136 H HillRag | July 2012

Is there a way to stop squir-rels from devouring our to-matoes just as the tomatoes start to ripen?

Yes. Try so-called ‘row cov-ers’ – a thin, light-permeable fabric, available at any hardware store. You can cover a cage over the entire tomato plant – after fruit has begun to form. Or you cut the row cover fabric into pieces and tie one piece firmly around each green tomato, like a little kerchief. Sunshine can still reach the tomato to ripen it.

I have been told that an-nuals are “heavy feeders.” What do they eat, and how often?

There are two basic fertiliz-ers types – water-soluble, such as MiracleGro – and time-release granular, such as Osmacote, which you placed on top of the soil around the base of the plant. Use either weekly or even both at the same time, or alternate them. Over-fertilizing can cause root burn – so cut back if your annuals start looking tired. Sometimes merely cutting annuals back can spurt more flowers.

I have heard people say that a container garden should have three different types of things. But they never say what the three types of things are.

Why only three? Perhaps the rule you are trying to recall is ‘Something tall, something small, and some-thing to cascade, or fall’. Do not stint. Pack the plants in, especially ones with great dramatic color and shape.

The Capitol Hill Garden Club

presents

Dear GardenProblem Lady,

I have bought some trellises for the west-facing side of our garage. I plan to plant clematis vines along that garage wall, to climb up the trellises. The only problem is that I am going to have to plant the clematis in pots. That is because a narrow slate path hugs the side of the garage. I cannot move the path, and there is no room for a prop-er garden bed at the foot of the wall – the path comes right up to the wall. So I have purchased some long, narrow -- but deep -- window-box-sized contain-ers. I plan to plant the clematis in those. Will this work?

Sadly, no. Clematis does need sun, that part is fine. But it also needs more protection dur-ing winter than any container, even a deep one, can provide. Clematis needs to be planted very deep, in rich, friable soil In addition, of course, besides sun, clematis famously also like “cool feet” – shaded lower parts – which you can accomplish by covering those lower parts with the leaves of another plant. Your best bet for this garage wall would be to choose an entirely different vine for your container – a lovely flowering annual vine such as sweet pea, morning glo-ry, moonflower or nasturtium. Plant the clematis elsewhere.

The next public meeting of the Capitol Hill Garden Club is September 11, 2012. Member-ship details at 202-543-7539.

Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to the Problem Lady c/o The Capitol Hill Garden Club at andrew@hillrag.com. Your problems might prove instructive to others, and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. H

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