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 September Links
 I've got a Clematis that I've
had for years and it has always bloomed beautifully, however, this year the
lower half did not have any green leaves and looks rather ratty. Can I trim
this out of my vine? Or will this hurt the plant?
 That's what happens to clematis
if they are not pruned back occasionally. Yes, you can prune to correct the
situation. Do the pruning in about mid-February. Also, make an application
of Epsom Salts around the vine (on the soil) in mid-April. Hope this information
helps!
We are in the process of selling
my late grandmother's 100 year old home. There are thousands of wonderful
bulbs planted around the property. I have begun digging them up and placing
them in potato baskets and storing them in a "rooting cellar." The cellar
is dark, damp, and cool. Will the bulbs be okay there until we find a place
for them to be planted? If this is a decent method of storage, how long can
I store them out of the ground? If this is not the best method of storage,
what is the best thing to do with them?
September, October and early
November are the best times to plant daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and the
other spring flowering bulbs. So replanting them is the best storage area.
The summer bulbs can be stored in a dark, cool area, but it should not be
damp. The summer bulbs include gladiolus, dahlias, etc. Hope this information
helps.
Is there any product that
will get rid of ivy that has been growing out of control for over 20 years?
What is the best way to be rid of it for good.
There are products on the market
that are specially formulated for the control of Ivy. Ask the folks at your
local garden center for their recommendations as to which one to use. Remember,
there will be dormant root stock and seeds, that germinate again later, so
one application will not solve the problem. A spreader-sticker should be
added with the spray, so it helps hold the solution on the leaves, until
it is absorbed by the foliage.
How can I prepare my blueberry
plants for winter?
Blueberries are hardy plants
and really do not require any winter protection. However, growers will often
mulch them with bark, sawdust or compost to help control weeds. Keep the
layer of mulch very thin, an inch or less, as they are very shallow rooted.
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