Plant Care

Last year I have two large hydragea bushes planted - lace cap...

sue asks:

Question

Last year I have two large hydragea bushes planted - lace cap type. They have not flowered this year or last

Additional Details

The bushes are very healthy but I have not had any blossoms.
The soil is rich - I had evergreens removed and full landscaping was done.
Will they flower next year? should I be adding anything to the soil ?
I have a tinier bush in my back yard - not nearly as helathy looking as the two in the front and this one flowers although I think this one could use better soil .

Answer

Hi
Most hydrageas need at least 4 hrs of directsun a day. The more sun the more watering will be needed during the summer months. Hydrageas bloom on last years wood . There are newer vaieties that bloom on both old and new , so pruning is important. Prune 6” - 8” of the stem with the flower . In the spring when it has leafed out you will see the stems that will not produce you can remove them. Super Phosphate scratch into the soil in the early spring and then again 6 months later will help to produce roots that will encourage bloom. When planting it is important that the soil level remains the same or a little above the ground if you are mulching. No mulch or soil should be up against the stems or trunks of any plant (except tomato). It is important to score the root system of the potted plants to ensure that the roots grow outward and downward. Your existing soil should be amended with a comost and peat then mixed with the existing soil .
Thank you for your question. I hope we can get your Hydragea to bloom next summer.

Why are my tomatoes rotting?

Question

Why are my tomatoes rotting?

Additional Details

My tomatoes are rotting from the bottom. Can you tell me why? A friend said it is a fungus. Need help. Thank you

Answer

That sounds like blossom end rot. It is a disease that you will have to treat the soil. Inactivate is a product that will help. You may also want to make sure you water in the A.M. No overhead watering, and make sure you soak the soil. You could add some calcium to the soil as well.

How do I change the color of my hydrangea?

Question

How do I change the color of my hydrangea?

Additional Details

I have bought many Hydrangeas from Mahoney’s. I have a blue mophead hydrangea next to a white hydrangea. I have put the Aluminum Sulfate on the opposite end of the blue hydrangea from the white one. The white hydrangea is now blue. Do I add lime to make it go back to the white color. Thank you.

Answer

Yes lime will bring back the white color. It may be better to use a holly tone on the blue in the early spring and do it at half the dose so that there is a less of a chance it leaches to the white one. If they are that close you may have a balancing act every year or so.

How do I get rid of moss?

Question

How do I get rid of moss?

Answer

If the moss is in a shaded area under an oak or maple it may be a futile effort to rid it. Most moss like dark moist space to grow in and it likes it acidic, so lime applied to the area will change the balance, may work for a period of time.

Why are the Gingko trees on my street dying?

Question

Why are the Gingko trees on my street dying?

Additional Details

There are a row of 10 year old ginko trees on our street that are dying, rather rapidly, one by one. They all budded out and now one is completely devoid of leaves and two others show signs of doing the same. The leaves are curling up and dying. They are city trees and we are on a long list for the city to view but the trees will all be dead by that time comes. So I wanted to get some help from somewhere else and thought of your team. Do you know of anything that might cause this? I am willing to pay to find out what I could do myself to save the trees.

Thanks, Susan

Answer

You could hire Boston tree Preservation to come out and take a look.

What we would need to see a sampling of the leaves before recommending a solution.

My plant's leaves are turning brown.

Question

My plant’s leaves are turning brown.

Additional Details

I bought 6 phlox plants two weeks ago. The plants are now turning brown starting in the center and working out towards the end. Some of the plant is still green though not much. I also bought 6 hydrangeas at the same time and the tips of their leaves are turning brown and curling up. Please help

Answer

Hi Tyler, It could be a water issue, fertilizer or sun.

The creeping phlox likes full sun. Hydrangea can handle full sun, but prefer to have some shade during the day.

If you use a compost planting mix when planting that should be enough food for the first 6 – 9 months then you can apply a granular fertilizer around you plants seasonally.

Water in the morning with a hose and soak the soil around the plants every three to four days no need to wet the foliage on your hydrangea get the water right down at the root base. When planting make sure that the soil level remains the same do not come over the stem area with soil or mulch.

Tyler do any of these things that I have outline sound familiar? If so, by altering one or more may arrest the problem the new growth should not show any browning or dying back. It may take a couple of weeks for it to stop.

Let me know what you’re going to change and what you think.