The holiday season is here and the ficus trees and seifriziis are beginning to don tinsel and Christmas balls. The mums are being replaced with poinsettias and once again we are trying feverishly to keep them looking good. But it just seems there are always some that insist on giving us a hard time.

The success or failure of poinsettias depend greatly upon the quality of the plants themselves. If the leaves are yellowing or wilting, bringing them indoors into adverse conditions will only speed up the process of dying. If the small yellow, insignificant flowers are already in bloom, they will deteriorate quickly and as a natural course, the lower leaves will begin to drop and then the showy red bracts.

Since interior environments are far from ideal for poinsettias you should be sure your purchases have healthy green stems and leaves and the flowers should not be out, or should just be starting.

What are ideal conditions? Bright light, 69 degrees and 50% humidity. Indoors these conditions are not likely to exist. So remember as you work with these plants that they are temporary. Even the best technicians have failures.

Poinsettias are euphorbias, euphorbia pulcherrima to be exact, and they require a moist soil to maintain their foliage. Not sopping wet. You should allow the top soil to dry out a bit but not too much as then plants will start dropping leaves immediately when they become the slightest bit too dry.
Be aware of the lighting, hot sunny windows, and heating vents. Remember that it's winter and indoor heat reduces the amount of humidity in the air. If possible, create some humidity with a rock tray or place them with other plants so they can get humidity from them, and adjust your watering accordingly. Transporting poinsettias also requires awareness. Be sure the soil is moist. If the top soil is already dry, water before you take them out to assure they won't become too dry if left in your vehicle for any length of time. Since their leaves are easily broken, poinsettias should always be sleeved and the sleeves should be gently removed at your accounts to avoid any damage.

To recap all of this, let's just say, start with healthy, healthy young poinsettias. Treat them gently and keep them evenly moist.

Last year I planted 4" red and white poinsettias with red marantas into Natural Spring containers. The marantas were a nice accent for the poinsettias and the poinsettias lasted well into the New Year. When they were finally spent, the marantas had filled in enough that the account was not left looking at bare pots.

The Plant Man
by Steve Jones

QUESTION: ?I just laid several inches of fresh, high-end dirt, an inch of shredded hardwood mulch and planted 150 bare root vinca (periwinkle) under a large pear tree in the front yard. With all the rain, I?m now faced with mushrooms everywhere and the beginnings of a fungal epidemic.

?There are several small patches of white fungus growing on the mulch. The drainage is relatively good, but the several inches of new soil are still very loose and so the moisture stays put longer. That, plus the incessant rain and high humidity seem to make for a great medium for these problems. Is the vinca safe or should I try to take protective measure of some kind?? ? John B.

The Plant Man
by Steve Jones
www.landsteward.org

Groundcover can solve problem of sloping clay yard

QUESTION: "I have a problem with a side yard. The ground is red clay that currently has no vegetation on it except weeds. The yard is a rather steep slope. We tried to grow grass for a few years but due to the slope it was very difficult mowing the area. So now we are back to the bare ground. We need a surface we can walk on and not worry about slipping and falling and something that is low maintenance. The area gets quite a bit of sun and the rain runs down the slope. Do you have any suggestions (besides concrete)?" ? Nancy Ramsey

The Plant Man
by Steve Jones
www.landsteward.org

These four special trees will enhance your landscape

One of the toughest questions to answer is one I get asked quite frequently: ?What is your favorite tree??

Whew! That?s like asking Grandma to pick her favorite grandchild! Everyday, as I walk around the Nursery, I see so many different trees and each one fascinates me in its own way. So, depending on when you ask me, I?m likely to describe enthusiastically my current favorite!

Yes, favorites are hard to define, whether we?re talking about trees or grandkids. But it might be easier to answer the question if we break out the answer into four categories: evergreen, deciduous, flowering and fruiting.

Evergreen
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) The Douglas Fir is one of the fastest-growing of the evergreen forest trees, even faster than the Frazier. If you?re thinking of lining a long driveway, planting a row of Douglas Firs on either side will quickly add a stately ambience, and because of the fast growth, they give the appearance of having been there for years. A Douglas Fir also makes a nice stand-alone specimen with its characteristic soft, blue/green needles. Even at the height of summer, a Douglas Fir reminds me of Christmas (my favorite Holiday) so you can see why it figures high on my list of favored trees.

Hi,
 
    Thank you for your website!  I've been everywhere on the internet today trying to find out some info when I came upon you.  Hope you can help.
 
    I ordered some Evergreen Windbreak (American Arborviae) ????  When they arrived a note was in the package that says "keep roots moint and in a col shaded area, if they will NOT be planted for a few days you need to "HEEL" then in the ground until you want to plant them.
 
    Sorry, but at the risk of sounding stupid, could you briefly explain to me what "HEEL" means?  I have never heard this word used.  I spoke with several older folks thinking it might be an old term for something, but they weren't sure either.  I know it says heel in ground till you plant, however, I want to do things the right way and not kill them!
 
    So, any help you send my way I would appreciate it.  Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Respectfully,
 
MS. Shinsky

The Plant Man
by Steve Jones
www.landsteward.org

Magnificent Black Walnut trees need Compatible Neighbors

What can I plant near my Black Walnut trees? That's a question that I sometimes hear, and it's a very good question, because not every plant will thrive in close proximity to a Black Walnut. Today, I'll explain why, and tell you about some trees and shrubs that can cohabit with your Walnuts.

How to Transplant Lilacs

by LeAnn R. Ralph

Lilacs are exceptionally easy to transplant. I have transplanted many lilac bushes from the original bushes that my grandmother planted on our Wisconsin dairy farm 70 years ago. Early spring until late spring, from when the lilacs develop buds until they actually have small leaves, is the best time to transplant. If you have lilacs growing in your yard -- or if you have a friend who has lilacs -- and you would like to start some new lilac bushes, here's how:

The Plant Man
by Steve Jones
www.landsteward.org

Five quick tips to enhance your May landscape

If you are like me, you've noticed that there are plenty of activities to keep you busy around your landscape right now!

My electronic mailbag has been filling up with a lot of questions and comments from readers, all of which have received personal responses, and in this column I'll include one of those Q and A's. But first, a quick checklist of five of those landscape activities to jog your memory!

The Plant Man
by Steve Jones
www.landsteward.org

Trees need water... but don't overdo it!

Gardeners and landscapers have one thing in common with their ?big brother? the farmer: complaining about the weather. Ask any farmer about rainfall and you?ll be told that it is nowhere near enough or it is way too much. Unlike Goldilocks? third bowl of porridge at the three bears? house, it is never ?just right!?

At this time of year, we try to remind ourselves about the old adage that April showers bring May flowers... not to mention shrubs, bushes and trees. So with April finally behind us, we can assess whether or not our landscapes are actually getting the ?just right? amount of water... for once.

The Plant Man
by Steve Jones
www.landsteward.org

Readers need help with prickly weeds and groundcover

You learn something everyday in this business. For instance, I'd never heard of pricker bushes, but they seem to be a problem for this reader!

QUESTION: I am having a huge problem with pricker bushes. I have many of them growing in the hedge row of my lawn. I have tried yanking them out when the soil was wet and they died out for the season and I have also tried burning them. Nothing seems to get rid of them and it appears they are coming back two-fold the next season. Is there a way to get rid of them for good? I sure would like to know. Rachael Spearance

ANSWER: I'm not exactly sure what type of plant you're talking about, but I'm guessing it is thistle. If it is, then I'm sorry to say that you will just have to keep digging them out before they go to seed. You will eventually rid your yard of them as long as the neighbors do likewise!