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March Questions & Answers Q: What should I be doing this month in my garden in Durham County?
Q: My liriope looks terrible and is covered with rust spots. What is wrong with it? A: Liriope muscari always looks terrible after the winter. Simply cut the leaves back to three or four inches from the crown and the new growth will soon cover the old leaves.
Q: What is the difference between Liriope spicata and Liriope muscari? A: L. spicata spreads quickly via runners and will quickly overrun your garden. L. muscari grows in clumps, which will grow in size but will not spread. We advise you chose L. muscari over L. spicata. For more information go to: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/groundcover/liriope_spicata.html http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/groundcover/liriope_muscari.html
Q: In March all my salvias look dead. Should I cut them back? A: Yes, cut your salvias back to about four inches. New growth will appear in April.
Q: After my daffodil flowers die what should I do with the remaining leaves? A: Cut off the dead flowers but do not cut the leaves as they are needed to give the daffodil bulb energy to bloom the following spring. When the leaves turn yellow it is then safe to cut them. To hide the fading leaves, some gardeners plant ornamental grasses near the daffodils: the daffodils bloom while the grasses are dormant and the emerging grasses hide the decaying foliage. For more information go to: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/narcissus/bulletin41/narcissus.html
Q: My hellebores are blooming. Do they require any grooming? A: H. x hybridus does require some grooming if you want the plant to look its best. All the large old leaves that are lying flat on the ground should be cut to show off the leaves and flowers that are standing up straight. Don’t worry that you’re cutting off too many leaves as in April you will be amazed at how much new growth there will be. H. foetidus does not require any grooming other than cutting off the older canes. H. niger, the most temperamental of the three, requires that you cut off the old tired leaves.
Q: My ornamental grasses are brown and unattractive. What should I do with them? A: Cut the warm weather grasses back to 4-6 inches from the ground. They will start growing as soon as the weather warms up. The cool weather grasses, such as Nassella tenuissima should be cut back in July. For more information on individual ornamental grasses suitable to grow in North Carolina go to: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/ornamental_grass/index_grass.html
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