The Capitol Hill

Garden Club
presents

Dear Garden
Problem Lady,
Is there a way to stop squirrels from devouring our tomatoes just as the tomatoes
start to ripen?

Yes. Try so-called row covers 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 annuals are heavy feeders.

What do they eat, and how
often?

There are two basic fertilizers 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 something to cascade, or fall. Do
not stint. Pack the plants in,
especially ones with great
dramatic color and shape.
136 H HillRag | July 2012

Redefining Beauty One Client at a Time!

Over 20 years of experience

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 proper 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 containers. 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 during 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 glory, moonflower or nasturtium.
Plant the clematis elsewhere.
The next public meeting of
the Capitol Hill Garden Club is
September 11, 2012. Membership 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

Comprehensive Design and

Maintenance Services
Installation, arbors, retaining
walls, walkways, lighting,
water features
Patios, roof top gardens, town-homes,
single family homes
Trees & shrubs, formal &
informal gardens
Custom Masonry, Fencing
and Iron work
Restoration and
Enhancement

Derek Thomas / Principal

Certified Professional Horticulturist, Master Gardener;
Member of the MD Nursery and Landscape Association
& the Association of Professional Landscape Designers

301.642.5182

www.thomaslandscapes.com

THOMAS LANDSCAPES

Full -Service Landscape Design & Maintenance Firm

onsai

landscaping and
gardening

residential and commerical landscaping services,

including design, installation, and maintenance
landscape & garden design
bush trimming - prunning
lawn care
tree pruning
house & deck power - wash
gutter cleaning
hauling

All of your general contracting

needs in one place
Design/Build Landscaping Kitchen & Bath
Handyman Services Paint & Drywall
Basement Remodeling

Specializes in residential, churches, and invasive preventive maintenance

FREE ESTIMATES
Emiliano Santin 202-550-4199
bonsailandscapingdc@gmail.com

Call Now! 240-223-7034

www.premierhomepro.com

capitalcommunitynews.com H 137