The Garden Plot

Gardening

Adrian Higgins (The Washington Post)

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."

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.

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Washington, D.C.: Question from a city dweller: I purchased two hibiscus container plants last Spring for my balcony. Over the summer they wrapped themselves around the balcony rails. I want to bring them inside for the winter, should I unravel the entire network, or cut them to a manageable size or something else?

Thanks much!

Adrian Higgins: Just cut the stems off the railing and bring in the plants. Do check though for bugs before bringing them in and wash any off, or remove by hand. The hibiscus should be watered sparingly and given a bright but cool environment, if you have one.

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Springfield, Va.: Over the last two weeks, I've noticed a few random azaela blooms in the yard. Yesterday, I noticed several blooms on my rhododendron. I've never had fall blooms before... what gives? Is it all the rain we've had this year?

Adrian Higgins: Azaleas and rhododendrons have a tendency to rebloom, this is quite normal and nothing to worry about. This will not affect the flower show next spring. nor is it a sign that the plant is stressed. Indeed, some breeders have taken this trait and developed fall blooming azaleas. I think azaleas should only bloom in the spring, myself.

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Arlington, Va.: We recently moved gardens (and houses) from a sun-drenched small lot to a larger lot with tall oaks shading much of the yard. I did take a few favorites from the old place, including beautyberry (callicarpa) seedlings. The beautyberry at the old place anchored a bed, and was in near full sun. Can beautyberrys get by on dappled sunlight, or will I need to wait for an oak or two to pass on?

Adrian Higgins: Beauty berries will bloom and set fruit in partial shade.

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Ames, Iowa: A year ago I planted a few dozen daffodil bulbs of three or four varieties. I think a handful of them actually came up, but they didn't bloom, and the rest were MIA. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed.

As I recall, I planted the bulbs about six inches deep (six inches to the base of the bulb, not six inches to the top of the bulb), and some were in full sun, and others in partial shade.

So, what are the possible explanations for daffodil bulbs that don't emerge, or do emerge and don't bloom?

Adrian Higgins: A lack of sunlight can force daffodils to stop blooming as can the encroachment of surrounding vegetation. You can lift them and replant them in a sunnier location. Another way of inducing flowering is to feed the bulbs with some sort of nutrient that will make its way down to the roots.

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Glover Park, Washington, D.C.: Thanks for the artcle on planting bulbs. My wife and I have bought about 100 bulbs for our townhouse yard and have planted about 1/4 of them in front so far. We're novices, so please tell me how much we have to worry about squirrels digging up our bulbs. They're swarming the yard, but I have trouble believing the little beasts can get down 6-7 inches for a daffodil or tulip treat but they are digging everywhere. (And they're fearless, by the way.)

Adrian Higgins: Yes, this is a big problem, or can be. There is an easy method and a hard method of fending off these little rats. Squirrels love crocus and tulip bulbs. The easy method is to plant them deeper than normal, say 7 inches. The harder one is to cover the bulb bed with chicken wire, which is then covered with mulch. The mesh should be large enough for the bulbs to grow through. I have not done this, I know the wire will rust and present its own headaches. Might be worth a try if you have an army of rodents rubbing their tummies as you plant.

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Alexandria, Va.: This has probably been answered before, but I recently discovered this chat so please bear with me. I recently planted tulips bulbs and every single one of them has been taken removed into the pantry of the local squirrels. I do have more to plant and as the first frost has not occured yet, I am hoping it will be time. Any ideas on how to keep them away? Also, which way should the bulbs be planted?

Thank you.

Adrian Higgins: This fits with the previous answer. They do not like daffodils or alliums, you might switch to those.

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Arlington, Va.: Is it too late to transplant azaleas?

Thank you.

Adrian Higgins: No, most things can be transplanted as long as the ground is not frozen. Just make sure that they go to an area that gets good drainage. Mulch the shrubs to prevent frost heaving of the soil.

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Washington, D.C.: Judging by your aritcle, I'm assuming it's still good planting time for the bulbs we went a little crazy on at the nursery not long ago. So we're planning out where to plant what, but I'm intrigued by the "puddle" concept you mentioned, can you elaborate a bit? If nothing else, sounds like this could save us some time on planning the plantings.

Adrian Higgins: Say you plant four bulbs to a square foot, a puddle of 25 bulbs would cover five square feet. This has enough presence to catch the eye from afar and lead you to other puddles that you have strategically placed.

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Dying fir: Do firs have an expiration date? Ours is about as tall as our townhouse so it's been around for a while, but very suddenly with the season change it's lost nearly all of its needles. Is there any saving it? Is it time to pull the plug?

Adrian Higgins: If the needle drop is from the bottom of the branches, it is simply renewing itself.

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The Blue Ridge Mountains: Hi, my sister used to fix something called poke salad. She said that it grew wild and she had to boil it many times to get the poisen out. She passed away two years ago and I miss her much. Might you know what she was talking about?

Adrian Higgins: I suspect this is pokeweed, which is a weed but sets berries that the birds like, and is considered ornamental in some regions. I don't know if it is safe for herbal use, I just looked up Jim Duke's Green Pharmacy but couldn't find a reference.

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Silver Spring, Md.: What should I be doing for my lawn in the time remaining this fall? Should I keep the grass long or short?

Adrian Higgins: Lawn renovation season is just about over. The final cut of the year can be a little shorter. Mowing frequently is also a good way to collect leaves before they get excessive.

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Frederick, Md.: Hello Adrian! I STILL have aphids on my rose bush. Will they disappear over the winter or do they wear little snow gear!

Adrian Higgins: Aphids will appear in winter, amazingly, considering they have soft bodies with no insulation. Hose them off, they don't come with wetsuits.

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Roses: Do climbing roses get cut back for the winter? Our new plants have done very well over the summer I hate to see them have to start all over again next year.

Adrian Higgins: You can cut back the main cane to the desired height but you should leave some lateral branches, which are cut back to about four buds in winter dormancy. From these buds, next year's flowering branches will emerge. So don't cut back a climber as you would a bush.

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Bulb Addict: I loved your article today. I, too, am a bulb addict. My garden is much smaller than yours, but proportionately, we are equally crazy about bulbs.

How do you keep squirrels and other critters from bothering your bulbs? I sprinkle blood meal around the plantings and put chicken wire in the ground over prized bulbs. Do you have a better way? Please let me know.

Adrian Higgins: Only burying them deeply. Tell us, though, do those remedies work?

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Shed some light: Do tulips and daffodils do well in any kind of light? We have all sorts in our little city yard, but wasn't sure what we have to plan for which bloom?

Adrian Higgins: I would put the daffodils in the slightly shadier spot. The tulips will stretch wildly in the shade.

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Squirrels: Is it normal to develop a deep seeded hatred for squirrels? Growing up I thought they were rather charming. Now, I'd sooner sit on my back steps with a loaded shotgun. Wouldn't go over too well in my neighborhood. Any support groups out there?

Adrian Higgins: The thing I don't understand is why there are so many of them? You see the American gray squirrel, for example, In European parks, but they are far fewer in number and don't seem to bother people's gardens quite as much.

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Transplanting roses?: Thinking about giving two climbing roses to our parents because they have, well, nothing to climb on in the garden we inheirited with our purchase. Easily done?

Adrian Higgins: Give them a try, though established roses have deep roots and don't move well. It might be worth the risk.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Should I attempt to combat the clover in my lawn at this time of year? What do you recommend to have less clover next year?

Adrian Higgins: This is how I combat clover: Keep the lawn properly limed (get a pH test) and inundate the clover patch with grass seed, which should shade it out.

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Alexandria, Va.: Dear Adrian --

I have a beautiful in bloom mandevilla plant that needs to be wintered in doors. With the weather getting cooler I know I need to bring it inside soon. I just can't seem to get myself to cut down the vines with all those pretty pink flowers. Should I wait until it's almost too late or just bite the bullet and trim it back so I can bring it in this weekend?

Thanks so much!

Adrian Higgins: You do want to do it before the frost. This weekend or next would be the time.

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Bulb City, Va.: Today's article made me feel better about my own bulbaholicism. This year was only 400 crocus and anemone bulbs!

Of course, there were all of those crowded daffodil bulbs I dug up a couple of months ago...

Adrian Higgins: Great. I love the idea of digging around and finding an old group of daffodils and pocketing them and planting them elsewhere, where they will flourish.

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Arlington, Va.: Any suggestions for trees/shrubs/plants that don't grow like crazy, require minimum maintenance,and aren't ugly? I need to landscape my house and I have no clue where to begin. Other than mowing a lawn, I don't know much. Thanks!

Adrian Higgins: A number of dwarf conifers might work for you. Visit the Gotelli Dwarf Conifer collection at the National Arboretum to get some ideas.

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Alexandria, Va.: Adrian -

When is the best time to lift and divide ornamental grasses -- and what is the best method for doing so?

Thanks!

Adrian Higgins: Most grasses are best divided in the late winter, spring, before new growth. Cut off all the top growth and with a really sharp axe, start cutting out clumps. Don't try to lift the whole thing.

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Save the peonies: My grandmother gave us two peonies that were taken from some very old, beautiful fragrant peonies in Baltimore county. We waited a while to plant them though they seemed to hold their own over the summer. We got them in to the ground a couple weeks ago and they're going a bit brown. Do these guys get cut back for the winter or have we done the peonies wrong?

Adrian Higgins: This is natural perennial dieback, perhaps hastened by the move. They should bounce back in the spring.

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Arlington, Va.: Adrian,
I'm a complete bulb novice, but have a spot in my garden I'd like to start with. It's currently got a bunch of scraggly day lilies that no longer bloom, so I'm ready to uproot the whole thing and start over. The plot faces sits along a west-facing wall of the house, and has some overhanging trees, so it only gets about four hours of direct afternoon/evening sun. Can you recommend some bulbs that would flower in that setting, and any other tips I need to get started? Many thanks.

Adrian Higgins: I would go with some scillas and/or grape hyacinths.

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Arlington, Va.: HELP! I have a small Cyclamen: The leaves are turning yellow, the color (sharp pink) is fading. The plant is inside my apartment and I water it about once a week by soaking the pot in water. I have the Cyclamen on my West facing window. Humidity is about 40 percent and temperature is about 77. Thanks.

Adrian Higgins: Lower the temperature, raise the humidity and soak the roots half as much.

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Cheverly, Md.: This summer I grew mint in a raised pot so that it wouldn't take over the yard. However, although it look health enough, it never became lush. The leaves were always much smaller than normal.

So, two questions: Will it winter over in the pot and, when I replace the dirt in the spring what can I do to ensure I have scrumptious looking mint?

Adrian Higgins: The conventional advice is to grow mint in pots to contain its spread. I'm sorry, but mints in pots just never grow vigorously enough for me. Plant them in the ground, put in some sort of barrier if you want, and let them go. Mints also need lots of moisture, something lacking in a pot.

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Norfolk, Va.: I just moved into a new house in September and want to garden through the winter -- climate here is very forgiving. If I plant lettuce, spinach and other greens this weekend, will they continue to grow under a cloche or in an unheated greenhouse, or am I too late? What about beets and carrots? My "hoophouse" has good southern exposure and is sheltered from wind.

Adrian Higgins: All those things will grow through the winter in Norfolk with protection, with lettuce being the most iffy. I am doing the same here and will place a row cover over both existing sowings of carrots, lettuce and spinach, as well as new ones. Even seedlings that don't grow through the winter will rebound mightly in late winter and produce a great early crop in April and May.

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Manassas, Va.: Hi! I read your article every chance I get. I was the lady whose mom helped me plant bulbs last year in the clay soil. We got flowers! As I said before, however, I am new to the area and I really want year round color but I'm not sure what plants to use in the winter and fall months. I know that pansies will grow in the winter but can you just give me a few quick ideas as to what I should plant for blooming in the fall and winter? I am adding black soil as I plant and that seems to condition my dirt. Thank you in advance for an answer I just know will work. You have a great day.

Adrian Higgins: Certainly pansies will add some color until we get prolonged freezes, and even then they will grow back robustly in the spring. I believe strongly that the garden in winter has great ornamental value, but it is one that relies on different sensibilities: The outline of a tree, the color and texture of bark, the ornament of berries. Just as our plants shift gear in winter, we have to too, in our ways of seeing and loving the garden.

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Arlington, Va.: Adrian,

Help. I put in grass seed (Jaguar trail) three weeks ago, performed light watering until the recent string of rainy days, and I only see sprouts in one-third of the area. I sowed the seed into a blend of two-thirds compro and one-third topsoil. Is there anything I can do to salvage this, or do I need to be patient.

Adrian Higgins: Fescue will take about three weeks to germinate. If there is not much more soon I would consider adding more seed and giving it a protective layer of straw.

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Bulb Addict: The blood meal drives my dog crazy with blood lust, so I sprinkle it around, water the area thoroughly, and put up a small barrier to keep her out. Seems to work fairly well. The watered down meal isn't so enticing to her but seems to keep squirrels out.

I cut little patches of chicken wire--like three inches square. Plant the bulb about six inches deep, add two inches of soil, put the wire down, and fill with soil. So far, so good. Have been doing this over pricy bulbs for about four years with good luck.

My daffodils seem to repeat well year after year, but my tulips seem to be petering out after a couple of years of blooming. The blooms/plants become smaller and less impressive over time. Is that normal? Can I do something to keep them coming back?

Adrian Higgins: Thanks for the information. It is quite normal for tulips to peter out. If you leave them long enough, the new bulbs that they form may reach flowering size.

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Other remedies: I've been trying dried fox urine as recommended elsewhere, but the little limb rats are still digging around.

Adrian Higgins: Thanks for that.

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Bearded Iris Question: Following your excellent instructions, I dug up my bearded iris patch, augmented the soil, cut off all dead areas of the rhizomes(?), and put them through the bleach solution, fish emulsion steps. I now have about six times what I need.

I want to take the extras to my sister at Thanksgiving. Can I just keep them cool and dry in a bucket? Will they be okay, or do I need to put them in some dirt temporarily? Please advise.

Adrian Higgins: You need to "cure" the rhizomes by allowing them to bake a few hours in the sun.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Is it too late to divide daylilies and hostas?

Thanks.

Adrian Higgins: No, but do give them a layer of mulch to temper soil temperatures and permit root growth to continue.

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Tulsa, Okla.: I'm about to plant bulbs for the first time. I have a selection of tulips, daffodils and crocus. I understand that the tulips might only bloom once or twice -- is there any way to extend their longevity?

Also, I was hoping to plant some bulbs in containers. Do I do this at the same time I plant all the others in the ground, and then just leave the container in a sheltered spot?

Thanks so much for your help.

Adrian Higgins: Tulips will not repeat well in most climates. In yours, you have the added problem of bulbs not getting adequate chilling periods to set flowers. I would see what your neighbors, local parks, do about bulbs and which ones work for them. You may have luck with jonquil and tazetta daffodils, which require less chilling.

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Squirrels: We just bought a new house, and from the state of the garden, it's safe to assume there are very few or no bulbs. So, I plan to put some in. However, we have a ravenous squirrel in our yard who is fattening up on the birdseed in the birdfeeder. We invested in a "squirrel-proof" birdfeeder that we plan to hang, but I wonder I should just leave the old one out so that the squirrel will just eat the seed and not the bulbs!;

Adrian Higgins: This is the 64,000 dollar question, isn't it. Do you appease the foe or fight him all out? Is is the Chamberlain or Churchill doctrine? he asked, lighting a cigar and adjusting his bowtie.

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Alexandria, Va.: I have several evergreen shrubs that I would like to replant -- if they are not boxwoods, they are similar to boxwoods. They are about 2 feet high and 1 1/2 feet wide. Is it too late to replant them for the fall? Also, what can I do to ensure they will survive the transplanting? Dig as big a rootball as possible? Thanks!

Adrian Higgins: Boxwoods move easily, they have shallow, fibrous roots. A rootball should be wider than deep.

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Annandale, Va.: Adrian,

After tolerating its presence for too long, I've decided to get rid of a large, overgrown patch of sweet flag grass. It is not particularly attractive in its location, catches debris such as leaves and sticks, and generally doesn't do well in the shady location the previous homeowner planted it. What is the best way to get rid of it? I've already mowed it to within an inch of the ground, but didn't know if I should pull/dig it out, or go the herbicide route because of its tenacity. Your advice would be appreciated.

Adrian Higgins: I am not sure what sweet flag grass, is this acorus? Try spraying it with Roundup. You should see the effects within a week. It may need a second spraying. IF that doesn't work, you will need to simply dig it out. The tool for this is a sturdy garden fork. I am afraid we have come to the end of our hour. Needless to say, this puppy is going to be planting bulbs this weekend, squirrels or no.

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