GARDENING QUESTIONS
Evergreen removal leaves little nutrients
Question: I just had evergreens removed. Can I plant a vegetable garden in the soil?
Answer: You can plant vegetables, flowers or other plants in this area, but monitor the new plantings for nutrient deficiencies. The evergreens did not make the soil too acidic, but the stump grindings and roots remaining in the soil can impact plant growth.
As the microorganisms work on decomposing the roots and grindings, they temporarily tie up the nitrogen in the soil. This can result in pale stunted plants due to a lack of nitrogen. You may need to add some low-nitrogen slow-release fertilizer to compensate in the short term. Once the plant debris is totally decomposed, additional nutrients will be available for the plants.
Q: I have a peace lily that is really pot-bound; I can't see the soil anymore. It is still flowering and doing well, but is getting too large to re-pot again. I would probably have to separate it, but am afraid of destroying the roots. Is there a best way to separate the plant into smaller plants?
A: I know it can be a bit intimidating to take a knife to the roots of a favorite plant, but peace lilies are pretty resilient.
Wait until your plant is done flowering to divide it into smaller plants. Carefully slide your plant out of the container. Locate the individual crowns, clumps of leaves, that are growing in the pot. Use a sharp knife to cut through the roots, dividing the plant into sections of one or more of these crowns. Replant the divisions in containers slightly larger than the remaining rootball.
Q: My coral bells don’t see to be doing too well. My neighbor has four large pine trees that drop many, many pine needles. Could this be the problem? Is there anything I can add to the soil to combat this situation?
A: The dense canopy of the pine trees and competition for water from the tree roots are likely stunting your coral bells. Make sure the plants receive sufficient water. This is especially critical when establishing new plants under or near trees.
Monitor soil and water thoroughly when the top few inches of soil are starting to dry. Once the plants are established, they can more easily compete.
Consider fertilizing with a low-nitrogen slow-release fertilizer that promotes even top and root growth.
Q: My asparagus bed is full of quack grass, dandelions and other weeds. How can I easily remove them?
A: Unfortunately, there is no easy way to manage weeds in asparagus. Hand-pull and cultivate to remove weeds, roots and all. Be careful not to damage the spears while weeding. Continue to monitor and remove weeds throughout the growing season.
Cover the soil with a layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles or other organic mulch to help prevent weed seeds from sprouting. Total vegetation killers can be used to spot-treat perennial weeds. Be careful these products do not touch the asparagus spears and damage or kill your desirable plants.
Do not use salt. This old method was believed to kill the shallow rooted weeds while not harming the more deeply rooted asparagus. Research found that repeated use of salt reduced the asparagus harvest.
Email questions to Melinda Myers through melinda myers.com, or write her at P.O. Box 798, Mukwonago, WI 53149.