If you go to the thread "'new' gardener needs help with rhod/azalea", there are photos on how to deadhead a rhododendron. That is what removing spent flowers is called. On some varieties it makes a difference, on some it doesn't matter at all. On most varieties, it will only make a small difference if any. Most gardeners would like to deadhead but few actually do. If you are getting petal blight, then deadheading is very important. All spent flowers should be destroyed. The best way is to toss them in the trash. Petal blight is a disease that hits some rhododendrons and azaleas that bloom later in the spring. It causes the flower to turn mushy before it naturally wilts. If you look closely it forms unsightly brown spots on the flowers. Attached is an example the early stages of petal blight before the flowers turn mushy. Here is a link that might be useful: How to care for rhododendrons and azaleas.

I was told that after planting bananas (shorter variety) in the ground as medium sized plants I should wait until they grow up to be about 2 meters (6-7 feet) tall and then allow suckers to grow. So as I understood I have to keep on cutting off the suckers to make the main parent grow stronger and have fruits in about 2 years after planting? And I understand that I can plant the narrow-leafed suckers elsewhere to become strong plants and mulch the ones with wide leaves. Other people told me that I should not cut any suckers, after planting the bananas into the ground, or, as they said, I won't have any harvest (banana fruits) for a long time. Now I am confused. My climate (day and night, summer and winter) temperature extremes are 8C to 27C (46F to 80F). Could you please help me clarify this issue?

You Clematis "Elsa Spath" is a pruning group2 whereas your Clematis "Wisley" has viticella in it's blood and is a pruning group 3..I would stick to planting pruning group 3s with Roses..."Wisley" would be stunning with Climbing Rosa "New Dawn"....and much easier task of pruning every year being a pruning group 3!!..If your weather is still cool and you will stay ontop of keeping them watered..you could plant them now...if not wait till fall...make sure and give both of them a couple handfuls of bonemeal in the planting hole and plant them about 2-4 inches deeper than the pots they come in..You can prune them half way back for good measure...and this will benefit them to help their roots get well established ..when planting..plant them at a slight 45 degree angle towards what you want them to grow on....Jeanne

Tx. ahelaumakani. Unfortunately my kitchen sink (which is near the back door to the garden) doesn't have a normal faucet....only a hose...so I can't hook up a garden hose to it. I finally decided to try the basement sink, sending the hose out the back window and under the deck to the yard. But alas, it seems the small window in the basement has the kind of screen that doesn't pop out. So frustrating! So I finally sent a note to my LL, telling him that for years I've had to haul buckets, and couldn't he figure somethihng out for me so I can get water out back? We'll see what he says.... :-(