By Tamara Galbraith

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), is a beautiful tall plant with dual personalities: it has the willowy visual effect of ornamental grass in the landscape, and boasts a wide variety of culinary uses as an herb in the kitchen.

A native of India, lemongrass is widely used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. The grass blade can be sliced very fine and added to soups for a lemony twist. Also, the bulb can be bruised and minced for use in a variety of recipes. Medicinal herb teas can also be brewed from lemongrass.

To replicate lemongrass's native Indian climate, give it full sun, sandy soil, and average water - do not overwater. In the milder areas of the country, lemongrass will act as a perennial. If your winters are on the harsh side, it's better to pot up the plant and bring it in to the garage.

Before you do that, however, see if it needs to be divided. Lemongrass is a clumping type of grass, which means you can eventually divide and get several plants out of it...or, of course, you can plant some and eat the rest!

By Tamara Galbraith

When shopping for plants, sometimes the planting and care instructions provided on the tag are either too brief, not all that helpful, or both.

For instance, let's take a look at sun exposure recommendations. "Full sun" is pretty self-explanatory, but what exactly does "part shade" or "partial shade" mean? And how does "deep shade" differ from "full shade," if there is a difference?

"Partial shade" is generally defined as an area that gets around 4-6 hours of sun, mainly during the morning or evening, with the rest of the time in shade.

"Full shade" is usually reserved for areas that get almost no sun - maybe 3 hours at most. "Deep shade" is reserved for those areas, generally under thick trees, that get no sun at all.

There is also "dappled shade," whereby sunlight filters through the moving branches of trees onto plants for most of the day. This is considered the lightest type of shade.

Of course, all of this should be taken down a notch if you live in some of the really hot, dry places in the U.S. Plants that are recommended for partial shade, like coral bells, hostas, and ferns, in other parts of the country do better in full shade in the desert regions. If you see a plant getting scorched (browning leaves and general crispiness) in partial shade, it'd be best to move it to a shadier spot when fall comes around.

First, a note on summer planting — There are those that think rose planting season is over by now. After all, it's past the first of June; aren't they supposed to be planted in cold weather at bareroot season? Nonsense. You can plant roses in the summer.

Here are a few tips for hot weather planting: Always make sure the rose is well watered before planting; never plant (or fertilize) a dry or wilted plant. Provide lots of water after planting. It's a good idea to trim back some of the top growth so the roots don't have to work so hard. You can safely take off about 1/3 of the top growth. Use lots of planting mix and save some for a top dressing of mulch to help keep the roots cool.

Once they are planted, these simple tips on care can help you keep your roses happy and healthy.

Caring for Your Roses

Watching For Problems:

Remember that prevention by proper care is the best protection against problems. Roses need :
1. A sunny location
2. Rich moist soil
3. Regular feeding

The Most Common Problems Are:

Aphids. Tiny insects found on the tips of new growth and buds.

Bristly rose slug. This larva of the sawfly is found on the underside of the leaves. It eats leaf tissue, leaving a lace effect. It's not hard to control, but will do a lot of damage if ignored.

Thrips. Tiny insects found on the inside of flowers, thrips cause distorted and stunted blossoms. They usually show up at the end of summer in warm weather.

Powdery mildew. A fungal disease that looks like white dust on the leaves.

Rust. A fungal disease that looks like orange powder on the backs of the leaves. Avoid watering late in the day to help prevent fungal problems.

Neem oil and/or narrow range oil will take care of most problems before they become serious. It's good to have some on hand to catch problems early.

There is a wealth of information available on rose care. By following the simple basics discussed here, even the beginning gardener should be able to enjoy roses. Just remember — lots of sunshine, lots of water and regular feeding.

The American Rose Society is working on a list of favorite roses for different climates which should be very helpful in our quest to find the best roses for our area.

Quick Overview of Modern Rose Types

Grandiflora — Tall and similar to Hybrid Teas, a cross between Hybrid Teas and Floribundas. Example — 'Queen Elizabeth'
Polyantha — Compact free flowering plants on compact bushes. Example — 'Margo Koster' and 'China Doll'
Miniatures — Small leaves and flowers. Usually 1-2 feet tall, but can reach 6 feet!
Climbers — A mixed group with long arching canes that need support.