DATE:   11/6/97
WRITER: Bob Polomski, (864) 656-2604

Managing Fallen Leaves and Groundcovers

     Q:  Because of the heavy shade in most of my front yard from
oaks, maples, and sweetgum trees, I have planted several beds of
vinca and liriope under these trees as groundcovers. It is a
chore to remove the leaves from these beds, but I'm concerned
that if I leave them, they will smother the plants. How can I
deal with them?
     A.  Leaves will make an attractive and beneficial mulch for
your beds of  groundcovers, but you will probably have to gather
and shred them first. To get them off the beds, use a rake or
hand-held leaf blower. Gather them into a pile and then run over
them with a rotary lawn mower. Shredding the leaves reduces their
volume, speeds up decomposition, and helps them adhere to the
soil surface.
Cultivating German Ivy
     Q:  I have a German ivy plant, but I have not been able to
find any information about its culture. Mine grows fine for a
while, but then it  begins to die. I must be doing something
wrong because my mother was able to grow it and it never died. 
     A.  Native to South Africa, German or parlor ivy (Senecio
mikanioides) is a climbing, twining houseplant suitable for 
training up stakes or trailing in hanging baskets. From a 
distance, the leaves resemble those of English ivy (Hedera
helix), but upon closer inspection the five- to seven-lobed
leaves are softer. It bears yellow, daisylike flowers in clusters
at the ends of shoots in the fall or early winter.  
     Place your German ivy in a location receiving bright
indirect sunlight. During the summer while the plant is actively
growing, water when the  surface of the medium feels dry. 
Fertilize monthly with a complete, water-soluble houseplant
fertilizer. Pinch the tips to encourage bushiness.
     During the winter months, move the plant to a cooler
location (one that  is between 50 and  55 degrees Fahrenheit) and
water less often, just enough to keep the potting mix from
drying out completely.
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     If you have gardening questions or comments, write to
Agricultural News & Publications, A-101 Poole Agricultural
Center, Box 340311, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29634-0311.
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