Question:

“There was a recent spring freeze across the lower Midwest that surprised us in late April – after I had removed all the mulch from around my rose bushes. Do I need to start shopping for replacement plants or will my rose bushes survive this “assault?”

Jayme, Indianpolis, Indiana

Answer:

It’s not really extreme temperatures that kill roses, but rather the frequent alternate freezing and thawing process that heaves the soil that does the damage, causing root breakage. With that in mind, your plants will most likely survive despite their fresh shoots getting a little frost bit. Like any other plant, it’s the roots that need the most TLC. Roses are known to survive temperatures down to about 10 degrees with little trouble, although most growers use 20 degrees as a safe guideline. Keep in mind that old garden roses are a lot more tolerable than your hybrid teas. Get in the habit in the spring to move the mulch away from your plants during the day, but until you’re absolutely sure there is no frost in sight, cover them back up at night. Once you get in the habit, you’ll ward off any future “assaults.”

Question:

“I have heard some garden vegetables do better in the spring and fall rather than in the heat of summer. While my tomatoes, corn and cucumbers do better from June on, things like radishes and lettuce simply do poorly.  What do you suggest?”

Kendra and Francis, Canton, Ohio

Answer:

Lettuce, radishes, turnips and beets are all great early spring vegetables. They prefer the cooler temperatures and simply don’t like hot weather. You can plant them all again in early fall as well, when the heat of the summer has passed for an additional crop. And don’t forget about asparagus and rhubarb, understated perennials that are early spring risers.

Question:

“We have just bought our first house and our yard is rather small so a full blown garden is out of the question. Do you have some suggestions for space limited gardening?”

Angie and Bob, Rapid City, South Dakota

Answer:

If there’s a will there’s a way when it comes to gardening! Even the smallest plot can reap you wonderful results if you plan your garden well, using taller plants as back drops to shade less sun resistant plants. If you don't have space for a vegetable garden or if your outdoor space doesn't provide the necessary elements to produce the flower garden you've always wanted, consider the possibility of "container gardening." A patio, deck, balcony, or doorstep can provide enough space for a productive, attractive display.

If you live in an apartment with limited outdoor space, you might consider doing a little indoor gardening. By using sunny window sills, you can grow a number of herbs and of course tomatoes and peppers and pole beans lend themselves great to containers and trellises. Start out small and experiment with what works best for you and your budget and simply build from there.

Question:

“What is the best rose to grow?”

Korina, Columbia, South Carolina

Answer:

Now that’s a BIG question. There are so many types and varieties it sort of boils down to your individual preference. Most new rose enthusiasts lean towards a hybrid tea or Grandiflora. Color, fragrance, quantity of blooms and sometimes durability can influence a rose lover’s preference. Your local greenhouse can be an excellent “rose library.” If you can find area rose shows to attend it’s well worth the price of admission to educate yourself -- but be prepared to be “wowed!” However, some of the “Big Boys” of the rose world do consider Belinda’s Rose (aka Belinda’s Dream) to be the best rose in the world because they have the most desirable qualities when it comes to fragrance, durability, disease resistance and flower form. However, you may beg to differ as you learn more!

Question:

“My irises didn’t do so hot last spring. I had plenty of foliage, but there weren’t as many blooms on them and they didn’t seem to be as big. I thought irises were pretty fool proof.  Any idea of what’s going on in my garden? I kind of hate to see what will come up this year.”

Francis, Itasca, Illinois

Answer:

Well, you’re right about one thing, irises are pretty fool proof. What has probably happened in your iris bed is you’ve run out of room. It’s time to dig up those spreading bulbs and transplant them to another area. Irises love sun and can pretty much grow in any soil condition, but once they become over crowded, it’ll show in their blooms –or rather lack of them. You’ll have to wait until fall to tackle this project though, so you’ll need to bear with them one more spring. Also, remember that it is unlikely that your transplanted bulbs will produce the first year, giving you only fronds. But as you know, they’re worth the wait.

Question:

“I live in the desert in Eastern New Mexicoand I am having two problems with my lawn. First, everyone on my block has thick lawns of Bermuda grass. It is hardy enough for our extreme weather, but it is not ‘barefoot comfortable’ when I want to walk around in the evenings with the kids. Do you have any suggestions on other grasses that will be more comfortable or anything I can do to soften the texture of Bermuda?

Secondly, stickers, sand burrs, or goat head (that’s what the locals call ‘em) have taken over my side yard, they are most unpleasant to step on, and they seem to get caught in my dogs coat while he is running around, they invariably end up in his paw, or in one of my kids’ hands. What can I do to get rid of them without harming the rest of the yard?”

Russell, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Answer:

I checked with Tom Tully, Agronomist at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena, Ill., and he agrees with me in regards to never having experienced “barefoot comfortable” Bermuda grass. Both of us have lived in Florida for a decade or more, so we feel your pain! All Bermuda grass is heat tolerant and drought resistant, which is why they are a preferred grass for the Sun Belt. Bermuda is tough and fast growing and pet owners love it because it repairs itself quickly.

However, upon further research I have discovered that there is softer and finer blade Bermuda now on the market and they are used primarily for southern and tropical golf greens.  Needless to say, they are hybrids and only available in sod form. These include “Tifgreen,” Tiflawn,” and “Tifway.” I suspect they will come with a hefty price tag as well.

Sand burrs, grass burrs and goatheads, are all plants designed to survive. Any way you look at them they are not nice to hit in bare feet. Goatheads are an annual vining weed that grows flat to the surface of the soil and has small yellow blooms on them. My sources tell me that Round-Up brand herbicide has been extremely affective in eradicating them. You need to spray them early and often though as you see them. Round-Up is non selective when it comes to killing off plants, so use it with caution and focus on the immediate area, as it will kill other plants as well.

Stickers, sand burrs or grass burrs do not like healthy soil and humic acid. Apply humate (humic) acid on these bad boys in the recommended dosage on the bag. If your lawn is really bad, you may want to up the dosage a bit until you see results. It’s a black residue, so wear protective clothing when applying it. Some retailers suggest mixing the humate with lava sand so it will go through your lawn spreader more easily, as opposed to just dropping it on by hand.

Fertilizing your lawn every spring and fall is also going to be a good deterrent. As I said, they do not like healthy lawns or soil, so if you can be patient with the needed results, this is an avenue you’ll want to approach and a habit to get into.

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 or 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.”