Category: Uncategorized
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You Asked Us – April 2026
Q. Why did my two-year-old Dogwood tree not flower last year? Do I need to fertilize it? It would make a difference if the tree is actually two-years-old, or if you acquired it two yearsago and the age is unknown. Dogwoods can take one to five years to start flowering, perhapseven longer depending on your…
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You Asked Us – March 2026
Q. Last year my cabbage head cracked. Why? Cabbage is generally grown for their densely leaved heads and are mature when they are firm and solid to the touch. Cabbage prefers cool weather, full sun, and fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Once planted, provide 1–2″ of deep, even watering per week throughout the…
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You Asked Us – January 2026
Q. How can I get rid of cyclamen that has grown into a shady area of my garden? The cyclamen that has been taking over some areas of oak woodlands in Seattle and Eugene, Oregon as well as gardens in our area is cyclamen hederifolium. Other cyclamens include c. chum and c. parviflorum. The District of…
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You Asked Us – December 2025
Q. How do I deal with aphids on my roses? Aphids are small, soft-bodied, rounded insects which may be black, pink, or pale green. They cluster on new growth on the underside of leaves, sucking plant sap causing wilted, discoloured, and stunted leaves. Aphids feed on the surface of leaves and are not enclosed or…
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You Asked Us – October 2025
Q. How do I keep the pink colour on my Hydrangea? The Hydrangea species is native to Japan and now grown in many parts of the world.Hydrangea macrophylla, commonly known as bigleaf Hydrangea, is the very popular type seenin many colours throughout gardens large and small. The term macrophylla means ‘large or longleaved’. H. macrophylla…
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You Asked Us – September 2025
Hazelnuts are monoecious, meaning the tree has separate male and female flowers. The flowers maybloom at different times. Time of bloom for male and female flowers is important for receptivity of thefemale flowers’ pollen set. This makes them self incompatible and a tree cannot set nuts with its ownpollination. At least one other tree is…
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Lesser Celandine
Invasive Species in Southwestern BC by Laura Black Name: Ficaria verna (formerly Ranunculas ficaria) Common Names: lesser celandine, pilewort, figwort, fig buttercup Family: Ranunculaceae Genus: Ficaria Status in BC: Weed Class B Reported invasions are in limited areas of Southwestern B.C. Native to: Europe, Asia & North Africa Toxic: Humans, livestock Ecology: Pollinated by bees,…
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You Asked Us – August 2025
Q. What type of rose best tolerates some shade? While most roses require sun there are many varieties that will tolerate partial shade. This meansthey will still need to receive at least 4 – 5 hours of sun per day to thrive. There are both shruband climbing varieties that will grow in semi-shaded areas. The…
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You Asked Us – July 2025
Q. When is a plant considered invasive? A plant is considered “invasive” when it’s introduced to a new place (where it doesn’t naturally belong), and then it basically takes over! It grows really aggressively, out-competes the local plants, and starts messing with the natural balance of the ecosystem. So, it’s not just about being non-native; it’s…
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You Asked Us – June 2025
Q. My Fatsia Japonica looks sick. Could it be a fungal disease? It gets full sun in the afternoon. Fatsia japonica is also known as glossy leaved paper plant, castor oil plant, fig-leaf palm or Japanese aralia. It is a species of flowering plants in the family Ariliaceae, native to southern Japan and southern Korea, although it…