How-To Archive
Popcorn sheller
Q: Here is my DIY popcorn sheller. I don’t know why more people don’t grow popcorn. Especially folks with kids. So easy to grow and fun! A: On the farm, we used a purpose-built hand-cranked cast iron corn sheller to...
How to root a fig cutting
Q: A fig tree that has been in my family for three generations and produces a great harvest. My father recently passed away and we are selling the property. It is too large to transplant. Is there a way to...
New Zealand Trip – 2020
Come next February, I’ll be enjoying the warm summertime in New Zealand…and you can enjoy it with me! I hosted a garden tour of New Zealand in 2011. Ever since, I’ve wanted to go back. So now we’re going again…and...
How To Cut Back My Huge Buckeye
Q: My buckeye lost its shade when two old pines were removed. Now it has absolutely taken over a side of my yard, covering everything in sight: azaleas, nandina, weeds, etc. The buckeye has white flower spikes in June. Should...
Will A Vinegar And Salt Solution Kill Underbrush?
Q: Can you spread a vinegar and salt solution under big pine and oak trees to kill the underbrush below them? A: Neither vinegar nor salt will kill the underbrush. Concentrated acetic acid, which smells like vinegar, might burn the...
Mouthwash, Epsom Salts And Stale Beer – Mosquito Repellent?
Q: I have been told that a mixture of mouthwash, Epsom salts and stale beer can be sprayed around your landscape to keep mosquitoes away. What do you think? A: I think this is an excellent recipe for hogwash. For...
Fan Palm With Seed Pods On It
Q: I have a twelve-year-old fan palm outside. The tree has seed pods on it. How and when can I take the seed pods off and plant them? A: There are several different plants that are called fan palm. In...
Bumper Crop Of Baby Peaches – How To Thin The Peaches
Q: I have a bumper crop of baby peaches. Is there a rule of thumb for thinning the peaches? I know the branches won’t support all of them. A: You are right. If you don’t remove some of the fruit,...
How To Get Rid Of Johnson Weed
Q: How do you get rid of Johnson weed? A: It’s tough! Johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense, was introduced from the Mediterranean as a pasture grass. But farmers soon found that this tall, aggressive grass, while favored by cattle, was very difficult...
Squirrel Problem
Q: I have a problem with squirrels digging in my pots. I can’t keep anything growing in them since they dig up everything. A: One of my gardening friends collects sweetgum balls and uses them to mulch around summer annuals...
Filling In A Gully On A Sloping Yard
Q: I have a sloping yard that has developed a gully on one side that is hard to mow. I am having a tree removed and wonder if I can fill in with the chips, then cover with dirt and...
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...
