Question: What kind of flowering shrub would you recommend for a sunny, low lying wet area bordering my yard? A Beautiful Plant for Wet Areas One shrub that comes to mind is Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), also known as button ball,…
Question: A friend told me that the Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in my yard is an invasive species and said I should get rid of it. Is that true and why? If so, what are recommended replacement trees? Ailanthus altissima, commonly…
Q: What causes some of my houseplants to develop ‘brown leaf tips’? How do I go about diagnosing the problem? Gardeners’ urge to grow and nurture plants does not recede during the winter’s dark days. The conditions for maintaining plants…
Question: I would like to plant some blackberry and raspberry bushes on my property. Can I plant them together in the same row? What type of soil and fertilizer do they need? Blackberries and raspberries are some of the favorite berries…
Question: How do I recycle Christmas trees and other holiday greens? What other types of recycling should I be thinking about during this season? The holiday season is all about abundance and the joy of giving, but it also generates…
My asparagus plants were planted five years ago, but the spears grow only to the size of a pencil. It’s a male hybrid that doesn’t have seed. Why are the spears so small and how do I ensure an abundant…
Question: I would like to propagate some of my Knock Out patented roses to share with friends. Is this legal, and if so, what’s the best way to do it? Most species of roses require significant time and effort to…
Question: How can I tell if my houseplant needs to be repotted? What symptoms do I look for? How should I repot my houseplant? When the weather turns colder and outside garden cleanup is completed, many gardeners focus their attention…
Question: I want to do research on problems I’ve encountered in my yard and garden. Web searches can be overwhelming. How can I find answers to my gardening questions more easily? Gardeners are always brimming with questions about their home…
Question: I have heard the term “Integrated Pest Management” and think it probably involves environmentally safer methods than treating with chemicals. Does it mean that I have to eliminate all pesticides and other chemical treatments? What is IPM? Let’s start…