Q. My wife and I just moved to Rowayton (Ledge Road) and we’ve discovered what appears to be a few mole holes in our lawn. Is there a preferred/efficient method of mole removal in Rowayton? While the holes are on the lawn (and not in a garden bed) I figured …
Q. How do I prune my Hydrangeas and when is the best time of year to do it? A. Hydrangea pruning is a complicated matter! It depends… If you have the new hybrid reblooming Hydrangeas, you may cut them back in fall to the size and shape you desire. Examples: …
Q: My Hydrangeas are only putting out new growth from the bottom of the plant – all the buds on old growth seem to have dried up and last year’s stalks are totally dry and dead. What should I do? A: Hydrangeas really took a hit this winter. Most of …
Q.: What is the best way to propagate roses? A.: The Royal Horticultural Society (the UK’s leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting good gardening) suggests several ways to foster growth of new plants in their pages on roses: Roses are usually budded in summer, but rootstocks are seldom available …
Q: I was over at the Rowayton Library and noticed a shrub with bright purple berries clustered on its drooping branches. It’s such an unusual color amid the fall leaves – could you tell me what it is? A: There is no question…this is Callicarpa, a wonderful bit of color …
Q: I know I learned this long ago, but I have forgotten the answer and my child is asking why the leaves change color in fall. Could you tell me so I can remain the “answerer of all questions” for her? A: There is a terrific article online by the State …
Q: There is a very tall, intensely blue perennial I have noticed blooming in a few late fall gardens in my neighborhood. Can you help me identify it? It seems to do well in sun or shade. A: This is a tough one, and please correct us if we are …
Q: Which houseplants are poisonous if eaten by pets? My cats are showing way too much interest in the potted plants we just brought inside. A: “More than 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals. Poisonous plants …
Q: The wetlands next to Rowayton School Pond were a mess after Sandy hit, but I noticed that most of the fallen trees were removed and the area is looking decidedly better. What’s going on? A: The Rowayton Gardeners’ wetland restoration project is progressing nicely. We have just about come …
Q: What’s happening with the lawn at Pinkney Park? I know the Gardeners were trying to make it “pesticide free” last spring and summer. A: Pinkney survived and thrived under the new lawn maintenance plan overseen by the Rowayton Gardeners and the 6th Taxing District Commissioners. The plan was executed by …
Q: My lilacs are starting to look pretty dreadful – spotted with powdery fungus, overgrown and generally unattractive in the fall border. Do I just have to wait until the leaves fall off, or can I treat and prune them now? A: The 3D ‘s (damaged, diseased and dead wood) may …
Q: No matter what the time of year, the garden always seems to need attention. What should I focus on now that the leaves are about to fall? For instance, is it a good idea to prune plants now? What about those bald spots in my lawn? Which perennials should …
