Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Wednesday December 30, 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Wednesday December 30, 2009

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Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Wednesday December 30, 2009

Poppy, Iceland (Papaver nudicaule)
Q&A: Floral Favors For July Wedding
Q&A: Pruning Magnolia
Tip: Camellia Petal Blight
Get Healthy in 2010
Reader Photos

Poppy, Iceland (Papaver nudicaule)

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Poppy, Iceland (Papaver nudicaule)

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Q&A: Floral Favors For July Wedding

Question: My daughter, for her wedding at the end of July, would like to have small pots of tiny flowers for favors for the guests, preferably wild flowers or sweet alyssum. Which flowers do you suggest that we can plant from seed and have in bloom for that week?

Answer: Often a seed packet will tell you how long it takes from sowing seeds to first bloom. For instance, sweet alyssum averages 56-63 days. However, days to maturity are just a guideline, because so many factors can influence the growth rate. I recommend sowing several sets a week apart to make sure you aren't disappointed. Some wildflowers are challenging to germinate and grow, so I'd stick with the alyssum. If you have a greenhouse you can use, you may be able to persuade violas or ageratum to be in bloom in time for the wedding. And my final advice is to have a backup plan for favors in case the plants don't grow as expected.

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Q&A: Pruning Magnolia

Question: I have a large magnolia tree that overhangs our pool and needs to be trimmed back. When is the best time to trim this tree and how much can it be trimmed back?

Answer: Magnolia doesn't need trimming for its own growth's sake. If limbs are in your way, trim them back to where they branch or join the trunk. This way you won't leave the stubs that do not heal and tend to be points for decay to enter the tree. If you have a lot of pruning to do, it may be best to trim some of the limbs back to the trunk this year and then trim more branches away next year. In general, you shouldn't prune off more than one third of a tree's canopy per year. The best time to prune is just before the onset of spring. However, if you are only removing a few branches, there is no real problem in pruning anytime from late winter through summer. Avoid pruning in the fall, as this can disrupt the tree's hardening off process.

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Tip: Camellia Petal Blight

If camellia flowers have brown splotches on the petals, they have petal blight disease. This fungus thrives in high humidity. To control petal blight, clean up and destroy diseased flowers, dropped leaves, and plant debris.

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors