{"id":281,"date":"2010-07-27T08:45:28","date_gmt":"2010-07-27T12:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mymontys.com\/wordpress\/?p=281"},"modified":"2010-07-27T08:45:28","modified_gmt":"2010-07-27T12:45:28","slug":"ask-montys-for-july-24-2010-cannas-clematis-and-salting-asparagus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wordpress.mymontys.com\/?p=281","title":{"rendered":"Ask Monty’s for July 24, 2010: Cannas, Clematis, and Salting Asparagus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ask Monty\u2019s<\/strong>:\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cMy cannas leaves seem to be having a problem opening and I\u2019ve noticed that some of them have a rather sticky kind of stringy substance across them.\u00a0 Not all the leaves are this way as some of the plants in other parts of my yard are looking very good, while others are not.\u00a0 What could be causing this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Don and June<\/p>\n

Buckhannon, West Virginia<\/p>\n

Don and June:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The leaf roller is about the only thing that bothers cannas.\u00a0 It\u2019s actually a caterpillar that comes from the skipper moth and prefers to lay her eggs inside young cannas leaves, sewing them shut with that \u201cstringy substance\u201d to protect their larvae.\u00a0 Once they hatch they will then start feeding on the actual cannas leaves.\u00a0 You\u2019ll want to gently unfold those young leaves where you can see they are being hindered and you\u2019ll find the pests inside. When I can, I flip them the pests off into the yard where a bird can pick them up for a snack, but if you have a lot of cannas you\u2019ll want to find an insecticide specifically for worm or caterpillars eradication.\u00a0 If you have leaves that are heavily damaged, remove them and throw in the garbage, not in your compost pile.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another note:\u00a0 After the frost completely kills the plants, remove all the foliage and bag and dispose of them separately so you don\u2019t risk the chance of them over wintering and affecting next year\u2019s plants.\u00a0 This is particularly important in southern zones where cannas are perennials, as opposed to annuals in the northern climates.<\/p>\n

Ask Monty\u2019s:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year I am amazed that my clematis comes up. They\u2019re never spectacular, but they do put forth the effort to flower.\u00a0 I know they like their \u201cheads in the sun and their feet in the shade\u201d and I have them planted appropriately so.\u00a0 My problem is that this summer \u2013 mid July \u2013 the leaves are already starting to turn brown.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it a little early for that?<\/p>\n

Gayle<\/p>\n

Brilliion, Wisconsin<\/p>\n

Gayle:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Browning of the leaves is pretty normal particularly after the heat of the summer and once the plant is done blooming. Not too nice to look at, but you can safely prune away the dead leaves and continue to keep the plant well watered and well mulched to keep in the moisture.\u00a0 If the plants are just beginning to brown, and you are set on reviving them, try applying Monty\u2019s Liquid Carbon to the soil to improve moisture flow into the root zone and to reduce compaction which will allow the roots to spread out and access more moisture and nutrients.\u00a0 Also start a foliar program with Monty\u2019s 2-15-15.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you follow the advice here on our blog you may be wondering why I am recommending the 2-15-15 formula during a \u2018growth time\u2019 in the plant\u2019s development cycle.\u00a0 The reason is your plants are showing signs of stress from heat and drought.\u00a0 The last thing we want to do is to encourage MORE top-growth when the plant can\u2019t support what it has now.\u00a0 So by applying the 2-15-15 formula you are signaling the plant to put its energy into developing roots; kinda babying it until it recovers. The plant is also about done for the season, so let\u2019s help it store energy to get through the winter ahead, a high dose of nitrogen right now could keep it from entering dormancy normally and expose the plant to more winter-kill.<\/p>\n

If the brown leaves or wilt extends to the actual growing tip and the vine itself becomes brittle or turns almost black, the vine is probably dead as well.\u00a0 Prune the vine down to the closest living branch area so all the dead material is done away with. Again, if you keep the plant well watered and fed you may continue to see new growth as the summer progresses.<\/p>\n

Ask Monty\u2019s:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI have heard that adding salt to your asparagus beds is supposed to help them.\u00a0 I have a beautiful wild asparagus bed and would sure like to maintain it as best as I can.\u00a0 Is there any truth to the salt advice?\u00a0 Is it just table salt?\u201d<\/p>\n

Roland<\/p>\n

Crossgate, Kentucky<\/p>\n

Roland:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people will add sodium chloride rock salt (NaCI) to their asparagus beds after they are at least a year old.\u00a0 It sounds like your wild bed is already well established \u2013 so you can do this.\u00a0 Apply about two and half pounds per 100 feet either before the spears actually appear in the spring or around July 4 when you\u2019ve already pretty well harvested your crop.\u00a0 The salt prevents crown and root rot diseases caused by fusarium fungus and actual improves the plants overall growth.\u00a0 Do not use iodized salt (your common table salt) or rock salt made of calcium chloride (CaCI).\u00a0 Pickling salt is fine too.<\/p>\n

If the thought of adding salt to your plants just sounds to chancey, you may consider using Monty\u2019s Liquid Carbon in the spring and fall. Crown rot and fusarium are what we like to call \u2018wet feet\u2019 diseases.\u00a0 That is, they tend to move in when the roots of the plants are kept excessively moist, either from a wet spring or from over watering. In Kentucky, most gardeners deal with fairly heavy clay soils, so the moisture you receive tends to hang around.\u00a0 By applying Monty\u2019s Liquid Carbon, you can change the structure of these soils so that they allow the moisture to move more freely through the soil profile which results in better drainage.\u00a0 Once your drainage situation is under control you will likely see a marked decrease in many of these \u2018wet feet\u2019 diseases.<\/p>\n

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Ask Monty\u2019s: \u00a0\u201cMy cannas leaves seem to be having a problem opening and I\u2019ve noticed that some of them have a rather sticky kind of stringy substance across them.\u00a0 Not all the leaves are this way as some of the plants in other parts of my yard are looking very good, while others are not.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n

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