cleaning up after mountain laurel

QuestionMy husband recently cleared some of our land that had been over crowded with scrub brush, very leggy mountain laurel and rotted old trees. Now the area is all spongy roots and decaiyed leaves. Should I just

Mudslides in front yard

QuestionIve lived in my home for about 9 years. It is not a good lot. My house sits down from the road with a long slope at about a 135 degree angle, I would guess about 30 feet long. Grass covered

Mudslides

QuestionIve lived in my home for about 9 years. It is not a good lot. My house sits down from the road with a long slope at about a 135 degree angle, I would guess about 30 feet long. Grass cove

live oak tree roots and house foundation

QuestionMArc, We have been in this house (concete foundation) for 20 years. My husband planted a live oak in the back yard at that time. The house forms a u-shape around the tree, with about 2 foot diame

Bushes and flowers

QuestionHello! We have just bought a new home with a walkway leading to an elevated porch at the entrance. On either side of the walkway is a large bush about 4 long and 5 high. It causes a narrow

Steep hill on a lake

QuestionHi Marc, We live on a lake in central Minnesota. Our lot is about 50 wide and in the backyard, to get down to the lake, there is a steep hill. Right now it has steps made of old railroad ties. There are abou

what tree would work?

QuestionNorth shore of Long Island, New York Due to recent renovation on my neighbors house, I would like to plant something that will provide privacy. It would have to be a tree that grows straight and narrow

Hardscape

QuestionI recently fenced in my small backyard and there is almost no grass left due to my 2 big dogs. I cant afford artificial turf. Are there stones or bricks I could put in the corners where they lie

Sky Pencil-Holly

QuestionId like to grow a Sky Pencil-jap. Holley in a container. I live in northern N.J. so have pretty cold winters, -10, rarely -15. Can I grow this in a container and keep outside through winter? &nbs

septic fields

QuestionYou may refer me to someone if this doesnt work. I live in New England in zone 5, and none of you seems to have much experience in this climate. I need to plant cover on a large raised septic field this fal

Florida/Mulch/Weeds/Fungi

QuestionHelp! We have a backyard area (approx. 1ft wide x 25 ft long) on either side of the pool that is mulched. In the front yard the red mulch is also covering our landscaping areas consisiting of pal

Interior Plants

QuestionDear Sir We need two 8 feet tall plants for our building lobby. At present we have two 4 years old dracaenas reflexa. They are sick and dying. There is indirect sunlight but not much since the floor to ceali

Post and Board Fence style

QuestionQUESTION: Hi Marc, I have a colonial house abutting conservation land (i.e. wilderness). I currently have for a fence 4X4 -6 foot post with 4 foot high welded wire fence strung between the posts. &nbs

dirt over where pool was

QuestionWe just took down a 12x17 pool and would like to plant grass where is was,but the clay is still there from the pool can we add dirt and still grow grass there. Thanks AnswerYes, assuming it is local native

Trees close to a foundation

QuestionHi Marc, We just moved to KC, Kansas (zone 5?) and purchased a new home with no landscaping in the back yard. Can you give me some advice on what types of trees have non evasive root systems that I cou

help! awkward driveway

QuestionMy son just built a new home on a low lying lot. They had quite a bit of fill brought in for both the yard and the driveway. The drive is approx. 11 foot wide with slopes on each side approx 2 fo

Did I make a mistake using English Ivy in my garden?

QuestionHi Marc. I live on the east coast in zone 6B. I have a natural rock wall in my back yard and at its base is a perennial/woodland garden with plants like hosta, astilbe, coral bells, daisies, echi

Patio Paver Molds??

QuestionI would like to add on to my existing basket brick patio. When I looked to see how the previous owners had prepared the soil, to mirror their process, they had used what I can best describe as a plasti

Noise barrier for noisy neighbors

QuestionI just finished reading your article about your suggestion for a erecting a noise barrier to highway noise. I have a similar, but different problem. We have neighbors who have a small dog that ba

pavers over concrete or not?

QuestionI live in NJ and am thinking about having a patio installed, about 1,000 sq. ft. Some contractors tell us to use concrete as a base and then put the pavers over it and others swear by sand and a gravel type