Pahls Market

I have several Hibiscus plants that my mother bought for me last year. They have spent the winter in a spare bedroom because I have no room for them. I do give them water but they really don’t look that good. What chance will they come back this summer even with some good fertilizer?  Dear [...]

Question: I have a Manettia bicolor plant. The plant has brown on the leaves. Any suggestions as to what, if anything, I am doing wrong? The plant is just starting to lower again. Is it supposed to flower all year long? Thanks! Rhonda Dear Rhonda, The Manettia bicolor is a tropical vine.  Also known as [...]

I bought a Alice Dupont Mandevilla last year…by season end it was absolutely beautiful. I was told by a fellow gardener to spray it with a pesticide before bringing it in. I did. As the days went by, the leaves dropped off – totally. I kept it at the east window -a couple months ago [...]

Dear Dee, Our crab apple trees in our front yard have spots on the leaves and they are now falling off of the tree. The berries are also out on the tree which I thought come out in the fall. I read on the Apple Valley website that this could be apple scab? Is there [...]

Dear Dee, What can I do when I will be planting trees and shrubs in a mostly clay area? Chris Clay Dear Chris Clay, My best advise to you is dig the hole not only deep enough but wide enough also. After this is accomplished add some soil conditioner, peat moss, and also incorporate some [...]

Dear Dee, My husband planted a Princeton Gold maple last May. So far this year it hasn’t budded. Do you think it has died? Mary Dear Mary, Check and see if the tips are still bendable, if they break off then most likely the tree is dead, but bring us a sample of the tree in question.  About a six inch [...]

Dear Dee:    We just purchased a River Birch from Pahl’s and had it delivered and planted in early August.  The river birch leaves have since yellowed and begun falling off the tree.  The branches look healthy, and there are still some green leaves, but of course, we’re concerned about the health of the tree [...]

We planted a Royal Red Maple tree in late May. We followed the planting directions and have been watering it 2-3 times per week. We live just west of Chicago (zone 5) and have soil that is very full of clay. Our tree’s leaves quickly began to brown and it has dropped some leaves. At first we thought it [...]

I have a variegated norway maple tree that I planted this year. The leaves are starting to turn brown and looks like they are dying.  Can you tell me what is wrong and what I need to do? Dear Carolyn, Without seeing the tree or where it is planted I am going to take a [...]

I would love to plant a pee gee hydrangea tree. Can you tell me what time of year is best to purchase and plant this tree? Many thanks. ellen� Dear Ellen, Pee Gee Hydrangeas make great additions to the landscape.  Their late summer blooms will last into fall and can be saved for dried floral [...]