Ask a Question, Get an Answer

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April 13th, 2007

I’m not a master gardener, but I’d like to be one day, and of what I know, I think I know a great deal.

Anyways, in checking the statistics for this blog I noticed many people visit here looking for answers to specific questions, questions that may not have been answered already in the blog. If you’re one of these people, you can ask me a question and I’ll do my best to answer it.

Simply visit the forums and register. You’ll need to confirm your email address, that means you’ll get an email with an activation code or link that you’ll have to use. The activation email may get blocked by a spam filter, so be sure to look in your junk mail folder for it if you cannot find it, it should arrive in 5 minutes or less after you register. Once you have registered you can find the most appropriate subforum for your question, such as Landscape Design or Edible Gardening, and then look for the “New Thread” button to post your question.

If your question is about any plant I grow, I’ll probably know the answer. If your question is about a plant I don’t grow, I might know it, or I’ll try to find it. I know I won’t be able to answer every question, but I hope I can answer most.

Related posts:

  1. Welcome
  2. Introducing: Wildcrafting

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60 Responses to “Ask a Question, Get an Answer”

  1. starr Foster  Says:
    April 18th, 2007 at 7:55 pm

    don’t know if I am in the right place, but it’s a very nice web site! I’m not a blogger so I don’t know very much about this. If possible, can you spread the word?
    i’d like people to know about the symposium “Invasives 101: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, from 9:00 – 3:00 on Saturday, April 28, 2007, at the MSU Conference Center in Troy, MI. Speakers from the Nature Conservancy will tell how to identify and control 15 of the worst invasive plants in Michigan. (Of course this depends on climate and soil conditions, among other things.) You can go the web page to find out all about it.

    /Users/starr/Desktop/Invasives 101 webpage Final.pdf

    Thank you very much!

    Starr Foster

  2. paula hansen  Says:
    April 25th, 2007 at 6:58 am

    What kind of nutrientsdo you put in an above ground garden with mulch and grow mix?

  3. Patricia Heckman  Says:
    October 8th, 2007 at 8:59 pm

    I have been given several spring bulbs. I do not know what they are. where would I go to find out what they are?

  4. Administrator  Says:
    October 9th, 2007 at 6:17 am

    Post pictures in the forum here:

    http://www.gardeningforums.net/

    And I’d be happy to identify them.

  5. first time grower  Says:
    January 30th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    When the corn had finished should i pull the corn plant out of the ground or should i leave it there for next year to start growing again

  6. lois  Says:
    April 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    I have a plant that looks like a lamium but it has yellow flowers, what is it?

  7. Jan  Says:
    May 25th, 2008 at 5:54 am

    I live in an apartment complex that a few years back had a small tree in my front yard that was cut down. The stump was never removed and stands about 8 inches inches high. The owner shows no interest in removing it. It is approximatley 20″ in diameter and is such an eyesor and quite obviously a hazard of sorts. Is there anything that I can do with it to help hide this eye sore? I appreciate any and all ideas!

  8. Administrator  Says:
    May 25th, 2008 at 7:28 am

    There are chemicals/things you can sprinkle on stumps to remove them. But they work slowly.

    The one sure fire way, other than dynamite or burning it out, is to get someone with a stump grinder to come and take care of it, but they usually charge a couple hundred.

    If your goal is merely to perhaps make it less of a trip hazard, get a large flower pot and stick it on top of it, then you can plant things inside of it.

  9. tammy  Says:
    May 31st, 2008 at 9:33 am

    we have rec’d about 6in of rain in the last few days. my tomato plants have now turn yellow . what can I do?

    thankyou

  10. Pat Spears  Says:
    June 15th, 2008 at 11:11 am

    Do you know of an easy way to eliminate common green liropie?

  11. J.J.Alan  Says:
    July 28th, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    Do you know how to get rid of insects from my roses?

  12. Anette Sederquist  Says:
    August 8th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    I planted big boy tomatoes last May and have the prettiest green healthy plants with no blooms or fruit. I have feed them and added new top soil. I have grown tomatoes for years and never had this issue.

  13. Rowean  Says:
    February 14th, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    My raspberries have escaped and are growing all over the place (my husband was ill and we were not home for two years). How do I get kill them?

  14. susan Mcleary  Says:
    February 17th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

    Hello,

    I am a florist with a mint patch in my backyard that I’d like to encourage. I love to use mint in my arrangements, but last year after 5 years of hearty, deep green tall mint, it’s turned weak and leggy. Do you have any recommendations?

  15. Joseph Landry  Says:
    March 7th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    You mention putting a two liter bottle over the tomato plant on cold night by cutting the bottom of the bottle. My question is do you leave the cap on the bottle or not. thank you

  16. Joe Landry  Says:
    March 9th, 2009 at 8:22 am

    to Anette Sederquist
    Last year was the worst summer to grow tomatoes, we just had to much rain and for that reason the Bees don’t fly in the rain to pollinate, and even if you had a couple of sunny days the rain wash off any pollen that could have been on the plant.

  17. Administrator  Says:
    March 10th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    To Rowean,

    Raspberries are very hardy, this is the benefit of growing them. If you want to bring them back in bounds, you can smother the area for 6 feet around their patch with heavy duty landscape fabric or some other barrier to completely blot out the sun. Then, dig a ditch around them or otherwise bury a barrier 12 inches deep to keep them from spreading again.

    I’ve got mine planted in drain culverts (search this blog for raspberries) to keep them inbounds.

    If you don’t want to kill them that way, use Roundup. But you’ll need multiple applications, they really are quite hardy.

  18. Joyce Neudigate  Says:
    April 7th, 2009 at 11:52 am

    I have a pear tree appx. 13 years old. I live in NC and we are expected to have a late freeze. It has already blossomed and I shoudl have lots of pears this year. How do I protect it from freezing tonight? This happened once before but it hadn’t bloomed yeat but I still didn’t get any fruit that year.

    Thank you for your quick response, Joyce

  19. Administrator  Says:
    April 7th, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    The tree is pretty big huh?

    In vineyards they put out gas heaters that burn all night.

    You could also toss plastic sheeting over it if you can reach. Or erect a wall on the windward side of it to shelter it some that way.

    But with a big tree, most of those are impractical, and so you just gotta curse nature and deal with it.

  20. Jane  Says:
    April 20th, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    How do you get rid of patches of moss in the yard?

  21. Molly  Says:
    April 20th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    I have a tall hedge of ligustrum japonica. I have a terrible time growing things next to it or underneath it. Have been trying to solve this for 10 years. Does it poison other plants, or is the root system so dense it sucks up the nutrition and water? Plants under it just fail to thrive despite water and feeding. Is there a solution?

  22. Administrator  Says:
    April 21st, 2009 at 9:16 am

    Jane, moss is a very hard plant to grow, it needs very specific circumstances. Acidic soil, shade, and moisture.

    Your yard is either too wet, too shady, or too acidic, or all of the above. Correct one or two of those issues should solve your moss problem.

    Garden lime will raise the soil ph, cutting back trees can reduce shade, and improving drainage will prevent moisture buildup.

  23. Administrator  Says:
    April 21st, 2009 at 9:17 am

    You can also use ash from burned (untreated, unstained, un painted) wood to raise your soil PH. Have a bonfire and save the wood ash and scatter it in your yard.

  24. Administrator  Says:
    April 21st, 2009 at 9:19 am

    Molly, sorry but I do not grow that plant and have no experience with it. Obviously though, make sure the things you plant beneath don’t need sun.

  25. Wendy  Says:
    April 22nd, 2009 at 9:43 am

    I have been growing cherry tomatos in my Aerogarden for about 7 weeks. I went away on vacation for 2 weeks but left instructions for watering and nutrients. When I came home the water level was down 8 cups and I was told the nutrients had been added. On most if not all the leaves there were hazey white spots and the plants appeared sick. Can anyone tell me what this is and how to avoid it in the future and how to help my plants get healthy again? Could this been a result of the nutrients not being added? Or is this from the water level being quite low? Or something else? Please help. Wendy cocoplum171@yahoo.com

  26. Glenn  Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 10:22 am

    I read your article on growing potatoes in garbage cans. What else could you grow in garbage cans?

  27. Sally Wehbey  Says:
    May 4th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    I want to plant the barberry as a foundation plant which one should I buy. So many varieties, I like the crimson color, but neet something that will grow higher than 2 feet. Help.

  28. Administrator  Says:
    May 4th, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Most barberries unless they are listed as a dwarf variety will grow taller than two feet. My biggest is 7 feet. I’ve gotten them on clearance at Lowes before (in the fall) for $2.50 (5 foot plant)

    I chopped one down and because the roots were established it bounced back to 3 or 4 feet the first year.

  29. Kathy  Says:
    May 8th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    Paul – My blue dracaena spike turned brown after i trimmed it. why? what did i do wrong?……Kathy

  30. Susan Glasgow  Says:
    May 10th, 2009 at 6:10 am

    Hey don’t cancel the show! Hey I just discovered some months ago it was moved to early Sunday morning here in Louisville.
    Since the icestorm here, I had two trees removed,what trees can I plant that don’t get too tall? The water maples that I had were pretty, but too tall.

  31. Theresa Devine  Says:
    May 15th, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    I live in Pensacola FL. Found a flower growing in my yard and no one seems to know what it is, help. tuber, 2 to 4 dagger shaped leaves at the base, thin stalk about 6″ to 10″ a single line of white statice like flowers that grow in a spiral about 1″ or 2″. Has a slight cedar fragrance.

  32. Administrator  Says:
    May 15th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    maybe post a picture in our forums Theresa?

  33. Marite Tweeddale  Says:
    June 9th, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    Is cocoa been mulch acidic or alkaline?

  34. Renee Steele  Says:
    June 12th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Can you water the roots of a freshly transplanted plant with root stimulator mix in water to help it get a head start?

  35. Administrator  Says:
    June 12th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    Yes, but I’d prefer to dust the roots with a root hormone powder.

  36. cj  Says:
    July 2nd, 2009 at 11:27 am

    First time blogger…..partner is the vegetable garden genius……I’m hoping to get a flower area going….veg. garden surrounded by 6 ft fence and I want to plant the flowers on the outside of the fence…..partner’s only concern is that possible pollent, etc. would be detrimental to the vegetables. Can anyone give me advice re. this matter. Peonies will be another plant involved. Many thanks.

  37. bert glenn  Says:
    July 2nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    I have a new black leaf elderberry and I find it needs more sun, is it safe to replant it now or should I wait?

    Thank you
    Bert Glenn

  38. R. Johnston  Says:
    July 4th, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    Are you familiar with plant micronutrients and their importance? As a business owner I am finding that many novices do not understand the importance of Micro’s in addition to the standard N-P-K Fertilizing they do… Any insight on how to start educating and providing the literature for such a movement?

  39. Ms Beaman  Says:
    July 8th, 2009 at 3:11 am

    is it ok to plant maincrop potatoes in mid july? will they need protecting in any way?

  40. Ashley  Says:
    July 8th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

    My husband and I have a stone walkway (with little pebbles) in our back yard. It looks great, except when it’s full of weeds. We spend ALOT of time pulling weeds from it, but they grow back within a week. What can we do to prevent the weeds from coming back?

  41. Administrator  Says:
    July 9th, 2009 at 6:31 am

    You need an “Edging” chemical.

    Some are made from petroleum distallates, you pour it over the area and nothing will grow there.

    Or you can get a bag of rock salt and spread that there.

    Note, with either, if there are tree or other shrub roots under the path you risk damaging that tree.

  42. Dianne Eppich  Says:
    July 26th, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    Hi Paul, I hope this gets to you. I just found out tonite that your show maybe canceled. Oh I sincerely hope not. I have been enjoying your show for years. My father was a master gardener and horticulturalist. He was just as entertaining as you. I hope somehow that some chance of fate that your show will continue. I did respond to a blog to save your show. I hope we all can save the show. Best regards and good luck!!!!!!!!

  43. randy cromer  Says:
    August 18th, 2009 at 9:47 am

    dear paul i was very sad to hear that your show may be canceled.i get up every sunday morning early towatch you have been very helpful.in my garden iwant to thank you and wish you the very best of luck..

  44. Rosemary  Says:
    October 14th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    I wish you would show how to sharpen small garden cutting tools, you always show the large things, those are easy, you need special sharpeners for small cutters, where can you buy something like that.

  45. Michael Leer  Says:
    November 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    I’m looking for a list of desert like and or cactus like plants that can thrive in harsh winters and hot summers of North Central Ks.
    Mike Leer

  46. Administrator  Says:
    November 22nd, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    yucca, sedum, ice plants, and hens & chicks all apply.

  47. Administrator  Says:
    November 22nd, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    maybe euphorbia too, I’m not sure what zone you are. Plantdelights.com is a good mail order nursery if you’re looking for tropicals/desert plants for a cooler climate, really good selection. Some hardy agave too.

  48. Carol Ortiz  Says:
    February 9th, 2010 at 9:27 pm

    Does anyone know if there is a magical website that if you put in the size of your garden and what you’d like grow it will map out where everything should go?

  49. Jeanne Schlumbohm  Says:
    March 10th, 2010 at 7:12 am

    Hi,
    I was wanting to build a raised bed vegetable garden. I have a lot of old barn wood and want to coat the wood with something to keep it from rotting. My hubby suggested to use some tar type stuff he water proofed the basement blocks with. However, I’m not sure that would be safe and non-toxic. What would you suggest?

  50. mike urban  Says:
    March 17th, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    I wonder if anyone out there is doing any spring tests this year with biochar or agricultural charcoal on common annuals, perennials, vegetables or lawns. If so, I would like to know who may be doing what tests. If anyone has results from testing done last year, I’d like to know that too.

  51. John Geer  Says:
    March 21st, 2010 at 11:22 am

    What can I use as a privacy screen that will groe to 8′? I have previously used oleander, I would like to try Red Tip Photinia but have heard they are prone to fungus. Do you have any suggestions.

  52. Hilary Armstrong  Says:
    April 12th, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    Our banana trees froze after 5 nights of mid-20s in New Orleans. They haven’t shown signs of coming back. Should I dig them up?

  53. monica bendele  Says:
    April 13th, 2010 at 7:13 pm

    I have some hyacinth, and other early spring bulbs that I forgot to plant last year. What will happen if I put them in the ground, now?
    Boulder, Co

  54. Tina  Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 11:33 am

    Our neighborhood has been infested with horrible mildew and aphids. Euyonomis’ have been hit the hardest even well established one. Does anyone have an non convential way of treating this? We have tried all the convential treatments.

  55. Administrator  Says:
    May 26th, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    Mildew is a fungus, Aphids are a bug. Two different issues.

    I will address the aphids, they are a soft bodied insect, very very susceptible to predators (ladybugs, wasps), and pesticides.

    Consider dusting the plants affected with diatamaceous earth (I probably mispelled it). It is a rock dust harmless to us big creatures, but like razor blades to soft small bugs.

  56. Tina  Says:
    May 28th, 2010 at 11:15 am

    Thanks for the advice for the aphids. I was wondering if anyone has been infested with a bug that leaves a mildewy/sticky residue. I have tried spraying with water, dusting, chemical sprays, systemic treatments and spraying with chemicals as well to no avail. None have worked.
    Usually one treatment or another will work on the average bugs. These are bulletproof so far.

  57. Administrator  Says:
    May 28th, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    APhids can leave what is called honeydew on the leaves, Ants like to eat it. So you will sometimes see Ants literally farming aphids like humans do cows, seriously. Mother nature.

  58. Ashley Hofferth  Says:
    June 9th, 2010 at 8:47 am

    Hello,

    I’ve recently aquired an American Plum sappling. I promply planted it. Since it’s been so warm & wet, it’s growing like crazy. This morning I found it had fallen over from being too top heavy. It’s roots are still in the ground & nothing broke off (since it’s so young & flexible). This little guy is probably about 1.5 feet tall.

    My question is: Should I stake the new tree to give it some support while it matures? If so, what sort of materials are good to promote a healthy trunk & root system for its early beginning?

    Thank you for your time,

    Ashley

  59. arus  Says:
    June 12th, 2010 at 10:38 pm

    I planted sweet basil seeds in a cheap potting soil in a 10″ terracotta container indoors in a balcony four weeks back. The seedlings are about 1″ now. I had fertilized them with an organic fish emulsion fertilizer once around 2.5 weeks after I planted them. I also check the drainage and watering and do not overwater and do not let the soil dry out. It receives around 6 hours of direct sunlight everyday. I can see a yellow shade at the base of a few leaves. I read about planting basil and found that it needs a nutrient-rich soil. I feel this might be the reason of the yellowness in the leaves. I would like to change the potting soil but not sure how should I go about it. I would be very grateful if you could help.

  60. Administrator  Says:
    June 15th, 2010 at 10:51 am

    Being so small you may be overreacting, but yellowing can be a nitrogen deficiency.

    Also, basil really likes sun, so if you can increase the hours of full sun that would be beneficial.

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