Question:
I purchased tulip bulbs from a grower in Holland, and they will arrive soon. I'm planning on planting them in containers to give as Christmas gifts. What must I know about the soil preparation and planting ?Answer:
- Tulip bulbs require four to six weeks of chilling before planting; otherwise, the flower stems will be very short.
- Tulips are sold both as chilled and non-chilled bulbs. The grower should have made you aware of this. If not, I’d assume they're non-chilled bulbs.
- You chill tulips by placing them in the vegetable bin of a refrigerator. Make sure any fruit, including tomatoes, is removed from the bin. The naturally releasing gas called Ethylene released by the fruit will damage the immature flowers.
- In mid to late November, plant the bulbs in your containers using any of the commercially available potting soil.
- You should fill the pots halfway, sprinkle the soil with Bulb Food, and cover the fertilizer with a layer of soil.
- As far as spacing the bulbs, you have two options. They can be evenly spaced or placed next to one another. I prefer the latter when using them as a gift or when planted in containers for color on decks and patios.
- Straws are used to mark the gaps. You fill the pots with soil within half an inch of the rim to leave sufficient room to water.
- It's doubtful that the bulbs would have started to sprout through the soil by Christmas.
- So, remove the straws and add seasonal colors such as Violas, Pansies, and Alyssum to make them attractive instantly.
- The emerging tulips will have no problem sprouting through the roots and foliage.
- The finished containers are placed outdoors in a protected area and watered every three weeks if it doesn't rain. You can add natural decorations like berries from Pyracantha, Nandina, Privet, Juniper, Holly, or Toyon.
- I wouldn't put the finishing decorations on until the last minute.
Question:
I have several beautiful rose bushes, but they're developing small red flowers on some aggressive growth that are over eight feet tall in some cases. The growth is taking over the rose bushes. What can I do to prevent this from happening?Answer:
- Most modern-day roses do not grow on their roots. Instead, they are budded to a second type of rose known as the rootstock.
- They are joined together at the bud union. The bud union is the large knot near the ground. Any shoots or growth from below the bud union grows off the rootstock. This plant produces a single cherry red flower, which you describe.
- These rogue shoots are commonly referred to as suckers. Roses sucker naturally, so it's impossible to prevent them from reoccurring. All you can do is be observant and prune off the shoots as they develop.
- The current eight-foot sucker should be cut off at the point of origin.