Posts Tagged ‘mulch’
Tree Cutting – Stumps
Q: I have two trees in my front yard that will be cut down. I am not sure whether to leave a stump or not. If I decide to leave stumps, how tall should the stumps be? A: Folks usually...
Bermudagrass – Mowing
Q: I see where your lawn care calendar recommends a last cutting of bermudagrass in late October. But lots of leaves blow onto my lawn in November and I usually mulch them away with my mower. Will that activity be...
Hydrangea – Several plants
Q: Is it possible to dig up a hydrangea and divide it into three our four other plants. Mine is rather large, about two feet around at the base. A: Since your hydrangea is a woody plant, it normally does...
Cypress mulch – Roses
Q: Is cypress mulch good for roses? Would it have any bad effects? A: Cypress mulch won’t hurt your roses but I hope you won’t buy any more of it. One of the causes of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina...
Zoysia – Overseed
Q: My turf care company told me that I need to overseed the thin zoysia in my shady back yard with zoysiagrass seed. Does this make sense? A: If the thin areas are bare enough that you won’t worry about...
Golf course – Tree planting
Q: I volunteer for a disc golf course. We would like to plant some trees in the park’s big open fields, a former cow pasture with red clay soil. What trees do well in that environment? A: I think some...
School garden – Rain barrels
Q: My daughter’s school is trying to establish a community garden. Are rain barrels an option for a school building? A: Rain barrels are perfectly suited for a school once you get permission to cut into the gutters or drain...
Wheat Sprouting in Fescue Lawn
Q: I planted seed three weeks ago. The grass has come up nicely but there are some tall sprouts that are twice as big as the rest of the grass. What are they? A: Did you use wheat straw to...
River birch – Dropping Leaves
Q: We have a birch tree in the front yard which I think has exceeded its water resources. I have to rake every other week to prevent the brown dry leaves that fall in that period from blowing into the...
Cottonseed Meal – Azaleas
Q: I know you recommend cottonseed meal to feed azaleas. I need to know when and how much to put around each plant. Joan Brown, email A: I like cottonseed meal because it provides slow, consistent feeding over several months....
Sugar Maple – Planted Too Deep
Q: Could you please give me your opinion on a problem I’m having with my Sugar Maple? I planted it about 21 years ago and I’m having a problem with the bark splitting and coming off near the bottom of...
Wheat Straw – Garden Mulch
Q: I am a greenhorn gardener with a quick question about mulch. Is it ok to use wheat straw in my vegetable garden? A: Wheat straw is an excellent mulch. I use it myself to attract harmless spiders because they...
Strawberries – Protecting Against Bugs
Q: I have little bugs eating all my strawberries. When I disturb them they roll up into a ball. A: Sowbugs (roly-polies) are not usually a pest but they can be a problem on soft fruit that is close to...
Cottonseed Meal for Azaleas – How Much to Use
Q: I know you recommend cottonseed meal to feed azaleas. I need to know when and how much to put around each plant. A: I like cottonseed meal because it provides slow, consistent feeding over several months. Rake away mulch...
Mulch for Vegetable Gardens
Q: We keep a large vegetable garden but we have little time for weeding. What would be a good mulch? A: Pine straw makes a fine mulch; it does not acidify the soil. You could used shredded leaves if you...
Leyland Cypress – Fertilizing
Q: I have twenty Leyland cypress, twelve feet tall. When do I fertilize and what do I use? A: The first question to ask is if the Leylands actually need fertilizing. Do you want them to grow much over twelve...
Shrub Fertilization
Q: I have a lot of shrubs on my property, mostly holly, nandina and conifers. Most are over five years old and are fertilized each year. Would skipping a year be a mistake? A: If established shrubs are mulched, they...
Earwigs – Getting Rid of Them
Q: How can I rid my yard of earwigs? They are at my house by the thousands. A: Earwigs mostly feed on plant debris but if numbers build large enough they will consume living plants. The damage isn’t considered major,...
