Category Archives: Sage Advice

A Sentimental Tree

Posted on September 12, 2007 by Christy
A concerned gardener writes in:


“[My daughter] has a tree she planted from
seed.  I’m not sure what it is, at one point thought it was a Chinese Elm.  It has completely outgrown the huge pot it was in (cracked it in half wide open), and is much too large for us to
keep in the pot, and no where to plant it.  The tree is somewhat sentimental (if trees can be that – it is to us, we’re weird).  Is there anyway I can keep part
…

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Oops, I overwatered!

Posted on August 20, 2007 by Christy
A gardener writes in:

“I left my soaker hose on in my garden for two days straight
and everything got way too much water. Will it be ok? I have
squash, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions and lettuce.”
 
Well, in this hot weather, you should be
okay.  In the summer, up to 60% of the moisture from
overhead watering can be lost to evaporation.  You’ve
been using a soaker hose, so your evaporation is going to be
less.  If you have sandy soil, drainage and evaporation will
happen faster than with clay soil.  If your soil is covered
with mulch, clear it out for the time …

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Flies in My Soil

Posted on August 6, 2007 by Christy

A gardener writes in:

“We used 5 gallon buckets for our 3 tomatoes, 2 squash, and lemon cucumber plants this summer. I seem to have flies in the dirt! Am I over watering? What natural ways can I get rid of them?”

I’m going to take a stab and assume that the flies in question are gnats rather than house flies or white flies.  Given that, yes, over watering contributes to this problem.  It sounds like you have Fungus Gnats – little flies that lay eggs in the soil where it’s nice and moist, then the eggs develop into larvae and new …
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Shelf Life of Organic Materials

Posted on July 27, 2007 by Christy

While I was gone, a fellow Gardenerd wrote in with a very good question: “Does organic material have a shelf life? I have some of my home-“baked” compost that’s been sitting in a ventilated plastic container in my yard for … Continue reading →

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A Calendar of Flowers

Posted on June 8, 2007 by Christy

With the little bit of spring that is left, a curious gardener writes in: “WHERE CAN I GET A BOOK THAT VERY SIMPLY LISTS THE FLOWERING TIMES OF VARIOUS PLANTS, AND WHEN THEY NEED TO BE PLANTED?” Now if we … Continue reading →

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Irises, Irises, who needs some Irises!

Posted on June 1, 2007 by Christy

A gardener writes in: My Iris are just about finished blooming.  The plants are very crowded and overgrown.  What’s the best way to prune/thin this area of my garden.Thanks! The short answer is this: First – find a friend who … Continue reading →

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Oh deer!

Posted on May 30, 2007 by Christy

Nature seems to be busting out all over this time of year, not only with flora, but fauna as well.  I was over at my parents’ house for Memorial Day and, while looking up on the hillside, witnessed a Mutual of … Continue reading →

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The Getting-Started Gardening Jitters

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Christy

When asked, “What is your greatest gardening challenge?”, someone wrote in recently: “Getting started!  Right now, gardening is ALL THEORY and it’s been over 10 years since I’ve even had a houseplant… At some point I’d like to try tomatoes in … Continue reading →

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The un-dead Christmas Tree

Posted on March 25, 2007 by Christy

We’re closer to Christmas in July than December right now, so a gardener asked: “I have a living Christmas tree: 3ft Monterey Pine in a pot. I’ve been watering, but all the needles are crispy.  Afraid I’ve killed it but … Continue reading →

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Die, grasshopper, die!

Posted on March 14, 2007 by Christy

A great question came in this week: “What about Grasshoppers?  I don’t see them in the early part of the day, but last weekend I was watering near the end of the day and they seemed to be everywhere. Large … Continue reading →

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