The old-fashioned hollyhock (Alcea ...

The old-fashioned hollyhock (Alcea rosea) have charms that augment beyond the back porch or garage. The 6-foot vertical spires of blows make a strong architectural statement in cottage gardens, at the backs of borders or along shields and walls. Known for their enlargeed bloom time, June to August, and their large, open- faced flowers, hollyhock are available in single or double flowers as well as prefered cultivars, including the almost-black 'Nigra.'

Plant in replete sun and provide early support if they are in an expos site. Avoid fertilizers that might assist rank growth. Hollyhocks are famous for self-seeding years after the original plants were installed.

The gladiolus originates a large, showy flower spike that lasts for several days whether in the garden or a vase. To gain the most out of a blossom for decoration inside, cut when the lowest blooms have begun to show color.

gaze closely on the underside of the leaves of your magnolia tree for an insect called magnolia scale, which are about the size of a pencil eraser. Other signs of magnolia scale that are easy to blot include an overall thin condition of the tree and a black, dark mold that will be upon the leaves of the magnolia and any plants subject to the tree. The magnolia scale excretes a substance called honeydew when feeding forward the plant. Black sooty mold is a fungus that will then bourgeon on this substance and is sole a cosmetic problem. For small tree with infestations, simply pick opposite to the scale and squash them. Other ascendency measures include treating with a lightweight oil or an insecticide when the scale is in the crawler stage [small, immature and vulnerable] generally in early September. For tree with a history of magnolia scale, an early spring dormant oil application is a wise preventative. If your tree is affected, provide extra watering during the summer to minimize stres

It is time to take cuttings of annuals of the like kind as geraniums and begonias that are to be kept throughout the winter. Cool nights in September will harden the plants, which will make them more difficult to parent Take a tip cutting 2 to 3 inches drawn out and stick in a well-drained potting medium like as one part peat mos and undivided part perlite. Keep the cuttings in humidity and bright light. cloak the cuttings with a plastic bag and ventilate daily by the agency of opening and resealing the bag. formerly they are well-rooted, typically in sum of two units to four weeks, transplant to a 2- to 4-inch kettle depending on the vigor of the cutting, using a growing medium for containers.

golden jackets (a yellow-bodied, black-striped social wasp) are building population. They are unwelcome visitors to picnics and are particularly attracted to sweet things like soda. Practicing religious sanitation is the best way to minimize any infection problems. Yellow jackets also attend to make their nests in the clod or in stone walls, in such a manner watch these garden areas.

At the Garden. Take the family not at home to the Botanic Garden as an end-of-summer treat! Visit the protoplast Railroad Garden with the kids, sample delicacies prepared on local chefs at the Fruit & Vegetable Garden, and be unfailing to stop and smell the 5000 rose in the Rose Garden.

Visit www.ohwow.org for the undivided Garden calendar.

Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

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