How-To Archive
Eliminating Slug Larvae
Q: Is there some way to eliminate slug larvae in the ground before they start destroying my plants? I use beer to kill the adult ones, but it gets quite expensive. A: Slugs typically overwinter as adults, although there may...
Planting A Bare Root Stella Cherry Tree In Winter
Q: My father and I are planting a bare root Stella cherry tree. I have read that we should add nitrogen when planting but in winter? What would you recommend? A: Your instincts are exactly right. There is no absolute...
How To Keep Possums Out Of A Horse Barn And Pasture
Q: Is there any way to keep possums out of a horse barn and pasture? Their feces can carry a serious horse disease. A: I had never heard of this possum problem! I am not a veterinarian but in my...
Do I Flush Cut Or “Respect The Collar” Of My Japanese Maple Limbs?
Q: I think I heard you say that to use a flush cut when pruning Japanese maple limbs. But I found an article by Alex Shigo, whoever he is, that said something about respecting the collar. Can you clarify before...
Ground Bees – Controlling
Q: My neighbor’s yard is covered in digger bee mounds. They are now spreading to my yard. I have at least over a hundred in just a few days. Do you have any suggestions to keep them away? A: I...
Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta) Control
Q: These weeds have taken over my beds. Can you help? What should I use to kill? A: The weed is yellow wood sorrel, Oxalis stricta, sometimes called yellow clover. It is tough to control. It arises from a taproot...
Croatia/Slovenia 2019 Trip Announcement
A common saying from my teenage years: “If it feels good, do it again!”. I’m older now, but I still say it…and here’s an example: I’m hosting another trip to Croatia (and adding Slovenia)! The trip last year was so...
“How to Give a Possum a Pedicure” Song
I love possums! They were a regular part of life on our family chicken farm. We never ate them but we were happy to supply our neighbors with the ones we caught....
English Ivy – Management and Control
Q: English ivy is taking over my back yard. It has probably been there for twenty-plus years. What’s the best way to control it? PULL IT UP Check out this great Web site about English ivy removal. The Ivy Removal...
How Can I Make My Curly Sedge Curl Again?
Q: My curly sedge was curly for the first year but now the stems are straight as a stick! Anything I can do to make it curl up again? A: My guess is that yours has reverted back to the...
Good Method To Kill Privet Hedge?
Q: Is there a good method to kill privet hedge? It has taken over a portion of my backyard fence. A: It’s a tough plant! I spent much of my childhood and young teen years trying to control privet on...
How To Dispose Of Bad Milorganite?
Q: I had a bag of Milorganite that I stored in a plastic bucket. Somehow the lid was shifted and now I have a smelly, sticky mess. Any ideas how to dispose of it? We live near a lake. A:...
How Do I Harvest/Plant My Magnolias?
Q: I have three beautiful magnolias that are healthy and bloom beautifully. One has pods with red seeds. How do I harvest them and plant at my new home? A: I’m sure yours is a beautiful tree but the tree...
Thoughts On A Mosquito Control Service
Q: Several of my neighbors use a mosquito control service during the summer months. What are your thoughts on this control measure and the effects on nature as a whole. A: This is tough for me to answer because every...
Controlling Lespedeza
Q: How do I control lespedeza? A: I see two kinds of lespedeza that are problematic in lawns. Annual lespedeza, Lespedeza striata, is a low-growing annual plant; it sprouts from seed each year. Sericea lespedeza, Lespedeza cuneata, is an upright...
How to Get Rid of Nostoc
Q: Do you have any suggestions for getting rid of the green jelly stuff in our lawn? A: You have nostoc. It’s a gelatinous colony of a type of bacteria that is usually found where grass is growing poorly due...
Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam) – Trip Announcement
I have always been curious about Southeast Asia. My only exposure so far has been the disturbing nightly news on TV in the late ‘60’s and National Geographic magazine articles. I have wondered how Vietnam has changed from our national...
