1) Where and what correct type of common earthworms for garden beds can I buy? I live midtown Toronto.
2) should I prune off all green leaf branches from my green and gold euonymus? Why?
3) should I give a big haircut to my woodland phlox in hopes it flowers again this summer? Is it normal that it already stopped flowering?
Thanks!
Martha
Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners concerning your questions on earthworms, woodland phlox and reversion of your variegated euonymus.
I will deal with your euonymus question first: In most cases, variegation in plants is caused by a natural mutation that affects the chlorophyll production in a pure green plant. The variegated part is then propagated by cuttings, grafting or divisions to retain the variegated features. As beautiful as these mutations are, they are not always stable and as a result, the plant will sometimes revert back to it’s all green foliage. The pure green leaves contain more chlorophyll than the variegated leaves and are therefore more vigorous. If left, this all-green growth, will take over the plant. My suggestion would be to cut out the all green branches.
Woodland phlox, Phlox divaricate is a North American native plant that does best in partial shade and rich, moist, well-drained soils. It is very adaptable and will tolerate dry and clay soils and is even drought tolerant once established. This plant flowers for approximately one month, from late spring to early summer. You can prune the spent blooms to tidy up the plants appearance , however unlike other perennials this plant will not reblooom. For more information on this lovely spring flowering perennial see this link.
Lastly, regarding earthworms, this is a question that we have answered previously, see Earthworms to improve soil.