Forgotten Beauty

Sometimes I wonder as to how and why some of the plants were forgotten. The accompanying picture is of Daedalacanthus nervosus,normally known to the nurserymen by its first word of the name.

Sometimes I wonder as to how and why some of the plants were forgotten. The accompanying picture is of Daedalacanthus nervosus,normally known to the nurserymen by its first word of the name. The shrub bears on the spikes,neel blue flowers,the colour which is found in very less flora. It bears profusely during February-March and that is also the time when the winter annuals bloom. Imagine a background of this low headed shrub with white blooming annuals in the front. Planted in a row,it gives excellent mass effect. The plus point is that it grows well in partial shade too.

* The leaves of my mango plant have spots on it,as if it has rained. This,when there is no dew now-a-days. What could be the reason?
Paramjit Singh,Chandigarh
The spots are due to the presence of young ones of mango hoppers. They cause the symptoms as if the tree leaves have been sprayed with gum. They may cause complete flower fall. You must spray thiodan dissolved at two milliliter to a liter of water and repeat the spraying after about 10 to 15 days. Mix karathane at one milliliter to a liter of water too. This will take care of powdery mildew.

* Please tell me the name of a shrub,a climber and a tree that bear blue flowers. I need to plant them in my house.
Namita,Chandigarh
Namita,while I have already dealt with Daedalacanthus shrub today,the climber is Railway Creeper and the tree is jacaranda,Nilli Gulmohur.

* Can I go in for plantation of lawn now? If so what precautions should I take?
Maninderjit Singh,Mohali
Wait for a few more days. Follow the procedure of exposing the soil to sun at least twice in a month by digging deep to 45 cm,removing weeds and stones,adding fertilizers and above all,making the ground level as a table top. Do planting at 4 inches apart and keep moist. Extend this process to end of June.

* Can we do the planting of grass with seeds? If so where can I get them?

Vinita,Chandigarh

Vinita,why go in for seeding and then wait for it to make a turf. You can go in for grass planting and varieties like Selection No 1 that give turf within a months time.

* Can I plant mussaenda now. Which colour grows best,red,pink or white?

Suraj,Panchkula

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You can go in for planting mussaenda now. The pink and white do very well here.

You can mail Dr Green your gardening queries at satishnarula@yahoo.co.in

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