DATE: Sunday, August 17, 1997               TAG: 9708160063

SECTION: HOME                    PAGE: G3   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: GARDENING

SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER GARDENING COLUMNIST 

                                            LENGTH:  122 lines

HORTICULTURIST LIKES INDIAN HAWTHORN

SEVERAL MONTHS ago, a local horticulturist wrote me about the merits of Indian hawthorn. Unfortunately, the writer's name was lost. The letter contains some good advice, so I will pass it along, with apologies to the author. He or she writes:

``You noted that not all Indian hawthorns are subject to leaf and defoliation problems. In general, the pink flowering dwarfs have a leaf spot problem but not the white flowering dwarfs or `Majestic Beauty,' the large pink-flowering form. These do extremely well in Hampton Roads.

``As a professional horticulturist, I encourage people to use them in designs and landscapes. Because they're used in some highly visible right-of-way plantings, it may make them appear overused. They represent a small fraction of the landscape in use today, relative to azaleas, hollies, junipers, photinias and others.

``This excellent landscape plant doesn't deserve to be labeled a problem. Landscapers and gardeners should avoid selecting the disease-prone varieties.''

I agree that the large pink-flowering Indian hawthorns are spectacular when they bloom. I hope that local nurseries stock those that are disease-resistant, so gardeners can be assured the plants they buy will stay healthy.

In northern Suffolk, we have water problems. I thought I'd pass along some ideas, because we greatly appreciate all the time you spend on your columns and writing your marvelous book. These ideas may be useful to someone else.

Shallow wells contain a great deal of iron and will clog pipes. Deep wells provide water, but the fluoride and chloride levels are not safe for those who are pregnant, have blood-pressure problems or desire white teeth, instead of mottled ones.

Smithfield Gardens advises against watering plants with well water because of the salt content. Houseplants suffer the most. Our solution was to offset one gutter downspout and then cut a hole in a 50-gallon drum for the downspout and install a squeeze spigot, like those used on kerosene barrels. The barrel is in a cradle, made from two sections of landscape timber. Ours has been in place five years. When I replace it, I will use a non-metal barrel, although they do not have a threaded tap for the spigot. We run the water into gallon milk jugs and bring them in the garage to reach room temperature.

The plastic barrels hold 40 to 50 gallons. Prices vary depending upon what is available the day you visit. Some are black; some brick red. I paid $5 each for the ones I bought in late '96. They're available at Bock Drum, 2610 Florida Ave., Norfolk, 23513. Phone 858-0549.

For an herb garden, we used pickle barrels. They can easily be cut into slices with a saber saw. Each ring holds one kind of herb and keeps it contained. One ring holds garden cress (lepiduim sativum) a delightful addition to salads. It had tiny seedlings last fall so I covered the ring with glass. Some plants survived and have done very well this season.

We plant pansies or other non-spreading ornamentals around the edges of the rings. Perhaps some of these ideas will help other readers.

Bill Rogers, Suffolk

Thanks for your intriguing ideas. Saving rainwater is always smart. Gardeners helping one another is what it's all about, and your suggestions are appreciated. If readers want to talk to Bill Rogers, call 484-6001.

Thanks for the letter from Dr. Dan Milbocker, but I believe we have missed the identification of the plant in question. My plant grows on a soft green stalk 32 inches tall with only two branches on the main trunk, with three branches on each of those. Blooms occurred in early spring as small pods. At the same time, new leaves were coming from the stalks. In February, the plant was dormant. It looses its leaves each fall. The plant is in a 12-inch pot with several jade plants.

I know the plant is not a dipladenia or mandevilla. The blooms have an aroma similar to a gardenia but not as strong. The bloom is small and white with a yellow center and lasts about four days. I am enclosing a picture.

B.G. Hudgins, Virginia Beach

Dan Milbocker responds: ``Sorry I missed the proper identification of this plant. There are 1,300 species with flowers like the picture you provided. Any other information always helps, but all I had was petal width and color, which is difficult to sort out of 1,300 species. Some are weeds, a few are fruit bearers, shrubs and trees. Most have beautiful flowers. A large number are vines, popular now. Two species have white flowers with yellow centers and each are tropical but normally much larger than the potted plant described.

``From the picture, this could be (1) Frangipani, Plumeria alba. It grows to 35 feet, has 12-inch leaves and fragrant flowers. The other possibility is Ervatamia coronaria, also known as Tabernaemontana, commonly sold as Cape Jasmine. It is an 8-foot shrub with 3- to 6-inch leaves and fragrant flowers. The picture furnished of this flower does not distinguish between the two plants.''

I took the photo to Kunso Kim at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, who believes that Milbocker's identification as Frangipani, Plumeria alba, is correct, in his opinion.

I have a 1-year-old Bermuda lawn. It was great in summer, but in late January, spotty areas of the enclosed weed or grass began to emerge. Weed killers did not help. More sprouted, and it became a mess. A brown lawn in winter is OK, but these patches of weeds look terrible. Please identify the culprit and tell me what I can do.

Janine Proehl, Virginia Beach

Your sample grass was in such bad shape it was difficult to identify. It is a cool-season grass, probably fescue. Laurie Smith says to spot treat the areas where its growing with Finale before it sets seed. The Bermuda will quickly fill in with little damage. Finale will set back Bermuda but not kill it. Where you have Bermuda grass with weeds, Finale is an ideal product. Virginia Tech authorities say it will kill the weeds or grass you don't want, but allows the Bermuda to grow back. Do not use any product except Finale for this purpose. It may be hard to find but it is available.

When sending samples, readers should wrap them only in a paper towel. If a sample is damp, it will deteriorate quickly in plastic or foil. And they smell!

I live in Chesopean Colony in Virginia Beach and am a country girl who grew up in old Princess Anne County. I saw the letter from Nancy Bishop about her walnuts. We would love to have some of the walnuts she doesn't want. Can you give her my telephone number so she can call me if she has some she wants to get rid of when they're ready to harvest?

Bernice Day, Virginia Beach

Once letters are answered, they're destroyed. I don't keep a record of addresses or phone numbers. If Nancy Bishop or other readers with walnut trees want to get rid of their walnuts, Bernice Day's phone number is 340-0894. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

BILL ROGERS

Suffolk resident Bill Rogers catches rainwater for watering plants

in a 50-gallon drum, above. He also slices a pickle barrel in three

sections, below, to encircle herbs and keep them contained in the

garden.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu