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The Garden Plot
Hosted by Adrian Higgins
Washington Post Garden Editor
Thursday, April 24, 2003; 11 a.m. ET
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."
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.
Bethesda, Md.:
We think we are ready to add a water feature to our yard as it would be a nice focal point and we would enjoy the calming sound. How does one install these? Is there a way to do this without hooking up to a consistent water source? Any guidance on places to shop for this?
Adrian Higgins: I hope to write about this soon in the Home section. What a lot of people with water features have discovered, myself included, is that they are a constant maintenance burden. You must have a pump to recirculate water to reduce algae buildup. Most ponds should have fish, they eat the mosquito larvae and prevent the pond from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. However, the presence of fish means that you cannot use toxic chemicals to keep the pond clean, so you must then revert to various physical and biological filters to do that job, which need constant cleaning and fine tuning. The bottom line: Ponds are a commitment. I believe they are worth it. Nothing gives a garden a sense of soul better than water.
Takoma Park, Md.:
This is maybe mundane for you, but important for me. Due to lingering construction, I've missed both fall and (I think by now) spring grass-planting windows. Our yard, already hard-packed and mossy in places, is now further denuded by construction traffic and lumber storage.
Can I reseed in a couple of weeks, or is it a better idea to wait until fall? Also, will a simple plug aeration do the trick, or should I go nuclear and roto-till the entire lawn before replanting the grass?
Adrian Higgins: Certainly not mundane. You don't say how large your lawn is. If it were 5,000 square feet or less, I think I would be inclined to till the area and start again in early September. You might spread quick sprouting rye grass now to give you a few weeks of green, but don't expect much from it this summer.
Clarksburg, Md.:
Adrian, I moved into a new house and created a vegetable garden (40" x 20'). It gets full sun, but when I went out yesterday to look and prep for the upcoming gardening season, I noticed lots of moss. The yard is one of those New Development specials, i.e., they scraped off all of the topsoil and left the rocky clay, but I added lots of compost, manure and shredded leaves before planting last year. I also added something I bought from Home Depot, which claimed to be an additive for clay soils.
All that grew last year was the tomatos, hot peppers and red/green peppers. My vining veggies (cukes, zucchini, squash) all died.
When I inspected the garden last weekend in preparation for spring, I noticed lots of moss. What gives? The area gets full sun, and drains as well as can be expected. Other parts of the lawn get moss too, but mostly in shady spots as well as near evergreens. Help!
Adrian Higgins: I would say that as much as you have amended the soil, it is still not enough to give good tilth. The soil may be too acidic, too. You may not want to buy as many bags of humus and compost as would be necessary to enrich the soil in the whole bed, but I would certainly divide the garden in half and add bags of good stuff to that piece and work it into the soil. Turn the soil throughout the garden, adding well powdered limestone and some wood ashes.
I would start a separate compost pile, throw in some horse manure and leaves, and when it is well rotted, screen it and add that into the soil as you rotate vegetables. After a few months, you will have significantly improved the soil. It is important not to use fresh manure on plants designated for food, because of the risk of food poisoning.
Washington, D.C.:
Dear Adrian--
I love these discussions, but as the owner of a 4th
floor condo, I've always just read these for fun.
For the first time this summer, however, I've rented
a small garden plot, and I would like your advice.
The plot only has partial sun, but I think there will
be enough sun for a few tomatoes. I want the plot
to be a small vegetable garden, and I pretty much
enjoy all vegetables. What else would you
suggest I plant in order to determine in this first
year what works and what doesn't work.
Obviously, I want to stay away from things like
watermelon, etc. that need a great deal of sun, but
are there some vegetables (and herbs) out there
that might surprise me with their ability to grow
well in only partial sun? Thanks!
Adrian Higgins: Tomatoes, alas, really need a sunny location as well. I would try one or two tomato plants in the very sunniest of corners, but for the rest, grow lettuce, spinach, chard, carrots and culinary herbs.
Alexandria, Va.:
Is it still too early to plant tomatos and peppers in a pot?
Adrian Higgins: I think so, not because of the danger of frost, but because soil temperatures, even in a pot, are still too cool and the plants will just sit there. Wait a week or two. This weekend you could get your pots positioned and filled.
Plant Sale:
I am thinking about going to the National Arboretum's Plant Sale this weekend. I am especailly looking for annuals and herbs for my balcony. I can't get there before 12-1 p.m. Will it all be gone? washingtonpost.com:
The Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) is sponsoring its 12th Annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale on Saturday April 26 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. -- National Arboretum Official Web site
Adrian Higgins: I suspect the rush will be for woody plants, but who knows? I hope they have anticipated a good demand.
washingtonpost.com:
More garden sales this weekend: Garden Date Book, (Post, April 24)
Adrian Higgins: More plant sale stuff.
Forest Glen, Md.:
I hope in your water feature article, you spend some time discussing plants for ponds in shade as well as plants for ponds in full sun. Our pond gets partial shade and I've had a hell of a time growing verticle plants like reeds.
Don't forget froggies! They're a real nice addition and a nice alternative to fish. They kill mosquito larvae, too -- but their presence means no lawn chemicals either -- not just the chem in the water.
Adrian Higgins: YOu raise a good point. If your pond is not in full sun, growing some of the most attractive pond plants, particularly water lilies, becomes a problem.
Leonardtown, Md.:
Good morning Mr. Higgins - what would you recommend for small shrubs (either evergreen or decidious) for an area that is semi-shady and the ground stays fairly dry? Thank you.
Adrian Higgins: Try something called Mahonia aquifolium, Oregon grape-holly, or possibly a dwarf version of the heavenly bamboo. Another might be a real bamboo, but a clumping one (not invasive) called Fargesia nitida.
Arlington, Va.:
I am redesigning my patio and would like to move a Rose of Sharon tree (relatively young, approximately five feet in height). I have read that these are hardy plants and can be transplanted any time. Would like your opinion, particularly as to whether a move will affect blooms this season. Thank you.
Adrian Higgins: I don't think it is possible to kill a rose of Sharon, and since they bloom on new wood, you can cut it back a fair bit after replanting without loss of flowers this summer.
Boston, Mass.:
My husband, thinking he was doing the right thing, threw a bunch of used charcoal onto my compost pile. This happened during the winter when he was cleaning out the grill, so I didn't see it until recently. Is the compost salvageable?
Adrian Higgins: Charcoal is quite harmless and will improve the structure of your compost, just make sure that it is well mixed.
Cut down a tree, enjoy the tulips:
I laughed out loud when you wrote last week that half the world wants to attract wildlife and the other half (to put it mildly) do not. I will happily report that I cut down a dying locust that was home to a certain squirrel who terrorized me and my neighbors (including trying to come inside my house). The squirrel has gone away and our neighborhood's tulips are holding their heads high!
Adrian Higgins: Sic semper rodents
Frederick, Md.:
Can azeleas be trimmed, and if so, during what season? Also, our development's HOA regulations require us to include shrubs in our landscaping "to maintain integrity." Are there any small shrubs that I can plant that has a decent appearance and doesn't require extensive trimming. Thanks!
Adrian Higgins: Ah, the search for respectibility. What would we do without homeowners associations? Again, I think nandinas or heavenly bamboo are handsome, not too stiff or tight, and look after themselves.
Montgomery Village, Md. Mom:
Hi, I am looking forward to planting tomatoes and summer squash, and maybe some herbs this year with my toddlers (ages 1 and 3). I am unsure about when to plant (we will start with seedlings) and what to do before planting. We are using a plot of land right next to our house that gets great sun. Last year we planted tomatoes there late and the plants grew and grew (6 feet tall). We tried to stake them but with marginal success. Our zucchini didn't survive at all.
Any tips or good resources to recommend? I want this to be a good experience for my kids.
Adrian Higgins: Did the zucchini die due to drought or insect infestation? I would spend the next two weekends digging in nice stuff like rotted cow manure, sphagnum peat moss, and peat humus, then rake and prepare the beds. In mid-May, set the plants. Both need warm soil and there is no advantage in starting them early. I would make sure that the plants do not become stressed, by watering regularly, evenly, and feeding on occasion with an organic fertilizer. I like to use a fish/seaweed emulsion. Mulch the beds with straw.
Silver Spring, Md.:
Love the chats and your book! I'm removing some ugly shrubs from in front of the house and am wondering if any of the low, hybrid, crepe myrtles would work in that space. It's a well-drained, sunny area, and I'd love to plant one, but don't know whether it would look good right next to the house, just under the bay window. Which, if any, would look good under there? Natchez?
Adrian Higgins: Thanks. These days, crepe myrtles come in many different forms, from true dwarf varieties to tree forms that grow to 20 feet or more. Natchez is one of the latter. It is a handsome plant and worth growing as a specimen, but it needs some room. The arboretum has also produced a couple of new dwarf varieties that function as perennials. I don't have the variety names to hand, look up the U. S. National Arboretum web site.
Arlington, Va.:
Good morning Adrian,
Now that my hostas have come up, it's obvious that they have outgrown their current space. What's the best time of year to divide and move them? I seem to be having the same problem with my peonies.
Adrian Higgins: If they are truly crowded, I would move them now, but do be careful not to damage the emerging leaves. Probably the optimum time is in early fall.
Silver Spring, Md.:
Having given up on getting mulch/compost delivered and raked in at a reasonable cost (actually most landscapers I called didn't bother to return the call), I'm going to do it myself. What should I concentrate on first (e.g., trees with visible root systems or flowers)? Any particular kind of mulch best for overall use (or should I buy different kinds for different areas)? Thanks!
Adrian Higgins: I believe that the best general mulch is a thin layer of shredded leaves, applied once in spring and again in the fall. Your municipality may well offer them for free. Otherwise, it's a question of chopping and storing them yourself each fall.
The Valley, Va.:
Question: at my new house, there is a 4-foot bush in front that has been covered in big pink tulip-like blossoms. What on earth is it? I've never seen one like it before. It doesn't have much in the way of leaves now; will it fill out later? It's not got the most attractive branching and shape; is pruning okay on whatever it is?
Thanks for trying to solve the mystery!
Adrian Higgins: It sounds as if it is a tree peony. If it is you are lucky and you should not prune it.
Alexandria, Va.:
I'm a novice gardener as well as a first time homeowner. I recently started three colors of wave petunias indoors, and they are all just starting to sprout after about a week. How big do they need to be before I move them outside, and how long will it take for them to get to that size?
Adrian Higgins: First, the seedlings much not be crowded, so if you have a number coming up in one little cell, you need to take scissors to all but the strongest. Then, let them get bigger where they are, and in a week move them out to a sheltered and shady spot. Bring them in at night. This will acclimate them to the big bad world. After a week or 10 days, they can stay outdoors, but must be watered daily. When they have an established root system that fills their little pots, then they can be moved to bigger containers or into beds, but do be careful not to unduly damage the roots or the weak, flaccid stems.
Upper Marlboro, Md.:
Adrian,
My Zoysia lawn is just not bouncing back this year! I had aerated and fertilized last fall, and it's now still mostly brown with some green spikes poking through. Is this normal, or do I need to take any action?
Thank you!
Adrian Higgins: The weather and soil temperatures are cooler than normal. Give it a few weeks and it should be all right.
Springfield, Va.:
In fall 2001 I planted dozens of daffodils, along with a little bulb food. They were fabulous when they came up last spring. Afterward I snipped off the flower stems and tied back the foliage till it withered. This year only about 10 percent of them bloomed. I haven't fed them since planting. Is that the problem? Or could crowding/shading be a factor -- they're in bunches in a bed around a tree.
Adrian Higgins: Possibly a combination of not quite enough sunlight and the fact you tied back the foliage. Keep them where they are but let the leaves alone. Also, don't remove the whole flower stem, just the seed pod. The stem has lots of chlorophyll and will feed the bulb.
Derwood, Md.:
Silver Spring's compost question: Indeed, Montgomery County does offer free mulch. It's available at the transfer station next to the Shady Grove Metro station.
Note that you have to shovel it yourself; it is not bagged.
Adrian Higgins: Bravo.
Takoma Park, Md.:
Hi Adrian, here's a question from the metro region's Azalea central. I have one of those potted florist azaleas which has been indoors for two years. It has had blooms on it nearly the whole time. Now it is getting leggy and leaning toward the light (east window)and I was wondering if I should try cutting it back a bit and repotting. I hesitate to put it outside because I don't know if it is hardy, and anyway I enjoy having it indoors. Thanks for any advice you can give.
Adrian Higgins: I would repot it in a slightly larger pot, freshen the soil mix, trim the roots a little with scissors and set the azalea outdoors now in a semi shaded spot until October, keeping it watered once a week. Bring it in for the winter.
For "The Valley", Va.:
Adrian, the plant in question is probably not a tree peony -- they get their leaves before they bloom. It's possible that the plant in question is a quince. washingtonpost.com:
Hmm, I thought it might be a Tulip Magnolia. -- Liz
Adrian Higgins: You might be right, I suppose the quince flower might look a little like an opened tulip, though it seemed a little small for that. It might be a newly planted one. Liz produces this show for washingtonpost.com. It might be a late season tulip magnolia, but a very young one.
Maryland:
I just settled on a new house and sod has been put on the front and back yards. It appears that for some parts, the ground was not leveled off (due to footprints, etc.) when some of the sod was put it. How critical is it to rake this soil down to make sure the grass/ground grows evenly, or does it matter at all over time?
Adrian Higgins: It matters a great deal, because there has to be good root to soil contact beneath the sod. Otherwise, the roots will dry out and the turf will die. Sod should be laid on cultivated soil and then rolled to squeeze out any air gaps between the layers.
Ashburn, Va.:
I have an Encore Azalea that has grown tremendously leggy -- it almost seems like the plant has no central substance at all. Is this something in the nature of that variety, or is there something I can do to make it less leggy?
Adrian Higgins: I have not grown these varieties, which have been developed for their repeat bloom. You can promote branching by removing the tips of stems to above a lower leaf cluster. You might also work a little Epsom salt into the top root zone.
Arlington, Va.:
Hello,
When will it be warm enough outside to plant seeds for flowers such as Zinnias, Marigolds, Cosmos, etc.? The packages say one to two weeks after last frost. Have we had our last frost? I was using April 20 as my gauge for starting seeds. Thanks for your help!
Adrian Higgins: That's a good date for Arlington. You would be safe then (famous last words).
It's a Jungle Out Here:
Hello, Mr. Higgins: I'm looking for a zone 7, showy, fence-climbing vine. Trumpet vine looks too problematic (ants, irritant, invasive). Does Hibiscus exist as a vine? How about a bright colored Clematis?
Also, if I may, I have a Gerber Daisy but it's not clear to me whether it's a perennial -- can I plant it in the ground to last? Lastly, can you recommend a comprehensive horticulture book? Online seems either feast or famine. Many thanks!
Adrian Higgins: Gerber daisy is not hardy for us and doesn't like our humidity.
I am struck by many types of clematis. One of my favorite types if the Clematis vitifolia, which doesn't suffer from the wilt dieback seen on the large flowering hybrids. They are quite spindly for a number of years, however, if you are looking for a beefier clematis, consider the sweet autumn clematis. Alas, I was not able to answer all your great questions, but I hope you had fun in our virtual garden today.
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
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