Recent Q&As
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Can Pine Needles be used to hill potatoes?
Yes they can. Hilling allows potatoes to grow in loose soil, so they can be larger and easier to clean. Pine needles can also serve that purpose.
Related Videos: Potatoes Planting Potatoes Hilling Potatoes Growing Potatoes Related Resources: Growing Potatoes in Home Gardens Home Garden Potatoes Potato |
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If planted in the ground is
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How do I keep my fern thriving while it is indoors for the winter?
Moving plants inside for the winter helps them survive, but most of the time they will not thrive while indoors. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond talks about some things you can do to make it easier on ferns.
Related Videos: Can I overwinter Boston ferns in the garage? Propagating Ferns from Spores Revitalize Your Ferns in the Spring Related Resources: Growing Ferns Growing Tropical Ferns Indoors |
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How do you root muscadine?
You can use softwood cuttings or layering to root muscadine. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison describes how to do both and talks about some problems.
Related Videos: Grapes and Muscadines Can a muscadine vine be transplanted by breaking off and planting a twig? Related Resources: Muscadine Grape Propagating Muscadine Grapes |
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Why are my phlox different colors and heights this year?
There are several reasons this may be happening. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond says new seeds may be growing that are crosses of last year’s plants. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says most plants do not change their physical characteristics from year to year, but phlox can change flower color through the year to attract different kinds of pollinators.
Related Videos: How do I get phlox seed to grow? How do I know I have killed the mildew on my phlox? Related Resources: Phlox Handling and Caring for Garden Phlox |
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What hedge can I use as a barrier in deep shade?
Not many plants grow in deep shade. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond lists some possible options but advises that you plant several different varieties because some may not do well in the lighting conditions. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison advises building a fence and then planting in front of it, so you have the stopping ability of a fence, but the plants to hide it.
Related Videos: What shrubs would thrive in almost total shade in Lansing, Michigan? Can I have grass in a shaded yard? Related Resources: Shade Tolerant Trees and Shrubs Successful Shade Gardens |
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What is a good plant for a porch pot in shade?
There are many options. Dale Skaggs, Director of Horticulture at Dixon Gallery and Gardens recommends heuchera, Japanese andromeda, or cast iron plant. Japanese laurel or hosta also could make good choices.
Related Videos: Hostas Rossizing Hostas Dividing Hostas Related Resources: Pieris Japonica (Japanese Andromeda) Heuchera or Coral Bells |
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How do I keep deer from damaging my trees?
To keep deer away you need a barrier of some type. Kyle McLean and Dale Skaggs from Dixon Gallery and Gardens give some options for keeping them away.
Related Videos: Nuisance Wildlife: Deer Fences to Keep the Critters Out of the Garden Related Resources: Managing Iowa Wildlife: White-Tailed Deer Reduce Deer Damage in Your Yard Deer Resistant Plants Preventing Deer Damage to Your Trees and Shrubs |
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Can you get rid of privet without using chemicals?
You can, but you will need to pull the plant up by the roots. If it is too large to pull up easily by hand, there are some lever devices you can use to help.
Related Videos: When you say to avoid privet, what kind do you mean and why? Is there a non-invasive privet? How can I use glyphosate to kill privet, but not harm a nearby tree? Related Resources: Invasive Privet Controlling Non-Native Invasive Plants in Ohio Forests: Privet |
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What is horticultural sand and how do you use it?
There is no one product called horticultural sand. Green sand is a mineral that is mined from the ocean which contains nutrients. Red sand can be used to help the soil be more porous and drain better. Diatomaceous earth cuts up soft bodied insects that crawl over it.
Related Videos: Use Red Sand in Your Garden: Get Better Drainage Amendment Related Resources: Greensand as a Soil Amendment Organic Matter and Soil Amendments |
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How do I get rid of horsetail fern in my perennial beds?
Horsetail fern is tough. Kyle McLean, Manager of Grounds Horticulture at Dixon Gallery and Gardens recommends digging it out in the summer, but you need to be diligent and keep at it. There are also some chemicals you can use.
Related Videos: Three Ways to Wipe on Herbicide Revitalize Your Ferns in the Spring Related Resources: Equisetum: Biology and Management How do I get rid of Equisetum? |
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How do I protect my plants from cicadas?
Periodic cicadas can damage over 250 different kinds of plants. The female lays eggs in the twigs and branches which makes them die. It will not kill the whole plant. A mesh covering will keep the cicadas away from the plants. If you are planting new plants, you can wait until after the cicadas problem is over.
Related Videos: What is the Cicada Cycle? What can I do to keep insects from eating my hosta plants? Related Resources: Plan ahead to protect young fruit trees from 17-year periodical cicadas The 17-Year Cicadas Can Damage Your Trees |
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What is this shrub? A: Viburnum
University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen identifies it as a Viburnum. She says it is attractive to wildlife due to its blooms and fruit. She mentions that Viburnums tend to be large shrubs, although efforts to breed smaller varieties are underway. Joellen also points out that some Viburnums are evergreen while others are not, highlighting the species' diversity. Despite their size, she emphasizes the plant's merits and popularity among birds for its fruit.
Related Videos: Viburnum Summer Flowering Woody Perennials Related Resources: Viburnum Viburnum Diseases and Insect Pests |
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How can I help my miniature Myer lemon? It’s barely surviving.
Overwatering is the most common cause of problems for Myer lemons. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about what the plants like. Mike is concerned that it is being fertilized too often. There may be too high of a level of some nutrients in the soil. Joellen Dimond says this may be why there are some leaves showing iron chlorosis.
Related Videos: How often should I water my small Myer lemon that is growing in a container? Do I need to prune my lemon to get it to produce branches? Related Resources: Growing Citrus Indoors Growing Dwarf Citrus |
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Should I cut back my lantana
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How do I help my 5-year-old
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Am I overwatering my prayer plant?
Yes you are. when a prayer plant is overwatered the edges of the leaves will start to brown. University of Memphis Director of landscape Joellen Dimond tells what she does to make sure the plant does not get too much water.
Related Videos: Repotting Houseplants Interesting Houseplant Options Building a Self-Watering Houseplant Pot Related Resources: Maranta leuconeura (Prayer Plant) Stromanthe sanguinea “Tricolor” (Prayer Plant Family) |
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How do I get rid of cucumber beetles?
Cucumber beetles are tough insects, and they are impossible to totally get rid of. Even if you get rid of every one in your garden during the growing season, they are strong fliers and will come back. They overwinter in plant debris like piles of leaves, or a nearby forest. Changing your soil will not have any effect on them.
Related Videos: Cucumbers Cucumber Bacterial Wilt Related Resources: Cucumber Beetles in Home Gardens Cucumber Beetles |
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How do I get my honeycrisp apple trees to bear fruit?
Honeycrisp apple trees (and most others) require cross pollination by insects from a different variety of apple tree. Mike Dennison gives a list of varieties that will pollinate a honeycrisp apple.
Related Videos: I have a honeycrisp apple tree with fire blight. Should I cut it back to the trunk? Choosing the Right Variety of Apple for Your Area Related Resources: Honeycrisp Apple Honey Crisp |
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When should I start planting my garden?
To know when to plant you need to know your last average frost date. To find out your frost-free date, USDA Hardiness Zone, and many other useful garden resources visit: https://www.familyplotgarden.com/gardening-resources.html
Related Videos: Hardiness What should you consider before starting a vegetable garden? Related Resources: My First Garden Vegetable Gardening Basics Planning a Garden |
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How do I get consistent blooms and good fruit from my pear trees?
There are many environmental conditions that will cause problems for a good pear harvest. You can’t control those, but Mike Dennison lists things you can control to maximize your chances of a good harvest.
Related Videos: Is it too late to prune my pear once it is blooming? How do we make our pears ripen? Related Resources: Growing pears in the home garden Pruning Apples and Pears in Home Fruit Plantings |
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What kind of soil do I need for a new raised bed garden? Don’t use 100% compost!
You should use the soil that is around the bed, and combine it with some organic matter like compost. Compost and bagged soils often do not contain micronutrients that the plants need. Your native soil has these nutrients.
Related Videos: Soil Preparation What is Soil pH and why is it so Important? Related Resources: Soil Preparation for Vegetable Gardens Building Healthy Soils |
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How do I overwinter a gardenia plant in the house?Overwintering is a challenge because the conditions in the house are very different than outside. The most important things to remember are to not overwater and don’t fertilize. The plant will still lose leaves. The point is to have the plant survive, not grow.
Related Videos: Why do gardenia bushes die back each winter? Should I prune my gardenia before I cover it for the winter? Related Resources: Gardenia Protecting Landscape and Garden Plants During Cold Snaps |
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When starting seeds should you water from the bottom?No, water from the top. Then you know how wet the soil is. Plant with moist soil and put it in a mini-greenhouse with a plastic bag to keep the soil from drying out.
Related Videos: Keep Tiny Newly-Planted Seeds from Drying Out Problems for Garden Seedlings Related Resources: Starting Seeds Indoors Starting Plants Indoors From Seeds |