Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 7, 1993 TAG: 9303080778
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: John Arbogast
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
LET THE HOTEL TELL YOU ABOUT ITS LANDSCAPE PLANTS
Q: Some time back, my wife and I saw shrubbery at the Roanoke Marriott Hotel in Roanoke that was about 16 or 18 inches high in plots in several different places. I would like to know the name of the shrubbery and how to grow and care for it. Also, can homeowners raise from seeds all the flowers that can be bought at garden centers? R.M., GalaxA: You may recall that I commented in the Dec. 20, 1992, column that the award-winning landscape at the Marriott was an excellent display for giving homeowners ideas for their own landscape. In that article, I mentioned that consumers who liked the various plants could call the hotel and contact horticulturist Bill Shrader. I can't identify the shrub you mentioned, so I suggest you contact the Marriott.
I do know the landscape has beds of low-growing juniper that covers the ground quite nicely. I do not know its specific name or variety, though.
It is possible for homeowners to start many of the flowering bedding plants we see at garden centers from seeds. However, without a greenhouse for ideal growing conditions, past experience for knowledge and commercial equipment and supplies, the quality of bedding plants started at home likely will be inferior to those you can buy.
Q: Asparagus, love to eat it and love to grow it. But can you advise me on its proper care after the summer growing period? I've left the plants to grow until they brown off hoping that they would die off at the ground line, but not so. In the spring in anger I cut the tops off and grind them up for compost. Those plants have some sharp branches. I've wondered if I should burn them off! Also, I read your column every week, so I hope that we can get together on my curiosity regarding black walnuts. I don't need more information about growing them, but I am looking at ways one gets the nut meats out. I've made a collection of the various crackers for black walnuts. I've seen everything from bicycle type crackers to foot crackers to electric crackers. All the devices folks have come up with would make an interesting article. C.J.L., Lexington
A: In all asparagus plantings, cut the foliage to 2-inch stubs soon after frost when the foliage turns yellow. Ideally, this cutting should be done before the red berries fall off the female asparagus plants. It is a good idea to spread an organic mulch, such as compost, slightly aged manure, or leaves over the asparagus bed at that time to help control fall, winter and spring weeds plus add organic matter and slowly supply nutrients.
A collection of various ingenious devices created for getting black walnut meats out sounds interesting to me, too. I'd like to ask readers who have come up with an effective method to send their ideas to me in care of the newspaper. Maybe a collection of the most common tools can be shared in a column around black walnut harvest season this year.
Q: When is the time to plant strawberry plants? The plants are already in the ground. My sister wants somebody to move the strawberry plants to an area near here. L.W., Salem
A: Moving plants from an established strawberry planting may be risky, because of chances of disease. I know gardeners have for years. However, Virginia Tech recommends that virus-free 1-year-old strawberry plants be set out in the spring, about three or four weeks before the average date of the last frost. The only safe assumption for "virus-free" plants should be those from a nursery that is set up commercially for clean production.
Got a question about your garden, lawn, plants, or insects? Write to Dear John, c/o the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.
More information
Following my answer in a recent Dear John regarding the lack of a list of plants that deer will shun:
Jacqui Brown, horticulture technician in the Roanoke County Extension Office, brought to my attention updated information in a recent newsletter. Gerry Cross, eXtension wildlife specialist at Virginia Tech, is quoted in The Virginia Gardener as saying some woody plants that deer usually avoid include barberry, paper birch, common boxwood, American holly and blue spruce. The article went on to say that no plant is immune because hungry deer eat almost anything.
Gardener's checklist
Jobs for early March:
It's time to plant spring peas (also known as garden peas or English peas) in the Roanoke Valley as soon as the soil is workable (not excessively wet). Peas absolutely must grow and produce before the weather turns hot, although the variety Wando will tolerate some late-spring heat. For increase yields on new garden soil, treat peas seeds with a pre-packaged powdered nitrogen-fixing bacteria to inoculate before planting.
Prepare for spring grass seeding or overseeding, which can be done later this month when the soil has had time to warm up. However, if the lawn soil is still soft and soggy, keep spreaders, wheelbarrows and other equipment off until the land has drained.
John Arbogast is the agriculture extension agent for Roanoke