Q: Can I prune the Lavendula stoechas on my deck now? It is in a pot on my deck and is 2’ tall which too large for the spot.
A: In the fall you can only trim off old flower stalks but don’t cut into the plant stems themselves which can encourage new growth which wouldn’t be winter hardy. The flower stems will be thin and dried; the plant itself will be thicker and woodier. Wait until the spring to reduce the plant’s height- you can cut it back by 1/3 to 1/2 of the stem length or to just a few nodes above the old wood. Lavender will not regrow from old wood. L. stoechas is not nearly as hardy as L. angustifolia so it should be protected in our winters by bringing it indoors.
Q: I have a dwarf Japanese maple, and would like to know if it will survive our winter up here in Prince George?
A: Dwarf Maples are hardy in Zones 5-8 so, as Zone 3, Prince George is too cold for it to survive outside over the winter. You will need to dig it up when it goes into dormancy in the fall and put it into a container. I do not recommend that you take it inside, though, as Japanese maples are not meant to be indoor plants. The central heating of our homes over the winter would spell disaster for them. Do you have a sheltered area in which you can keep it for the winter - a garage that has some heat in it to keep it just above the freezing mark? Keep in a dark part of the garage; light may trigger growth too early. Once a month, check the soil to and water if it’s bone-dry, but do not overwater, as this could cause plants to rot or break dormancy.
Q: I am tired of planting tulip bulbs every year; are there any that come back every year?
A: Even with ideal growing conditions most tulip bulbs decline after one year, so are considered annuals. Tulips that come back each year usually state “will naturalize” or “perennial” on the packaging. Many Darwin or Triumph hybrids are strong growers which return each year and cost no more than other tulips so are good value. The Darwin ‘Appeldorn’ (classic red) and ‘Golden Appeldorn’ (golden yellow) are two best-selling tulips. Triumph tulips come in a wide range of colors including pastels and stripes. Many have simple names which indicate their colors, for example, ‘Purple and White Triumph’. For a different flower shape, you could try these lily-flowering tulips with their elegant, pointed, recurved petals: ‘Aladdin’, ‘Ballade’, ‘Maytime’, ‘Red Shine’, ‘White Triumphator’.
Q: Are there any fragrant tulips?
A: Only a few tulips are lightly fragrant; you must smell them up close in the garden or in a vase to discover the delicate fragrance. Four popular favourites are Angelique (full flowers like a peony, blush pink), ‘Ballerina’ (exotic, elegant with pointed tips on petals, peach and pink) and ‘Apricot Beauty’ (single flowers in soft peach). Though tulips bloom in spring, their bloom times vary by a few weeks so check package labels to choose early-, mid- or late-season varieties which bloom at the same time if you want a multi-colored display. Fine Gardening magazine shows some lovely combinations in their article at www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/sweetly-scented-tulips.aspx. This article also contains comprehensive information on tulip growing.
Jane Sherrott, MG, Vancouver Chapter
