More Spring Q & A

1. I have this golden chain that’s about 6-7 years old and about 7ft tall but it has never bloomed. I am in Zone 5, is there anything I can do to get it to bloom?

It is possible that late frost has killed the blooms. They only have one shot at flowers early in the spring and if you get a cold snap with frost, I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t see any flowers that year.

There are other possibilities as well. Have you ever fertilized it? Fertilizing adds nitrogen (among many other nutrients) giving the tree reason to produce leaves over flowers. The tree’s roots will also find lawn fertilizer so keep that in mind if you plan to fertilize your lawn this spring. With that being said, your soil may lack potassium which the tree uses plenty of to produce blossoms. Apply potash around the base of the tree.

With all that being said, just keep in mind that the golden chain tree and all of its components (bark, leaves, pods, roots) are poisonous. Keep away from pets and children as ingesting any of these components can be fatal.

 

2. My lavender plant has never been pruned. Should I prune it to the crown?

You can prune lavender lightly in the spring. Do not prune it shorter than 4″ tall as it will not survive a severe pruning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. The fattest rabbit you ever did see is eating the branches on my newly plated tree. How do I deter it?

Bobbex Deer Repellent spray works just as well on rabbits as it does on deer. This product is available at Home Hardware.

 

4. I have an indoor planter with no natural light, what plants can we use?

There are many options for low and no natural light pots indoors. Here are a few of my favourites:

• Peace Lily
• Draceana Janet Craig
• Pothos
• Philodendron
• Cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)
• Snake plant ( Sansevieria trifasciata)

 

5. When should I unwrap my trees? They were planted last year and are 2-3 feet tall.

You can unwrap your trees when the worst of the winter has passed. This will vary year to year and also throughout the provinces. Frost and snow is unlikely to cause significant damage but severe cold winds may. Go out and check a few times a week. If you notice that new growth is starting, it’s time to unwrap to allow for light and give it a much needed breath of fresh air.