Canterbury bells need ideal soil to grow

Q. For years, I have tried to grow Canterbury bells, but the stems always rot away. Is there something I can do to prevent this from happening every year? – D.R., Searsport

A. Of all the campanulas, members of the bellflower family, I’ve found Canterbury bells to be the fussiest. The plant typically enjoys fertile, rich, well-drained soil. If Canterbury bells are planted in soil too moist or too dry, they may suffer. Soil that is too moist can cause soil

fungi to flourish, and this often may cause susceptible plants to rot. Soil that is too dry can cause the plants to have difficulty fending off disease and growing properly through the intense heat of summer.

In general, soil improvement through the application of amendments can only help your gardening efforts. An application of well-composted garden debris or composted manure will help lighten the soil if it is inherently too moist and will improve the quality of a poor, infertile or dry soil. Apply a 2-inch layer of composted material, leaf mold (composted leaves from deciduous trees) or peat moss to the flower garden and then incorporate that material into the soil to a depth of 8 inches or so.

Consider testing your soil. You may find that the pH of the soil is at an unacceptable level for Canterbury bells. For more information on soil testing, contact your University of Maine Cooperative Extension office.

Q. This year the slugs have devastated my garden. Any remedies? – M.L. Appleton

A. The slug population always seems to thrive when we have a moist spring. Many remedies exist, some more palatable to undertake than others. In my opinion, the least enjoyable method of eradicating the pests may be among the most effective: Sprinkle table salt on the critters. They wither rather immediately.

Many people report that an effective means of trapping slugs is to lay a beer can on its side in the garden with a few tablespoons of beer in it. Place the cans in garden paths or in the understory of plants. Slugs are attracted to the beer, crawl into the can and succumb. Periodically emptying and resetting the traps should help control the population throughout summer.

Another trap that is reportedly effective is a contraption made with a 2-liter bottle. Cut off the top third of the container. Place slug bait (found at a garden center or farm store) in the bottom of the bottle. Invert the bottle top back into the lower part of the bottle so that the spout of the bottle is on the inside of the bottle, pointing toward the bottle’s bottom. Secure the inverted spout in place by stapling the outer rim where the two layers of plastic mesh.

Place the plastic trap along your garden paths. Slugs will enter the bottle, contact the bait and become trapped.

Q. Can I use grass clippings as a mulch in my garden? – R.P., Lincoln

A. Grass clippings can make a suitable mulch in certain situations. There are benefits and drawbacks, however. First the benefits. Grass clippings are high in nitrogen and over time they may add a nutritive component to your soil. Additionally, grass clippings may make an effective barrier against annual weeds.

Now, the drawbacks. Grass clippings generate a great deal of heat as they decompose. This heat may prove damaging to some crops. Also, grass clippings may contain a significant number of weed seeds. If you’re mulching to control weeds among your garden crops, the grass clippings may do the job in the first year, but they may also be adding weed seed to your soil, perpetuating your problem over future years. Finally, grass clippings may encourage the nesting of insect pests and may harbor fungal or disease pests as well.

Since the drawbacks of using grass clippings as a mulch outnumber the benefits, it may be better to incorporate grass clippings as an important nitrogen component in your compost pile. Composting grass clippings may well eliminate the bulk of the drawbacks and may become a more useful element of your garden system.

Diana George Chapin is the NEWS garden columnist. Send horticulture questions to Gardening Questions, RR1, Box 2120, Montville 04941, or e-mail them to dianagc@midcoast.com. Selected questions will be answered in future columns. Include name, address and telephone number.