More recent horticulture questions and answers

Horticulture

Wisteria won't blossom

Are there any tricks to making a wisteria blossom? I've had mine now for about three years (it was about five years old when I purchased it). It is in a location where it gets full sun from about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m

You need to do severe pruning in late spring or early summer or root pruning in late fall. Both of these techniques tend to shock the plant so that it does not produce a lot of vigorous vegetative growth.

Chris Starbuck
State Extension Specialist
Woody Ornamentals

Rhododendron doldrums

My rhododendron has only one bloom. Last year it was full. The foliage looks good. The plant is well-mulched and on the east side of the house, where it gets only morning sun. What caused this?

Most large-flowered rhodies will not bloom well unless the spent flowers are picked off shortly after bloom. If you did not do this last spring, that would explain your poor bloom this year. Next spring your plant should have more blooms.

Chris Starbuck
State Extension Specialist
Woody Ornamentals

Strawberry mulch

What other types of mulch besides straw can be used on strawberries?

Pine straw or grass clippings could be used as long as they are well composted (gone through the heating cycle in a compost pile). If you are keeping the same strawberry plants for several years, bark mulch would likely prevent the new runner plants from rooting so this would not be a suitable mulch.

Michele Warmund,
State Extension Specialist
Fruit

Ants in compost

I started a compost heap last fall using a lot of dry leaves and have been adding kitchen scraps all winter. Today I noticed that the heap was crawling with ants. Is this a bad thing, and what can I do about it?

No, the ants do not represent a problem. However, if the pile is heating correctly, ants should not be able to live in it. I suspect that your pile is too dry

Chris Starbuck
State Extension Specialist
Woody Ornamentals

Lilac does not bloom

I live in my grandmother's old house. There is a lilac bush that's been here since I was a child, but it has not bloomed since I moved in 10 years ago. I have cut out the deadwood every year and I prune it sometimes. What can I do to help the lilac bloom again?

You are doing the right thing by thinning to invigorate. Cut 1/3 of the oldest canes to the ground after flowering each year. If the plant is in shade, that would keep it from blooming. If that is not the problem, you might consider digging the plant up next spring and dividing it into three or four plants that can be set out in sunny locations with good soil.

Chris Starbuck
State Extension Specialist
Woody Ornamentals