QUESTION -- We have planter boxes made out of treated plywood on top of composite decking. My question is do we line the boxes with anything and if so, do we also put drainage holes through the lining and bottom of planter boxes?
ANSWER -- If it were me I would certainly line the planters. If you are planning on growing vegetables in the planters, the treated plywood may leach into the soil and this could be a health issue depending on how the wood was treated. Secondly, lining the planters would help them to last longer. Even treated wood that is exposed to moisture for long periods of time can start to warp or buckle. Drainage holes are a must for the health of the plants you are growing in the planters.
I have tried growing plants in containers and planters without proper drainage and the result is always poor growth. I am now convinced that drainage holes are an absolute must when it comes to containers and planters. In fact, I will not even look at a container that does not have drainage holes built in or ones where I can't make the holes myself. For indoor containers with no drainage holes, you might be able to get away with having a layer of stone at the bottom of the pot with a layer of charcoal on top of that. However, this will depend on the type of plant you are growing and how tolerant it is of having its roots wet. The same does not hold true for outdoor containers. If the container is open to the elements, gets rained on and does not have drainage, the plants will suffer and likely die in time.
QUESTION -- I saw on TV the other day that there are Asian, Chinese and Korean pear trees that can be grown in Canada, from coast to coast, no fertilizers or bug sprays needed. They apparently bear fruit too. Is this true? I live just south of Westlock and would like to plant one in my backyard, or would I have to plant more? I would like to plant next spring. Is this possible?
ANSWER -- I am aware of Asian pears being grown in B.C. and Eastern Canada, but have not heard of any hardy enough for the Prairies. I would certainly be dubious about the "no fertilizers or bug sprays" statement. Anything that sounds too good to be true usually is. I'll toss this out to see if anyone else has heard of these pears.
QUESTION -- Every year I cut my hosta leaves off to ground level and every spring the new leaves grow up around the dead ones from last year. I loosen the earth but there seems to be a "crust" of dead roots from last year. My Francee hostas were supposed to grow to be higher and wider than they are now. They've only grown to 30 centimetres high and less than 60 centimetres wide. I planted them five years ago. Any suggestions?
ANSWER -- I'm having trouble visualizing your question. If you are cutting the leaves to the ground, what leaves are left for the new growth to "grow around?" As for your Francee, I would try adding some fertilizer around the plant --15-10-5 or 10-10-10 would be good options.
--Canwest News Service
