Our resident gardening guru Frankie Flowers answers some of your top gardening questions.
Q: Can you over-winter a palm in Canada?
A: You’d think the answer is no, but there’s an ornamental palm that’s new to the gardening market. It’s hardy to -20C. You’ll find it at certain independent garden centres. It’s brand new, not really tested yet, but in the next couple of years you’ll see them more and more.
Q: What are the three reasons a lilac might not bloom?
A: Whenever you have any kind of flowering shrub, if it’s not blooming there are three main reasons. One: not enough light. Look at the area – perhaps over time the light has become restricted because of a tree that’s growing and providing more shade, or a new building that’s been put up. Two: improper pruning. If you’re pruning at the wrong time of year, sometimes you’re removing the flowers. Lilacs need to be pruned right after the bloom period. Three: improper fertilization. Fertilizers have three numbers – if you’re fertilizing with something too high in the first number, you’re encouraging more green and not the blooms as much.
Q: How do you know that you’re pruning correctly?
A: Make sure you prune to an outward bud, so that the branching will go out and not back in. You’re pruning for shape and form, but also for air flow.
Q: How many hours of sunlight do tomatoes need to thrive?
A: Six hours of direct sunlight. A tomato plant is a heat lover and a sun seeker. If you don’t have a lot of direct sunlight, consider planting leafy greens instead.
Q: Why would someone have moss in their lawn?
A: Compacted soil is a common reason for moss in a lawn. Acidic soil is the other main reason. There are a number of things you can do to discourage its growth: you can put down horticultural lime or dolomitic lime, which will neutralize the acid. Shade is another reason why moss may thrive – if the shade is provided by a tree, consider pruning some of the branches. Aerating the soil will help with compaction. All that said, moss is green and easy to walk on so it’s okay to have it in the lawn. Also: you can take moss out of your garden, blend it with yogurt and spread it on the outside of your clay pots, and you’ll get moss growing on the outside of your pots for a cool effect.
Q: How do I keep the cats out of the garden?
A: Plant up the area — the fuller the area the less likely they’ll go into it. Cats hate the smell of citrus, so grinding grapefruit or orange rind into the garden may work. Other suggestions to deter your feline friends? Cats hate water, so a gentle squirt with a water pistol should send them the message. They also hate snakes, so a couple of strategically-placed rubber snakes might be just what you need.
Do you have a gardening question for Frankie? Email it to submissions@cityline.ca.