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UD, I also live in a shady, oak tree area. My thumb is pretty darn black, too. Since my soil was compacted, I went with a raised bed. In a way it's easier - way fewer weeds -- but it takes a lot of watering. I have given up on all the sun lovers and now mainly grow spinach, lettuce...

Hey, Lupin, How is your nectarine doing? My peach tree has been having a problem. I'm leaning towards it being peach-borer. I sent an email to my county agent to see what they thinl. Inchworm

Fall is considered the best time to transplant. However, being an impatient person, I've always translanted my peonies in the spring. When I transplant in the spring, I always dig far beyond the stem and extra deep, and move the whole clump of dirt with it so as to disturb the roots the least...

I have to confess that I really don't understand what it means to "fertilize". I know all the chemical P-K-N stuff, but what I mean is, how do you fertilize without buying the bag of blue Miracle Grow? I have a new lawn, established garden beds, and a rotating raised bed for annuals and...

Gee Sarah, I'd be careful with those Morning Glories. You just can't rid of them and they bind around everything. Inchworm zone 6

I spent some time on the extension office website. Seems like "tall fescue" is my best bet.... Thanks, Inchy

Ohh - I know the type of pot you mean. Seems to me they usually only have one drainage hole about the size of a quarter. It takes a special bit to drill the ceramic without breaking it - but it can be done. The other option is to fill a good portion of the bottom with loose gravel or shards...

Sarah, Are you in an area that can do bulbs? Mass plantings of bulbs are easy and make for a breathtaking spring and die back enough to allow room for summer perennials. Inchy

My boxes are about 10 years old. If the soil looks really spent (pale and packed), I'll take half out and replace with compost. If it looks fairly dark and crumbly, I mix in enough compost to get it to the appropriate level. The only way I have ever overwatered a container is if there aren't...

We are in the midst of regrading our backyard and correcting drainage. That of course, means overhauling a fairly dead lawn. We will be having topsoil delivered in February so we can seed the lawn in March. But I have no idea how to pick a grass seed. My requirements are: 1. We are in zone...

My fault that it is being done now. We were saving up the money. We're still figuring out the top soil and seeding issue - so thanks for the advice. Are those seed choices good for a shady lawn? Inchworm

D4Y -- I'm planning on getting it from a guy up the street who leaves a truck load of straw bales out as a "serve-yourself" operation. It gets rained on, so I guess it will make horse people happy that I use it?? I find this whole operation of restarting a lawn to be overwhelming. I don't...

Yes - a cover crop. I think that's a great idea. I'll look into it. FYI -- I guess it is a space about 100' x 25" Thanks, Inchworm

I'm thinking I may need to drop straw for the next couple of weeks to keep the soil from washing away, In late March, rake the straw aside, seed, and rake the straw back on top. Is that the idea? Inchworm

A landscaper is bulldozing my back lawn as I type. We had a "grassy" area which was separated from several acres of woods by a drainage ditch. Over the years, the drainage ditch has become increasingly difficult to maintain, backing up, and flooding the "grassy" area. We hired them to fix the...

Thanks guys! I love these suggestions. Gives me a great place to start. For a little inchworm like me, any snow is too much! ;) Inchworm (zone 6)

It is shaded by a tree through the morning until about 2:00 in the afternoon. It gets direct sun until the sun goes below the horizon on the early side (it goes behind a mountain) of evening. I've trimmed the tree as much as I can, but it's too big for me to do anymore :( A mixed blessing, I...

I can't imagine eating marigolds. They're a little too stinky to have that close to the nose, in my opinion. :idunno

I have a raised garden bed I've decided to dedicate to cutting flowers and herbs. Unfortunately, it is a rather shady. In the past, lettuce, spinach, and green beans have done well there, but tomatoes and peppers have under performed. What cutting flowers or herbs would you recommend...

The rocks keep mud from splashing on your house. Without the rocks, you will eventually get a shadow of brownish mud on the lower portion of your walls and low windows. I love having rocks there - it really keeps my house and windows cleaner! Inchy