Perennials - Poppy
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  (June) Another plea from Northwest Arkansas. I started some poppies in my greenhouse. When they were 3 to 4 inches tall, I planted them out in my herbaceous border and they disappeared, eaten almost to the ground. And again. Then I believe I spotted the culprit. Six inches long, grey, with a tail -- a field rat I believe. What do you suggest? No other plants in my border have been eaten yet. A gardener friend cultivates alongside a large field and she gets significant damage from field rats; she also seeks a solution. There are a few rabbits in our neighborhood, but I have seen none in our street.

  Have you thought about a cat? I guess some other possible solutions are: poison baits, traps, or protect the seedlings until they are larger, and maybe less palatable-- some kind of protective fencing or screening? If this is out in the open, I would encourage the Have-a-heart type traps, since other creatures could wander in. That is the caution for poison baits as well. Try to keep the area as clean as possible, mowed and weeded. If you have fields nearby, you often don't have that option. Good luck!

  I have included a picture of an area set aside for phlox which has been overrun with Bermuda grass. My question, how do I get rid of the Bermuda while saving the phlox?

  It is hard to see where the phlox is, due to so much Bermuda grass. Try to cut out as much of the Bermuda as you can now that it is dormant. Then in the spring, as both the verbena and Bermuda get growing, you can use a grass-specific herbicide such as Poast, Grass-b-gone, Fusilade, etc. to kill the grass without hurting the verbena. If you leave as much grass there as you currently have, you will still take away from the beauty of the verbena with dead grass, once you kill it. Try to cut back on the growth now, so you don't have as much to kill come spring.

  I have had a great phlox season. The stalk grew 12 - 18 inches high, and there were three to six stalks per plant. When and how do I trim them for the winter? Do I cut all the stalks level with the ground, six inches above, or leave them untouched?

  Even though garden phlox can grow quite tall during the growing season, they are a true herbaceous perennial which dies completely to the ground each winter. Following the first killing frost, or as they begin dying back, prune them within an inch or two of the ground. Mulch after they go dormant. They should overwinter and return next spring.

  I have a perennial flower bed in my backyard. What is the best way to keep mildew or fungus off flowers such as garden phlox and monarda? Does a heavy mulch help? Also, how can I get my garden phlox to perform better? My mother in Texas has phlox which is spectacular. Her soil is alkaline. Could this be the key?

  Certain plants are highly susceptible to powdery mildew, and you’ve named two of those--garden phlox and monarda. To help prevent it try to allow plenty of room around the plants to help with air circulation and sunlight penetration. This can help. Also, avoid overhead watering. Keeping water off the foliage, especially at night is important. Mulching is beneficial, but some experts are recommending the use of rock or gravel mulches around phlox, which supposedly do not retain or aid in reinfection of the spores of powdery mildew. If it still reoccurs, you can spray with a fungicide such as Daconil or Funginex to control it. As for proper care of phlox, they like a rich soil environment, and plenty of fertilization. They will not tolerate wet feet, but they do need ample watering during the growing season.

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