<p>Any advice on magnolias? I’d like to put a yellow-flowering small tree in front of our house. I’m looking for interesting bark, and a tree that won’t get much higher than 25 feet. I like soft yellows, rather than bright yellow.</p>
<p>Anyone know about Shasta daisies? We planted seeds 2 years ago. I was told they won’t bloom the first year if started from seed. They are blooming this year but it’s sparse. Should I re-fertilise or is this normal?</p>
<p>Also, Bandit_TX: Do you have a link for Park Seed? Are they in Texas?</p>
<p>So basically, I just add compost around my perennials to a depth of an inch or two? And I do this in the fall and again in the spring? And I sort of work it in with a fork-like implement?? </p>
<p>I’m thinking it’s lack of fertilizer that caused my peonies to send up only a few buds this year, because I certainly haven’t added any. The other possible reason, I’ve read, is that they’ve become crowded (?) There are only two plants and they’ve been fine for the last ten years. They’re about 12-15 inches apart – can that become a problem?</p>
<p>If they’ve been fine for ten years and they haven’t diminished gradually, I wouldn’t worry. Things have good years and bad… They wouldn’t suddenly decline. More likely, it’s too much or too little rain. My mother’s peonies bloomed in the same spot without anything being done for more than thirty years.</p>
<p>SuNa: I asked at our wonderful, huge garden store about my rhododendron that doesn’t bloom well. Each year we have fewer blooms. The man I spoke with said I should be using compost once each season–four times a year, I think he meant. Even if you don’t work the compost in, it will still help the soil.</p>
<p>So what about hummingbirds? I bought a feeder after reading enough on the subject to know that my new plants are the types that theoretically will attract hummingbirds. How long can it take for one to show up? If ever?</p>
<p>Worrywart, it takes about a week for hummingbirds to find a feeder - at least that’s my experience. Thanks for reminding me - I haven’t put my feeder out yet but this should be primtime for the birds. Last year I had so many it was unbelievable. Tip: I make my sugarwater way stronger than they say. I put 1/2 and 1/2.</p>
<p>I also bought a hummingbird plant last year but I have yet to see a bird near it.</p>
<p>I have had to start keeping my hummingbird feeder out all year, as we have some hummers that stay year round. I don’t know how those tiny things survive in the freezing weather, but they seem to.</p>
<p>Tookie, I have read that it is not a good idea to make sugar water so strong, in the summer particularly, because then the birds get full before they have enough liquid, and they can become dehydrated. Do you know if that is true? I always mix mine in the ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, which is what I have read is best.</p>
<p>Hummers? I found that unless you have your feeder out when they first come to the neighborhood, you may lose out.</p>
<p>Rhodies not blooming? Often not a compost issue. They like acid soil, so unless you live where they’re native, and know your soil, you may need to add something. They can have an especially hard time as foundation plantings with newer houses, as the concrete foundation leaches lime. They’re lousy foundation plantings in colder climates anyway.</p>
<p>Having grown things for many years, I can tell you that having the right soil and light conditions is far more important for plant health than what kind of fertilizer, or how often you add it.</p>
<p>I’ve used composted manure (my favorite, but expensive) and a wide variety of slow release chemical fertilizers, both synthetic and organic. All work well. The key, IMHO, is to use one that does not have much soluble nitrogen (read the label). That way the nitro slowly leaches into the soil, rather than a quick burst that washes away.</p>
<p>I also found the best, easiest way to amend bad soil is to use LOTS of mulch. I bought a truckload of bark mulch, spread it as thickly as I could (6 inches in spots), added high nitrogen fertilizer (organic? try Milorganite, but no veggies) and had an easy summer watering while it slowly broke down. Next summer, the soil was looking better. Two years it was great. Meanwhile, I had fewer weeds and fewer dried out, burned plants.</p>
<p>Rhododendrons and Azaleas thrive in an arenaceous soil. Beyond that, a friend of the family grows them in pine needles with no soil at all and they are amazing to see.</p>
<p>Hummingbirds: Campsis radicans (Trumpet-vine)</p>
<p>Susantm, I had not heard that about the birds getting dehydrated, but I’m glad you told me. Just put my feeder out today and I’m anxious to see when they’ll show up. I remember last October when they were all heading south they were everywhere fighting over the feeder. They are always gone by October 15 at my house.</p>
<p>hummingbirds also like hostas, which are not only really easy to grow, but they grow pretty much everywhere and like shade.</p>
<p>Thanks, resident experts, for sharing your experiences! It’s been 8 days now since I put out the feeder and I’ve been replacing the sugar water every other day without results, so I have to admit my hopes are flagging. How nearby does the feeder need to be to the desirable plants?</p>
<p>Hayden, thanks for the laugh, hostas may be easy to grow where you live but at my house, they’re nearly impossible, between the deer–who love them–and the slugs–who love them even more than the deer!</p>
<p>As for hummingbirds, I think feeders are more trouble that they’re worth, but have easily attracted them with annual and hardy fuschias, which they are very fond of. Beebalm is another one they like, as do butterflies. Beebalm can be invasive, however, so watch where you plant it. Pineapple sage is popular later in the season (mine doesn’t bloom until late October/early November) Red tubular flowers in general.</p>
<p>I hang my feeder on the outer edge of my covered patio. I don’t think they have to be near any plants for them to find it. I’ve seen them sitting on my bouganvilla (or any bush or tree) before they dart over to the feeder. I put my feeder out yesterday and will report back when I see my first hummingbird!</p>
<p>worrywart, the sugar water doesn’t need to be changed every day. Twice a week should be fine. Also, as this site <a href=“http://www.rubythroat.org/FeedingHintsMain.html[/url]”>http://www.rubythroat.org/FeedingHintsMain.html</a> points out, if they haven’t found the feeder yet, no need to fill it completely. The site also gives lots of practical information, as well as addresses the “concentration of sugar” issue.</p>
<p>Good luck with getting the little flying jewels to come to your yard!</p>
<p>dmd77 - LOL. You’re right there! I hate the slugs, and keep searching for a mulch that discourages them (they do not know the meaning of the word, though). As for the deer <em>sigh</em> I just plant twice as many hosta in our front yard as I would normally, and consider myself as contributing to the deer salad bar, but keeping at least half the leaves. I plant most of my hosta in our fenced back yard, where the deer don’t get them so readily.</p>
<p>Thanks, Moominmama! I plan to check it out this evening.</p>
<p>It took 6 weeks but I’ve finally seen my first hummingbird!!! Thanks for all the moral (and practical) support.</p>
<p>I’ve had my hummingbirds for about a week, too, but not too many. I’ll probably have lots of them Sept-October.</p>