It’s time for October’s Garden Questions of the month! These are questions people have asked the search engines and found The Home Garden and hopefully they have also found the answers.
Q. Can you prune silver mound in the fall?
A. It’s better to wait until spring. The foliage that remains above the plant will help protect it over the winter months from the cold. I’ve found that when in doubt prune dead back plants in the spring just when new growth is starting to emerge. I’ve done this with mums, Russian sage, and most of our other perennials and they have done great! You just have to be able to tolerate the dead branches through the winter months.
Q. Can you start impatiens from cuttings?
A. You sure can! Very easily too. If you have a couple of impatiens started you can get a few extras going very quickly. Just take a cutting with two nodes and two leaves and treat in rooting hormone then place it in your potting medium. It won’t take long at all before more impatiens are ready to plant.
Q. How long do catmint cuttings take to root?
A. 5 days, 3 hours, 24 minutes and 11.3 seconds on the nose. OK I confess I didn’t time it but I’ve had them root in anywhere between 5 days and 2 weeks. It all depends on growing conditions and the cutting itself. Bottom heat will speed up those cuttings. I’ve found that the older the cutting is the slower it tends to root. Cuttings of new growth taken in spring root much faster for me than cuttings in the summer or fall.
Q. How much salvia is enough?
A. I still haven’t found that answer! I picked up a discount salvia the other day and I’m continuing to propagate them when I can. I transplanted an ‘East Friesland’ salvia into my mailbox garden the other day and the clump just fell into two sections. Don’t you just love extra plants!
“5 days, 3 hours, 24 minutes and 11.3 seconds” is actually how long it takes to drive from here to Kentucky on a riding lawn mower. (I just made that up, inspired by Dave.)
Hi Dave, I just picked up a couple salvia tonight for 44 cents—Yep, 44 cents. Oh btw, can they be pruned now?
Love the post… failed at your “name that plant” game… bummer…
Hi Dave, I love your question and answers. My answer to the salvia is there can never be enough of them. BTW, I have posted a fall color post with your banner if you want to add it to your list. We are starting to look like fall around here finally.
Frances
http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/
I always enjoy you monthly question roundup ~ and your answers!
I had no idea you could root impatiens from cuttings. Good info.
P.S. Like the new header photos.
Your Catmint answer was great as was TC’s mower comment… Too funny…
You crack me up Dave, lol. I don't think there is such thing as too much Salvia either. I will continue to add new varieties to my garden each year. Great questions & answers for October!
T.C.,
Good to know! 😉
Lola,
That’s a good deal! I generally wait on salvia pruning until spring. They would probably be fine and down in Florida I don’t think you would have a problem pruning them now.
Shibaguyz,
Thanks! Sorry about the name that plant. I need to update those things more often!
Frances,
Fall is here! I want to take a few more pictures tomorrow then I’ll get busy on my post. Things are looking great!
Thanks Cindy!
Tina,
I accidentally broken an impatien I grew from seed this spring and rooted it. I thought,”why not?” The images up in the header are links to the appropriate posts. I’m glad you like them. I’m working on a new header for the top of the blog also.
Skeeter,
Thanks, I’m glad you got a chuckle!
Racquel,
Salvia is just the perfect plant. Repeat blooms, lots of variety among the species, low maintenance, and of course is propagated easily!