Gardening Q&A with Frank Ferragine

You asked a pro—he answered. Citytv's gardening specialist Frank Ferragine has solutions for our readers' green-thumb conundrums. Have a question that you don't see below? Don't worry; Frank will take more questions each month. Submit yours today.

Dear Frank,
I have planted a (Santa Rosa) plum tree in my San Diego back yard 9 years ago and have never had any plums. What to I have to do to get plums—fertilize, prune? I have many other fruit trees—orange, apricot, fig, pomegranate, guava, apple, blackberries—that are producing very well in my little city lot back yard, but no plums. I am longing for plum blossoms and plums.

Thank you for your help,
Lisa Sommer
San Diego, California (USA)

Lisa,
As long as you are getting adequate sunlight, the only reason you may not be getting fruit production off your plum is due to a pollination problem. Most fruit trees and some plums need a pollinator planted in close proximity for pollination. I would suggest planting Burbank Plum within 15' of your Santa Rosa. Although some will say Santa Rosa does not require a pollinator, your plum will be happier and more fruitful because of it.

Have a great day San Diego
Frankie

Hi Frankie!
I have a question about Yucca's and the seed pods they have at the end of the summer. Do these small back seeds propagate into Yucca's or do the pods have to dry and be placed in a certain type of soil?

Thanks Frankie,
Dianna Frost
Mississauga, ON

Dianna,
Yucca Seeds can most definitely be harvested in the fall and sown directly in the soil before frost sets in. Yuccas are a little tough to germinate, but it's worth a shot. When harvesting the seeds in the fall, allow pods to dry on the plant and then break open to collect the seeds. If you consider storing them to sow in the spring, remove the fleshy coating on the seeds before storing (it's best to store in a cool dark and dry location in your home).

Good luck!
Frankie

Hi Frank
Last year I bought a rhododendron bush and planted it in my garden. However, it is in a fairly sunny location and I have since read that they prefer partial shade. The bush did quite well last year and flowered a lot. Should I move it to a part of the garden that gets less sun? If so, when is the best time to replant; in the spring or the fall? Does this plant have any special requirements? Thanks so much for your help.

Pam McLennan
Ottawa, On.

Hi Pam,
Rhododendrons are partial to shade; however, if your plant is happy in its current location there is no point to move it unless you personally don't like its home. If you do consider relocating, I suggest transplanting in the late summer/early fall. The key to having a thriving Rhododendron is making sure you prune by 'pinching' the flowers off after they bloom, provide them with an acidic soil and last but not least, spray in the fall with an anti-desiccant (Wilt Proof) to prevent moisture loss during the cold months of winter.

Happy Gardening!
Frankie

Hi Frank,
I have a large rock garden with 10" – 30" stones overlooking a large 2+ acres pond in my rear yard. Over the years large weeds have started to grow in the small cracks between the rocks, giving the area an unmanaged look. I have tried pulling them out with some success, but they keep returning.

I am hoping you have a suggestion that would eliminate the weeds, while not destroying the pond water quality. Are there any low growing plants that would choke out the weeds, or do you have any other suggestions?

Thank you,
Dan Smith,
Springwater Twp.

Dan,
First thing we need to do is definitely control this weed problem! Weeds can be eradicated by spraying just plain old household vinegar on them in full sun location. The vinegar acts as a non-selective herbicide and kills whatever it contacts…so do not spray on a windy day. Next, place some good soil into the pockets you have in the rocks. Finally plant these areas with sun loving groundcover and alpine plants like sedum, hens and chicks, creeping thyme, snow in the summer etc.

Here's to rocking the water garden this summer.

Frankie

Hi Frank.
I have a Hibiscus plant that I bought late last summer. When summer was over, I sprayed it, brought in into the house and I put it in a spare bedroom which gets lots of sun. It has flowered all winter, is still flowering and is quite tall. My question is, do I cut it back now, in spring before it is ready to be put outside and when should I fertilize it?

Thanking you in advance,
Yvonne Lyman
Toronto, ON

Hi Yvonne,
Seeing that you live in Toronto, it's safe to say after May 20th you'll be able to move your hibiscus outdoors for the summer. However, always check your local forecasts before doing so. This is also the perfect time to give your hibiscus a pruning; pruning will encourage new growth and will increase the vibrancy of your plant. In terms of fertilizing, you need to fertilize when the hibiscus is actively growing…this means hibiscus' require fertilization from March to October.

Keep Blooming,
Frankie

Watch for Frank Ferragine's Q&A column in the Canadian edition of The Epoch Times newspaper on the first Thursday of every month, and catch Frank on "Frankie Flowers" a weekly edition of "CityOnline" airing every Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET on Citytv Toronto and CP24 for more great gardening tips.

Submit your questions today to AskFrank@epochtimes.com or by Fax: 416-298-1299 Attention: Frank Ferragine or mail to: Frank Ferragine c/o The Epoch Times, 103-201 Consumers Road, Toronto, Ontario M2J4G8