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Written by J.K. DePeal
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Sunday, 16 November 2008 13:50 |
The growing season for Northwest Ohio is over and most flower and vegetable gardens have been put to bed for the winter to come.
Now is a good time to think back about what gardening problems you encountered this year and what can be done about them for next year. Some questions that have come in to me may be of help to other gardeners. These are:
Question: My asters have now finished blooming and the clump is getting overgrown. When is the best time to divide asters?
Answer: The best time to divide asters is in the spring after they have put on a few inches of new growth. If possible, dig up the entire clump. Using a knife, cut the clump into manageable pieces. Make sure each division has one or more healthy green shoots and plenty of healthy roots.
Replant these divisions as quickly as possible with the crown of each one at the same depth as the original plant. Mulch and water in well.
Question: If freezing temperatures follow an early spring warm spell and plants that have started growing are damaged, is there any way to save them?
Answer: The more growth a plant has developed when exposed to the freezing temperatures, the more damage there will be. When flower buds or blooms on fruit trees or ornamentals are exposed to a freeze, damage may range from browned edges to the entire blossoms being killed. When this is the case, it will mean a total loss of any fruit. Foliage buds are more resilient and plants can produce new leaves.
Bulb growth can survive having foliage exposed to a freeze and they will go on to bloom as long as their flower buds are protected by the foliage and soil.
Perennial plants will probably look wilted and tattered after a freeze, but generally they will survive. If, after an early spring warm spell, you know cold weather is coming; it is a good idea to cover new growth on perennials with leaves, mulch or straw to protect it.
Question: What can I do about iris borers?
Answer: Now is an excellent time to deal with this problem. Iris borers are chunky, pink caterpillars that feed on the underground parts of the iris plant. This feeding results in a bacterial rot that causes the iris rhizomes to be soft, slimy and smelly.
The borer is the larva of a moth that lays its eggs on the iris foliage in the late summer and early fall. Gardeners can get rid of the borers by removing all of the old iris foliage and stems of the plant now. New pest-free growth will grow in the spring.
If you have garden questions or tips for other gardeners, send them in to
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