The Springfield News-Leader teams up with the Master Gardeners of Green County to bring expert gardening advice to local readers each week. Master Gardener programs, offered by colleges and universities across the U.S., provide intensive horticultural training, helping certified gardeners serve as educators and volunteers in their communities.
In this week’s column, the experts address common questions from amateur gardeners:
Many annuals and perennials can be pinched back to manage height and encourage more blooms. It’s key to pinch before flowers appear, as doing so after bud formation removes future blooms. Flowers like asters, mums, bee balm, and phlox respond well to this technique, ideally pinched three times before July 4. However, plants such as sunflowers, dill, and campanula should not be pinched back. Experiment with timing to find what works best in your garden!
A soilless, sterile mix made from vermiculite and peat moss is the ideal choice for seed-starting indoors. It offers the right balance of moisture retention and drainage, and avoids problems like soil-borne pathogens. Alternatively, a homemade mix of sterilized compost, topsoil, and coarse sand can also work. Be sure to avoid using any soil with added fertilizer, as it is not needed for new seedlings.
For more expert advice, you can reach out to the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County, Springfield.
