305 useful answers · Page 9 of 13
Start seeds, grow in containers, and learn what your garden needs.
Search this topicLook at Darwin hybrids, Fosteriana tulips and suitable species tulips rather than assuming every modern tulip performs equally well for years. Species types are often smaller and can naturalize in the right conditions. Match the selection to your climate and soil. Even a variety described as perennial needs a suitable site; the label is not a guarantee of indefinite flowering.
Combine varieties from early, middle and late flowering groups, and check each bulb label. Kaufmanniana and Fosteriana types tend to be early, while Triumph and Darwin hybrids extend the middle season; late groups can continue the display. Weather shifts the actual dates, so plan with flowering groups rather than promising a particular calendar week.
Give them a sheltered position where strong wind and heavy rain are less likely to batter the blooms. Their full flowers can be more vulnerable than simpler forms. Keep the site sunny and suitable for bulbs rather than hiding them in deep shade for protection. Check the variety’s height when placing neighboring plants so it is not crowded.
Allow some seed to mature and leave suitable places for seedlings instead of removing every spent flower. Eastern red columbine can renew a planting through self-seeding. If sowing collected seed, follow cold-moist treatment guidance or use appropriate fall sowing. Nearby columbines can cross, so seedlings are not a reliable way to reproduce every named cultivar exactly.
Those pale tunnels are a typical sign of columbine leafminers feeding between the leaf surfaces. The damage is usually cosmetic rather than a reason to treat an otherwise healthy plant with insecticide. Removing affected leaves early can reduce the visible problem. Distinguish these enclosed trails from foliage being eaten away, which suggests a different feeding insect.
Columbine sawfly larvae can chew away much of the foliage, unlike leafminers that leave winding tunnels inside intact leaves. Inspect the plant to identify the culprit before choosing any treatment. Otherwise healthy columbines often regrow leaves within a few weeks. A dramatic-looking feeding episode does not necessarily mean the perennial needs to be dug out and discarded.
Persistently wet soil can rot liatris roots or corms. Examine drainage before replacing the plant in the same low spot. A sunny site with good drainage and enough spacing for air movement is a better starting point. Newly planted liatris still needs watering while it establishes; improving winter drainage does not mean withholding all first-season moisture.
Often it will not. Wisconsin Extension notes that seed-grown plants generally bloom in their second or third year. Cold, moist treatment can improve germination, but it does not turn young seedlings into mature flowering plants immediately. Label the planting and allow time for establishment. Divisions preserve the characteristics of a named variety more reliably than seed.
No. Light helps ageratum germinate, so surface sow or cover only very lightly as the seed instructions direct. Start indoors roughly eight to ten weeks before your expected last spring frost, then harden the seedlings before planting outside after frost risk has passed. Avoid turning a recommendation for a light covering into a deep planting hole.
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Most varieties retain their faded brown heads, so deadheading can improve appearance and help prolong the display. Some newer varieties are self-cleaning and need less attention; check the cultivar description. Remove spent flowers carefully without cutting off nearby developing buds. Ageratum remains frost tender, so deadheading alone will not keep it alive through freezing weather.
Identify the trimmer head, then check its instruction card for the approved line diameter and length. The engine model alone may not identify a replacement head fitted later. Use compatible nylon trimmer line and the stated loading method. A thicker line is not automatically better, and excess line can prevent the head from feeding properly.
No. Some heads load line through external holes and wind with a knob; others require opening the head and winding a spool. Power the tool off and isolate its battery, cord, or ignition as the manual directs before handling it. Match the instructions to the actual head and follow its winding arrows and specified line length.
If you wait until the line is extremely short, there may be too little centrifugal force to advance it normally. Stop the tool and restore the line using that head’s manual procedure, with the power source isolated before handling it. During later use, advance line at the recommended interval instead of repeatedly wearing it down to the head.
Yes. Continuing to pull with full choke can supply too much fuel. Stop and follow the model’s flooded-start procedure, rather than repeating the same starting sequence. A strong fuel smell is a reason to pause and check for a leak as well. Work outdoors, away from ignition sources, and get service if starting trouble persists.
Not automatically. Use the storage charge level specified for the exact battery system; STIHL’s guidance favors a partial charge, with different ranges for some battery types. Keep the pack clean and dry in a secure place away from direct sun and temperature extremes. Storage instructions are different from charging it fully for the next job.
Switch it off and remove its activation key if equipped. Clean and dry the tool, disconnect its charger, and store the key separately where children cannot reach it. Follow the integrated battery’s specified storage charge and temperature range. Do not assume instructions for a removable battery pack apply unchanged to an integrated-battery tool.
A 50:1 mixture uses about 2.6 US fluid ounces of the specified two-cycle oil per US gallon of gasoline. Confirm the machine actually requires that ratio before mixing. Measure into an approved fuel container, close it, and mix thoroughly away from flames. A US gallon differs from an imperial gallon, so use one consistent measurement system.
Prepare it in an approved gasoline container so you can measure the gasoline and specified two-cycle oil accurately and mix them thoroughly. Follow the equipment’s ratio, then label the container to distinguish premix from straight gasoline. Refuel a stopped, cooled machine outdoors away from sparks, and clean around its cap before opening it.
Use the lowest throttle that moves the leaves and adjust the nozzle height until it lifts debris without scouring the soil. Work with controlled sweeping motions and consider the wind direction. Keep the discharge away from people, pets, doors, and windows. If the material produces a dust cloud, stop and choose a suitable non-blowing cleanup method.
Follow the machine’s exclusion distance; STIHL’s general guidance calls for at least 50 feet between the operator and bystanders, including other operators. Stop blowing when someone approaches. Plan the debris direction before starting, because wind and bounced particles can carry material beyond the nozzle’s immediate path. Never point the running blower at a person or animal.
Switch off and isolate the tool before handling the blades, and wear sturdy gloves and eye protection. Brush away loose plant material, then use the manufacturer-approved blade cleaner or resin solvent according to its directions. Keep fingers away from cutting edges. If distributing lubricant requires briefly running the tool, first clear the work area and follow the prescribed operating procedure.
Remove debris, clean and protect the cutting attachment as its manual directs, then fit the blade cover once cleaning is complete. Isolate the power source and store the tool securely under cover. For a cordless model, remove the battery where designed to do so and store it separately under its own instructions. Longer storage may require additional fuel preparation.
Repeatedly trapped branches and ragged cuts can indicate dull blades, after ruling out excessive branch size and sap buildup. Stop and isolate the tool before inspecting it. Sharpening must preserve the blade geometry specified by the manufacturer; a servicing dealer can do this if you lack the instructions or tools. Forcing the cut is not a substitute.
Crowns give you a head start because they are already established root systems. Seeds cost less but add time before a useful harvest. Choose a sunny, well-drained permanent bed: asparagus occupies it for years. Prepare the soil and remove perennial weeds before planting rather than treating it as an annual vegetable.
Source checks for these answers: September 22, 2026. Product instructions and local requirements can vary.