Fair Full Of Fun, Food - And Questions

“Hi” from the Spokane Interstate Fair. I hope all of you have had the opportunity to take in this annual community event. After all, where else could you savor the smells of a barnyard, the shrieks of a carnival, sticky carmeled apples and, oh yes, have all of your gardening questions answered … all in one place?

Among the many questions I’ve been asked at the fair: Should we tie and/or wrap arborvitae for the winter?

It wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially if the shrubs were damaged by last winter’s ice storm.

It isn’t necessary to wrap them, but tying is easily accomplished with several feet of twine, clothesline or other such material. Begin at the top and work your way down in a spiral fashion.

If predictions come true, this winter may be a long, wet one. Heavy snow isn’t what the doctor ordered for our already miserable shrubs.

How do we tell if a cantaloupe or watermelon is ripe?

The skin between the netting should be yellowing and the stem that connects to the main stem should be cracked and dry.

A watermelon should be a bit yellow on the underside. Like the cantaloupe, its stem end should also be dry and cracked.

If the melons aren’t ripe, of course, leave them as long as possible on the vine. If frost threatens, cover the vines with a piece of plastic and a sheet or blanket of some sort.

Vine-ripened fruit is so much sweeter than fruit ripened off the vine.

Mushrooms - they’re everywhere. Where do they come from and why?

With all the damage to trees and shrubs last year, I am surprised this subject hasn’t come up long ago.

Mushrooms are simply an out-crop of a hard-working fungus beneath the soil. This fungus is busy decomposing something. Perhaps a tree or shrub was removed leaving behind roots or perhaps a plant simply sloughed off a few roots. Or some other organic matter is being transformed into the good earth. In any case, the fungi of the soil are doing their job. Excess moisture may also bring mushrooms to the surface.

As soon as the organic matter is finished decomposing, the mushrooms should stop being such a pest. Meanwhile, rake and destroy them. Fluffing the soil may help speed decomposition by adding a bit more oxygen to the soil.

How do we overwinter tree roses?

These are such marginal plants for our area. Note where the bud union is - at the top of the standard. Like any hybrid rose, that union must be protected from our harsh winters. Normally we bury the graft a few inches into the ground or cover it with a foot or so of soil. How can we protect the union on a tree rose that sits three feet in the air?

If the rose is planted in the ground, cage it with chicken wire. Fill the space between the wire and the rose with needles, large leaves or straw. Wrap the outside of the wire with burlap or rolled insulation. Good luck.

Tree roses planted in pots can be hauled into the garage. Wrap the pot and rose with rolled insulation or any other material that may protect the plant from extreme conditions.

Bringing these plants indoors is simply asking for trouble unless you have a greenhouse room or a very cool room with light. Roses brought into the house almost certainly will get mites.

When can we divide peonies?

Any time, although, peonies prefer to be left in the same spot for many years. However, if yours must be moved, now is the time.

After digging the plant, divide the large, grotesque root into sections, each with at least three to five pinkish eyes or buds. If a section of root has fewer than three eyes, it may not flower for a few years because all the energy in the plant will be transferred to the root to build it up.

Plant shallow, so the buds are right at soil level. If plants are buried too deep, they may not bloom.

Don’t mulch; peonies require the cold to bloom. Although peonies enjoy at least six hours of sunlight to do well, tree peonies can take partial shade.

If possible, leave the leaves on the plants until they turn yellow. Anyway, their golden leaves add excellent fall color to the garden.

Back to work. I wish all of you could have as much fun as I do at the fair. There are three days left, and I’ll be there from noon to 6 p.m. each day in the KXLY booth.

Please bring your questions or just drop by and say “hi.” I also have the Master Gardeners 1998 Garden Journal on hand. See you there.

Phyllis Stephens is a local horticulturalist and landscape designer.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Phyllis Stephens The Spokesman-Review