QUESTION: I have some small chrysanthemums in my flower garden that are doing strange things. They actually bloomed in June with small flowers and have continued to grow more small buds. But recently just as the buds start to open the edges of the flowers turn brown and then wither. The plants are loaded with little buds. I would love to have even half of them come to full flower. Isn't this about the right time for this to fully flower? What is wrong? (I have amended my very cement-hard clay soil somewhat by side dressing and water every other day. The area has pine mulch.)ANSWER: Some garden mums are conditioned genetically to set buds according to day length. In the South, where the growing season starts early, the plants often set buds and bloom in late spring or early summer, instead of waiting for autumn. That is what often surprises gardeners when they see mums in bloom so early. However, your plants seem to be affected by a fungus that causes the problem named ray blight. I suggest you spray the plants with the common fungicide which may keep the fungus from destroying the clean buds.It is possible that your watering practices have contributed to the problem by keeping the plants wet. Try to water more deeply and less often; water early in the day so the plant dries off quickly in the sunshine. Avoid watering the plants from above. The best thing would be to use a little soaker hose under the mulch.A combination of fungicide and better watering practices should control this problem, but the diseased buds should be snipped off because they are loaded with fungus.

QUESTION: We have a bougainvillea in a hanging basket but no instructions came with it. In California, they took full sun; is that true here as well?ANSWER: Yes, this is a tropical plant that requires full sun. It will also require protection from freezing weather this winter. If you lived in the warm regions of California, you may have kept your plant outdoors all year. That won't work here. Plan to bring it indoors during the cold months and keep it in the sunniest spot you've got.

QUESTION: Two of my neighbors and I have Endless Summer hydrangeas that have no sign of blooming. Several others in this neighborhood have some bloom. Mine is 4 feet by 4 feet, with wonderful leaves; it is well watered, and gets at least 6 hours of sun a day; the other two neighbors are in full sun. We did have a heavy frost in April. Any ideas?ANSWER: It is likely that the heavy freeze in April killed the growth that would have produced the first round of blooms on these hydrangeas in early summer. Fortunately, this plant has the capacity to bloom on new growth that emerged this summer. These flowers would show up in late summer to early autumn. Look for new growth on the plants, which should bear the flowers.