Trees & Shrubs
My garden is bright and sunny in spring but once my Japanese maple leafs out, it becomes quite shady. How do I know what plants will grow well?
Is there a purple-leafed tree other than a red maple that I can use to spice up my yard?
When is a good time to prune a lilac?
Is it possible to rejuvenate an overgrown butterfly bush?
Can you suggest a tree for a small yard?
I have an overgrown Mugo pine in my front border. Is it okay to prune it?
I have an overgrown shrub in my backyard that I’d like to prune. Can you tell me how to do it?
Are there any roses that are easy to maintain?
My walnut tree is showing signs of dieback as are several others in the area. Could Thousand Cankers disease be the cause?
Annuals & Perennials
I read somewhere that daylily flowers are edible. Is this true?
Do I have to dig up my tulips every summer?
Is there anything I can do to stop my Ligularia from wilting in the afternoons?
How do I collect seeds from my geraniums so that I can start them in my greenhouse next year?
Is this a good time to divide irises?
I'm looking for a rose with a strong scent. Any advice?
I planted a peony five years ago and although it has a lot of really healthy leaves, it has never bloomed. Any idea why?
No matter what I do with my delphiniums, I still end up having to replace them every few years. Is there some trick I'm missing?
What should I do to prepare my roses for the winter?
Is it too early to transplant perennials?
Should I cut back my perennials before winter or leave them until spring?
What can I do about the slugs that are devouring my hostas?
Last fall I planted tulips and the neighborhood squirrels dug most of them up. What can I do to stop them?
Is it true that pinching the dead flowers off my marigolds will make them last longer?
Can you recommend an ornamental grass that I can grow in the shade?
Why did I lose so many perennials last winter when the weather was so mild?
What types of plants can be used in a rock garden?
Fruit
Do I remove the flower stalk from my rhubarb?
How do I know when my melons are ripe?
Do I need to prune my raspberries?
Do I prune fall-bearing raspberries the same way I prune June-bearers?
Why are my peaches small even though I thin the fruit?
Can you recommend a type of apple tree that would be good on a small property?
How do I support thornless blackberries and when is the best time of year to prune them?
How do you prepare strawberry beds for the winter? Do you cut off all the foliage before you cover them with straw?
What do I do about peach leaf curl?
Vegetables
What are the best vegetables to grow when you have limited space?
Is it okay to broadcast carrot seeds instead of planting them in rows?
Is there a good reason for growing marigolds in a vegetable garden?
How do I stop voles from eating my potatoes?
Is it true that someone has invented red carrots?
Why are my zucchinis producing only male flowers?
Can you tell me why my squash and cucumber leaves are suddenly turning white?
How do I know when my potatoes are ready to harvest?
When is a good time to plant fall vegetables?
Why didn't my garlic bulbs form cloves?
Each year my eggplants produce lots of flowers but no fruit. Why?
Is now a good time to plant onions and garlic?
What is the difference between summer and winter squash?
How can I keep my vegetable garden going past frost?
Is it too late to plant garlic?
Is it better to plant potatoes in mounds or rows?
Can I grow corn on a small property?
How do I grow lots of vegetables in the garden the size of a postage stamp?
What are the best vegetables to grow in pots on my balcony?
Vines
Is it okay to use copper pipe to support a wisteria?
When do I prune my clematis?
I have a couple of climbing hydrangeas that I planted this spring and I want to move them to a shadier spot, but I’m wondering if I should move them this fall or in the spring. What do you recommend?
I've been trying for years to get my wisteria to bloom, but all I get is green, leafy growth. Any ideas?
How can I stop my trumpet vine from suckering?
Maintenance
What is the best kind of sprinkler to use for watering a garden?
Do I need to replace all the soil in my pots, or is some of last year's OK to leave in?
What is the best tool for planting bulbs?
How can I reduce the odour coming from my compost pile?
What is the benefit of growing cover crops?
I would like to plant a cover crop in my garden this fall. What do I plant, how do I plant it and when do I work it in?
I'd like to convert my vegetable garden into raised beds with micro-sprinklers, use hay for the walkways in-between those beds, then work the decomposed hay into the raised beds at the end of the growing season. Is this a good idea?
I put manure on my garden last year and my plants turned yellow. Any idea why?
Which is the better fertilizer, compost or manure?
Do those motion-detecting sprinklers really keep deer at bay?
Is it okay to put diseased plants in my compost pile?
I’d like to have a drought-tolerant garden, but I find most drought-tolerant plants ugly. Do you have any suggestions?
I read somewhere that you shouldn't put peat moss in your garden. Is this true?
Deer are determined to prune the bottom four feet of my cedars. Is there anything I can do to stop them?
Can deer manure be put in the compost or used directly on a garden?
Can fruit tree leaves that have insect or disease problems be put in the compost?
Lawns & Groundcovers
Can you give me the names of some plants I can use as a groundcover for a dry, sunny bank that I don't have to water?
Dog urine is killing my lawn and even some of my garden. What do I do about it?
I have moss in my lawn. I have used sprays and even replaced the sod only to find it keeps coming back. Do you have any suggestions?
How do I get the moss out of my lawn?
What groundcover can I put in the shade?
Weeds, Insects & Diseases
How do I get clover out of my garden?
Any thoughts on how to control quackgrass?
Can I get rid of quack grass by turning over the soil and letting the sun dry out the roots?
Is there any plant I can grow to keep the mosquitoes away?
Is landscape fabric a good way to control weeds?
How do I get rid of horsetail?
How do I attract butterflies to my garden?
How do I get rid of all the ants that are coming in from the garden?
Are the bee deaths that I have been reading about for the past year something to be concerned about?
Powdery mildew is showing up in an area of my garden that gets very little water. How can I get rid of it?
What can I do about spittlebugs?
What can I do to control blossom end rot in my tomatoes?
How can I control slug damage?
Do wasps serve any useful purpose in the garden?
I have four apple trees on my property and I’m interested in spraying them myself. I read in the Creston Valley Advance that an organic spray for coddling moth has been approved. Do you know the name of it?
My cabbages have big holes in the leaves and I’m finding green caterpillars on the underside of the leaves. What are they and what can I do about them?
What can I plant to attact hummingbirds to my property?
My maple leaves are covered with powdery mildew even though I’ve cut back on watering. How do I get rid of it?
Why are aphids attacking my viburnums year after year even though I spray them?
How do I stop sow bugs from eating my plants?
Why does one of my honeysuckles get powdery mildew every year and the other one doesn't?
Herbs
I’ve inherited a garden full of borage and I don’t know what to do with it. Any ideas?
I’ve been trying to grow winter savory, but so far I’ve had no luck. Any idea what I’m doing wrong?
Miscellaneous
Do you know anything about worm bins?
Are there any plants I can put in my garden that won't aggravate my pollen allergies?
I would like to build raised garden beds for my vegetables and someone told me I shouldn’t use pressure-treated lumber. Is that true?
Can you say something positive about what bats do for the garden?
What do people mean when they talk about edible landscaping?
Copyright 2009 - 2010 Vanessa Farnsworth