Magnolia will come back to life with fertilizer
“I have discovered the secret of happiness – it is work, either with the hands or the head-something to do.” —John Burroughs
Q: My 50-year-old plus Magnolia has not done well the past few years. Last year all the buds were killed by a late frost. This year the bloom is weak and the color is not that deep pink. There are no signs of insects. I have never sprayed or fertilized. —Joyce, Ithaca, NY
A: You need a good boost of fertilizer into the ground around the tree. Make a dozen holes with a crowbar in a circle around the tree near the leaf drop. Fill them with 510-10 granular fertilizer. This will be good for five years. The tree has exhausted the phosphorus that is in most soils.
Q: I have some new dahlia roots that I want to plant far from the spigot. I know they will need plenty of water. Any suggestions? —Cathy, Griswold, Conn.
A: If you can find a bright sunny spot closer to the faucet, they will be better served.
You should put an inch of sand under thee good loam to help drain those gorgeous plants.
You could mulch them but they will do better with cultivation since you have a shallow water table in your area. You will need to dig them up every fall.
Closely exam them for rot or other pathogens and cut those out at that time. Store the roots in straw or new sawdust for the winter. They can survive the first frost in the fall and will have an enlarged root as a result.
Q: I have been told to water my lawn intermittently in small spurts during the day. I cannot find an irrigating toll to accomplish this. Do you know where I can find a tool? —Igor, Brooklyn, NY
A: Lawns need only an inch a week. They are best watered in late evening or at night. You can calibrate the duration by trial and error.
Put out a coffee can near the sprinklers. You need to allow for rain water as well. You will then be able to set the timer for a certain span. Sunlight inhibits the growth hormone. All plants do most of their growth at night. Fortunately, this is also the time that your have the most pressure and will be able to save water because of less evaporation.
Q: My 40-year-old asparagus bed is getting a little piqued. It is about 40 feet long. Any ideas? —Len, Norwich, Conn.
A: It is time for some thinning. You can remove six inches every foot and build a second bed or widen the present one. The new trench has to be two feet deep and a foot wide. You can put aged manure at the bottom of the pit with good loam above it. After the trench and the plants are in, put 510-10 fertilized on the top.
This will take care of the root of your problem.
Mort White is a gardening expert who provides a weekly column to The Times and The Call. For more columns, visit themagicgarden.com. For the best solutions for your lawn, tree and shrub problems, call the experts at SeaScape, 800-294.5296 or visit seascapeinc.com.