This service is designed to help provide answers to those tricky plant and gardening questions that plaque all of us from time to time. Responses will be researched by students in the Landscape and Horticultural Technology Program and will be posted in a timely fashion. Please send your questions to "Dear Aggie"
 

Although the spring was - weather-wise - a very confused season and we experienced record rainfall  in June, summer appears to have finally decided to make an appearance. If you noticed that many of your shrubs and perennials did not bloom as well as in previous years, blame it on the weather. More specifically, blame it on last year's (and the two years before that) drought conditions. Many of the blooms we see in the spring are actually formed the summer before -and a lack of rainfall last summer would have reduced the plant's ability to produce blooms. Good care this year should help the plant recover. Good care means:

• In the absence of rain, water twice a week -remember that deeper, less frequent watering is preferable to frequent shallow watering
• Use an all purpose fertilizer (5-10-5) several times during the season although not during the hottest periods. Apply carefully and water in -read the label for detailed instructions.
• Remove dead or diseased branches and stems to help reduce the spread of the disease and the opportunity for additional damage to occur.