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Questions and Answers:Q. I've got some cool weather annuals that look bad. Isn't it early in the season for them to be looking this way? A. Cool season annuals like pansies and snapdragons could use a dose of fertilizer now to get them in shape for spring and don't forget to water them when dry. Most cool season annuals should look good and continue to bloom until the end of April or first of May. Q. I've cut back my roses in mid-February as you suggested, when can I begin fertilizing them? A. Frequency of application depends on the fertilizer, but you should begin fertilizing your roses now. Q. How deep should I plant seed potatoes? A. Plant seed potatoes 2 inches deep. Remember, when plants reach 4 inches high, mound soil around them until only two inches is above the soil line. Potatoes form between the top of the plant and the seed potato. Q. When can I seed Bermuda grass? A. Seed Bermuda grass at the end of March. Q. When do I fertilize my St. Augustine grass for the first time of the year. A. Fertilize when you see the grass beginning to green up, usually by the end of March. Try to find a slow release organic fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio or similar. Q. When should I fertilize azaleas. Mine look like they are getting ready to bloom. A. Fertilize and cut back azaleas after the bloom period. Be sure they are watered during dry periods as azaleas and camellias are shallow rooted and like damp soil. Apply at least 4 inches of mulch around these plants. Pull back the mulch to apply granular fertilizers, then reapply the mulch to the root base around the plant. Q. After the daffodils and gladiolas bloom they leave behind that ugly foliage. Is it true that I need to leave it there? A. Daffodils and gladiolas, as well as other bulb plants with grassy leaves, use the green left in the leaves to manufacture energy to store in the bulb for next year's blooms. You will need to leave the leaves on until it dies to the ground then trim it off. For gladiolas that can mean all summer. You can plant petunias around the daffodils and they will overtake any ugly bulb foliage you have left. Gladiolas should be planted in the back of the garden where the foliage will not be visible after the season warms. Q. When can I apply dormant oil for scale on fruit trees? A. Dormant oil should be applied any time the tree is dormant. Scale is difficult too see and looks like bumps on the stem of fruit and nut trees. They are the same color as the plant. They send a feeding tube into the plant and can weaken the tree. Apply as directed. The dormant oil will smother the scale. Q. Is there any herbs I can plant in the garden to repel bugs? A. I like tansy, rosemary, wormwood and santolina for repelling bugs. Keep in mind that the most important reason to plant herbs is to attract beneficial insects that will eat the bad bugs. Not too many blooming plants will repel all bugs. Herbs and plants with umbrella shaped and yellow flowers attract beneficial bugs. Q. My little boy hates bees. Is there any blooming plants that bees aren't attracted too? A. Unless your child is deathly allergic to bees, I wouldn't worry about them. Bees are attracted to most blooming plants because the reason plants bloom is to attract pollinators such as bees so the plant can reproduce. Look for evergreen shrubs that don't bloom for your landscape. There are plenty of children's books about bees and insects that you can show your child that will make him more comfortable with his natural world.
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