Perennial Flower Gardening Blog Articles

Jun 23, not blooming after propagation

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:26:18 GMT

I propogated a plant from my mother a month ago. It has grown very well (huge) but no flowers. Is there a male /female plant? or will mine flower

Jun 22, Pampas grass - not turning green this year

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:39:33 GMT

My Pampas grass is mostly brown and it's June. I live in Oregon. What do I do to green it up? Thank you, Doug says that a brown plant that's

Jun 22, Goblin Gaillardia

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:36:16 GMT

How do I dead head this flower? Thank you! Doug says you deadhead this perennial flower by following the stem as far down as you can with your

Jun 17, creeping phlox transplanting

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:19:24 GMT

What is the best time to replant creeping phlox? Doug says that Creeping Phlox can be replanted or transplanted first thing in the spring (when the

Jun 17, Blackeyed Susan pruning tip

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:16:08 GMT

How do I remove flowers that have died to encourage new flowers to bloom? I'm not sure where on the plant I should remove the old flower. The exact

Jun 17, blue hue minority

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:13:57 GMT

Why are there so few blue flowers? Is it something to do with chlorophyl in the plants? Doug says that chlorophyll determines the leaf colour (green)

Jun 16, Spring, sumer & fall ground ccover

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:43:36 GMT

I am looking for a ground cover that will flower in the late spring, summer and early fall - are there any ground covers such as those - someone

Jun 16, how to kill perenial ground cover

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:39:48 GMT

I bought a house that I just found out has perennial ground cover growing out of control and I do not want it anymore how can I get rid of it! Doug

Jun 16, Raised garden beds

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:38:06 GMT

We want to make a large perennial shrub bed on existing lawn...our question: can we leave the lawn in and apply topsoil to a dept of a foot? If we

Jun 16, drooping calla!

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:34:56 GMT

Hi, I recently bought a calla lily bulb complete with soil and pot with not much info on how to plant and care for etc. To my surprise it soon

Jun 16, Propagation

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:31:27 GMT

when is the best time to divide these plants? My need more space, they look over-grown and like weeds. Help!! Doug says that spring is the best time

Jun 13, black eyed susan turning brown

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:54:10 GMT

What is causing the plant leaves to turn brown? Doug says he's not there and you don't describe how the plant is growing but the main disease of

Jun 8, Hosta's and Mulch

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:54:56 GMT

Is is alright to use cedar mulch with hostas? I was told you can not use cedar mulch with hostas. Is this true? Doug says this will come as a

Jun 8, How to make lily of the valley bloom?

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:53:05 GMT

I have lillies of the valley in my little shade garden, but they hardly ever bloom. Last year I had 2 plants with flowers, this year NONE! they have

Jun 8, Can't ID this purple foliaged perennial

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:49:58 GMT

I have a number of these purple foliaged perennials in a full sun garden bed. It is about 36 tall and has begun to bloom with these tiny pink/white

Jun 8, creeping flox has brown areas

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:47:43 GMT

My creeping flox looked great during the spring months and bloomed beautifully. Now the blooming is done the have started to turn brown are they

Jun 8, Temporarily Moving Black Eyed Susans

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:44:13 GMT

We are having a flower box redone. The box is filled with Black Eyed Susans and they will have to be removed and then replanted in the box after the

Jun 2, need help around a pool area

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:47:22 GMT

We just put in an inground pool and have a 3 foot decking around. On one long side and one short side (L shape)we have a 3 foot area to plant.

Jun 1, Potted Hibiscus

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:49:14 GMT

I live in northern CT In the winter I bring in my hibiscus when can I bring my hibiscus outside? What temperature range? Doug says that this isn't a

Jun 1, peonies changing color

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:46:14 GMT

My mom has had a peony for several years and it has always been pink. This year my mom's peony is white. Does she need to amend her soil in some way

Jun 1, renewing a garden

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:45:00 GMT

I just bought a house in summer 2008. I am a beginner gardener trying to learn about the seemingly healthy established perennial gardens. There

May 26, Hostas care.

Tue, 26 May 2009 13:01:51 GMT

I have a beautiful hostas with green center leaves and white edging. It is approximately 3 years old and is quite large. My problem is that it grows a

May 26, aphids on lupins

Tue, 26 May 2009 12:58:38 GMT

where can i buy something to kill or help treat the aphids attacking my lupins Doug says you can go to your garden shed. Pull out a hose. Turn on

May 26, growing time for BLACK EYED SUSAN

Tue, 26 May 2009 12:55:43 GMT

I would like to grow some Black Eyed Susans for my daughter's Sept wedding and would like to know approx how long from seed to bloom or how far into

May 26, NOT COMMING UP BY NOW

Tue, 26 May 2009 12:52:50 GMT

I HAVE HAD MY BLACK EYE SUSAN FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS DOING FINE/THEY HAVE YET TO START TO COME UP OUT OF THE GROUND IN SOME AREAS USUALLY BY THIS

May 19, Perenial spring, summer and fall blooming plants for sunny garden

Tue, 19 May 2009 15:14:59 GMT

How many plants should be put in a 9X15 garden with a front and side views? This garden will be viewed by passengers on the trains and rail fans.

May 19, peonies changing color

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:19:03 GMT

My mom has had a peony for several years and it has always been pink. This year my mom's peony is white. Does she need to amend her soil in some way

May 19, polemonium in a pot?

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:05:19 GMT

can polemonium be grown in pots? Doug says that any perennial can be grown in a pot.

May 19, aphids on lupins

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:03:18 GMT

where can i buy something to kill or help treat the aphids attacking my lupins Doug says the easiest way to kill aphids is to knock them off the

May 14, Training phlox

Thu, 14 May 2009 12:23:08 GMT

How do I plant creeping flox so they will spread more sideways. I have a very

May 14, African Daisy

Thu, 14 May 2009 12:20:03 GMT

It's so impressingly brilliant white when it's in full bloom around March and April. It stays green all year and blankets our large

May 14, An animal is eating the tops off my black eyed susans

Thu, 14 May 2009 12:19:01 GMT

I am not sure what animal, maybe rabbits, that are eating the tops off the black eyed susans that are just coming up again in my garden. They are not

May 12, Need to identify a perennial

Tue, 12 May 2009 16:08:26 GMT

I have a perennial growing in my garden and I don't know the name of it. It has fuzzy leaves and looks very much like lamb's ears until a little deep

May 12, Is Pincushion Rabbit Resistant

Tue, 12 May 2009 16:05:08 GMT

Is the pincushion flower plant resistant to rabbits? Doug says not as far as he knows - there are very few perennials that a rabbit won't

May 8, Perfect Soil!

Fri, 08 May 2009 11:42:38 GMT

What is the soil type that is needed for the Black Eyed Susan to grow in? Also what is the best soil type if it can grow in multiple ones. Doug says

May 6, Starting perennial seeds indoors in Florida

Wed, 06 May 2009 19:35:18 GMT

I live in zone 9 Florida. We will be laying out a perennial garden towards the end of the summer. Can I start seeds now (May 1) indoors, harden off

May 6, Hibiscus

Wed, 06 May 2009 19:32:20 GMT

I didn't know I had to prune my hibiscus back in the fall. Should I do it now in May or just leave it and see if it will grow. It looks dead to me

May 5, Need ground cover

Tue, 05 May 2009 19:45:36 GMT

Hi, I have a sloped backyard, which is a bit rocky, and quite sunny. I would like to plant a ground cover on this hill, preferably by seed (as it

May 5, Should I thin out.

Tue, 05 May 2009 14:29:28 GMT

There is an area of black eyed susans in my yard. They come up every year. Should I thin them out or just let nature take its course? I love them.

May 1, planting iris bulbs in springtime

Fri, 01 May 2009 12:59:07 GMT

today I bought 3 bearded iris already beginning to grow in their pots, do I plant them now April 28, 2009 in Green Bay, WI area or should I be

May 1, No-work cover for very steep slope

Fri, 01 May 2009 12:57:15 GMT

I live in Pittsburgh, PA. I have a very steep slope on the side of my property. All summer long, it is covered with the worst possible, thorny,

May 1, control spreading

Fri, 01 May 2009 12:49:39 GMT

the black eyed susans are taking over the garden. What is the best way to control spreading? Use edging of chemical? Doug says they'll do this -

Apr 28, Ground covers that are safe for dogs

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:35:29 GMT

Can you please tell me what groundcovers are SAFE for dogs? I don't care about the pounding it will take, just as long as it is not harmful to the

Apr 27, Area with no sun

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:06:55 GMT

I have a small corridor type space between garage and house. About three feet wide by 6 feet long. There is no sun and very little light in this

Apr 27, what perennial can tolerate full sun, and nightly water via sprinkler?

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:02:00 GMT

I need help choosing a perennial that can tolerate strong sun and hot summer. my problem is my neighbor waters her garden every night via sprinkler,

Apr 24, Looking for extremely thirsty plants - pond plants appropriate?

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:09:41 GMT

We have spots in our backyard that get standing water for days following a heavy enough rain. Are there uber thirsty plants that will soak this up,

Apr 23, Hibiscus transplanting time

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:02:36 GMT

Can I transplant now in the spring before it has started to grow? Or is fall the best time? Doug says that first thing in the spring always worked

Apr 23, Pachysandra growth pattern on banks

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:01:22 GMT

Hey maybe a stupid question but am curious as to whether Pachysandra if planted on a hill will grow more up the hill or down . Doug says pachysandra

Apr 22, privacy

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:39:13 GMT

We recognize that your privacy is important. This document

Apr 22, starting a rock garden

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:58:40 GMT

I have a large pile of rock all along my back yard fencing, I am planning to make it look more attractive by making it into a rock garden. I have