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The Garden Plot
Hosted by Adrian Higgins
Washington Post Garden Editor
Thursday, June 7, 2001; 11 a.m. EDT
Got a chronic case of green thumb? Like getting your hands dirty? Adrian Higgins, garden editor for The Post's Home section, is here to help. Higgins is a firm believer in "tough plants for tough times" -- the varieties that combine good looks with stiff resistance to disease and pests. He currently rules over a garden filled with spring bulbs, daffodils, ornamental onions, perennials, asters, yarrows, hostas and day lilies. Higgins, an avid organic gardener who believes chemicals are a last resort, also tends his own herb and vegetable gardens where he grows peas, garlic onions, lettuce, rhubarbs, radishes, carrots and more.
Higgins is the author of two books, "The Secret Gardens of Georgetown: Behind the Walls of Washington's Most Historic Neighborhood" and "The Washington Post Garden Book: The Ultimate Guide to Gardening in Greater Washington and the Mid-Atlantic Region."
Home & Garden: The Washington Post Home staff will talk about ways to improve and decorate your home June 14 on Home Front.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Alexandria, Va.:
Lawn Mowing for Dummies question:
In your Washington Post Gardening Guide, you say you should cut your grass to 3 inches. How do you measure that?
3 inches from the ground to the height of the grass, or 3 inches along the blade of grass?
Obviously grass doesn't grow straight up so a 3 inch blade of grass may only stick up above the ground 2 inches.
Which way should I measure?
Thanks!
Adrian Higgins: Three inches from the base of blade to the tip.
E. Falls Church:
Is it too late to plant morning glory seeds? What about hyacinth bean vine? Thanks for your show.
Adrian Higgins: I have hyacinth bean vine and moonflower (related to morning glory) seeds burning a hole in my apron, so the answer has to be, sure, plenty of time. Actually sowing now will produce later blooms, but the impending heat and humidity of high summer will soon cause your seeds to germinate. With the morning glory seeds, take a sharp razor and a steady hand and nick the hard coat of the seed. Then soak the nicked seeds overnight. This will ensure speedy germination.
Aldie, Va.:
Do Clematis vines need a trellis to cling to as they grow or will they grow up a stone wall with no supports. Also should butterfly bushes and rudbeckia be pruned to make them bushier and less straggly?
Adrian Higgins: Clematis need some support: A trellis is good until it comes time to prune the vine: the old strands are interwoven and, depending on variety, are difficult to extract. With a more slender version, say the Jackman or viticelli types, I drive nails into a wooden fence and use twine to gently support the stems. Against a masonry wall, I would install a wire frame on which to tie the stems. Butterfly bushes are best cut back.This promotes a more manageable size and plenty of large blooms. This should be done already. Rudbeckias may need to be staked. As an alternative, and as an experiment, you may want to cut a portion of your patch back now and see if it comes back fuller and with a good bloom.
Alexandria, Va.:
How are your peas coming along? Mine are about 4 feet tall and have flowers but are just starting to form pods. I hope I get some before it turns too hot.
Adrian Higgins: I am just harvesting them now, thanks. Far too few vines to make a meal but nice to snack in the garden. My fava beans are astonishing (I haven't grown them before) you open the pod to reveal the beans sitting in a bed of white velvet. It's almost like uncasing a ceremonial weapon. Does anyone know how to prepare fava beans?
Havre de Grace, Md.:
Hi Adrian,
A question about vines for full shade. I have a backyard shaded by a large maple tree (sugar, not silver). I have an arbor that I'd like a flowering vine on. I was thinking about either a porcilan berry or an akebia. Which would be better?
Thanks!!
Adrian Higgins: Well, porcelainberry is an attractive vine but it is about as politically correct these days as lighting up a stogie in the opera house. The vine is invasive and easily spread to the wild by birds. Go with the akebia, or consider a climbing hydrangea or bignonia.
Urbana, Md.:
I recently bought a new house, and now I want to create a number of gardens. Problem is that the developer removed all of the topsoil, leaving nothing but compacted clay and rocks. How do I rehabilitate the garden? I understand compost and/or composted manure, but how much? I don't have space to have a truckload delivered, and the bags of compost and manure I've seen at nurseries say to spread two bags per 10 square feet - at $3.50 to $5.00 a bag! I want a quality garden, and I don't want to skimp on rehabilitating, but is there a cheaper alternative? Can you recommend a given brand of compost or manure? My neighbors say Leaf-Gro, but the stuff costs $5.00 a pop.
Thanks for your help.
Adrian Higgins: There is no easy or quick way to build up soil. As you have discovered, it is also expensive. I would devote a whole year to improving your soil before planting. (This will also give you a good idea about shade, sun, shelter, drainage, etc.)
Since you live in a rural area, I would befriend a stable and arrange to unload their manure. By mixing manure with grass clippings, autumn leaves, kitchen scraps, you will have the best soil and thus the best garden in the world as long as you invest in this first, key step. Don't underestimate the amount you need. I would buy a book on composting to get your juices going.
Silver Spring, Md.:
How do you gradually reduce the amount of clover in your lawn and replace it with grass? I don't want to use lots of chemicals, nor do I want to rip up the lawn and seed/sod it. Thanks.
p.s. I don't care if some clover remains, just not most of the lawn, as it is now.
Adrian Higgins: Clover grows into the vaccuum of receding lawn. I would rip it out (in patches) and re-seed in September.
Alexandria, Va.:
We're new homeowners (and first-time gardeners) who just planted eggplant, cucumber and bell pepper in our garden. How long before we see results? Thanks.
Adrian Higgins: Both eggplants and bell peppers take a long time to mature, cucumbers slightly shorter. You probably won't see the fruit of your efforts until mid to late August. Be patient.
Annapolis, Md.:
Is it possible to grow soybean in this climate? Is it too late to start? I love edamame, but it is so expennsive at the store that I would love to grow my own. Where would I find the seeds and what would I do with them?
Thanks!
Adrian Higgins: It is possible. Edamame is a Japanese delicacy and seeds are available, but not from many sources. I would try Seeds of Change (www.seedsofchange.com)
Alexandria, Va.:
Any suggestions for ground cover for a small yard that gets full sun? I want to dig out the grass, which is not very attractive, and replace it with low maintenance ground cover. When would be the best time to do this - in the fall?
Adrian Higgins: The world is your oyster. Go to Green Spring Gardens Park off Little River Turnpike and get some ideas. Among my favorites for full sun are Japanese garden juniper, daylilies, shrub roses (Carefree Wonder/Delight or Knockout, and, especially, grasses, ornamental that is.
Bethesda, Md.:
Mmmm... fava beans, my favorite! They are good steamed and served warm with a vinaigrette that may include sauteed shallots and/or chives. Another good way to serve them is cooked and pureed with a little butter or oil, alongside roasted meats.
Adrian Higgins: I'll bring the wine. Thanks.
E. Falls Church, Va.:
Can you tell me what Rose of Sharon looks like? There is a plant growing around all the trees and hydrangeas in our yard which our neighbor said was Rose of Sharon. It's on separate stems, with glossy leaves and no flowers yet. Is it worth keeping?
Adrian Higgins: Rose of sharon is a weedy thing but valued for its late summer blooming. It is a member of the mallow family, with a characteristic, hibiscus-like flower. The leaves are many lobed and cut. Old varieties are notorious for spreading seed all over the place. Newer varieties have been bred to be sterile. I like them, particularly mixed in a sunny bed with other plants, and shaped into a small tree.
Urbana, again:
My pesky and intrusive homeowners association bans compost piles. Am I fated to buying $1,000.00 worth of bagged compost every year?
Adrian Higgins: Then just spread it on the soil as a mulch.
Arlington, Va.:
Adrian, I have yet another 'stupid tomato question' for you. My tomato plants, planted almost 3 weeks ago (and used straw mulch) have begun to yellow on the bottom portion of their leaves. I picked off some of the worst branches. Is this early blight? I bought an organic fungicide for them. Will this help? Is there anything else I can do to save my tomatoes?
Adrian Higgins: Sounds like early blight, caused by all this rain. Pluck off the yellow leaves, spray with your organic fungicide, and mulch.
Tomato-land, Va.:
Well, maybe it's not quite tomato land, just Alexandria, but I do have a tomato related question. There's tiny green tomatoes on my patio plants - isn't it too early for fruit? The plants are barely 10 inches high - Should I be pinching off flowers and prevent fruit from setting or should I just let the plant be?
Adrian Higgins: Not too early for an early variety. Tomatoes are so fecund that there is no need to pinch out emerging flowers. Just sit back and watch them ripen.
Arlington, Va.:
I love the look of climbing ivy but know it can be destructive. How seriously can it harm a tree? A very large oak in our backyard has ivy climbing it. Should I cut the ivy?
Adrian Higgins: Ivy actually doesn't harm a tree as much as people think: It does hide evidence of underlying problems such as cankers and cavities and cracks. The difficulty is in removing vines that have climbed high into an old tree. Also, when they are in this stage, they go to flower and seed and birds spread the vine into wilderness areas. This drives the native plant people crazy.
Chevy Chase, Md.:
Good morning-
I'm trying to locate a copy of a book by the Montgomery County Mens Garden Club. Do you know if this is still available or who I might contact. I borrowed this book from the library and found it very well organized.
Adrian Higgins: I believe it is out of print. My contact there is Henry J. Laue. Drop him a note, I'm sure he could help. His address is 11720 Gregerscroft Rd Potomac, Md. 20854.
Baltimore, Md.:
Regarding edible soybeans, I bought seeds of "early hakucho" from Cook's Garden, which are growing very easily and I hope to be having edamame soon.
Adrian Higgins: Thanks.
Washinton, D.C.:
I went away for two weeks, and my arugula that I planted from seed now has flowers. Is the plant still OK to eat, or does it turn bitter once it flowers? Thanks.
Adrian Higgins: yeah, it is not so good. Though I hear the flowers are edible and certainly would spruce up a salad. For the same reason I had my undergardener (all right, my wife) pull the arugula. I will sow another crop in August for the fall.
Washington, D.C.:
I haven't had time to plant herb seeds yet this season -- can I still basil, dill, and oregano this weekend and get a usable yield?
Adrian Higgins: I would go with started plants rather than seeds at this point.
Dressing up a garden:
I've been looking for some garden ornaments (stakes, statuary, etc.) to dress up my garden. Most of this costs a fortune. Where's the best place to find such things? Also, what's your take on birdbaths? I saw an English-style stone bath that I absolutely love, but there's a blue jay in my backyard and I'm sure he'd be the only bird enjoying it. Thanks!
Adrian Higgins: You can sometimes find attractive pieces in antique shops. My feeling is you should spend your money on one good piece rather than on several lesser ornaments. Bird baths are great, they are the single most effective bird magnet in the garden. They do need to be hosed clean once a week to prevent algae build up and problems with mosquitoes.
Cap Hill, Washington, D.C.:
We just bought a house on the Hill and I've noticed some ivy growing along a back fence and up the side of the house. What is the best way to get rid of it? Can I just yank it off?
Adrian Higgins: Cut the vine at its base, wait for the stalks to dry, and rip it off. YOu can then dig out the roots.
Alexandria, Va.:
I just moved into a high-rise and I would like to beautify my balcony. The problem is that I am about to leave town for two weeks.
Could you suggest some things I could plant in early July that would last and aid in my beautification project?
Adrian Higgins: Anything that is newly installed will need watering. I imagine though that if you were to put ornamental grasses or sedums in pots that were big, you could give them a good soaking and they would be all right for a couple of weeks. Try the purple annual pennisetum grass.
Courthouse - Arlington, Va.:
A true novice here:
With all the great rain, the weeds are out but so are the insects. We have what appears to be burrowing bees i think - the holes are like ant hills (we have ants and ant hills as well) but bees are making holes home. I've heard this is a major problem and I'm afraid after looking more closely, these holes seem to be under most of our plants. I would like to weed but our unwelcome guests are calling the shots!
We have - I'll attempt to spell: butterfly trees, hostas, hydreanias, tullips, alseas, lillys, tullips, jap. maples - not sure about a few others.
What action would you recommend?
Our backyard is more woody so not surprisingly, we have spiders and ants but these seem more commom to me.
Need advice with our wild kingdom! but can't really afford serious gardener prices. Help!
Thanks
Adrian Higgins: They might be bees, more likely to be emerging grubs, though you really can't know until you see and identify the insect. Weed with a long handled hoe. If they are wasps, including yellow jackets, you will want to stay clear of them. If you don't feel comfortable killing them yourself, you will have to call an exterminator.
Central Virginia:
I know I'm very late posting this, but please answer if you have time!
Every year about this time our lawn starts to die. It comes in looking lovely, then turns yellow then brown in patches. Is it a fungus? My husband had ChemLawn put an antifungus on it yesterday, then it promptly rained buckets last night. Do we need to get it reapplied?
Thanks!!!
Adrian Higgins: I started late so I will go until about 12:15. With all this rain fungal problems on lawns are bound to appear. It sounds like dollar spot. I am, personally, wary of turfgrass fungicides. We are learning that plants, particularly trees, have very close relationships with beneficial fungicides. If you kill those off, treasured plants can go into decline. Your lawn disease will probably go away once the sun comes back out. I would forget about it, but keep your lawn mowed regularly with a sharp blade to assure good air circulation. You may also want to bag your clippings and throw them out.
Cap Hill, Washington, D.C.:
Thanks for the response on getting rid of the ivy. My wife wonders if we need to even get rid of it. Is it bad for the house? The back of the house is aluminum siding.
Thanks.
Adrian Higgins: I suppose it could get underneath the bottom of the clapboards. If it isn't a problem, I would keep it: It provides sanctuary for birds and keeps the side of the house cool and verdant.
Laurie, Md.:
The evil squirrels have almost given up on our planters -- I don't think they like New Guinea Impatiens. The little -#$-#$#- have turned their attention to a raised bed where we just planted sunflower seeds. How do we keep them away from the beds? Is it me or are the squirrels exceptionally populous this year?
Adrian Higgins: Since we got a little dog, our squirrels seem to be rarer. Maybe they moved to Laurel. You may want to start your sunflowers in styrofoam cups and then stick them in the ground.
Baltimore, Md.:
I planted some roses this year & some of them aren't doing that well. The plants look healthy, but the outer petals of the blooms turn brown before the flowers open. What's going on here?
Adrian Higgins: I believe it's a petal blight caused by the rain. Cut off the offending flowers, this will promote a second flush of roses this summer.
Alexandria, Va.:
How can you tell when a tree is in trouble of dropping limbs? My husband thinks the large lovely maple in our front yard is in trouble -- unfortunately, it is right under the power lines and has been severely trimmed. There are a couple of dead limbs but the rest of it has leafed out well. Should we consult a tree doctor?
Adrian Higgins: If it is in public right of way, you may not own it. I would call the city arborist.
Fairfax, Va.:
I live next to a stream valley park and the trees shade much of my lawn. As you can guess, there's more moss than grass. Over the last couple of years, some sort of plant has been colonizing the wooded edge of the lawn. It has a thin stem about a foot high with numerous leaves branching off the stem. I mow it regularly. I'm not interested in getting rid of it but am curious as to what it could be.
Adrian Higgins: I think you have narrowed it down to about 23,000 plants. More data required.
Northern Virginia:
Hi. We just bought a house we love, but there are several plants in our small yard in need of pruning - oak trees, a red bud, japanese maple, wisteria, and a climbing vine that bloomed a couple of weeks ago. When is the proper time to do serious pruning? Can I do it now or should I wait until fall?
Adrian Higgins: The optimum time to prune deciduous woody plants is in winter when they are dormant. Most plants have now produced most of their growth for the year, so now is a good time to do some shaping, but I wouldn't do any major pruning until next winter.
Arlington, Va.:
I am thinking of starting a compost pile in an old, cracked recycling bin we no longer use. Would that work or do I need a bigger/better container? Should it be kept in sun or shade? And how do you start--just pile in the leaves and plant trimmings and it's off, or do you need a starter ingredient to jump start the bacteria?
Adrian Higgins: A recycling bin wouldn't work: The volume of material would be too small and there would be insufficient air circulation. The best thing to get a pile cooking, in my experience, is horse manure.
Eastport 21403:
Hi Adrian!
Thanks for all of the good advice!
I am growing bell peppers for the first time and am slightly worried about them. There are a couple of branches on each plant, generally the ones with the most blossoms, that are starting to wilt - the leaves and branches are. They look almost like they haven't been getting enough water - which they have - maybe too much with all this rain? And the rest of the leaves and branches around them are fine. The plants are still very thin as well - is this normal? Any hints you can offer in the way of pepper growing would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
Adrian Higgins: Peppers do take a long time to fill out and fruit. I would remove any yellowing leaves and make sure they are in soil that freely drains. I assume they are in a sunny spot.
Alexandria, Va.:
Hi Adrian,
Great chat! I started composting about two months ago. The bulk of the compost consists of leaves, but I add kitchen veggie trimmings and waste from my house bunny every day. I turned the pile yesterday and discovered that there is a nest of huge ants inside the bin. It is thoroughly disgusting, and I'm wondering if this is normal. Do I need to be doing something else? When I first began the bin, I also added a "compost starter" from Home Depot. Has that affected it in any way? It doesn't appear as "hot" as I had anticipated.
Thanks,
Jennifer
Adrian Higgins: I'm not sure your poor bunny can produce enough. If you want it to cook, as I say, you do need fresh manure. Otherwise it will slowly decompose and still be a nice soil conditioner. As for the ants, just turn the pile and let them know that this is not the place for a permanent home. They will get the message.
Alexandria, Va.:
My pansies don't look so good. I planted them about six weeks ago and they've grown but they grow tall and scraggly, not wide and bushy. I've plucked off the flowers as they die and kept them watered but that's about all I've done. It seems like one flower on each plant will grow real tall. Should I cut that one back? Or is it too late to do anything to improve their looks?
Adrian Higgins: Pansy season is over. The heat causes blooms to shrink and stems to elongate. Buy fresh pansies in September.
Fredericksburg, Va.:
Can you recommend a good book on getting started growing Bonsai plants. What are good plants to use, how to get started, and care giving. I love Bonsai. I have a fantasy about having a house full of elegant Bonsai plants.
Thanks,
Adrian Higgins: There are many, but I would travel to the National Aboretum and to the bonsai pavilion there. You will see amazing specimens, and get information on local bonsai societies, books, etc. Check out the arboretum's website first.
Round Hill Ant Farm:
Good rainy morning to you.
Question about ants. Not necessarily in the garden, but a big heaping mound in my back yard. How to get rid of the big pests? I've thought of pouring boiling water, but that would take forever. Because of active three-year-old I don't want to use chemicals unless absolutely necessary. Leaving them be - not an option. Previous ant problems.
Thanks.
Oh, one more thing. Would Hostas survive under a large oak? Hilly barren area where weeds thrive, but grass won't grow. Have plenty of hostas to divide when the time's right.
Thanks again. Always enjoy your chats.
Adrian Higgins: We used to kill them with boiling water in England. Seems to do the trick. You may need to have two or three kettles on the boil. Be careful not to scald yourself.
re: hydrangeas:
How do you get hydrangeas in partial sunny gardens to grow with lots of flowers, (not hidden by the large leaves), without drooping over? I'm having lots of trouble with mine and I've seen others that look great.
Thanks !
Adrian Higgins: You don't mention the type: Oakleaf hydrangeas do flop over because of the weight of the infloresence. Lacecap and mopheads tend to be more upright. Consider removing some of the lower branches of surrounding trees to bring in more light.
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.:
I love hydrangeas and my tiny garden is host to several. I know that in order to make them blue I need to add iron to the soil, but can you please suggest an easy way to do so?
Adrian Higgins: Not iron but aluminum sulfate. Maybe an acidifying feed such as Muracid or Hollytone would work too. Right folks, sorry I can't get to all the questions, but they are all valued. We are now alternating the garden chats by week, so the next one, hosted by Adrienne Cook, will take place on June 21. Thanks.
compost!:
Urbana should check with the county for a community compost area. I have loaded up with bags of free leaf compost at county site in Alexandria for county residents. It is better than anything you can buy. Makes a beautiful mulch or can be mixed into the soil.
Adrian Higgins: I had to include this last one for the sake of the person in Urbana trying to improve the clay subsoil.
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