Q. I want to replace the summer color in my back yard, however, the planting areas will now be very shady. I was thinking of Pansies but I don’t think they are a winter bloomer? So, what can I plant that blooms in the shade during the winter months?
A. For seasonal color, Pansies are a perfect answer from late fall through early spring as they prefer cool to mild temperatures regardless of the day length. They are also an excellent choice because of the wide variety of colors and hues available today. The plants stay compact with daytime temperatures in the low seventies. With warmer days, the Pansy plants become very leggy and the flower size is reduced. This is also true for Violas. Besides Pansies and Violas, you can plant Primula, Primrose, Snapdragons, Stock, and Cyclamen. Your favorite garden center has a good selection to choose from and it’s not too late to plant. Planted now, these plants will bloom into the spring months. We need not be concerned with the exposure during the winter months. All that is necessary is a brightly lit area from direct and/or indirect light. Spacing is the key issue when planting at this time of the year. The plants need to be planted closer to another than in the spring and summer months. This minimizes the bare spots, as there will be very little growth until next February. I’d also fertilize these plants at the time of planting. The addition of nutrients now prevents the plants from turning yellow so the plants keep their green color through the coldest part of the new year. If you wait until they go off color to feed them, they don’t respond quickly because of the cold soil temperature. So in summary, you have lots of choices for winter color with Pansies being one of them. They grow in brightly lit areas regardless of the exposure. The plants need to be planted close to one another and fertilize them at the time of planting.
Q. I know it’s too late to resolve this problem this year, but why are the leaves and flowers of my Clematis riddled with holes? Although I never saw any, I did spray for caterpillars and applied snail and slug bait. What else should I do next year?
A. Worms are not usually a problem with Clematis. They would consume a large area or section of the leaf and should be visible during the daylight hours. Instead, I think the primary suspect is Earwigs. Like snails and slugs, they feed when it’s dark so you don’t find them on the plant during daylight hours. There are several organic and non-organic methods of controlling Earwigs. I prefer the new organic control called Sluggo Plus. Sluggo Plus contains Spinosad so it controls snails, slugs, earwigs, sowbugs and other insect pests. I’d make my first application as the new leaves emerge and reapply the bait every six weeks throughout the summer and fall.
THE DIRT GARDENER
BUZZ BERTOLERO