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HELLO, WELCOME TO MID‑AMERICAN GARDENER, THE SHOW WHERE WE TALK PLANTS.
YOU CAN EITHER CALL IN. WE TAKE E‑MAILS, BUT WE ALWAYS TALK PLANTS.
IF YOU WILL NOTICE A LITTLE DIFFERENCE, I AM REPLACING DIANNE NOLAND WHO LOST HER SINGING
VOICE. SHE LEFT US WITH A GREAT PANEL.
I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE THEM. I WILL INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS SHANE
CULTRA WITH COUNTRY ARBORS IN URBANA AND CULTRA NURSERY IN ONARGA.
I GET TO HEAR ALL DAY, PERENNIALS, ANNUALS, TREES, I WILL CHIME IN A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE A GREAT PANEL, AND THEY CAN PRETTY MUCH COVER IT THEMSELVES.
I WILL START OFF WITH *** BARKLEY. >>I AM FROM PARIS, ILLINOIS.
I TEACH IN THE HORTICULTURE PROGRAM DOWN THE A LAKELAND COLLEGE IN MATTOON.
I ALSO OWN MY OWN NURSERY, BARKLEY FARMS, SPECIALIZING IN PERENNIALS AND ORNAMENTAL
GRASSES. START OFF ANSWERING A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
THAT CAME IN. SOMEBODY ASKED ABOUT YELLOW TRUMPET VINE.
THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH SHOOTS POPPING UP ALL OVER, AS FAR AS 20 FEET AWAY, AND
WHAT CAN THEY DO. ACTUALLY, NOT A WHOLE LOT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE DOWNFALLS, VERY VIGOROUS AND EASY TO GROW, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF GETTING
OUT OF CONTROL. SPADING OUT THOSE SHOOTS IS ABOUT THE ONLY
THING. YOU TRY TO START SPRAYING, YOU WILL HAVE PROBLEMS
CONNECTED TO THE ORIGINAL PLANT. THIS COULD SELF‑SEED.
IF YOU HAVE SEEDLINGS, YOU CAN KNOCK THOSE DOWN.
YOU HAVE TO SPADE THEM OUT, NOTHING EASY TO DO OTHER THAN THAT.
SECOND QUESTION I HAVE GOT IS VIBURNUM LANTANA VAR MOHICAN, NICE BIG HEAVY DENSE LEAF VIBURNUM,
THEY WANTED TO KNOW HOW FAST, PLANTED AS A PRIVACY FENCE.
>>TYPICAL TOUGH SHRUB. IT WILL BE THERE A YEAR, AND THEN YEAR TWO
OR THREE REALLY TAKE OFF. YOUR SHOULD HAVE A NICE HEDGE IN THREE TO
FOUR YEARS. IT WILL EVENTUALLY GET UP TO EIGHT FEET AND
FILL IN. AS IT GROWS, THIN IT MAYBE, IF IT GETS OUT
OF CONTROL INSTEAD OF TOPPING IT. THIN IT BACK AND KEEP IT THAT WAY. I HAVE
GOT SOME THAT HAVE BEEN IN MY YARD FOR 15, 18 YEARS AND LOOKS GREAT, VERY LOW MAINTENANCE,
TOUGH PLANT FOR GOOD CONDITIONS. >>MOST PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT SOMETHING REALLY
FAST AND QUICK AND REALLY AGGRESSIVE, AND YOU ARE GETTING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION.
OKAY, NOW IT IS AGGRESSIVE AND REALLY BIG AND FAST, NOW WHAT DO I DO?
YOU HAVE BOTH ENDS OF IT THERE. WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS. WE HAVE ANOTHER PANELIST.
>>MARTIE ALAGNA. I AM A PRIVATE LANDSCAPER.
WE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS. SOMEONE WROTE IN, THEY ARE A NOVICE ROSE GROWER,
THEY HAVE BLACK SPOT. THEY BOUGHT A MEDICINE TO SPRAY ON THEM.
WHEN SHOULD THEY APPLY IT? IT IS STARTING TO LEAF OUT NOW.
I DON'T THINK I WOULD PUT IT ON UNTIL YOU SEE LITTLE BIT OF BLACK SPOT.
YOU ALSO WOULD WANT ANY LEAVES THAT FELL LAST YEAR, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN THOSE
UP BECAUSE BLACK SPOT IS A FUNGUS, AND IT WILL LIVE IN THE SOIL, IN YOUR MULCH.
AND IT WILL PLAGUE YOUR ROSES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS YOU BOUGHT.
I ASSUME THEY TOLD YOU AT THE GARDEN CENTER, IT WAS FOR BLACK SPOT.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY USE THAT. PLEASE USE IT ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS.
YOU CAN ALSO COMBAT BLACK SPOT WITH MILK. YOU CAN USE MILK AND WATER.
ONE PART MILK TO SEVEN PARTS WATER AND PUT IT IN A SPRAY BOTTLE AND SPRITZ IT ON.
YOU HAVE TO REAPPLY IT AFTER IT RAINS, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO WITH THE STUFF YOU BUY, TOO.
YOU WILL FIND MILK IS CHEAPER. TRY TO GET IT ON THE UNDER SIDE NOT JUST THE
TOPS OF THE LEAVES. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AGAIN, PICKING UP THE LEAVES THAT FALL IS REALLY ESSENTIAL TO THE BLACK SPOT ISSUE.
ALSO, REALLY GETS TIRESOME, YOU CAN PLANT ROSES NOT SUSCEPTIBLE TO BLACK SPOT.
AND SOMEONE WROTE IN THE WEST SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE GETS SO MUCH SUN THAT THE SIDING IS
BUCKLING. THERE IS EIGHT FEET BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND
THE FENCED PROPERTY LINE. WOULD WE RECOMMEND TRELLIS WITH VINES OF SOME
KIND TO HELP SHADE THE HOUSE? YOU COULD DO THAT.
YOU COULD. YOU COULD ACTUALLY PUT THOSE RIGHT INSIDE
THE FENCE. I AM GUESSING THE FENCE IS PROBABLY A SIX
FOOT PRIVACY FENCE. SINCE IT IS A WRITTEN QUESTION, I CAN'T ASK
QUESTIONS. YOU WANT TO MAKE IT TALLER.
I AM THINKING YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT A TREE OF SOME KIND, A FEW WITH A SMALL FOOTPRINT,
WITH NARROW FOOTPRINT. GO TO YOUR LOCAL GARDEN CENTER.
YOU COULD SEE WHAT THEY RECOMMEND FOR YOU. THERE ARE SEVERAL VERY NARROW EVERGREENS,
VERY TALL COLUMNAR PLANTS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO YOU A LITTLE BETTER JOB THAN TRELLISES
AND VINES BECAUSE THE TRELLISES WILL BE REALLY TALL.
>>ALL RIGHT. GOOD SUGGESTIONS THERE.
WE WILL DO YOUR SHOW AND TELL. SHOW THEM WHAT YOU GOT FOR US.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF. >>FIRST OF ALL, I AM JIM SCHUSTER, RETIRED
HORTICULTURALIST AND PLANT PATHOLOGIST WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
I BROUGHT THE DISEASE CALLED BLACK KNOT. THIS IS A DISEASE OF PLANTS IN THE PLUMS,
CHERRIES, APRICOTS AND ALL THIS. THESE TEND TO BE WORSE ON THE ORNAMENTAL.
THIS WILL FIRST START OFF WITH ONE ON THE LEFT, BROWN IN THE FIRST YEAR.
THEN TOWARD THE END OF THE FIRST SUMMER, BUT DEFINITELY BY THE SECOND SUMMER, IT HAS TURNED
BLACK AND MUCH LARGER. IN THIS ONE HERE, IT GETS A WHITE FUNGUS,
WHICH IS PARASITIC ON THE KNOT. FUNGUS STARTS TOWARDS END YEAR, BUT DEFINITELY
THERE BY THE THIRD YEAR. BY THE TIME YOU HAVE SEEN THESE, KIND OF MISSED THE DEAL HERE.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO DO HERE IS IN THE WINTERTIME, WE WANT IT BELOW FREEZING PREFERABLY, AND
THE PLANT IS 100% DORMANT. YOU WILL PRUNE THIS OUT A THE LEAST A MINIMUM
OF SIX TO EIGHT INCHES BELOW THE GALL, BUT EVEN LOWER IF YOU GET DOWN TO SIDE BRANCH
OR WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE BUD. THEN, IF YOU WANT TO SPRAY, THERE IS NOW A
CHEMICAL FOR IT CALLED CALCIUM POLY SULFATE, OR SULPHITE.
IT REQUIRES TWO APPLICATIONS. THEY ARE PUT ON WHEN THE PLANT IS DORMANT.
YOU NEED TO DO THAT TWO YEARS IN A ROW. THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
WHEN YOU PRUNE OFF THE SAMPLES, YOU NEED TO DESTROY THEM.
BURN THEM IF YOU CAN, AND IF YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BURN, DIG A HOLE AND BURY A DEEP FOOT UNTIL
THEY ROT AWAY. IF YOU TRIM IT AND TREAT IT, THE TREE SHOULD
BE OKAY? >> YEAH.
THIS DISEASE WILL EVENTUALLY KILL THE TREE IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING.
IF YOU DO THE PRUNING AT THE RIGHT TIME AND MAYBE THE CALCIUM POLY SULFITE, TWO YEARS
IN A ROW, SUPPOSED TO HELP MINIMIZE. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T COME BACK.
THIS SHOULD KEEP THE TREE ALIVE AND BEARING. WE HAVE A LOT OF CANADA CHOKE CHERRIES, AND
THEY TEND TO BE GETTING THAT QUITE OFTEN. THAT'S REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.
WE WILL START ANSWERING SOME PHONE CALLS. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH LINE TWO,
BLACKBERRIES. >>CALLER: WE WILL TRANSPLANT SOME BLACKBERRIES.
I AM WONDERING WHEN WE DIG THEM, DO WE CUT THE CANES OFF WHEN WE TRANSPLANT THEM?
>>YES. CUT THEM DOWN TO, OH, YOU KNOW, SIX INCHES,
EASY TO GET AHOLD OF, REALLY, AND JUST SPADE UNDER THEM.
THEY TRANSPLANT VERY EASILY, AND REESTABLISH PRETTY QUICKLY.
ARE THEY THORNLESS? I WOULD TOTALLY GET THE THORNLESS ONES, MUCH
EASIER. >>CALLER: THANK YOU.
>>WE PRETTY MUCH DIG THEM UP, CUT THEM DOWN, KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE DO WITH SHRUBS.
IT IS THE SAME THING, JUST GET SOME OF THE CANES LEAVES OFF.
>> THEY COME BACK, AND THE ROOTS ARE KIND OF ***, KNOBBLY, AND THEY TAKE RIGHT OFF.
JUST WATER THEM IN WELL. >>WHEN YOU BAKE A PIE, GO AHEAD AND SEND IT
IN! WE WILL GO ON TO LINE THREE, A QUESTION ABOUT
HYDRANGEAS. >>CALLER: GOOD EVENING.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, I HAVE GOT ENDLESS SUMMER HYDRANGEAS, AND I GIVE THEM ALUMINUM SULFATE
TO TURN THEM BLUE. I WANT TO KNOW IF I SHOULD FEED THEM WITH
ACID LOVERS FERTILIZER, FERTILIZER FOR ACID LOVING PLANTS.
>>HAVE YOU TESTED YOUR SOIL? HAVE YOU TESTED THE SOIL FOR YOUR PH?
>> SHE SAID SHE USES ALUMINUM SULFATE. YOU GUYS CAN CHIME IN ON THIS ONE, BUT GENERALLY,
ONCE YOU HAVE GOTTEN THE SOIL LEVEL WITH ALUMINUM SULFATE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE ACID LOVING
FERTILIZER. I WOULD GO TO SLOW RELEASE, OR WHATEVER FERTILIZER.
I DON'T TEND TO ACIDIFY AS WELL. THAT'S WHAT A MARTIE IS ASKING.
ONCE YOU HAVE GOTTEN ACIDIC SOIL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE FERTILIZER ‑‑
I IF YOU ARE THERE, YOU ARE THERE. FULL TOP DRESSING EVERY OTHER YEAR SHOULD
MAINTAIN IT UNLESS YOU ARE UP AGAINST THE CONCRETE SOMEWHERE.
>>I WAS GLAD IF NOT BLOOMING, WHAT SHOULD I DO.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS COMING A MILE AWAY! LINE FOUR, A QUESTION ABOUT POTATOES.
GOOD TIMING. >>CALLER: HI, WE MOVED THREE YEARS AGO FROM
MICHIGAN. I TRIED GROWING O POTATOES UP THERE.
I ALWAYS GOT POTATO BUDS. HOW DO YOU GROW POTATOES WITHOUT THE POTATO
BUDS? >> YOU DON'T!
(LAUGHING) THEY LIVE THERE, AND THEY LIKE POTATO PLANTS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT! YOU CAN CERTAINLY SPRAY FOR THEM IF YOU HAVE
A SMALL ENOUGH PATCH, CAN YOU GO PICK THEM OFF, DROP THEM IN BUCKET OF SOAPY WATER IF
YOU WANT TO BE ORGANIC ABOUT IT, WHICH I TRY TO LEAN TOWARDS.
REMEMBER, PESTICIDES THAT YOU USE, DON'T USUALLY KILL.
THE YEAR AFTER THEY KILL A LOT OF BUGS YOU PREFER TO KEEP ALIVE.
>>CALLER: THAT'S WHAT I DID IN MICHIGAN, I PICKED THEM OFF.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME TRICK TO GROWING POTATOES.
>>NOT THAT I KNOW OF, ***, YOU GOT ANYTHING? JUST GOT TO STRUGGLE.
YOU COULD TRY ROW COVERS. YOU COULD DO THAT, PUT THE HOOPS ON AND PUT
SOME POLY ROW COVER OVER IT SO THE BUGS CAN'T GET TO THEM.
YOU COULD GIVE THAT A SPIN. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE, TOO.
I AM NOT A POTATO EXPERT. BUT NO MIRACLE TRICK ON THAT ONE. I APPRECIATE
THE QUESTION. WE WILL MOVE ONTO ANOTHER QUESTION, LINE FIVE,
ASKING A QUESTION IS IT TOO WET TO TRANSPLANT A TREE?
IS THE PERSON BEHIND THAT QUESTION? >>CALLER: YES.
AS MUCH AS IT HAS RAINED TODAY, IS IT TOO WET TO TRANSPLANT A TREE OR SHOULD I WAIT
A DAY OR TWO AND LET THE GROUND SETTLE BACK A LITTLE BIT?
>> I AM NOT SURE WHAT AREA YOU ARE IN OR HOW MUCH RAIN YOU HAVE GOTTEN, BUT, YEAH IT IS!
>>IT WILL BE MORE IN A DAY OR TWO ALSO. >>WE TOOK A VOTE.
>>AS FAR AS GETTING INTO SOIL, WE HAVE THIS EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE PLANT TREES EVERY DAY,
IT IS CAN YOU GET INTO THE AREA AND ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY DO THE WORK, AND, TWO, ARE YOU
CAUSING MORE DAMAGE AROUND THE SURROUNDING AREA WHILE YOU ARE THERE?
ARE YOU MUDDING IT IN. YOU WILL COMPACT THE SOIL.
YOU WON'T DO AS GOOD A JOB WHEN IT IS RAINING. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON.
AS FAR AS HURTING THE TREE AND PUTTING IN A WET HOLE, WHEN YOU GENERALLY PLANT A TREE,
YOU DIG A HOLE. MY FATHER TAUGHT ME TO FILL THE HOLE WITH
WATER. I DON'T DO IT AS MUCH ANY MORE BECAUSE IT
IS SUCH A MESS. THAT'S HOW I USED TO DO, DIG A HOLE, FILL
IT WITH WATER, AND PUT THE TREE IN. OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S OKAY.
>>DON'T WANT TO MAKE MUD BALLS. IF THAT IS GUMMY WET, SET UP AND BIG CLODS.
>>CALLER: IT WILL BE A WEEK BEFORE I PLANT. THE OTHER QUESTION, WE HAD TO REMOVE TWO PINES
AND A MAPLE TREE. I HAD THE STUMPS GROUND, AND I PUT THE GRINDINGS
AROUND THE OTHER TREES, DUG A TRENCH TWO OR THREE INCHES DEEP, AND I PUT THE GRINDINGS
ABOUT LEVEL WITH THE SOIL. IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT?
>>I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG, OTHER THAN GROUND UP WOOD, DON'T WANT IT TOO
DEEP. IT WILL TAKE THE NITROGEN OUT.
IT SUCKS THE NITROGEN OUT. >>WHEN WOOD IS GREEN, IT WILL TAKE THE NITROGEN
AWAY FROM THAT TREE. YOU WILL WANT TO TOP DRESS IT WITH COTTONSEED
MEAL. >>OLDER PLANTS YOU PUT IT AROUND OR YOUNGER?
>>CALLER: THEY ARE MATURE TREES. >>SHOULDN'T MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
EQUIVALENT OF PUTTING SAWDUST DOWN. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GET IT DEEP BECAUSE IT WILL SEAL
UP. IF IT BREAKS DOWN, WHICH IT DOES QUICKLY.
IF THEY ARE ESTABLISHED, SHOULDN'T. >>LET THE CHIPS AGE A LITTLE BIT.
>>DON'T HAVE TO DIG OUT AT ALL, JUST PUT ON TOP.
>>THEY LEAVE YOU WITH A LOT OF CHIP, NO DOUBT, WHEN THEY DO TREE, THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION
THEY ASK, "DO YOU GUYS WANT THE CHIPS?" >>WE WILL GO TO ANOTHER QUESTION.
WE HAVE GOT LINE SIX, AND THE QUESTION IS WHERE TO PLANT FLOWERS. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL
BE ABLE TO FILL US IN ON A LITTLE DETAILS, WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE THIS.
>>CALLER: THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL. I HAVE THREE PLANTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME.
MY HUSBAND RECENTLY DIED, AND THEY ARE PLANTS PEOPLE GAVE ME.
I WAS HOPING TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP LIKE A MEMORY GARDEN AREA WITH THEM.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN ALL THREE SURVIVE IN THE SAME PLACE.
ONE IS AZALEA. THERE IS A BEGONIA AND A HYDRANGEA.
>> I WONDER IF THEY ARE FLORISTS. >>THE ONES YOU GOTTEN AREN'T NECESSARILY HARDY
IN THE MIDWEST FOR OUTDOORS. >>BEGONIA IS DEFINITELY NOT.
>>DEFINITELY NOT. >>HYDRANGEA AND AZALEA, THERE IS A QUESTION
ABOUT THOSE AS WELL. IF YOU HAVE A VERY SUNNY LIKE A SUN PORCH
OR REAL SUNNY EXPOSURE IN YOUR HOME, YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT JUST KEEPING THOSE AS
HOUSE PLANTS. >>PROBABLY THE WAY ‑‑ IF IT LOOKED LIKE
IT CAME FROM A NURSERY IN A BIGGER CAN. IF IT IS IN A NICE FLORIST, IT IS GREENHOUSE
RAISED TYPE MADE NOT TO GO OUTSIDE IN THE YARD.
>>WITH THE HYDRANGEA, ALSO? >> YES, UNLESS YOU ARE IN ZONE SEVEN.
>>GOOD NEWS, MOST OF THE NON‑HARDIES, THOSE FOREVER BLOOMS OR WHATEVER THEY ARE CALLED,
THEY TEND TO BE SIX, SOMETIMES SEVEN. YOU ARE PUSHING TO MICRO CLIMATE IN YOUR YARD.
YOU HAVE A SHOT. BUT IT WILL BE A LITTLE TOUGHER.
THEY ARE PROBABLY RIGHT. YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO A PORCH, BRING THEM OUT
IN THE SUMMER AND BRING THEM BACK IN, IN THE WINTER.
>>YOU COULD USE THEM FOR CONTAINER PLANTS ON A SHADY PORCH BECAUSE AZALEAS, AND HYDRANGEAS,
BOTH SURVIVE IN THE SHADE. YOU WANT SUN IN SHIED THE HOUSE, IN A SUNNY
WINDOW BECAUSE THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH LIGHT INSIDE OF A HOUSE.
IF YOU HAVE IT OUTDOORS EVEN ON A SHADED PORCH, THE LIGHT IS SO MUCH BRIGHTER EVEN THAN INSIDE
YOUR HOUSE, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT TO YOUR EYE, BUT IT IS.
YOU MIGHT TRY THOSE AS CONTAINER, PATIO PLANTS AND BRING THEM IN, IN THE WINTER.
>> >>CALLER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I REALLY ENJOY YOUR PROGRAM. >>THE GUY WITH THE CHIPS AROUND THE TREES,
IF YOU WANT TO USE FRESH CHIPS LIKE THAT, PUT NEWSPAPERS DOWN WHERE YOU WANT TO PUT
THEM, WHERE YOU WANT TO PUT THE CHIPS DOWN. O ON TOP OF THE GRASS OR IN THE BED, PUT NEWSPAPER
DOWN, TWO, THREE, FOUR, THICKNESSES AND PUT THE CHIPS ON TOP OF THAT. BY THE TIME THE
CHIPS AGE, THE PAPER WILL DECOMPOSE, AND YOU WON'T HAVE QUITE SUCH A NITROGEN ROBBERY THERE
IN YOUR PLANTING BED. >> GOOD TIP THERE.
>> WE WILL MOVE TO ANOTHER QUESTION. WE WILL MOVE TO LINE TWO, AND THE QUESTION
IS ABOUT PEONIES. LINE TWO, ARE YOU THERE?
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR US? >>CALLER: I HAVE A TWO‑FOLD QUESTION.
MY NAME IS BARB, AND I AM FROM DECATUR. HOW SOON CAN YOU DIG UP PEONIES?
RIGHT NOW THEY ARE ABOUT FOUR INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND. I WANT TO TRANSPLANT THEM TO A
DIFFERENT YARD. ALSO, CAN YOU TRANSPLANT A PEONY TREE?
HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT THAT? >> PEONIES, ANY TIME THEY ARE UP, THINK YOU
CAN DO THEM. NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT ONCE IT DRIES DOWN.
NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT, AND THEY ARE FAIRLY SHORT, LIKE YOU ARE SAYING, A FEW INCHES,
WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO IT NOW. >>
>>CALLER: WHAT ABOUT THE PEONY TREE? >> YOU JUST TREAT THOSE LIKE ANY SHRUBS.
>>TREAT IT LIKE A SHRUB. >> GOOD PORTION OF PLENTY OF SOIL AROUND THE
ROOT BALL, USE A SHARP SPADE, CUT A CIRCLE ALL A AROUND.
I WOULD THINK OF TRANSPLANTING THAT IN THE FALL MAYBE.
I AM NOT GOING TO SAY IT IS THE EASIEST THING. I HAVE MOVED SOME AND HASN'T BEEN ALL LUCKY.
>>THOSE ARE LATE SUMMER, FALL TRANS PLANTS. WHEN WE TRANSPLANT PEONIES IN, WE LIKE TO
DO IT IN THE FALL. >>IF IT IS A GREAT BIG OLD PLANT, I DON'T
KNOW. YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A BIG ROOT BALL.
YOU TREAT THE PEONY LIKE A SHRUB. >>
>>CALLER: IT IS FOUR FOOT TALL, AND TWO FOOT. >>YOU ARE MOVING A TREE!
>>YOU ARE MOVING A VERY LARGE SHRUB THERE. >>YOU COULD BARE ROOT IT IF IT WAS AUGUST,
BUT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE BARE ROOTING. I HAVE KILLED LOTS OF THEM, OVER WATERING
IS ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO KILL NEW ROOTS OR TRANSPLANTS.
IF YOU WOULD TRANSPLANT IT LAST WEEK, THIS WOULD NOT BE A GOOD WEEK.
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT OVER WATERING. I HAVE KILLED A LOT OF HUNDRED DOLLAR FERN
LEAF PEONIES. >>CALLER: I WOULD BE BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL
AUGUST? >> I WOULD THINK SO.
THAT'S WHEN WE DO IT. BUT PEONIES ARE PEONIES.
LIKE PEONIES, THEY ARE LIKE HOSTA, YOU CAN'T RUIN THEM.
PRETTY TOUGH PLANTS. >>IT MIGHT BE GOOD IDEA TO LABEL THE ONES,
THE COLORS THAT YOU WANT, AND GET A LITTLE ALUMINUM TAG OR STRING TAG, SOMETHING THAT
IS LITTLE BIT MORE WEATHER PROOF, AND YOU CAN DEFINITELY MARK THE ONES YOU WANT.
IN THE FALL OR LATE SUMMER, CUT DOWN THE ONES YOU WANT.
CUT THE STEMS DOWN TO THREE OR FOUR INCHES HIGH, AND CUT THEM OUT WITH A SHARP SPADE
AND MOVE THEM THEN. DON'T WORRY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY TOPS
ON THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE PEONIES. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM!
>>NOW YOU TELL ME! >>ONE OTHER FACT ABOUT THAT, MAY TAKE YOU
A COUPLE YEARS TO COME BACK IN A BLOOM UNLESS YOU TRANSPLANT THEM.
>>THEY MIGHT. IF THEY COME UP NEXT SPRING, YOU ARE GOLDEN,
NOT A PROBLEM. THEY ARE PEONIES!
>>THEY WILL BE BROKEN DOWN THE HOUSE, BUT THERE WILL BE PEONIES.
>>WE WILL MOVE ONTO ANOTHER QUESTION, LINE THREE.
WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT VEGETABLE GARDEN. >>CALLER: HI.
YES, MY VEGETABLE GARDEN AND PART OF MY HERB GARDEN IS SUBMERGED IN WATER RIGHT NOW.
I TILLED IN ‑‑ ARE YOU THERE? >> YES, WE ARE LISTENING.
>>CALLER: BEFORE I PLANTED, I TILLED IN MUSHROOM COMPOST.
BECAUSE OF ALL THIS CONSTANT RAIN, I AM WONDERING IF ALL DILUTED AND NEUTRAL BY NOW.
THAT'S QUESTION NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, ARE ANY OF MY SEEDS GOING TO SURVIVE?
NUMBER THREE, I WANTED TO CREATE RAISED BEDS USING CINDER BLOCKS.
I WANTED TO PLANT VEGETABLES IN THE HOLES IN THE CENTER BLOCKS.
I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY CHEMICAL PROBLEM USING CINDER BLOCKS AROUND RAISED
BED OR PLANTING IN THE HOLE IN THE CINDER BLOCK?
>> WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE IN THE CHICAGO AREA USE CINDER BLOCK A LOT.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE CINDER BLOCK IS WHAT KIND OF VEGETABLES YOU CAN GROW IN THAT BECAUSE
OF THE LIMITED ROOT SYSTEM THE LITTLE HOLES IN THE CINDER BLOCK ALLOW.
IF YOU WANT TO GROW TOMATO PLANT, I WOULDN'T CONSIDER PUTTING INSIDE THE CINDER BLOCK,
BUT TAKE SEVERAL CINDER BLOCKS AND MAKE OWN RAISED BED FOR THAT ONE PLANT OR MULTIPLE
PLANTS, WHICH EVER YOU HAVE. AS FOR THE SEED, DEPENDS HOW LONG THEY STAND
IN THE WATER THAT THEY WILL ROT. >>HOW FAR THEY WASHED AWAY!
>>NEIGHBOR MAYBE DOING THE GARDEN! >>CALLER: HOW ABOUT THE COMPOST, AM I GOING
TO HAVE TO RECOMPOST? >> UNLESS IT FLOATS AWAY, THE ORGANIC MATTER
IS STILL THERE. >>
>>CALLER: NOT NEUTRALIZE, DILUTE THE NITROGEN THIS.
>>NO, PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THAT WILL BE TO ADD ORGANIC MATTER TO YOUR SOIL SO YOU LIGHTEN
IT UP. >>CALLER: I ALREADY DID THAT.
WHAT I AM SAYING, I ALREADY ADDED MUSHROOM COMPOST, BUT IT HAS BEEN RAINING FOR DAYS.
>>I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT. >>ORGANIC MATTER RELEASES NUTRIENTS SLOWLY.
IT WON'T LEECH THAT GREAT AMOUNT OUT EVEN IF IT STAYS WET FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
>>CALLER: IT IS NO PROBLEM TO CREATE A RAISED BEDS WITH CINDER BLOCKS.
>>NO, NOTHING IN THE CINDER BLOCKS THEMSELVES, NO.
>>WE WILL TRY O SQUEEZE IN ONE MORE QUESTION. IT HAS TO BE A QUICK QUESTION.
WE WILL GO TO LINE FOUR ABOUT BLUEBERRIES. YOU MADE IT IN IF YOU COULD ASK A QUICK QUESTION.
>>CALLER: HELLO. IS THERE A RULE OF THUMB ABOUT HOW MUCH SULFUR
SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THE SOIL OF BLUEBERRY PLANTS.
THEY ARE IN ABOUT 15‑GALLON POTS NOW. I PLAN TO MOVE THEM UP, I THINK THEY ARE ABOUT
30‑GALLON. >>MOVE THEM INTO A LARGER POT?
>>CALLER: YES. >>YOU SHOULD TEST THE SOIL AND SEE HOW MUCH
SULFUR THEY REALLY NEED. >>CALLER: THEY ARE IN LARGELY COMPOST WITH
SPHAGNUM MOSS. THEY SHOW THE NEED OF MORE SULFUR.
>>WHEN I USED TO DO A LOT OF SOIL TESTING, WE TOLD PEOPLE IF YOU HAD TO ADD MORE THAN
TWO POUNDS OF SULFUR PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, YOU WOULD BURN THE ROOTS OFF WITH THE SULFUR
AMOUNT. IF YOU NEED MORE THAN TWO POUNDS OF SULFUR
TO LOWER THE PH DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WOULD ACTUALLY NEED TO KEEP IT, THEN DO IT
IN DIFFERENT AMOUNTS. LIKE ONE POUND NOW, AND TWO OR THREE WEEKS
LATER, ADD ANOTHER POUND SO YOU NOT PUTTING ON MORE THAN TWO POUNDS AND BURNING THE ROOTS
OFF THE PLANTS. >>CALLER: PER HOW MANY GALLONS?
>> TAKE A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET AND THAT IS BASED ON SIX INCHES OF DEPARTMENT. YOU TAKE
A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET TIMES SIX INCHES TO GET CUBIC AND PRORATE IT DOWN TO YOUR POT.
>>NOT A LOT. >>
>>CALLER: BUT DEFINITELY MORE THAN THE TWO OR THREE TABLESPOONS OF SULFUR I HAVE BEEN
USING? >> RIGHT I MAYBE MORE LIKE A CUP.
DO YOUR MATH CORRECTLY AND MAYBE SURE YOU DON'T OVERDO IT BECAUSE YOU WILL BURN ROOTS
WITH SULFUR. >>CALLER: TWO POUNDS TO A THOUSAND SQUARE
FEET. >>MAXIMUM, I SUGGESTED ONE POUND PER THOUSAND
SQUARE FEET, AND THEN PUT NEXT POUND ON SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, WORK IT IN SEVERAL WEEKS LATER.
>>CALLER: I COULD PROBABLY GO LESS THAN THAT WITH THE COMPOST AND PEATMOSS.
>> IT WON'T TAKE VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS EVENING.
THIS IS OUR TIME OF YEAR, ISN'T IT? WE GET A LOT MORE THAN THIS DURING THE WEEK.
WE ARE THE ROCK STARS OF THIS TIME OF SEASON. THANKS FOR CALLING IN.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED MID‑AMERICAN GARDENER THIS EVENING.
CHECK WITH US NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.