Editor's Notebook

I was driving through the 'hood the other day, thinking about what ineffable truths about gardening I could make more effable, when I caught sight of what appeared to be a revival tent sitting in someone's front yard. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it was actually a giant plastic bag enclosing a large camellia, ostensibly to protect its blooms against an expected frost. This struck me as wrong on oh-so-many levels. Let's forget for a moment that the insulating value of a thin sheet of plastic is roughly equivalent to that of a spritz of iced tea. The larger issue is: Do we want to grow things so unsuitable for our weather that they have to be double-bagged? Imagine saying to a visitor, "Under this bag are oleanders, and under that one are some lemon trees. Now let's open this bag and admire my coconut palm." What's really ironic is that there are oodles of great camellias out there (see "Camellias Say South" on page 84) that bloom just fine in most areas with no protection at all. Still, some folks just feel better battling Mother Nature. Their logic is, well, ineffable. -STEVE BENDER

I have tulip poplars and dogwoods in my yard. Lately something has been chewing off the ends of the branches 3 to 4 inches from the tips. I am afraid I won't have flowers or shade this spring. What's causing this, and how can I stop it? JOANN MEANS CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

The cause may be beetles-either twig girdlers or twig pruners. Twig girdlers chew a ring around the twigs; twig pruners hollow them out. The best way to control both pests is to gather and burn all of the fallen twigs this winter. This will kill the larvae inside before they can mature and start the cycle again.

My nandina gets a few berries on it for the winter but not the bountiful bunches that I see on other plants. What can I do about this? LINDA MCCADAMS

PARIS, TENNESSEE

Few plants can boast berries as showy as the scarlet ones borne all winter by nandina. The plant is so easy to grow in both sun and shade that it's been a Southern favorite for ages. Unfortunately, not all nandinas are loaded with berries. Sometimes the fault is heavy pruning, which removes most of the flowerbuds. No flowerbuds, no berries. But the problern may be the plants themselves. Of the many new nandinas being offered in nurseries, some boast colorful foliage, and others have compact shapes. But none, it seems, have been selected for berry production. About the only way to procure a heavy-fruiting nandina is to keep your eyes open in the yards of friends and neighbors. When you spot a good one, beg the owner for a division.

I have two large peace lilies that seldom flower. They also keep getting brown tips on the ends of the leaves. When I water them, I usually give them a large amount, and then I don't water again until the soil feels dry. How can I end the brown spots and get my plants to bloom?

PAM THOMAS

BENTON, TENNESSEE

Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum sp.) are among the easiest houseplants to grow. They'll take low light, but if the light gets too low, they'll stop blooming. So try giving yours a brighter location. Brown spots on the leaf tips are a sign of underwatering. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times, and don't let your plants begin to wilt between waterings.

Tip of the Month

You can recycle strings of burned-out Christmas lights to use in the garden. I cut the wires into sections and throw away the lights. Then I use the sections to tie climbing plants to their supports. The plastic coating on the wires is waterproof and gentle on plants. KELLEY STEINHORN

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

Tips of the Month are ideas readers say work forthem. We do not test them. Submit tips on a postcard with your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address to Garden Tips, Southern Living, P.O. Box 523, Birmingham, AL 35201 or by e-mail to southernliving@customersvc.com. For each tip published you will receive $25.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jan 2004
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