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Help wanted with large garden

QUESTION: I have a lovely large garden but the eight hours that I spend a week is not enough. I cannot afford a gardener but I am willing to pay someone. The ideal solution would be to find a person that loves their own garden, but has downsized and no longer has one that may be interested in tending to mine. Is this a dream? or even possible? Any recommendations? more...

Tree species as alternatives to Pine

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Transplanting Cedars

QUESTION: I have several rootbound 4 - 6 ft cedars in large containers that I'd like to replant in the ground. I live in the Lower Mainland and would like to know when is the best time to transplant these trees and how to do so. more...

Help with Identifying a Mystery Flower

QUESTION: Here is a picture of a plant which arrived unannounced in our garden. It has grown to 5' in height on a stem about 1" diameter and has bushed out to about 3' across. It has required staking and has also shown a climbing habit by attaching itself to a nearby trellis. It has seed pods which look very like a Cape Gooseberry, though the fruit does not take on the orange hue expected of that plant, and stays a rather dull beige. The husks look similar to Chinese Lantern, but again without the colour. I have saved some seed pods and intend to try various methods of propagating, but don't know if the plant we have should be treated as an annual or a perennial. I have guessed that it is a variety of Physalis, but can get no closer than that. Any suggestions? more...

Growing Cockscomb in B.C.

QUESTION: I wonder if you can tell me why Cockscomb (Cockscomb (Cristata Group) celosia argentea var. cristata) is not grown much (if ever) in BC. I saw this plant growing in Arthur, Illinois at Rockome Gardens. It was also grown in many Amish flower beds there. Such a showy plant, and yet you never see it here. Research shows it is hardy for Zones 5+, so should do well in many areas of BC. I have seen Celosia plumosa available, but not the cristata variety. more...

Non-blooming Climbing Hydrangeas

QUESTION: I have two climbing Hydrangea planted side-by-side on a west facing fence. I planted them 4 years ago and they are growing beautifully with strong vines and big, green leaves. The problem is, they have never bloomed. The spot that I planted them in was originally quite shady but now gets a fair amount of sun (as my neighbour trimmed a very large tree) but it does not appear to be burning the leaves. Is this the problem or is there another possible reason? more...

Problem with Miscanthus Sinensis Not Blooming

QUESTION: I have had three Miscanthus Sinensis "Gracillimus" for a number of years on an open south-west facing slope that is well drained. They have spread, but have never bloomed in the late summer with the plumes of seed heads I see everywhere else. They are growing in relatively poor soil, and receive only minimal water in the summer from rain. Are the soil conditions that critical for these plants? They seem to grow well where they are, but simply don't bloom. Any ideas? more...

Spreading Wisteria

QUESTION: I have a Japanese wisteria that I put in about 10 years ago. I have read that they can be "trained" to grow up large trees. Ours has grown up a large cedar, and while it looks beautiful it is really spreading and I worry that it will choke out the cedar and surrounding ones if I leave it. Should I cut it down? Also, should I be worried about the roots in my septic field? more...

Planting Large Bulbs

QUESTION: Can you tell me how deep one should plant large daffodil and tulip bulbs? more...

Saving Paperwhite Narcissi Bulbs for Next Year

QUESTION: > My indoor pot of paperwhite narcissi bloomed beautifully at Christmas. The flowers are gone now, and the leaves are fading. How do I save them again for bloom next year? Can they be planted outside? (I'm in zone 8, Victoria, BC). more...

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