Ed Hume Answers Your Gardening Questions
Ed Hume cannot answer all of the garden questions he receives, but questions
of general interest will be answered here every month. Email your questions
to HumeSeeds@aol.com. Please
note: we do not accept attachments.
Before submitting a question, be sure to check the index
of previous questions and answers or search our
site using key words. Many questions have already been answered
here on the site.
Other April Links
 . I have a whole yard full
of "Horsetails"except where the grass grows. My husband and I have just finished
building our house in Everett, Washington and would like to start planting
our yard with trees, bushes and other plants and we have been told that the
horse tail have roots that go down 40 ft and is really difficult to get rid
of. We were told that something called Crossbow is the only thing that will
work and that we should spray everything but the grass with this a few times
and that we have to wait for 4 months before we cab start planting. Since
we are very eager to plant ASAP, I was wondering if there isn't anything
else that can be done that is less harmful to the earth and other plants?
 Here at the Seed Company (Kent,
WA) we have used a product called 'Finale' with excellent results. It only
lasts six weeks and only controls green plant parts, so confine the application
to the foliage of the horsetails. Keep it off the grass, and desirable plants.
In other words, read and follow label instructions.
We have put much time and
care into a lovely side garden of Iris and Clematis. They are currently two
years old. We recently found out the basement needs repiar and workers need
to dig the area up for concrete repair. I want to know what is the best way
to transplant these two flowers in April. Is it possible? What do I need
to do. These flowers are very special to me as my grandmother gave them to
me before she passed on. Could you help me?
This is not a good time to
transplant 'Clematis', but you can try by wetting the soil around them, then
take a soil root ball with the plants. The 'Iris' should be easier to move,
however, move both on a cool day, and take as much soil as possible with
both. You can spray the foliage of the plants with either 'Wilt-pruf' or
'Cloud Cover' and that will help retain moisture in the plants and lessen
transplanting shock.
I have two magnolia "trees"
in front of my house that are so big (about 15 feet tall) that they are ruining
my tiny front yard. I am considering cutting them down, but that may not
be the best solution. Is it possible to prune them considerably, like down
to 10 feet tall, and have them survive? Can they be kept nice looking with
such drastic pruning?
That is pretty severe pruning
and is apt to encourage fast leggy growth. However, you could do it gradually,
over a period of two or three years. One possible solution would be to cut
back 1/3 of the growth, to the height desired this year, then cut back another
1/3 next year and the final 1/3 the following year. Then over the three year
period you would have the overall height where you want it.
I was wondering if you can
get a clipping from the wisteria vine and get it to root in the dirt? If
not this way how can I get it started?
Yes, they are quite easy to
start from a cutting or they will often even start in water. Make the cutting
only about 12 inches long. Dip it in rotting hormone (Rootone), then right
into the soil. This would be a good time to take a cutting.
I bought some pole green bean
seeds awhile back and didn't use them. They are dated 1996. Are they still
good to use or do seeds have an expiration date?
Every year that they are unused
their germination rate will drop. Peas, beans and corn tend to drop only
a bit each year (some others {lettuce, onions, delphiniums, etc.} will drop
almost completely in just one year). It is worth a try with your 1996 beans,
just plant them a little thicker than you normally would and remove any extras.
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