Editor's Notebook

Do plants have feelings? If they do, the person who planted these tulips is going to be faced with a half-dozen extremely hostile bulbs. I mean, just look at the gross affronts they've suffered. First, instead of planting them in a bed with a hundred or so of their friends to make a big splash, the gardener stuck them in the middle of the yard and planted grass over them. How's an ambitious tulip supposed to feel about that? Then, to add injury to insult, the same insensitive person mowed over them after their leaves started coming up. (Tip: No matter what you've read elsewhere, tulips rarely need pruning.) Despite their utter humiliation, these bulbs are blooming anyway. That's tulip pride for you. Talk about flower power. So my advice to the guilty party is: Remember that where you plant is just as important as what you plant. Move these abused bulbs to a nice garden bed before they get other plants involved. You wouldn't want that big oak hanging over your bedroom to suddenly drop in on you. -STEVE BENDER

Question

I have a camellia in a well-protected area, and it seems to be growing well. But the flowerbuds never open and eventually fall off. Do you have any suggestions? ERNEST MORELAND * HIAWASSEE, GEORGIA

Answer

We suspect the problem has something to do with growing conditions and the whims of the weather. The plant may be responding negatively to sudden changes in temperature or soil moisture. You can't change the weather, but you can change the plant's location. Consider moving the camellia to a partly sunny, well-drained spot if the problem persists. It may make a difference.

How do you cut mums back, and how should you fertilize them? BEV GREEN

DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE

Late winter and early spring are good times for cutting back mums. Prune them to within a few inches of the ground. If your mums are fairly old and losing vigor, now is a good time to divide them as well. Use a garden fork or shovel to gently lift each plant from the ground. Then divide the root ball into four sections. Discard the center section, and replant the others. Place them in fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. You can also add a blossom-boosting fertilizer, such as 11-40-6, around each plant, following label directions.

Can you tell me the best way to start growing herbs? I'm particularly interested in basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, dill, and lavender. NORA JAHKEL

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

The needs of most herbs are quite straightforward-full sun, well-drained soil, good air circulation, and not too much fertilizer. You can place them in the ground or in pots, but it's difficult to grow them indoors. A good soil mix consists of 2 parts potting or garden soil to 1 part coarse gravel or sand. Don't use overhead sprinklers; instead, water around the base of the plant. All of the herbs that you mention should do well in your area except lavender; Florida's climate is too wet and humid for most types. One species you may want to try, though, is Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas).

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Mar 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved