User Name
Password
 |
|
       |
How to grow Knockout Roses and Herbs How to control Leaf Cutter Ants Pine Trees and Customer Service |
Questions and Answers:Q. When I try to order floral arrangements for my wife on-line I find that several out-of- town companies claim to be local florists. How can I tell if the company I order from is legitimate? A. Many websites that claim to represent local florists are located in other places, including overseas. Most of them are simply order gatherers who receive a small fee from the expensive wire services. There is no guarantee how the flowers will be delivered, in what condition they'll be in once they get there, or if the flowers you saw in the picture on the Internet will be the same flowers or colors that your ordered. Most floral websites contain a disclaimer that says they can send what's available as long as they stay with the "overall theme" of the order. That is a legalized way to rip off the customer and it's done every day. Ordering floral arrangements from the Internet is an easy way to pay a lot for a little. Find a local florist on the Internet these days by typing in the name of the town, state and the word florist. For example, "Rockdale Texas Florist." Call the number provided on the website to place your order rather than placing the order on the Internet. That way you can find out if the florist is local, find out flower availability, and talk to someone who will take responsibility for your order rather than an operator and avoid extra fees and higher prices. Q. I always mulch my plants thickly and I've got mushrooms growing out of it from all the damp weather. Is that OK? A. Mulching thickly around plants is always recommended in Central Texas to hold in moisture and control weeds but it can be overdone. The problem we have this year is that the amount of extra rain has caused the mulch to decompose very rapidly. Rapid decomposition of plant material pulls nitrogen from the soil causes a rapid proliferation of fungus and mildew. Be sure to add molasses and use organic fertilizers in the garden to keep the soil healthy so the mulch will break down rapidly rather than just sitting there and rotting. If you have mulch over 4 inches high around some plants and they are looking sickly, you might want to pull the mulch off the plant to allow some air circulation. Indian Hawthorns and Red Tip Photinias need air circulation around them to prevent Entomosporium leaf spot and rotting mulch will make the situation worse. Newly planted trees that are over mulched will suffer because of the nitrogen depleting affect of an excess of decaying plant material and it will kill the young tree. Always keep mulches at least an inch from the trunk of trees and shrubs. Q. I am so worried about Oak Wilt on my huge oak trees. What is the danger of Oak Wilt in our area? A. Oak Wilt is a devastating disease that quickly kills live oaks. A beetle carries it and it is believed that the disease spreads from tree to tree through the root mats. Milam County is the only county in Central Texas without a confirmed case of Oak Wilt. The best time to prune live oaks is during the heat of the summer and the coldest part of winter when the beetle population is lowest. For more information go to www.texasoakwilt.org Click Here to Ask Me a Gardening Question
|
Subscribe to our on-line Newsletter by sending us your E-mail address here.
What are the lastest Landscaping Trends How to Plant Fruit and Nut Trees How to care for Holiday Plants How to care for Mother's Day Gifts What are common Shrub Diseases
|
|
|
| Feature Articles | Feature Articles | Featured Articles |
| Read all my Articles on E-how.com | Read all my Articles on Gardenguides.com | Read all my Articles on Examiner.com |
 |
 |
 |
| Copyright © 2009. The Big Lump Gardener. All rights reserved. |
| Home | Find an Article | Ask a Gardening Question | Privacy Policy | My Favorites | Blog | Contact Us |
