Trumpet vine attractive but invasive
Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008
be done at this time. Rotate your plantings on a threeyear cycle. It is also a good idea to rough dig the planting area in the fall to expose any wintering insects.
Question: My Lychnis coronaria "Angel's blush"is reverting to pure white after two seasons. My phlox does this too, blooming a bright purple-pink instead of the variety I wanted. Is there a way to keep plants from reverting ?
Answer: Many garden flowers, including the one you mentioned, are hybrids. When their seeds fall to the ground and germinate, the resulting plants will revert to their ancestors. To avoid Question: My tomatoes have yellow spots on the surface. When the fruit is cut there are hard fibrous spots inside. Can this be avoided ?
Answer: The yellow speckling is caused by a sucking insect such as a stink bug. The tomato forms a callus around the wound as a defense. Not much can Question: I have admired the trumpet vine, how can I propagate it ?
Answer: Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans ) is a showy vine with red trumpet flowers, a favorite of hummingbirds. It can be started from seed stratified as soon as ripe or stored in an air tight container placed in a cool place for up to a year and stratified at 40 degrees for two months. If that is too complicated, it can be propagated by layering or cuttings.
It's only fair to warn you that trumpet vine can become invasive. Consider this when and where it is planted. this, remove all faded flowers before they form seed heads Question: When is it time to over-seed a fescue lawn ?
Answer: Tall fescue lawns may thin for various reasons such as winter injury or drought stress. Overseeding with a blend of cultivars will help to correct the damage. Fall is the time to over-seed and reseed fescue lawns. Any time between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15 is OK. The fall rains, we hope, will help with the watering.
Note: Watermelon, which is 92 percent liquid, was used as a source of transportable water by ancient traders.
Send your gardening and landscaping questions and tips to Washington County Master Gardeners. 2536 N. McConnell Ave., Fayetteville AR, 72704. You may call 444-1755 for answers to your questions.
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