Poison Ivy Eradication

Dear Doyenne,
I live in Marlborough, MA (30 Miles east of Boston, zone 5-6). My problem is severe allergic reaction to poison oak and ivy. I have been systematically pulling out the poison plants, which commingle with the desirable plants, each spring. I don't use chemical poisons (I'm a native Northern Californian) preferring to pull them out, roots and all as best I can. I do this after a rain, slathered in "Ivy Block", rubber gloves, garden gloves, long sleeves and pants all covered by a disposable haz. mat. suit and wellies. My questions are these: When I am finally rid of the visibly growing poisonous plants, how long will it be before I can get into my garden with just a spade and a smile? Will the dead roots carry the poisoned oils for 100 years? Any suggestions that would make my quest simpler?

Thanks,
Dana

Dana,
I'm starting to get a lot of poison ivy questions and despite the fact that I hate myself for doing it, I continue to recommend Roundup. The problem is that even conscientious hand-pulling doesn't do the trick. When you pull the ivy, only individual stems come out (as you no doubt know); the woody rhizomes are left underground. They will continue to resprout as long as any portion of the "megaplant" (all the individuals connected through the rhizome system) is above ground and sending sugars to the roots.

I appreciate your organic approach and I applaud it and I encourage you to find other more safe, aggressive means of iradicating the ivy (perhaps you could inquire at Garden in The Woods?). But short of digging up the entire area and disposing of it, consider a modified use of Roundup: Cut the ivy stems back to about 4 inches above ground, mix up the herbicide and put it in one of those plastic bottles with a sponge top used for moistening envelopes, and paint the cut surface of the stem. Obviously, you'll be handling the plant, but it seems you've adjusted to doing that.

Best time for this final, drastic approach is after flowering, when reserves will be shunted back to the roots (as opposed to the leaves and flowers). Keep me posted, particularly if you've come up with alternatives.

All the best, KL

Bloomless Climbing Hydrangea

Dear Doyenne,
I planted a climbing hydrangea in 1995 under an oak tree and it still hasn't bloomed. I know they are slow to bloom, but six years? The vines are climbing the tree nicely, but not rampantly; they are also spreading on the ground. Last fall and again this spring I fed it super phosphate. Suggestions?

Thank you.
Shirley

Shirley,
I'm at a disadvantage here because I don't know where you garden, and don't have a handle on how much sun and water your vine is getting. I've seen hydrangeas on big trees in the Maryland area and they did well, though they certainly had a fair amount of sun. The lack of flowering could be a result of too dense shade and/or soil that is too alkaline. See what you can do about providing the vine with more light (pruning the tree, perhaps), test the soil and acidify if necessary, and if all else fails -- though this isn't the solution you're hoping for -- move the vine to more sun.

Hope this helps, KL

Repel The Deer!

Dear Doyenne,
We need help with keeping deer away from our plants. They have feasted on our roses, day lilys and hostas this week. I've heard spreading human hair around the plant will help. Could that be true? If so, how much should be spread? Are there any other methods we might employ?

Keep up the great work!
T.L.

T.L.,
If you're not using 6' fencing around your property, you're going to have to make some informed decisions about what/what not to grow. Daylilies, hostas, roses, and tulips are all plants deer adore; I dare say those are their absolute favorite garden plants (along with hollyhocks, impatiens, coneflowers, peonies - somebody stop me!).

Whether it's the hair thing or the soap thing or the urine thing, the point is that the deer are hungry and the deer are here to stay. There are any number of websites offering any number of solutions, ranging from barriers to plants to scents and sounds. A simple search "deer in gardens" will bring you to quite a few useful links; if nothing else, you will not feel quite so alone!

Finally, I'm including below a letter from a listener that doesn't work for me, but may work for you.

Best, KL

Pruning Ceanothus

Overwatered Avocado Tree

Dear Doyenne,
Where can we find some expert Avocado Tree doctor advice to explain and prescribe regarding red and dead leaves on a 40 foot tall avocado tree in Berkeley, California that may have been over-watered during one long day a little over a year ago? The tree was healthy and bearing before the watering.

Thank you,
Virginia

Virginia,
Avocados are very susceptible to root rot. Consequently, overwatering can make a perfect soil environment for fungal pathogens to flourish. A 40' avacado should be very tolerant of drought. I'd just leave it alone and see how it does through the drier summer months. BTW, it is normal for avacodos to shed some leaves from their interior. Things may not be as scary as they seem.

Best, KL

New Hampshire Living Fence

Dear Doyenne,
I need a plant, a whole row of them actually, to create a fence in New Hampshire that will be about 8-12 feet high and 30 feet long. The perfect plant would be evergreen, but not necessarily needle bearing, grow to 10 feet overnight and stop, and have lush, dense foliage. I currently have a hedge there made of weedy maples that look terrible, though they do function well in the summer.

Got any advice?
Keith

Keith,
The first plant that comes to mind was Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). It can be easily topped, sheared, snipped, etc and will stay at a managable height. It also grows fairly fast, provided kind growing conditions (even moisture to begin, part sun, good air circulation). I'd check around the better nurseries to see if there's a small-ish selection out there (I'm out of the hemlock loop, we don't use it nearly as much out here). If not, I can't imagine you wouldn't enjoy the straight species.

Oh, one caveat: wooly adelgid. Check locally and see how bad the infestations are on hemlock, and decide whether or not you're going to have to do some preventative maintenance (dormant oil spraying early spring).

Enjoy, KL

Wild Roses On Long Island

Dear Doyenne,
Is Rosa glauca the rose that grows wild along the beaches and other ares on the east end of Long Island NY? If so, can it be purchased or started from a cutting? I live on the pine barrens and it seems that this beauty would do quite well. Also, there is a wild rose that grows all around out here... it's a vine or bush with very fragrant white clusters of 1/2" roses with yellow stamens. How can I get this in my garden?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Thomas

Morth Orchid

Dear Doyenne,
I have a somewhat mature moth orchid, which for years now has a yearly cycle as follows: produces two leaves, sends up a flower shoot, the flower shoot produces wonderful orchids, the shoot dies, which is followed by the production of two new leaves. However, this cycle I got my usual two new leaves, but I now have in place of a flower shoot, two new leaves growing out of the side of the plant which appear to be the start of a new plant. There also appears to be a shoot also growing on the side with the leaves, but I am not sure if it is a flower shoot or a root. Is my plant trying to form a new plant, and should I allow it to do this?

Thanks,
Stefanie

Stefanie,
Lucky you! Your orchid is so happy it's expanding. Sounds like you can do one of two things. Either allow it to set the new rosette of leaves, and chances are you will get more than one spike of flowers per year. Or, you can detach the side shoot and pot it up and then you have two plants. Either way what you are doing is correct and you have succeeded at growing a very tough plant.

Congrats, KL