Question:

“I’m planning on doing some landscaping next spring, which includes introducing some new trees to my property. Do I need to be too particular about what kind of soil I plant trees in? I’ve read that they just sort of adapt to their environments. Do certain trees take special soil mixtures?”
Judy and Kaye, Itasca, Illinois

Answer:

Well, yes and no. If you’re buying trees from a nursery always consult the resident horticulturalist for their recommendation. That not only makes good sense, but it also gives you piece of mind. (When I buy anything from a nursery, I milk them for information to the fullest while I have their undivided attention!) Basically, most trees do well in sandy loam or a good clay loam. Heavy clay, on the other hand, is bad news.

Question:

“This is my first year at trying my hand at drying flowers and I have met with some success. What flowers dry best to be used for dried flower arrangements?”
Dionne, Owatonna, Minnesota

Answer:

The flowers that you are going to want to choose are those that are colorful, strong-stemmed, compact, and relatively low in moisture content. The best time to harvest these flowers is when the first flowers are reaching maturity. Some people use a silica gel that you can get from craft stores or florists to preserve flowers such as anemones, daisies, pansies and zinnias which have very moist blooms. However, if you choose the old fashion air-drying route, the best choices would be yarrow, anise hyssop, larkspur, globe amaranth, pink paper daisy, statice and starflower. Drying time is pretty much from 10-20 days depending upon when you picked the plant and the moisture content.

Question:

“We sometimes get an early spring in our part of the country which fools my crocuses, daffodils, and bleeding hearts into poking their heads through the soil too early. Of course, the cold returns and turns their leaf tips and flowers all brown. What can I do to protect them from this happening?”

Susan, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin

Answer:

Protect your early bloomers by mulching these particular early risers with compost and a thick layer of mulch in the fall so this doesn’t happen. So if you haven’t done this yet, there’s still time!  Even your discarded evergreen boughs from your tired, old, dead Christmas tree will do the job at this point.

Question:

“I’ve heard that Epson salt is good for your plants. If so, is it just certain plants?”

Jayme and Ken, Prattville, Alabama

Answer:

Yes, it’s true – and relatively inexpensive as well. At around $2.99 for a 64 ounce container, it’s a pretty cost effective way to give your plants, shrubs or lawn a boost. It helps seeds germinate, makes plants grow lusher, helps produce more blooms on your flowers and increases chlorophyll production. It also improves phosphorus and nitrogen in take and even wards off pests like slugs and voles. Lawns, roses and tomatoes love the stuff, but don’t use it on sage, as that is one of the few plants that will tolerate it. Most Epsom salt packages give you the right dosage to use right n them or you can go to www.epsomsaltcouncil.org and read up on it a little further before you indulge.

Question:

“What is a sugar maple? Is it different than other maple trees?”

Bev and Roger, Greenfield Center, New York

Answer:

There are actually 13 maple tree species that are native to North America. It’s the sugar and black maple trees that are the leading and most preferred maple product producers because of their high sugar count. However, it’s the sugar maple that is found most naturally and extensively throughout the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada, where the black maple has a much smaller range. The other 11 maple trees that are native to the United States include: red, silver, boxelder, mountain, striped, bigleaf, chalk, canyon, Rocky Mountain, vine and Florida. 

Question:

“My wife and I are having a big debate on what the difference is between cilantro and coriander.  She’s betting a steak dinner that they are the same plant. My argument is, then why do they have different names? Can you settle our bet?”

Roger and Ann, Reno, Nevada

Answer:

Sorry, Roger, you’re buying dinner tonight. They are indeed the same plant. Cilantro is the Spanish name for the leaves of the coriander plant and it seems like us Americans just took a liking to calling it that as well.  However, the seeds of the same plant are called “coriander” seeds, to confuse matters worse. Most of the English-speaking world uses the term “coriander” though when referring to both the seeds and the leaves.

Question:

“Is there a secret to storing fresh herbs?”

Tara, Silver Lake, Oregon

Answer:

The rule of thumb on storing herbs with woodier qualities to them like sage, rosemary, basil and thyme is to store them in a perforated bag and keep them in the crisper of your refrigerator. Leafy fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, dill and mint come in bunches and can be stored like a bouquet of flowers. Put about an inch of water in a vase or jar with the cut ends down. Cover them with a little plastic wrap loosely so air can flow around them. Make sure you change the water every day or two so the water stays fresh.

Do You Have a Question about What’s going on in your garden or greenhouse?  Submit your question for Barbara Sue (include your city and state) by contacting us at: phone (563) 557-7571, fax (563) 557-7641 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   You can also write us at Garden and Greenhouse, 6170 Forest Hills Drive, Dubuque, IA 52002.  Barbara Sue will do her best to publish your question with an answer in the next available issue.

Barbara Sue Schubert is a sales and marketing professional, free-lance writer and a garden and plant enthusiast from southern Wisconsin.  “To me, my sales and marketing background and my gardening have a lot in common, both feed my family!  Writing, on the other hand, feeds my soul.”