Q. Is it harmful to cut the leaves off my zucchini plant once it starts producing? My husband does this every year and it seems to slow down the production of zucchini. He also does this to my tomato plants and they stop blooming.
Allentown, Pennsylvania
A. Your husband should stop removing leaves from your vegetable plants. [...]
Q. What is the best way to get rid of green water in the pond other than using a UV light?
San Mateo, California
Q. Yes there are a couple of alternatives to treating green water other than using an ultraviolet light. Water plants are an excellent way to fend off green water. Typically you want to [...]
Q. What is the best way to get rid of green water in the pond other than using a UV light?
San Mateo, California
A. I have tried numerous additives to clear suspended algae (the type that causes green water). In my case, and many others of my customers, the only lasting solution is the UV light.
Good [...]
This question has three answers!
Q. I had a beautiful dense jade plant that unfortunately got left outside during a sharp frost, and died. However, shortly before, I took a small cutting, and this has grown to about a foot high, but is very stringy/straggly, i.e. it is growing tall, but not spreading out. My question [...]
Posted in houseplants | Tagged Jade plants |
Q. We have a home on Cape Cod and I have tried, in vein, to grow zucchini and pumpkins for the last few years. I get wonderful leaves and flowers, but before the fruit starts, the flowere wither and die. I have asked garden shops and they tell me I have some sort of bug [...]
Q. How can I get my astilbe to bloom a second time?
Belmont, Massachusetts
A. You asked how you can get your Astilbe to rebloom. You can’t! It is not in their nature. What you can do is plant two different kinds in order to get a longer period of bloom. The arendsii group bloom the earliest, [...]
Q. I am interested in using the coffee grounds that Starbucks provides free to gardeners to add nutrients to the soil. However, I am unsure how much to add to the soil and wonder which perennials would benefit from these grounds. Thank you!
Andover, Massachusetts
A. Thanks for your question about using coffee grounds in your garden. [...]
Q. Something seems to be eating the leaves of my Butterfly bush. Can I use a bug spray on it? Is it safe?
Chatham, Massachusetts
A. There are a few different insects that can feed on a Butterfly Bush. However, not all controls (sprays) work equally on different insects. It is best to monitor the plant [...]
Two answers for this question!
Q. I planted Hydrangea Endless Summer Macrophylla mophead three years ago. Bloomed first year and hasn’t bloomed since. Plant looks great. Any ideas?
Gibson, Illinois
A. Hydrangeas not blooming after planting is very common. The plant spends its energy on providing the plant with new leaves and growth once it is moved [...]
Q. I bought some pampas grass and then changed my mind about where to plant it. What would happen if I would plant it in a mostly shady spot? Would it still grow but maybe not as tall?
Portsmouth, Ohio
A. Pampas grass is a full sun plant. If you plant it in the shade, it will [...]
