE, IT IS TURNED A LITTLE BIT FROM WHERE IT WAS GROWN IN THE NURSERY. THAT OUTER BARK IS NOT QUITE AS HARDY TO THE SUN. >>A LOT OF NURSERIES WILL MARK THEIR TREES FOR THE ORIENTATION HOW TO PLANT IT. BUT USUALLY PEOPLE PLANTING IT IGNORE IT. >>THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. >>YOU CAN PLANT IT WITH THE SAME ORIENTATION TO SAME WAY THEY DID IN THE NURSERY. GRANDMA ALWAYS SAID, YOU DIG UP THE PLANT, PLANT IT FACING THE WAY IT WAS WHERE YOU GOT IT. >>THANK YOU, GRANDMA. >>SHE KNEW. >> OKAY, THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. LET'S GO NEXT TO A SPECIAL "DID YOU KNOW?" >>OKAY, AND NOW WE ARE BACK AND WE WILL DO ANOTHER BIT OF E-MAILS AND MAYBE SHOW AND TELL. BILL, LET'S START WITH YOU. >>I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AN ASH TREE FROM LYNNE. SHE LIVES IN A SMALL COMMUNITY AND HAS 18 YEARS -- OR 16 TREES IDENTIFIED WITH ASH BORER INSECTS. THE COST TO TREAT THESE IS QUITE COSTLY. SHE SAID THAT SHE HEARD THAT SOMEONE SAID THAT ASH BORER IS IN THE TREES, IT PROBABLY ISN'T BENEFICIAL TO TREAT THEM. SHE WANTED TO ASK IF THAT WAS CORRECT. >>I WOULD BE HESITANT TO GO TO THE EXPENSE OF TREATING THE ASH TREES IF THE BORER IS ALREADY PRESENT. THE PROBLEM WITH ASH BORERS, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T -- AREN'T AWARE OF THIS, IS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EMERALD ASH BORER THAT KILLED TENS OF MILLIONS OF TREES THIS THE MIDWEST. BUT THE PROBLEM IS PRESENTED BY THE LARVA WHICH GETS UNDERNEATH THE BARK AND WILL CUT OFF THE FLOW OF WATER AND NUTRIENTS, ESSENTIALLY THE TREES'S CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. BECAUSE THIS IS CUT OFF, YOU WOULD HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PUMP CHEMICAL OR INSECTICIDE INTO THE TREE, AND TO HAVE IT TAKE IT UP. YOUR MONEY WOULD BE BEST SPENT IN PROBABLY PLANTING NEW TREES THAT'S MY THOUGHT AT LEAST. >>BUT NOT ASH. >>BUT NOT ASH, CORRECT. >>IT WOULD BE HARD, I THINK, TO PURCHASE AND ASH THESE DAYS. >>GET ONE CHEAPER. WELL, YEAH, BUT REMEMBER WHY. THANKS, BILL. NOW, MARTIE. >>LORA FROM METAMORA WRITES THAT THE FRONT BED OF MY HOME--I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A PICTURE -- FACES NORTH AND SHADED BY A SILVER MAPLE. I HAVE A PICTURE, PARTIALLY SHADED BY TALL, CONIFERS, AND PARTIAL SHADE AND CLAY SOIL MAKE IT HARD. SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLANTS THAT WOULD DO WELL. AND I DO! DOGWOOD. SHE IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN SOMETHING WITH WINTER INTEREST, AND COLOR AND TEXTURE. DOGWOODS ARE NATURAL UNDERSTORY TREES. THEY HAVE BLOOMS IN THE SPRING, GREAT FALL COLOR, BEAUTIFUL GRAY BARK NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF OPT FOR, THEY ARE REALLY ATTRACTIVE. ACTUALLY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, YELLOW OR RED TWIG DOGWOOD. THERE IS NICE VARIEGATED CALLED IVORY HALO. THEY HAVE GREAT COLOR FOR LIGHTING UP A SHADY AREA. ALSO THE DOGWOOD TREES THEMSELVES BLOOM WHITE, PINK, OR RED, AND KOUSAS COME WITH VARIEGATED LEAVES, VERY ATTRACTIVE. ALSO UNDERSTORY, SERVICE BERRY, RED BUD, JUST DEPENDS ON REALLY WHAT YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE REALLY, WHAT YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCE. ALL THOSE TREES ARE LITTLE UNDERSTORY TREES AND WOULD DO GREAT UNDERNEATH THE SHADE OF THE TREES. FERNS HAVE A DIFFERENT LOOK THAN ANY OF THE OTHER -- FERNS HAVE A DIFFERENT LOOK THAN THE OTHER PLANTS YOU LISTED. NOT THE TYPICAL OSTRICH FERN, BUT FERNS COME FROM A PRETTY SPECTACULAR VARIETY OF COLOR AND FORM. THOSE MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO PLANT. FRIZELLIAE, FANTASTIC COLOR, CHOKE CHERRY, ARONIA, ESPECIALLY THE RED VARIETY, GREAT COLOR IN THE FALL. THEY ARE TRADITIONALLY PLANTED IN THE SUN, AND THEY GET A LITTLE LARGE, AND YOU NEED TO GET THE SMALLER VARIETY OR YOU CAN JUST PRUNE THEM OF BUT THE FALL COLOR IS UNBEATABLE. THEY ARE QUITE ADAPTABLE. I HAVE SEEN THEM GOING ON AND TROOP RIGHT THROUGH, AND DON'T CARE. >>THAT WAS A GOOD PRIMER ON UNDER STORY PLANTS. THAT'S GREAT, MARTIE. NOW, YOU JIM. THIS IS FROM DOROTHY IN ALTAMONT, ILLINOIS. SHE HAD MUMS THAT HAD SLUGS, ROLY-POLYS OR BUGS AND SNAILS ON THEM. SHE TREATED FOR THOSE INSECTS, AND THE MUMS STARTED TURNING BROWN AND APPEARED A FUNGUS DISEASE. MOST COMMON ONE THAT WILL GO AFTER THE FLOWERS ON THE MUMS, BORTRYTIS OR GRAY MOLD. IT IS A DISEASE THAT CAUSES THE PETALS TO TURN BROWN AND GO AFTER THE OPEN FLOWERS. IT WILL GO AFTER THE FLOWER BUD, AND IT WILL ATTACK LEAVES, THE LEAF BUD, AND ACTUALLY GROW DOWN IN THE ROOT SYSTEM AND TOTALLY DESTROY THE PLANT. YOU CAN CUT THAT OFF OR USE CAPTAN, MANCOZEB. ONE OF THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE CONFUSE OLD AGE FLOWERS WITH THE DISEASE, BOTRYTIS. OLD AGE STARTS ON THE OLDEST PETAL ON THE EDGES AND WORKS INWARD. GENERALLY ATTACKS OUTER PETALS. BOTRYTIS TENDS TO GO IN THE INNER PETALS AND WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PETAL OR BASE AND WORK OUTWARD. IT OCCASIONALLY STARTS OUTSIDE. BUT I HAVE A MUM HERE THAT YOU CAN SEE IS THE INNER PETALS ARE ALL DARK AND BROWN. I KNOW IT FADED A LITTLE BIT ON YOU, BUT INNER PETALS ARE DARKER BROWN AND OUTER ONES USED TO BE YELLOW. CHECK THE FLOWERS CLOSELY FOR INNER PETALS TURNING BROWN FIRST. ON PETUNIA, LOOK FOR BROWN SPOTS. IT GROWS AT ANY TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 32 AND 84 DEGREES AND RELEASES SPORES ON RISING HUMIDITY, AND LOWERING HUMIDITY, AND NEEDS FREESTANDING WATER TO ACTUALLY INFECT THE FLOWERS. >>THAT COULD BE ANY TIME. >>ALL SUMMER LONG. THAT WE GARDEN. >>ENTIRE GROWING SEASON. >>YOU ARE A FOUNTAIN OF INFORMATION, YOU KNOW THAT! >>YOU WANT TO REMOVE THOSE LIKE IMMEDIATELY. >>AND DON'T JUST THROW THEM ON THE GROUND. YOU EITHER BURN THEM OR DIG A HOLE AND BURY THEM. IT IS SUCH A HABIT YOU DO DEAD HEAD. BUT I TAKE A BUCKET AND I WILL DEAD HEAD OUT BECAUSE I SAW SOMEONE WHO I ADMIRED WHO DID THAT WITH THEIR DEAD HEADING DAY LILIES. DON'T THROW THEM ON THE GROUND. >>MUM IS ONE OF THE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE PLANTS, SO ARE PEONIES. IF YOU GROW PEONIES, AND THE BUDS TURNING BLACK OR FLOWERS DIED, YOU HAVE IT, AND KILLING THE BUDS, WHAT I CALL -- IT WENT OUT OF MY MIND. >>HAVE TO KEEP THEM HANGING ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. WE ARE GLAD YOU TUNED IN. GET OUT AND GARDEN WHETHER IT IS INSIDE OR LOOKING THROUGH SEED CATALOGS, BUT DO SOME GARDENING. WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. BYE-BYE. >>