According to Steve
If you love cheesy sci-fi monsters, you no doubt recall Swamp Thing.
Featured in comic books, movies, and TV, Old Swampy was created when a
freak accident changed a plant scientist into a kind of giant celery who
fights for truth, justice, and Waldorf salad. Well, here's another swamp thing you should meet--swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius).
Given moist, fertile soil and sun, it grows 10 feet tall or more and covers
itself with bright yellow flowers in October. In full bloom, it's the
showiest plant in the garden, bar none. But there's a catch. This sneaky
beast spreads quickly by rhizomes. A single plant becomes a big patch
within a year. How can you control it? Well, it's easy to divide in
spring or fall, so you can give it away to your soon-to-be former
friends. Or you can plant it in a natural area where it can run as far
as it wants. Sunlight Gardens (www.sunlightgardens.com) is a good
source. FYI: In another freak accident, Swamp Thing sadly passed away.
He fell into a giant jar of peanut butter. The vegetable world is
stunned.
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Q:
I bought two 'October Glory' red maples several years ago. Both turn
yellow in the fall. Could the soil be doing this?
D. Cook
Ellisville, Mississippi
A:
Highly unlikely. 'October Glory' is a superior selection of our native
red maple (Acer rubrum), chosen for its dependable display of scarlet
fall foliage. I've never seen it turn yellow. Sounds to me like someone
switched labels on you. If you still want the real deal, I'd buy from a
different nursery this fall and make sure the foliage color you see
matches the description on the tag.
Q:
I've been told that spring bulbs planted in a container and left outside
for the winter wouldn't survive because they would freeze and die. Is
this true?
Yvonne A. Graham
Wilmington, Delaware
A:
Probably not. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, snowflakes, crocuses, and
others should do just fine as long as the container is large enough (at
least 10 inches wide and 6 inches deep) to provide sufficient soil for
insulation. But given the fact that you live in the Upper South, why
take chances? Plant the bulbs in a pot at the end of this month, and
then sink the pot into the ground outside up to its rim. Or you can sink
it into bark mulch. After 10 weeks of cold weather, you can bring it
inside and enjoy winter blooms.
