Transplant shrubs when they are dormant for best chance of success
Question: When is the best time to transplant shrubs? I have a few things that need to be moved and want to have the best chance for success.
Answer: The best time to move deciduous trees and shrubs, those that lose their leaves in winter, is when they are dormant. Increase your chance of success by transplanting six to eight weeks before stress periods of summer heat and winter cold set in. Move evergreens in spring, or, if you must, early September as the needles and leaves continue to lose moisture throughout the winter. The bigger the root ball the better for the plant, but it must be one you can manage. In general, a 2-foot-tall shrub should have a root ball at least 12 inches in diameter and 9 inches deep, while one 6 feet tall does best with a root ball at least 16 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Consider asking for help when lifting and moving the shrubs to avoid damaging the root ball and your back.
Q: Every time I try to root a cutting from a houseplant or heirloom annual I am trying to save over winter, it dies.
This happens even when I dip the cut end in a rooting hormone. Do you have any suggestions to help me increase my success?
A: Use a knife or sharp bypass pruners or snips to take short, 3- to 4-inchlong cuttings. Longer cuttings have more leaves, so the cutting loses more moisture, reducing your chance of success. Remove any flowers or flower buds and the lowest leaf. The node where the leaf was attached is where roots will form. Dip the cut end in the rooting hormone if desired. These products contain fungicides and hormones to reduce the risk of disease and increase rooting success. Stick the cutting in a container filled with vermiculite or a well-drained potting mix so the node where the leaf was removed is buried. Moisten the soil and set the pot in a plastic bag to increase the humidity around the cutting. Do not close the bag as this can result in rot. Set the cutting in a bright location out of direct sunlight. Roots should form in several weeks.
Q: I have been battling Siberian squills for the last 10 plus years. Yes, they are beautiful, but they are invading my flower beds. Any suggestions?
A: This is one of those plants many of us loved and planted and later discovered it moves beyond the planting location, invading woodlands and other garden beds. Try mowing or cutting back the squills after they bloom and before they set seed. This eliminates new plants being added to the existing population. Small populations of squills can be dug after flowering and before they set seed. The smaller young bulbs are easy to miss, so this will take a few years. Some people report success using a total vegetation killer. Be careful when applying this weedkiller to lawns and garden beds. Make sure the weedkiller or the treated leaves, when wet, do not contact nearby desirable plants. Using a combinations of these strategies and, of course, continuing to be persist can help increase your chance of success.
Post questions at melindamyers. com, or write P.O. Box 798, Mukwonago, WI 53149