I have container roses on order from Rose Unlimited. I requested an end of April shipment date, not out of concern for the weather, but because I think that they will grow better in RU's nursery in SC than here in NJ as it is far warmer down there. I planted all of my bareroot orders 4 or 3 weeks ago, though.

No, we don't fertilize citrus this late in the year. We don't want them to go into the cold months with new, tender foliage. In California, we generally feed established citrus plants three times -- once in Feb-Mar, once in Apr-May and once in June-July. With smaller citrus, especially those in containers, we can feed monthly (but lightly), from February through August. Joe

Hi - I'm w/ w b ... although BB seems sturdier than the original ES & even Forever & Ever, under your full/sun the blossoms will, likely scorch. I only have one (planted in '07) in my assorted collection of Hs, is a great performer & she is only under f/s for a few hrs, she wimps out a bit tho picks herself back up & dusts herself after she gets shaded & looks great w/ only a few florets scorched! Perhaps more experienced gardeners who've planted BB 'en masse' can comment on protective benefit of growing as a group or a hedge in f/s. Best of luck!!! Â;) BB is a beautiful/reliable shrub!

Hi roundpeg, You can put the plants in now or any time. Conventional planting times are autumn and spring for many plants, but that's because you don't have to water every day in the heat to keep something alive. If properly cared for, plants can thrive when planted in midsummer. Seeds are a totally different story because there are many different germination requirements for different plants. For many perennial seeds, it is an ideal time to sow, but for others it is a horrible time. For many annuals it is a bit late. You would need to determine exactly what seeds you are sowing. Even different species of phlox will have different sowing seasons, and it depends on several factors. Winter sowing is a good option for many things; however, to grow some plants you will want to acquire fresh seed and keep it warm and moist for a prolonged period before winter. In other cases, it may take two years or more for germination to occur. Artificial methods can also work. For example, I sometimes get seed from the southern hemisphere. Their season is opposite, so I have to "trick" the seed into thinking it is winter in summer or summer in winter etc. Think about exactly what seed you want to sow and then we can be more helpful. Or you can think of the method you want to use and choose seed accordingly.