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How to grow Knockout Roses and Herbs How to control Leaf Cutter Ants Pine Trees and Customer Service How to put Tourist Farms on the Map How to control Snakes in the Garden
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Questions and Answers:Q. I need a fast growing good quality shade tree. Any Suggestions? A. The fastest growing trees are almost always poor quality with weak branches and short lives. Examples are Arizona Ash, Royal Empress Tree, Mimosa, and Willow. Trees that do well and grow relatively fast are the Mexican White Oak, Shumard Red Oak, Texas Ash, Sweet Gum, and for a large screen, the Leyland Cypress. Q. There are gnats around my house and I suspect they are coming out of my houseplants. How do I get rid of them? A. Fungus gnats live in the top inch of soil where their larva feed on decomposing plant material. Water by putting your plants in a tray or sink so the water soaks up from the bottom and the surface remains dry. Adding a tablespoon or two of horticultural cornmeal to the surface of the soil will wipe them out. Q. I have identified a worm called a planarian. Is it a bad pest? A. Planarians or Flat Worms are slimy brown worms with a head like a hammerhead shark that can be seen on sidewalks or on the side of potted plants after a rain. They are originally from Asia, but have been imported around the world. You might remember them from high school biology class because if you cut them into pieces, each piece will quickly regenerate into a completely new worm. They are not a problem for plants, but they prey on earthworms, which can upset the natural balance of your garden. There is no chemical control available, but their population numbers are generally not a problem in our area. Some types of Flat Worms can grow 10 inches long. Q. My caladiums don't seem to do well after the first year. What can I do so I won't have to replant every year? A. Caladiums are one of those plants that don't come back every year like you expect. Adding bone meal to the soil may help, but replacing every year is your best option. Q. How do I correctly pin on a corsage or boutonniere? A. With one hand behind the corsage and the other holding the stem of the corsage, and flowers facing away from the wearer and toward you, place the corsage at a slight angle on the dress or lapel. This is an average of about 4 inches in from the tip of the left shoulder. Make sure that the corsage is evenly placed on the lapel before attempting to pin it. Use a Corsage Pin to pin into the fabric at the bottom left corner of the stem. Weave the pin back out from under the fabric. Push it through about 1 inch, laying it at an angle over the top of the corsage stem. The pin and stem should look like an X instead of a +. Stick the tip of the pin back into the fabric on the other side of the stem. Insure that the stem is tightly in place with the length of the pin pushing it down. Then, weave the pin back out of the fabric once more. Be sure that the very tip of the pin does not stick out, nor does it poke under the fabric and touch the skin. Repeat this process with the Corsage pin at the top left corner of the stem, just under the heads of the flowers. Two Corsage pins will help to support the weight of heavy flowers on delicate attire. Q. I received some "lucky bamboo" as a gift and it looks bad. How do I perk it up? A. Be sure you change the water every week or so, so algae and slime won't build up. Add a few drops of aquarium plant food or regular plant food at one-tenth the solution strength every two months. Click Here to Ask Me a Gardening Question
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