What's That Again?

Q. What should I use to help my star jasmine vine climb?

A. Good question. Many people don’t realize that different types of vines require different support structures. A star jasmine has a twining stem that curls around a support. Don’t pick something too large; stick to a cord or wire. Some vines send out tendrils for support rather than the stem itself creating the curl. They can wrap around just about anything small – a rope, a wire, even a nearby branch. Clinging vines feature little suction cups or claws that will hold on to flat surfaces, so skip the rope and offer a flat, textured surface for them to grab. Still, other vines, such as climbing roses, have no system for support, so tie them to something like a fence or a trellis.

Q. How can I banish snails from my garden?
 
A. Bad news, since snails and slugs are tenacious and you will never be rid of them completely. Your only option is to hold them at bay for long periods. Start by searching for and destroying their eggs – look under rocks, boards, in pots, even in new soil for bunches of little pearl-like sacs. Some poisons are effective, but most cannot be used on fruits or vegetables, and others will poison your pets too. A less invasive tactic is to pluck them up one at a time and throw them away.

Q. I want to plant some trees but have been told I should wait until spring. Is that true?

A. No. Trees can be planted just about any time of year. In fact, it’s often more cost effective to buy a bare-root plant in the dormant season. Bare-root plants typically do well, as only one type of soil is used – the soil that comes out of the hole you dig to plant the tree.

Q. What’s the best shrub for my yard?

A. Without more information about your yard it’s hard to say. However, this is a good opportunity for offering some general guidelines. Make sure it is suited to your climate and soil as well as the amount of sun. Pick something that, as it grows, will fit in the space you’ve chosen. Finally, with the huge variety of shrubs available, don’t limit yourself to what you’re familiar with; consider color, texture, movement, maintenance and growth rate.

Q. I really don’t want to plant grass. What else will stand up to foot traffic?

A. Frustration with lawn maintenance may tempt you to trade grass for pavement. Fortunately, several plant options are available, so such drastic measures can be avoided. Talk to your landscape professional for what will work in your area, but some alternatives to consider include sandwort, blue sedge, chamomile, blue star creeper, Irish moss and Korean grass.

This monthly feature is provided by Miramar Wholesale Nurseries, Southern California’s leading supplier of landscape plant material and supplies. MWN grows a wide variety of perennials, shrubs and distinctive trees at each of its three locations to supply landscape professionals and nurseries in the region and around the country with high-quality plant materials. MWN is a member of TruGreen LandCare, a ServiceMaster company.