Monthly Gardening Q&A – September 2023
Introduction
Do you have gardening questions that need answering? Our team of horticultural experts are here to help! Each month, we answer a selection of your gardening questions and share the advice right here.
September 2023 Questions and Answers
Q: Why haven’t my dahlia flower buds opened?
A: Dahlias need plenty of sunlight and water to produce flowers. Make sure your dahlias are getting at least 6 hours of sunlight per day and are watered deeply and regularly.
Q: How do I keep the color of my maroon hydrangea?
A: The color of hydrangeas is determined by the pH of the soil. To keep the maroon color of your hydrangeas, you need to keep the soil acidic. You can do this by adding aluminum sulfate to the soil.
Q: How can I remove bamboo that has spread?
A: Bamboo can be difficult to remove once it has spread. The best way to remove bamboo is to dig up the rhizomes, which are the underground stems that spread the plant. You can also try using a bamboo barrier to prevent the rhizomes from spreading.
Q: When I bring cut flowers in, they’re full of insects. What can I do?
A: To prevent insects from getting into your cut flowers, you can try the following:
- Submerge the flowers in a bucket of water for a few hours.
- Spray the flowers with insecticidal soap.
- Place the flowers in a vase with a few drops of dish soap.
Q: How do I encourage my morning glory to flower?
A: Morning glories need full sun and well-drained soil to flower. Make sure your morning glories are getting at least 6 hours of sunlight per day and are not planted in soggy soil.
August 2023 Questions and Answers
Q: How can I control red spider mite in my greenhouse?
A: Red spider mites are tiny pests that can damage plants by sucking the sap from their leaves. To control red spider mites, you can try the following:
- Spray the plants with water to knock off the mites.
- Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to kill the mites.
- Introduce predatory mites to your greenhouse, which will eat the red spider mites.
Q: Can I put raised beds for vegetables on top of gravel?
A: Yes, you can put raised beds for vegetables on top of gravel. However, you will need to make sure that the gravel is well-drained and that the raised beds are high enough to allow for proper drainage.
Q: Why have most of the leaves and flowers on my dahlia been eaten?
A: There are a few different pests that can eat dahlia leaves and flowers, including slugs, snails, and caterpillars. To protect your dahlias from these pests, you can try the following:
- Use slug and snail bait to kill slugs and snails.
- Handpick caterpillars off of your plants.
- Spray your plants with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Q: My compost heap is covered in cleavers. What should I do?
A: Cleavers are a common weed that can quickly take over a compost heap. To get rid of cleavers, you can try the following:
- Pull the cleavers out of the compost heap by hand.
- Mow the cleavers down with a lawn mower.
- Spray the cleavers with herbicide.
Q: Why do my lavender plants flop over?
A: Lavender plants can flop over for a few different reasons, including overwatering, too much nitrogen fertilizer, or not enough sunlight. To prevent your lavender plants from flopping over, make sure that you are not overwatering them, that you are using a balanced fertilizer, and that they are getting enough sunlight.
Conclusion
We hope that this month’s Q&A has been helpful. If you have any other gardening questions, please feel free to send them to our team of horticultural experts.
