“Parents are not interested in justice. They are interested in quiet.” – Bill Cosby
“We had a quicksand box in our backyard. I was an only child, eventually.” -- Steven Wright
“Adults are obsolete children.” – Dr. Seuss
“The most important time you can spend in the garden is the time you spend not gardening.” – Paul James
“You have to live life to love life, and you have to love life to live life. It’s a vicious circle.” -- Unknown
”In spite of the cost of living, it’s still popular.” – Kathleen Norris
THE GARDENER GUY’S Q&A

When I do personal appearances, the format is a simple Q&A. It’s more like a cheesy nightclub act than a traditional gardening lecture. But I like hearing what concerns gardeners most, and I like interacting with the audience. So here’s the online version of my live act. And by the way, the questions are pulled from emails you provide, so keep them coming. Just go to the “Comments / Contact Us” tab. I’ll update this page weekly.


Archive Q and A
Q&A UPDATE For March 2010
Sorry for the delay in responding to questions. I’ll try to be more prompt in the future. And by the way, folks, please remember to tell me where you garden (city or state or at least USDA Zone). Otherwise, I may not be able to accurately answer your question.

Thanks for all the comments and questions. The comments were especially gratifying because they included so many kind words from folks who have been fans of my show for years (and are now very pissed off at HGTV for no longer airing the show). It’s incredibly heartwarming to read stories from people whose lives I’ve touched in some small way. And I love it when people say they got started gardening as a result of watching me do my thing on television.

So, thanks again to all of you. And by the way, if you’re new to the website, don’t forget to check the archives. You may find that your question has already been asked and answered.

Rose Parade and GBTY DVDs

New Year’s Day my inbox was loaded with comments concerning my absence at this year’s Rose Parade. Well, you see in addition to canceling my show, HGTV also decided it was time to replace me as a host of the Parade. I’m beginning to feel as though networks are convinced that I’m too old. Whatever the reason, I must admit that I enjoyed ringing in the New Year at home with my family and friends for the first time in 10 years. And despite my age, I’m proud to say that I managed to stay up well past midnight.

I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about “Gardening by the Yard” being available on DVD. Unfortunately, HGTV actually owns the shows, and although I’ve discussed with them the possibility of a joint venture in which I would package and distribute the show on DVD, they want such a large percentage of the profits that the project isn’t economically feasible for me. Why they don’t produce the DVDs themselves is anybody’s guess.
Tomato Blight Blues

Linda in Connecticut had a problem with blight attacking her tomatoes last year, and wants to know if growing tomatoes in containers this year will solve the problem.

It should, but there’s no guarantee. A number of blights and wilts, both bacterial and fungal, attack tomatoes. Some are more prevalent in spring, especially during periods of cool, rainy weather, while others appear during the summer.

Your best defense against two of the most common forms of wilt, namely Verticillium and Fusarium, is to buy resistant cultivars. Check the plant tag or seed packet for the letters V and F, which indicate that the plant is resistance (though not immune). 

Early and late blight are extremely difficult to control. There are some resistant cultivars, but the choices are limited. You’ve actually hit on the best solution by considering the switch to containers. The pathogens responsible for blight can overwinter in garden soil, so by growing your tomatoes in a sterilized potting mix, you may well be successful this year in getting some good, homegrown tomatoes. Good luck.

Oh, and as for the biting ants in your garden soil, just sprinkle a little boric acid along the ant trails or near the entrance to the nest if you can spot it. Boric acid, which you can buy at pharmacies and hardware stores, is only mildly toxic, and it does a great job of getting rid of ants.
Compost Spreader

Mike in Coventry, CT, has written more than once asking about where he can get his hands on a compost spreader.

Well, Mike, I did a search using the key words “compost spreader” and got a ton of hits. There were conventional broadcast spreaders with large hoppers, drum models that you push across the lawn, larger models that you can mount to a riding mower or ATV, even some that you hitch to horses. Prices ranged from $150 to $500 and more. I have no idea which you would prefer or what your budget is, but there are certainly a lot of choices out there.
Mangling a Magnolia

Sheryl wants to prune the lower branches of one of her Magnolia trees, and wonders if doing so will harm the tree.

The process of removing the lower branches of a tree is called “limbing up,” and it’s perfectly okay to do just that. However, the one tree I don’t like to limb up is the Magnolia, and for two reasons. For one thing, it destroys the tree’s natural shape. And for another, it makes all those thick, leathery leaves that fall from the tree more visible. When left intact, the lower branches tend to hide the leaves. But if the branches make it difficult to work or mow around the tree, then feel free to remove them. And you can do so any time of the year. Just make sure you don’t cut the branches flush to the trunk. Instead, leave what’s known as a branch collar, a section of branch that extends roughly one-half inch out from the trunk. That will enable the cut to “heal” properly.
Camellia on the Move

Robin in Cochran, GA, wants to know when is a good time to move a Camellia.

How ‘bout tomorrow, Robin? Truth is, you can move a Camellia pretty much any time during the year, although I wouldn’t try it during the summer months in Georgia. You didn’t mention when it bloomed, but you might consider waiting until after it blooms to make the move. Also, be sure to check the pH of the soil at the new planting site. Camellias need acidic soil, on the order of pH 6. Soil sulfur works well for lowering the pH. Limestone is ideal for raising it.
Leggy Lantana

Beth in Sherman, TX, has leggy Lantana, and wants to know how to correct the situation.

Just cut back the new growth in spring to encourage bushier plants, Beth. Cut again a few weeks later if you like. Consider wearing gloves, however, because the sap from Lantana can cause skin irritations
Bird of Paradise

Joyce in Aiken County, SC, asks whether the Bird of Paradise plants she has growing in containers indoors would survive the winter in the ground. She also asks whether her “Bird” can be divided.

The answer to the first question, Joyce, is no. Bird of Paradise (genus Strelitzia) aren’t hardy in your Zone 8 neck of the woods. They’re rated as a Zone 10 tropical. That’s the bed news. The good news is that the answer to your second question is yes. Birds can be divided, ideally this month. Just dig up the plants and use a sharp knife to separate them into two or four new ones.
Fruit Flies

Dru of Ann Arbor, MI, has a problem with fruit flies in his houseplants. Sorry, dude. Fruit flies can be a pain, but you mentioned that one of your plants – the one that has a layer of sand on top of the potting mix – isn’t affected, and therein lays one solution: Top the mix on the rest of your houseplants with a light layer of sand. Fruit flies don’t like to burrow into sand. You might also consider buying a fruit fly trap at www.gardeners.com.

As for using Neem as a control, given your wife’s allergies to nuts, all I can say is that the seed of the Neem tree is botanically a drupe and not a nut, so chances are she wouldn’t be allergic to it. However, I leave that decision up to you.
Golden Chain Tree Trials and Tribulations

Tracy in Ohio is determined to grow a Golden Chain Tree, but so far she’s planted three and all of them have died.

The Golden Chain Tree (genus Laburnum) is hardy to Zone 5a, so that’s not an issue. It’s also tolerant of most soils, is fairly drought tolerant, and is bothered by few pests or diseases. In other words, it’s ordinarily a fairly easy tree to grow, even in containers.

The planting process you described was ideal, so I can only guess at what the problem is: poor drainage. The next time you plant, consider leaving as much as one-third of the rootball above grade, topping the exposed portion with a thick layer of mulch.
Heating Compost in Winter

Caroline (a Jersey girl) has a novel idea. She wants to install a small heater or heat mat to her compost tumbler so that the process of decomposition doesn’t slow down in the middle of winter.

Well, Caroline, kudos to you for originality. In theory, providing supplemental heat to your compost would create an environment in which microbial activity would continue, but I’ve never tried it. I suggest you give it a go and let us know how it works.
Pencil Cactus

Angie of Ellenwood, GA, is growing a pencil cactus. It’s a bit bare at the base and she’s wondering how to make it bushier.

It’s pretty simply, Angie. Just take cuttings from the plant and root them in moist perlite, vermiculite, sand, or potting mix. They root pretty quickly, as in within a few weeks. Then plant the rooted cuttings at the base of the mother plant.

A word of caution: the pencil cactus isn’t a cactus at all. It’s a member of the genus Euphorbia, and the sap it exudes when cut can cause severe allergic reactions that in some cases require a trip to the emergency room. So, wear gloves and be careful not to get the sap on your skin or in your eyes.
Powdery Mildew in Potting Mix

Poor Max. It seems his potting mix is infected with the spores of powdery mildew, a fungus that attacks numerous plants.

My advice? Got milk? Head straight for the refrigerator and get some milk. Combine one part milk (skim is best) with nine parts water and spray the surface of the potting mix as well as plant leaves with the solution. Continue spraying every three to four days until the fungus disappears. (Two sprayings should do it.)

The use of milk as a fungicide isn’t all that new. My grandfather used it on squash and cucumber plants to control powdery mildew, and recent research has confirmed its effectiveness.
No Newberries

Jimmy says his grandmother used to grow a type of fruit that was similar to a strawberry but, according to her, was instead a newberry He wants to know if I have any idea what the fruit actually was.

Sorry, Jimmy, but my guess is your grandmother simply referred to a particular type of strawberry as a newberry, since to my knowledge there is no such fruit. There was a fruit candy made by the Meltis Company that was popular many years ago. Are you sure she wasn’t just pulling your leg by pretending to harvest the Newberry candy from her garden?
Contorted Cannas

Lori in Nashville has a problem with her cannas – the leaves roll up!

Your cannas are being invaded by the canna leaf roller, and the problem is actually quite common. A small, nondescript brown moth lays her eggs on the leaves of the canna, and once the eggs hatch they develop into small caterpillars that roll the leaves up so they can feed on them in relative comfort.

The solution is simple enough. Just get a spray formulation of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), which is available at nurseries and garden centers. Spray just as the leaves begin to roll, and within 48 hours the caterpillars inside will die. Bt is nontoxic, and won’t harm anything other critters.
Cool Conifer for Kids

Todd writes from Texas to inquire about a cool conifer he could plant in a children’s garden.

I suggest you try one of several snake spruces, such as Picea abies ‘Virgata’ or ‘Cobra.’ They should do fine in your area, and they’re very cool. The get their name from the fact that the branches extend outward from the trunk in curving, snakelike patterns. Very often the branches are almost bear, except for clusters of needles at the ends.
Doggie Doo Septic Systems

Susan and Pamela asked about a septic system I installed for dog poop.

First let me say that there are several such septic systems available online for less than $50. The one I made consisted of a five-gallon plastic bucket with a tight-fitting lid. I drilled several drainage holes in the bottom of the bucket. I then dug a hole slightly wider and deeper than the bucket, filled the hole with roughly four inches of gravel, and set the bucket on top of the gravel.

Each time I go on “Tootsie Roll Patrol,” I put the droppings in the bucket and secure the lid. Once a week or so I add some bacteria (Rid-X, which is used in human septic systems works well, and it’s available at the grocery store), plus a cupful or so of water. Keep in mind the fact that the waste breaks down much faster in warmer weather, and may seem to just sit there during the winter.
Confounded Cats

Russell from White Lake, MI, likes to grow plants from seed, but he can’t seem to keep his cats from wreaking havoc on his seedlings.

Well, Russell, here’s what you can do. Place a small container (or containers) full of vinegar near your seedlings. Cats can’t stand the smell of vinegar. But don’t let the vinegar come in contact with the seedlings or it’ll kill them. (Vinegar is an herbicide.) Alternatively, place citrus fruit peelings around or near the seedlings. Cats can’t stand the smell of citrus either.
Leggy Tomatoes

Someone with no name starts his or her tomatoes from seed, but they get leggy shortly after germinating and flop over. He or she wants to know how to correct the problem.

In a word – light! Growing from seed is a great way to garden, but seedlings need a lot more light than most folks realize. Inexpensive fluorescent bulbs work well (you don’t need to spend the big bucks on special plant bulbs), but the bulbs need to be no more than four inches away from the seedlings. And the lights need to be left on for between 14 and 16 hours a day. Do that, and you’ll have stocky seedlings galore.
Wasps!

Conrad claims his birdhouses are being invaded by wasps. Is there an all-natural control, he asks?

Yes, there is. Wasps are extremely territorial, and typically won’t nest within 200 feet of another nest. So if you hang one or more fake wasp nests near your birdhouses, your problem should go away.

You can get the fake wasp nests at www.gardeners.com. However, because they’re made of paper, try to hang them such that they aren’t too exposed to rain. Having used the gizmos myself, I can tell you that they work. And I like them better than traps that actually kill wasps. After all, wasps prey on a number of pests that also prey on plants.
Salt and Snow

Andrea lives in South Milwaukee, and is concerned about the effect all the salt the city uses on snow-covered streets has on her plants, since after the salt has been applied the snow plows push mounds of salt-laden snow into her yard.

There’s no doubt that too much salt is bad for plants. In fact, it can kill them outright, and fairly quickly. Unfortunately, the only effective way to counter the effects of salt buildup is to water often to leach the salt out of the soil. And in the dead of winter, with snow piled several feet high, that’s pretty much impossible. But once the snow melts, get out the hose and water well.
Composted Cotton Burrs

Mike in Cleveland thought he heard me refer to a bagged soil amendment as cotton “bursts.” Actually, Mike, I said cotton burrs, which are one of the byproducts of the cotton ginning industry. The cotton burrs make a decent soil amendment, but since cotton growers often rely on synthetic chemicals (often heavily), check the label to see if the cotton was grown organically.