While your garden and raised bed may be humming along and growing just fine, there are still some issues that can pop up.
Charlie Nardozzi answers a slew of listeners' questions about veggie plant and tree troubles, as well as what to do to eradicate various garden pests.
Lilacs look brown and burned
Q: My lilac bush developed a strange issue last fall where the leaves appeared brown and burnt. I was hoping it would recover this spring, but unfortunately, it looks like at least half, if not the majority, of the bush is dead. I was wondering if there's anything I can do to help it at this point? Do you have any suggestions for revival or care? - Kate, via email
A: Remove those spent lilac blossoms, but if you're also seeing dead branches, you'll need to remove those, too.
Doing so will stimulate new growth. You'll see that once you prune away the dead branches, suckers will grow from the root system or from the lower parts of those branches.
Hopefully trimming away the dead branches will help rejuvenate the plant, and next year you'll have lots of new growth and plenty of flowers.
No lovely lilac scent from blooms this year
Q: In my neighborhood anyway, all the lilacs blossoms were already turning brown as they started to blossom. They faded in a few days with only a hint of that lovely lilac scent. What gives?Ellie, via email
A: A common refrain from gardeners — whether your garden does well or poorly — is "blame it on the weather!" And in this case, it could ring true.
The wet weather in our region this May was prime for diseases that can attack plants' leaves and flowers. And this spring, lilacs took the brunt of it.
Lilac flowers would bloom, then rapidly turn brown and the blossoms didn't have the same heady lilac scent.
Hopefully next year, with drier weather, we'll also have thriving, sweet-smelling lilacs.
Why can't I grow big rhubarb?
Q: I live in Chester. I have never been able to grow large-sized rhubarb. The leaves grow to five or six inches in size, the stalks are red in color, short and thin. What am I doing wrong? My neighbors have huge rhubarb plants.Chris and Jay, in Chester
A: Try growing the plant in a raised bed instead, with lots of added compost and organic material.
This change of location and amended soil, along with plenty of watering, will ensure your rhubarb is the talk of the neighborhood next year.
Sad sour cherry tree has brown leaves and fruit
Q: We have a mature Bali sour cherry tree and two five-foot sour cherry bushes. This spring, they all developed brown rot. They are presently defoliating. Last year, we did not get any cherries, but they kept their leaves. I thought it was due to weather-related issues. Do you think they can be saved?Diana, in Essex
A: These cherry trees tend to be very susceptible to diseases. And if you're seeing branches and leaves dying back, that means the trees are struggling.
If your tree is losing leaves and branches, try to prune it and remove some leaves to open up the tree. This can allow for better air circulation.
Then go in and clean up any dropped leaves and fruits that have fallen. This can help rid the soil around the trees and bushes of any disease inoculum.
Some organic sprays containing copper can act as preventatives to try in early spring. Then after it blooms and the blossoms have dropped, try several treatments of a sulfur spray mixed with kaolin clay.
These treatments won't help in this moment, but they can be preventative against diseases on any new growth.
Ants eating all the radish leaves
Q: I just started a vegetable garden in my backyard, and I'm having problems with ants. They've decimated an entire row of radishes. They're building anthills around the radishes and chewing the plants down. I've tried liberally watering the rows and spreading borax around the plants, but nothing seems to keep the ants out. Any help would be much appreciated.Margot, via email
A: Most of the time, ants in the garden don't pose a problem. But if they are going after seedlings, there are a few things you could try.
Some remedies are probably already in your kitchen cupboard or fridge, like cinnamon, citrus peels, vinegar, and mint.
Another trick is to make your garden uncomfortable for ants. Try sprinkling sharp diatomaceous earth around your plants or amend the soil with heavy compost.
If these don't work, remove the radish seedlings and plant them elsewhere. Then, plant alliums like onions and leeks there, as ants tend to leaves those crops alone.
Tiny bugs decimating rose mallow plant
Q: I have a rose mallow plant. I also have tiny bugs with red heads and black bodies that love the leaves of this plant. They leave the rose itself alone but really do a whole lot of damage to the leaves in a very short period of time. I have tried a spray recommended by a reputable garden center. As long as the leaves are wet, the bugs go away. Once the leaves dry, they are right back at feasting. The rose plant is in a spot that does not get much of a breeze or wind. I'm wondering if I need to move it somewhere where it will catch more of a breeze. If that is the problem, when is the best time to move this plant? If this is not the problem, or only problem, I'd love some recommendations. It's a spectacular plant and I'd love to enjoy the flowers with the leaves.Lori, in Williston
A: This could be the work of the hibiscus sawfly, because mallows are in the hibiscus family.
These flies start out as small caterpillars and they're visible on the underside of the plant's leaves.
In their caterpillar state, they can do quick work to skeletonize rose, hibiscus or mallow leaves as they feed.
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If your mallow plant is still fairly small, you can eradicate the sawfly caterpillars by hand-picking them off the underside of the leaves.
Certain sprays, like insecticidal soap or horticultural oil can work, too. One spray with spinosad can also help, but be cautious while spraying this. Even though it's organic, it can be toxic to bees and pollinators.
Spray it late in the evening after bees and pollinators have gone. Once the spray dries, it's not as toxic to pollinators.
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