The Garden Club: Answering Some Gardening Questions

Over the past few weeks, I have had numerous emails with questions on garden related issues. I compiled the questions and searched out the answers, with most information coming from local nurseries or the Missouri Garden Extension.

According to their website, The University of Missouri Extension provides a “one-stop source for practical education on almost anything.” The Master Gardener Extension Program is geared toward gardeners.

The mission of the Master Gardener Extension Program is, “helping others learn to grow.”  It provides training for the gardener through 30 hours of in-depth classroom training. In return, the Master Gardener must give back 30 hours of volunteer time at Extension approved events.

If you are more of a casual gardener, the Extension provides a great resource for any gardening question you have. Their website includes a form to email specific questions and includes a place to download a jpeg for precise clarification. As a casual gardener, this is a valuable tool.

How do I keep iris from toppling over?

To prevent iris from toppling over, particularly in windy areas, the best immediate defense is to stake the iris. This can be done with purchased supports specifically designed for top heavy flowers. The stakes can be found at most home and garden centers. Many gardeners have luck with a simple bamboo stake and a bit of strong twine loosely wrapped around the stalk and stake.

To encourage strong stalks for next season, however, gardeners can fertilize with a potassium rich fertilizer. Be certain to follow the package instructions to prevent burning the plant. Another option, though not well documented, but considerably less expensive, is to cut banana peels into inch sized pieces and add them directly to the soil surrounding your plant. The potassium and phosphorus found in the banana peel is said to be great for all types of plants, particularly iris and rose bushes.

I have small, red mites on many of my indoor and outdoor plants. What are they and how do I get rid of them naturally?

Chances are, the small bugs you are describing are spider mites. They are red during certain phases of their life. They feed on plants, essentially sucking the nutrients from the plant. Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions. They are able to reproduce within days.

There are many options for spider mite control. There are several options at home and garden stores. Neem oil continues to surface to the top of the list for spider mite control. Again, follow the package instructions.

My herbs are starting to flower. Is that an issue?

Ideally, you should continue to harvest herbs before they flower. Basil, for example, loses some of its sweetness and can become bitter as it flowers. Make it a habit to harvest from the top of the plant before it goes to seed.

Is there still time to plant herbs from seed?

It is a bit late in the growing season to plant herb seeds directly into the ground. Some options include finding established plants at a garden center. Be sure to water well after planting, to help establish a root system into the existing soil. A tip from a wise gardener of 50 years is to gently pull the roots apart when removing from the nursery pot before planting into the soil. This, she claims, encourages the roots to branch out and not remain so compact.

Cilantro seeds can still be planted around existing cilantro plants. The hot St. Charles County summers are not ideal for cilantro growth. The climate encourages rapid bolting. The shade of the existing cilantro plant gives the seedlings a chance to establish themselves.

As always, with cilantro, be certain to harvest prior to it bolting. Otherwise, you can harvest the seeds and save them for next year.

I didn’t prune my shrub roses this spring and now they are taking over the garden.

According to the Missouri Garden Extension, pruning should be done in early spring before flowering takes place. However, over the years, I have pruned a few odd canes throughout the growing season with no apparent adverse effects to the plant. 

If you have a garden question you want answered, ask and we will address it in the future.