Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Wednesday October 21, 2009

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Wednesday October 21, 2009

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Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Wednesday October 21, 2009

Lilac, Common (Syringa vulgaris)
Q&A: Growing Lichens
Q&A: Dividing Ornamental Grass
Tip: Protect Trees
Wine and Dine Daily Video
Reader Photos

Lilac, Common (Syringa vulgaris)

Today's Featured Plant
Lilac, Common (Syringa vulgaris)

Read the full profile of this plant at ArcaMax.com.

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Q&A: Growing Lichens

Question: We have built a stone wall that we want to "age". How can we encourage lichen to grow on it? It gets quite a bit of sun.

Answer: Lichens and moss do look nice on a stone wall, but in the sunshine, you may not be successful in getting it to grow. If there's moss or lichen nearby, you may be able to transplant some pieces to your stone wall. Try mixing regular baking yeast in water to make a runny paste, brush it into the crevices of the rocks, and then plant the moss or lichen pieces in the yeast. Start in the shadiest areas you can find, and maybe the moss will take hold. You might want to consider other plants, such as a small-leafed ivy, that will cling to a stone wall and soften its edges.

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Q&A: Dividing Ornamental Grass

Question: We have blue fescue plants as a border around our flower gardens. The plants have been in for three full summers. Can these plants be divided? If so, how and when is the best time to do so?

Answer: Ornamental grasses should be divided every 3-4 years. You can divide them in the autumn or in the spring. Simply dig the clump and divide the plant, either by breaking it into smaller clumps, or by cutting it apart with a spade. Be sure to leave some foliage attached to each root mass. Then replant, water well, and wait for new spring growth.

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Tip: Protect Trees

To prevent sunscald and cracking of bark which can lead to disease on young deciduous trees, paint your tree trunks in fall with outdoor, white latex paint, or wrap them with commercially available tree wrap.

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Wine and Dine Daily Video

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-- From the ArcaMax editors

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors