By Bev Tavener, Piedmont Master Gardener Intern Question: My lawn area is generally pretty lush, but under my big oak, the grass is not growing well. I have fertilized the area with no improvement. What should I try doing? The…
By Carla Throckmorton, Piedmont Master Gardener Intern Question: I have been told to avoid the use of “neonicotinoids”. How can I tell if my rose care product has this pesticide? How long does the effect last if the plant was…
Question: I don’t have a green thumb. What easy care houseplants can you recommend? I’d like to have some showy ones. How do I keep them healthy? By Emily Douglas and Marilyn Keller, Piedmont Master Gardener Interns Raising and caring…
Question: Whenever it rains, water pools in low spots in my yard. How can I fix the problem myself inexpensively and not have runoff possibly pollute local streams? Water that pools in yards can be a problem for many reasons….
Question: I have Nandina in several of my garden beds. Is it an invasive plant and if it is, how do I control it? What are some alternative plants with berries? Nandina domestica, also called heavenly or sacred bamboo, was…
Question: How do I choose the right rain gauge so I know when my garden and landscape need water? Climate change is bringing us periods of drought and periods of more excessive rainfalls as well as higher temperatures. Heat stress…
Question: How do I tell moles from voles and determine which of these pests is damaging my lawn or garden? Moles and voles are often confused with each other but their appearance, diet and behavior are quite different. Adult moles…
Question: I need to mulch my vegetable garden. What is the difference between straw and hay? This is a frequently asked question, as folks tend to “intertwine” the two names loosely. They’ll say, “We’re going on a hayride,” when in…
Question: I’ve heard that pruning oaks in spring and summer is not recommended. Why? Pruning oak trees during the growing season exposes them to a high probability of contracting oak wilt. Caused by a fungus (Bretziella fagacearum), oak wilt disease…
Question: The burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a bush of choice in many neighborhoods. I’ve heard that I shouldn’t plant it because it’s invasive. Why and what are some alternatives? With its striking bright red or purplish fall foliage, red…