You asked a pro—he answered. Citytv’s gardening specialist Frank Ferragine has solutions for our readers’ green-thumb conundrums.
Hi Frank,
We live in the north end of Barrie by the golf course on St. Vincent Street. My neighbour and I both have the same problem in our front flowerbed — nothing grows. We are close to the road and get a lot of salt and snow in the winter. We bought good soil from a garden centre and even fertilized our plants, but nothing seems to work except hens and chicks. Is there anywhere we can test the soil so we know what we can plant?
Thanks,
Ann Bowes
Barrie, On.
Hi Ann,
Barrie is well known for its sandy soil, which means lots of drainage. Hens and chicks prefer dry conditions, which is why they are thriving. Look for similar plants that like it dry, assuming you have a south-facing garden. In terms of soil testing, you can purchase a basic soil testing kit at most garden centres or you can send it off to the University of Guelph for a small fee. Applying gypsum in the spring will help cure some of the possible damage that may occur due to high salt levels in the soil. Also think about using plants that have better salt tolerance such as viburnums, cotoneaster, roses and azaleas.
Frankie
Hi Frankie,
I have a small tree that is not doing well. I’m not sure of the name so I have attached a picture. I have been watering it and giving it lots of sunlight and it was growing incredibly. I have had this plant for 13 years. Not sure if it grew too tall, but the branches are starting to weep and don't seem strong enough to hold the leaves. Can you help?
Yours Truly,
Tina Drexler
Hi Tina,
The plant in question is commonly known as Chinese Aralia or Ming Aralia (Polyscias fruticosa). The ideal location for this plant is indoors, in an area with bright indirect sunlight. Chinese Aralia doesn’t enjoy drafts, so be sure to keep it away from windows. In terms of watering, I would suggest allowing the plant to dry slightly before watering as it sounds like you may be drowning it.
Frankie
Hi Frank,
I had two clematis plants which were doing well but not as well as others I saw which were loaded with flowers. Last year I planted another clematis in between the two I already had and also added a lot of triple mix. This year my clematis did not do well, produced very few flowers and had some dying branches.
Need your help. Thanks.
M. Allem
Hi M. Allem,
Clematis like sunny tops and shaded bottoms. Be sure to plant them in a location of full sun while shading the roots with either some mulch or by planting a low- growing perennial in front of them. Clematis also enjoy alkaline soil. Triple mix is a combination of manure and loam, both of which may have a high percentage of acidity. I would suggest for this season adding some horticultural lime around the base of your clematis to reduce the acidity of the soil. At the same time prune any dead wood. I hope this helps.
Frankie
Hi Frank,
I read your article about fungus gnats. You mentioned putting some yellow strips in your soil to test for fungus gnats. What are these yellow sticky strips called, and where can I purchase them?
Thank you,
Leanne Dearden
Hi Leanne,
The yellow strips are commonly referred to as sticky strips and can be purchased at most garden centres. I’ve even seen them available at both Home Depot and Canadian Tire.
Frankie
Hi Frank,
Great information you provide on TV. Can a small young cherry tree be planted any time other than in the fall or spring?
Thank you,
Norm & Nadiya Jones
Hi Norm & Nadiya,
Container-grown trees and shrubs, including cherry trees, can be planted anytime during the growing season as long as adequate moisture is provided, especially during the summer months. The best months to plant are those that fall during the spring and fall. Fall and spring generally have greater frequency of rain, combined with warm days and cool nights which is excellent weather for good root establishment.
Frankie
Hi Frank,
Last autumn, when I brought my outdoor plants inside for the winter, I also brought in some tiny flies, which then spread throughout the house. What can I do to prevent this from happening again?
Also, I have two tiny poppy plants which did not mature. Should I bring them in and put them under grow lights until next summer?
Thanks for your advice.
Marijke Warners
Hi Marijke,
When bringing plants indoors I always suggest that you give them a quick spraying with an organic insecticide. My favourite choice is Safers 3 in 1, which is a fungicide, insecticide and miticide. With just one application it covers a lot. I highly recommend spraying both the top and underside of the leaves.
The best place for the poppies is in the ground as they are a perennial and will benefit from a dormancy period. To increase their chances of survival, apply 2” of leaves or mulch on top to add extra insulation.
Happy gardening,
Frank
The Epoch Times takes this opportunity to thank Frank for getting us through another gardening season by answering our readers’ questions. And remember, for more great gardening tips you can catch Frank on "Frankie Flowers," a weekly edition of “CityOnline” airing every Friday at 12:30 p.m. EST on Citytv Toronto and CP24.
