Posts Tagged ‘mulch’
Azaleas – Fertilizing
Q: Last fall I transplanted a number of mature azaleas. This past spring I fertilized them with cottonseed meal. How often and when should I use this? A: Cottonseed meal makes an excellent fertilizer for azaleas because it acts as...
Plasticulture – Garden Improvements
Q: I read an article about gardeners using plasticulture to triple the yield of their vegetables. How can I use plastic to improve my backyard garden? A: As the word implies, plasticulture is the process of using plastic to increase...
Teddy Bear Magnolia – How to Grow
Q: I recently purchased a Teddy Bear magnolia in a three gallon container. It’s gotten so hot, I wonder if I should keep it in the container or plant it. A: : I think there will be more stress on...
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 promote beneficial insects. I...
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” for winter....
Mushrooms – Fighting the Odor
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. Any advice? A: Stinkhorns are...
Fescue Lawn – Straw Protection
Q: How long I should leave down the straw I put out to protect fescue seed after my annual planting? A: If you used 1 bale of wheat straw per 1000 sq. ft., the mulch is laid so lightly that...
Leave Dcomposition – How to Speed it Up
Q: We have an abundance of hardwoods on five acres. We blow leaves off the driveways 2-3 hours every day into a temporary area but after December 15th we’ll have to move the piles again. Is there something we can...
Mulch – Wheat Straw OK To Use In Vegeatble Garden
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...
Centipede Lawn – New Seeding
Q: Our centipede lawn gets four hours of morning sun. As a result, the grass has started to thin a good bit, with a little help from three kids and two dogs. Recently I seeded with fescue. Any better choices?...
Composting Fruit and Vegetables – OK to Add Paper?
Q: I’ve been composting my fruit and vegetable trimmings and coffee grounds. Can shredded office paper be added to the pile? A: Office paper is fine to compost as long as you can deal with the practical matter of its...
Young Trees – Roots Growing in Mulch
Q: To make the base of our young trees look pretty we decided to add fresh mulch, cutting a circle six feet in diameter and two inches deep around the mulch bed to make it look professional. To our surprise...
Azaleas – Ground Up Leaves as Mulch
Q: I would like to know if it would be harmful to put ground up tree leaves around my azaleas? My city gives away leaves they have picked up. Do you think it is safe? A: When leaves are picked...
Mulch – Reusing
Q: You suggest that we replace all mulch under roses. Can we reuse the old mulch elsewhere? We’ve got a ton of hardwood mulch under our roses and I can’t imagine throwing all that away. A: I like your recycling...
Cocoa Mulch – Where to Buy
Q: Do you know where I can buy cocoa mulch in Atlanta? A: I don’t know of a place locally, we’re too far away from sources in the Northeast. Shipping the shells down here is too expensive compared to locally...
Pine Needles – Excessive Acidity
Q: After reading your answer to the question about leaving pine needles on the lawn last week, I’m still confused. I understand about not letting them make a mat on the grass but what about the acidity they produce? A:...
Pine Needles – Leaving on Grass
Q: I have been good about raking my pine needles, until recently but I’d love to just leave them on the grass. My friend thinks pine needles will kill the grass. Is it okay just to leave the needles down...
Juniper – Shade?
Q: A row of ‘Bradford’ pears once provided shade halfway down a bank on which juniper was planted. Now the pears have been reduced in size. The juniper roots start high up the bank but the foliage doesn’t appear until...
