Find good spot for hydrangeas

We purchased several hydrangeas for Easter. What is the proper care after planting in the landscape?

Hydrangeas can be very demanding so try to keep care to a minimum by finding them the ideal spot in the landscape. It’s best to choose a location with morning sun and afternoon shade or filtered sun for the entire day. If possible, look for a location that is also naturally moist.

Improve sandy soils with lots of organic matter to help them remain moist. Hydrangeas like to be consistently moist but not wet. Water when the surface of the soil begins to dry to the touch which can be daily as the plants become established. Maintain a 2- to 3-inch mulch layer starting a few inches from the stems. Feed with a slow release landscape fertilizer during the warmer months following label instructions. Also keep a fungicide handy to apply as needed — Hydrangeas often suffer from powdery mildew and leaf spots.

My okra plants are making good growth but have black slowly moving spots on the new leaves. Are these bugs?

Okra is a favorite food for aphids and one common type of these pinhead size and pear-shaped insects is black. They are up to no good sucking juices from the new leaves and stems. Some gardeners wash them off and others use an insecticidal soap. With soap sprays you have hit the insects to be effective. It is best to use soap sprays found at garden centers as those concocted as a home remedy sometimes damage plants. Your garden center also has traditional insecticides labeled for aphid control on okra.

I notice the moon sign planting dates listed for each month. Do they really help the crops grow?

Many gardeners and traditional farmers would not be without their moon sign planting dates calculated as the moon moves through the astrological signs. Some signs are more productive than others and these days are recommended for the best plantings. Perhaps it is best to say, the use of moon sign planting dates is a tradition that many find beneficial for good plant growth. Give these dates a try with your next garden or landscape project to see if it makes a difference.

It is time to fertilize my shrubs, but there are so many products to pick from. Is one fertilizer better than another?

Garden center shelves are full of fertilizers for use in the home landscape. You can choose from quick-acting water soluble products to time release granules that feed the plants for months. What you choose may depend on how often you would like to fertilize your plants.

If you like to be in control and fertilize frequently, the quick-acting products would be fine. But since many gardeners also have other chores to perform, maybe a slow release that offers two or more months feeding is best. The slow release products are more environmentally friendly and cost effective. Only if you have plants with special needs, including azaleas, blueberries and some fruit trees, would more than a general landscape fertilizer be selected.

We have a trash can full of fireplace ashes. Can they be used in our gardens as a fertilizer?

Go lightly when scattering wood ashes in the landscape and garden. Even though they contain almost no nitrogen, wood ashes can be beneficial providing considerable phosphorus, potassium and some minor nutrients. One problem is wood ashes act quick to give an alkaline reaction.

Wood ashes could alter the soil acidity, and their use would not be beneficial with acid-loving plants, including azaleas and blueberries. You would not use them around hydrangeas if you want to keep the flowers blue. They are best only used if you have an acid soil and then no more than a half inch scattering over mulches and soils would be fine. Add a few cups to each compost pile if needed to adjust the pH and supply nutrients.

Recently, we had mulch added to our landscape, and it was put around the citrus trees. I seem to remember these do not like mulch. Is this true?

Mulch can be added to within a foot or two of citrus tree trunks but no closer. Actually, mulch should be kept several inches from the trunks and stems of all trees, shrubs and perennials. Keeping these portions moist may lead to rot or other pest problems. Also, keep mulch layers two to three inches thick. Over mulching can reduce water and air movement into the soil to affect root growth. Mulch layers in flower beds are best kept to an inch and vegetable gardens two inches. If you have a substantial mulch layer over the soil surface only a light topping may be needed.