Q. I planted some flowering perennials this spring and they really looked nice for a couple of months. Now the flowers are all brown and dried up and the bottoms of some of the plants look kind of woody, though the leaves are still green. Is there anything I can do to bring them back to life?
Yes! Flowering perennials will occasionally look tired, especially in the hotter months. I like to say that if there’s green, there’s hope. First, make sure that they’re getting water since that is what’s keeping them alive. This may seem obvious, but sometimes drip irrigation lines become damaged by animals trying to get to the water or clogged with ants, dirt, or other debris.
Clip the plants back to about half their height while removing all the dead flowers and any dead branches. Removing some of the leaves this way means that they are losing less water through transpiration (evaporation of water through the leaves). This will give the roots a chance to grow, making the plant more resilient during the hot, dry months of summer. In a few weeks, you should see some new growth and hopefully some more flowers.
Q. I planted mint in my herb garden a couple of years ago. Now I realize that was a big mistake! How do I get rid of it? I’ve been pulling it out, but it keeps coming back. I’d rather not use weed killer on it.
Now you know why mint is called the “hospitality plant” — once you plant it you can’t get rid of it.
Mint can be grown in containers, but it must be watched carefully since it will try to sneak out by growing long runners that root as soon as they touch the ground. Pulling it out is deceptively easy since the strong stems come out in one piece along with some attached roots. Unfortunately, if there’s even a small bit of stem or root material left behind it will grow back. Don’t try to compost mint since it will usually survive and appear wherever you spread the compost.
If it’s currently growing in a relatively limited space, you could try soil solarization. First, remove all visible mint, but don’t dig up the soil. Water the area thoroughly, then cover with a sheet of heavy, clear plastic sheeting and make sure the sheeting is in contact with the soil. Weigh it down with bricks or rocks and wait 4-6 weeks. This will increase the soil temperature to 140 degrees (or more), killing any weeds, seeds, and many soil pathogens. Obviously, this process is most effective when done during the hottest time of the year. It doesn’t work on deep-rooted plants, but mint should be susceptible since its roots are close to the surface.
Los Angeles County
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
San Bernardino County
mgsanbern@ucanr.edu; 909-387-2182;
Originally Published: July 19, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.
