Dear Helen: I have a听few broad, congested clumps of bearded iris that need splitting up even though they did produce flowers this year. When should this division be done, and how?F.L.
Summer, soon after the bloom period, is the usual time for lifting, dividing and replanting bearded irises.
Dig up the clump and remove for replanting only the youngest growth from around the outside. Compost the older, centre portion. Replant pieces of rhizome bearing one or two strong, healthy fans of leaf blades. Shorten the leaves to about 10 centimetres and cut back the roots (growing from the undersides of the rhizomes) to around eight centimetres.
Set each young rhizome on a ridge of soil with the roots running down the sides. Firm the soil gently over the roots, leaving the听top of the rhizome exposed above soil level. Divide clumps of bearded iris every three to five years.
听
Dear Helen: In the garden of my newly acquired home are two daylily plants. Both听have a problem. They听formed many flower buds, but the buds dried out听and did not open into flowers. I opened up some of the affected buds and found them slimy and rotted inside. I have not seen insects on the plants and have no idea what has caused this damage. S.K.
The cause of the problem is a pest that is now widespread in southern British Columbia 鈥� the daylily gall midge. The adult, a fly tiny enough to be not easily noticeable, lays eggs in daylily flower buds from May to early July. Resulting larvae (tiny, pale maggots) feed inside the buds, causing the buds to swell, become distorted, and drop to the ground without opening. The larvae pupate and spend the winter in the soil. A single bud can harbour dozens of maggots.
The larvae are not easy to see inside opened, infested buds, but shaking the buds over paper will usually cause some to drop out and be visible.
Preventing infestations is difficult because the flies can travel long distances, but to at least control home-grown infestations check for and remove each distorted bud as soon as you see it. Bag and freeze the removed buds for 48 hours to kill the maggots.
听
Dear Helen: Please remind me how you blanch peas. I remember your method had something to do with mint.
A.G.
To flavour the peas with mint I place a generous quantity of mint stems and听leaves in the water reservoir below the peas when I听steam-blanch them briefly听before cooling and freezing them.
The aroma is wonderfully fresh and sweet as the听peas are processed, and听during the winter when听the听minty peas are heated they call forth fragrant memories of summer.
This year I planted just one double row of peas instead of my usual two. Because they matured three weeks earlier than usual I am trying for a second crop in compost-plumped soil.
Dear Helen: To dead-head or not to dead-head rhododendrons: That is my question.
L.R.
Removing the faded, shabby-looking flower heads does improve the look of the shrubs for the summer, but it is not absolutely necessary.
Obviously, lacking a skyhook or the ability to听levitate, it鈥檚 not even possible to dead-head an entire, very tall rhododendron like one monster plant in my front garden.
I do try to clean up the听appearance of my plants, at least on parts that听are most conspicuous, because they look so tatty post-bloom; however, I听rarely find time to complete the task. Any pruning needed to tidy or tame plants should be done soon after the bloom period as well.
听
GARDEN EVENT
Water garden tour. For the Love of Africa Society is hosting its ninth Annual Water Garden Tour on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The self-guided tour of听11 Greater Victoria water gardens will feature musicians playing at most sites and a light refreshment stop at听one of the gardens. Ticket cost听is $25. For a list of ticket vendors visit watergardentour.ca or call 250-891-0762. Proceeds of听the tour go directly to the construction of a trade school in听Tanzania.
