Q: I enjoyed your recent TV program on making potting soil. I found it disheartening that the ingredients came from far away: peat from Canada, perlite from Greece, etc. Are there other ways to make potting soil
Mondo Grass – Expediting Growth
Q: I have a very large area of mondo grass I planted control erosion. It has not filled in very fast. Is there anything I can do to expedite growth? A: As with lawn grass, regular fertilization will speed growth
Q: This year my parents have had foul-smelling, red-orange mushrooms with an egg-like base. I'm going to have my spring wedding reception at the house and I don't want the smell to bother the guests.
Q: Can I use black plastic rather than clear for soil solarization? I want to remove weeds from part of a pasture for a garden next spring. A: Unfortunately, black plastic will not work. The process of solarizat
Q: My company's building has a large atrium. We need to replace the podocarpus trees there with something else. What? A: Ficus trees are excellent for atriums because the different varieties vary greatly i
Bluebird Houses – Deterring Squirrels
Q: I need to give my bluebird houses a good fall cleaning. Squirrels have chewed enormous holes in them. What can I do to deter them? A: One idea is to install a metal predator guard plate over the hole in each
Climbing and Shrub Roses – Pruning
Q: I have climbing and shrub roses. Do I need to cut them back to short canes and mound mulch for the winter? A: Unlike in the northern US, roses here don't need much more than "neatening up" f
Elephant Ears – Leaves Browning
Q: I have elephant ears growing in a container. The leaves are curling and appear to be burned around the edges. What is the cause of this? A: Browning around the leaf edges is usually a sign of water stress.
Q: I have a small, two-foot deep plastic-lined pond that I want to convert into a bog garden. Any suggestions on how I should proceed? A: Bog gardens are fascinating to observe. Your first job is to fill the po
Ailanthus Trees- Killing Sprouts
Q: I cut down the largest of several ailanthus tree saplings next to my fence. I ended up with fifty sprouts in its place. How do I kill these things without getting a hundred more saplings? A: Cut each sapling
Peanuts – Storing For Planting
Q: I have some green peanuts that I would like to save to plant next spring. Should I freeze them or just dry them out and store them in a dry cool place? A: Dry the peanuts in the shell and save them in a cool
Mulch – Types for Garden Plantings
Q: What type of mulch do you prefer for garden plantings? A: I alternate between pine straw for shrubs and trees and mini-sized bark chips for perennials and annuals. I use wheat straw around vegetables to promo
Potato Plants – Bunches of Cherry Tomatoes
Q: My potato plants have little bunches of green cherry tomatoes at the top and potatoes in the ground. Are they really tomatoes? A: They're not tomatoes, just the seed pods of your potatoes. Tomatoes and
Bronze Beauty Cleyera – Fertilizing
Q: In April I planted ten Bronze Beauty cleyera. They get mostly shade. Is there any type of fertilizer to help them grow faster? A: Sunshine and a healthy root system make plants grow faster. If these are lacki
Ornamental Grass – When to Plant
Q: I know the best time to plant trees and shrubs is mid-fall. But when is the best time to plant ornamental grasses? A: In contrast to woody plants and perennial flowers, ornamental grasses do best when plant
Q: My eggplants have blooms but no fruit. Do I need to sing a song while pollinating them, like you recommend singing Sinatra to squash when transferring pollen? A: Gently tap the flowers twice each day with a
Bermuda Grass – Green Again Soon After Killing Caterpillars
Q: Two days after realizing my bermuda lawn had army worms it was brown. We killed the caterpillars but the grass is still not green. Will the grass recover this year? A: If the bermudagrass was reasonably healt
Q: We planted lots of yellow lantana atop a retaining wall. The plants were full of blooms but now lots of leaves are turning a grayish brown and crispy. The leaves look peppered on the underside. A: You have an
Squirrels – Getting them Off of the Deck
Q: Squirrels are eating our deck boards and gnawing on the HardiePlank siding. What can we do to stop this? A: When I was three, my mother applied a bitter liquid to my thumbs to remind me not to suck them. You
Okra -Edible with Bumps on Pods
Q: Our okra has done great but within the last week it has gotten white bumps on the pods. Is it edible or not? A: The bumps are "stings" from stinkbug feeding. Stinkbugs insert their hollow mouthpar
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