Photo: istockphoto.com

Expert landscaper Kevin Mulkern of Mulkern Landscaping gets to the root of two common landscaping problems.

     1.    Why won’t my hydrangea plant flower?

They need a winter (or at least a cooler climate). “Hydrangeas, azaleas and several other flowering plants are brought in for special occasions,” Mulkern says. “They’re kept refrigerated, and at the last moment, put in local nursery greenhouses where they flower for the holiday.” There is a precise science to this, and there is a specific number of days between coming out of the chiller and blooming, according to Mulkern, who suggests growing the plants in appropriate climates. “When I visited the Volcano house many years ago, they had a beautiful hedge of hydrangeas. I’ve also seen this in upcountry Maui,” he says. “The weather approximates colder climates in these areas, so the plants do well in the landscape.”

2.    Why are there so many ants invading my garden?

This could be due to any number of things. Mulkern often uses a variety of baits to control for different types of ants. For citrus plants and gardenias, he recommends controlling the aphids and the sooty mold. “It’s amazing what washing the under sides of foliage off with just a strong jet of water (with a hose) will do to keep insects in control,” he says.

*For the main story: 6 Common Landscaping Problems, Solved, see the October 2010 issue of Hawaii Home + Remodeling. [coming out October 7, 2010.]