Ask Monty:

“I recently visited relatives in early October who live in Minnesota and we actually drove from where we live just to enjoy the change of seasons.  We noticed a lot of sumac in all its beauty of fall in which it turns the countryside ablaze in red.  Is this a shrub that can be grown in our zone?”

Ava

Abbeville, Louisiana

Ava:

Sumac (aka rhus aromatica) is an evergreen shrub and a cousin to poison sumac – but don’t worry about that.  And yes, it is beautiful in the fall when its green leaves turn to that vibrant red.  The great thing about this shrub is that there are both low and high growing varieties, they make great ground cover and are terrific for covering unsightly  banks and do best in poor or dry soils.  The bad news is that this deciduous shrub grows only in zones one to three and some cold desert climates in zone 10.  It prefers really cold climates, so you’re out of luck on getting this to grow in your particular area.

As a quick reminder, anytime you are planting or transplanting trees and shrubs, regardless of your growth zone, you can help ensure transplanting success by incorporating Monty’s Liquid Carbon and Monty’s 4-15-12  as a root dip or to saturate the root ball, and to pre-treat the soil inside the transplant hole.  You can see full instructions on this at our website.  Sorry. that the Sumac will not work for your region, but best of luck on your future transplanting projects.

Thanks, and Happy Gardening

Monty

Ask Monty:

"Is there a difference between jonquils and daffodils?  I was under the impression that they are one and the same.” 

Dustin – La Vista, Nebraska

Dustin:

Jonquils, daffodils and narcissus are sometimes labeled interchangeable for the same spring flowering bulb, but there is actually a distinction between them.  Narcissus is the biological name for all species of daffodils;  jonquils are actually a particular species of daffodil known as narcissus jonquilla, with reed-like leaves and beautifully fragrant flowers.

If you want to increase the fragrance of jonquils and extend the life of the bloom, try treating the plants with applications of Monty’s 2-15-15. We believe that you will be impressed with the results.  As an added note, my wife likes to cut flowers in the spring and brings them indoors to beautify our home.  She is able to extend their ‘shelf life’ by adding a drop or two of Monty’s 2-15-15 in the vase water.

One last note, make sure you pretreat your bulbs by soaking them prior to planting in a solution Monty’s 4-15-12 (see directions here). This will help provide some added nutrition and help to spur on all of that “below the soil” activity during the winter, so that they come up bright and beautiful with the first warm days of spring.

Thanks, and Happy Gardening

Monty

Ask Monty:

“I grow morning glories every year and have noticed that the bottom leaves always seem to turn brown and die.  Is that normal?”

Lyla – Masontown, West Virginia

Lyla:

Morning glories are pretty pest free, but heavy shade can cause leaves to yellow, brown and eventually fall off.  So if this is the case try moving them to a sunnier location next year. 

But there is a fungal leaf spot disease that can cause these symptoms you are describing.  The spots start showing up on the lower leaves and grow together until the leaf turns totally brown and drops off.  Try providing better air flow among the plants by thinning them and increasing the ability for sunlight to get through to the lower part of the plant.  Remove the infected plants in the fall to reduce the source of the infection for next year’s plantings.  If you even suspect this is the problem, I’d suggest moving your morning glories to a completely new location for a couple of years just to be on the safe side. It is also helpful to remember when you water supplementally to do so in the morning. Watering in the evening tend sot create an environment where the plants and soils stay too wet for too long, increasing the opportunity for opportunistic bacteria and fungus to set up shop. 

If you notice your soils are staying too wet, treating with Monty’s Liquid Carbon can also help address this issue.  As a general statement remember that by treating your plants with Monty’s line of fertilizers you can improve their overall condition.  Remember most diseases, insects, and bacteria are opportunistic and prey on weak plants.  The more well-fed, the healthier you can keep them, the better your results will be.

Thanks, and Happy Gardening

Monty

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