It’s the last of the month, which means garden questions and
answers again! You may e-mail me questions at: ga********@jp*.net.
Or you can mail me questions in care of this newspaper. For a
faster, personal response, please include a self-addressed, stamped
envelope.
It’s the last of the month, which means garden questions and answers again! You may e-mail me questions at: ga********@jp*.net. Or you can mail me questions in care of this newspaper. For a faster, personal response, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Q. Last fall, I planted strawberries in a half-barrel. Despite plenty of water and fertilizer, the leaves of some plants are turning brown and the berries are very small. I don’t think the plants can be root-bound since the barrel is so deep. What am I doing wrong? – W.H., Gilroy, via e-mail.
A. You’re correct in the fact that your strawberry plants aren’t root-bound. What I think is happening is that your plants are being “burned” due to excess salt build-up in your soil. Besides damaging leaves, salts also can lock up nutrients. This results in small berries. Try mixing two or three tablespoons of vinegar in two gallons of water, and pouring the solution into the barrel. This will counteract the salt build-up. In fact, this vinegar solution should be used intermittently with almost all container plantings. Go ahead and keep on fertilizing, too. One note, though, those leaves that are already “burned” will not turn green. Go ahead and pick the brown leaves off instead.
Q. My compost pile is starting to smell and draw flies. Please help! I’ll thank you and my next-door neighbor will thank you, too. My compost pile is against the fence right next to their yard. – Y.G., Morgan Hill, via e-mail.
A. You’re using too much green material. I’m betting that you use a lot of grass clippings and/or kitchen scraps. If added in big lumps, these can soon congeal into air-less, stinking masses. Add such materials in very thin layers alternately with soil or coarse material, such as tree prunings or stalky plants. Dry leaves also will help dry out your pile. Make sure you turn your pile over frequently with a pitch fork, mixing the green and brown material. With a little amending, the smells and flies should disappear, which will help both you and your neighbor!
Q. My fuchsias seem to be growing nothing more than a few scraggly branches with small clusters of flowers right at the tips. Should I prune them back and hope they’ll grow out more fully? – F.M., Hollister, via e-mail.
Yes, go ahead and pinch them back to get them started again. I’m guessing that you neglected to prune them this past winter or early spring. Pinch back and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer. You will sacrifice a few early flowers as you probably won’t see any new blooms until July. But better late than never, and your fuchsia will look much better.
