Question: My verbenas are turning tan. They also don’t bloom worth a hoot. I’ve tried them three years now, always with the same two problems.

Answer: The first problem is probably spider mites, and a general-purpose insecticide that is also labeled for spider mites would help. As for the flowering, annual verbenas that we buy in full flower usually don’t handle the transplanting very well. It’s common for them not to flower again. In all honesty, the “perennial” verbenas make better “annuals” than the true annual types. ‘Homestead Purple’ has always been a solid performer.