LoveToKnow Garden:Ask the Garden Expert

Cape jasmine, also known as the gardenia Gardenia jasminoides should be pruned after blooming is finished. If you wait too long you risk cutting off next year's blooms. This is most likely in the fall but this does depend on where you are.

The articles Gardenia Pruning and Pruning Gardenias will give you more detailed information. I think you'll find them very helpful. - posted by:Kathleen Roberts

This is a good question and one I haven't addressed before so I am glad you asked. I'm sure there are lots of other people who want to know the answer to this question too.

The first thing to do is be aware of how you are harvesting these delicate flowers. Wear gloves when you handle them to prevent the oil from your hands from causing discoloration. Clean tools are essential as well. The blades should be cleaned with rubbing alcohol between each cut to keep bacteria from being spread.

After they have been cut, professionals use a wax coating to protect these flowers. At home, you can spray them with a mixture of water (90 percent) and lemon juice (10 percent). If you must touch them, your hands should be wet. Try to only handle them from the back so any discoloration is hidden.

Another tip from the pros is to cover any bruises and discoloring with baby powder, correction fluid (for a typewriter) or a special florist's spray paint in white or ivory. Dab it on with a cotton swab.

If you have a refrigerator with no fruits or vegetables in it, you can also refrigerate your flowers when you are not home. Fruits and vegetables release ethylene gas which will make your flowers die off faster.

Try these tips for a longer lasting cut gardenia arrangement, but keep in mind that they are still not likely to last as long as other flowers, even with the best of care. - posted by:Kathleen Roberts

Fuchsias also will need to be brought indoors. They do not tolerate frost and will not be likely to make it through the winter.

Your garage may be okay as long as they do not freeze and you can provide bright light (such as a grow light) to keep them from dying completely.

In the spring, when all danger of frost is over, you can bring them outside again to enjoy for another season. - posted by:Kathleen Roberts

The flower you mention is called Alyssum and it is a very pretty flower. They are an easy to grow annual that works wonderfully in boarders or sprinkled throughout a rock garden.

Alyssum can be started from seed outdoors when there is no more danger of frost or indoors if you'd like to give them a head start and then transplant when the weather is warmer.

They are best planted in full sun and can tolerate less than ideal soil but it should be soil that drains easily. Once established, Alyssum should be watered about twice a week. You can continue to enjoy flowers until frost. - posted by:Kathleen Roberts

This is going to depend on the type of hydrangea you have. Some types flower on new wood and some flower on old wood. I would say, don't prune this year. See how that affects thing for next year.

It is also possible that it needs more sun, but again, this depends on what type you have. However, it sounds like it is growing well so I have a feeling it may be the pruning that is causing the problem.

Is it possible that you can ask at the garden center where the plant was purchased to find out what type it is? They may be able to tell you what kind it is. If you think you can provide me with that information, I will try to give you more detail about the care your type of hydrangea needs.

In the meantime, read these articles for more tips on taking care of your hydrangea. They may even help you determine what type you have.

• Hydrangea Care
• Hydrangea
• Hydrangea Planting
• Pee Gee Hydrangea
• Hydrangea Plant Care - posted by:Kathleen Roberts

Because it is a perennial, it is possible to plant garlic and harvest it continually without re-planting each year--something many people don't realize!

Plant your garlic in full sun with well drained soil. When the garlic tops form a seed bulb, pinch it off. Then, only harvest the large bulbs and allow the small ones to stay in the ground.

While they do die back in the winter, in the spring they will come back again. Mulch well in the fall to prevent weeds and be sure to cultivate around the plants carefully to eliminate weeds as well.

If you love garlic this is a great way to grow it. It saves a great deal of time and labor while allowing you a wonderful crop of fresh garlic that you can continue harvesting for many years. - posted by:Kathleen Roberts

I can see why this would be really frustrating. Rose Mallow is typically easy to grow and it should do very well in your location.

It sounds like you are doing the right things, but I'm wondering what you mean by "fertilizing." Are you using a commercial fertilizer or a natural compost for your fertilizer? Rose Mallow loves to have rich soil with lots of wonderful, nutrient-rick compost. If you are using a commercial variety, it just may not be giving this plant all the nutrition it wants. You should also consider checking the pH of your soil. You want it to be around 6 or 7.

Have you checked for diseases or insect problems? Rose Mallow can suffer from bacterial leaf spot, gray mold, aphids, Japanese beetles and a few other issues.

It is also important for their area to be fresh water. If you are close to the ocean, it is possible that you have too much salt in the air. Many people don't realize that this can seriously affect the plants they grow. Salt air is damaging.

If all of this fails, I would consider that there may be an issue with your soil (beyond fertility or pH). You might want to try sterilizing the soil by covering with a sheet of plastic. This absorbs heat and allows the soil to "cook" over the winter. In turn, this will kill anything that might damage your plants. In the spring, you'll want to till in lots of nice compost. Then try your plants again. Try a few different varieties to increase your chances of success.

It is work noting that the Rose Mallow is listed on the Canada Species Risk Act. Good luck in your endeavors. I hope you are able to find a way to enjoy these beautiful flowers in your landscape. - posted by:Kathleen Roberts