Question: Can I plant pachysandra underneath my service berry tree as a ground cover? The service berry is two years old and 7’ tall. I’m wondering if they would be compatible? Answer: Marjorie Peronto, Extension Educator Many people do plant pachysandra or other ground covers beneath trees, and the trees survive, but it is not […]
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Question: When can I rake my flower beds and still protect the pollinators? Answer: Marjorie Peronto, Extension Educator Great question. The longer you can leave the plant materials in place, the more likely you are to allow overwintering insects to emerge on their own time. Their emergence is directly linked to growing degree days, Understanding […]
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Question: Last year I grew husk cherries in 10″ diameter x 10″ high containers on a table topped with hardware cloth in my garden to make harvesting easier. I used a Fox Farm potting medium in the pots. For the first couple of month, the plants grew terrifically and the fruits were much larger than […]
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Question: I planted strawberries in a raised bed last spring. I covered it with straw for the winter. When is the right time to remove the straw that is still covering the plants? I peeked under the straw and noted some healthy leaves. Answer: David Fuller, Agriculture and Non-Timber Forest Products Professional IV It sounds […]
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Question: I am reaching out on behalf of our community radio control airplane club. Over the last 6-12 months, our beautiful grass runway has been damaged by some critters that dig holes. The holes range from approx 1.5″ to 5″ in diameter and are now ripping the wheels off our aircraft! We have not seen […]
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Question: Last summer, I planted two raised gardens with green beans and flowers. Some type of animal burrowed into the ground and up into my beds, and disrupted several plants, and even moved some dirt out under and onto the lawn. What can I do to prevent this from happening again? Answer: Kate Garland, Horticultural […]
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Question: I would like to know the best time in spring to use a lawn fertilizer with a pre-emergent herbicide? Answer: Dave Fuller, Agriculture and Non-timber Forest Products Professional Pre-emergent lawn herbicides need to he applied before the soil temperatures reach a point where the weed seeds begin germinating. A great indicator for timing is […]
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Question: We live in York, near the Harbor. We’ve been here four years from southern California. We are still learning about zone 6 plants and actual seasons. Our blue spruce, in the front yard looks like the lower branches, especially on the north side, are dying. Is this just the natural progression of the tree […]
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Question: I left the leaves and remains of plants last fall to help overwinter the pollinators. I’m wondering when is the right time to remove them now? Answer: Marjorie Peronto, Extension Educator Great question. I am making the same decision in my own gardens! The longer you can leave the plant materials in place, the […]
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Question: We have a camp in Livermore that is poorly supported and needs a foundation. Our problem is we have several mature pine trees squeezed between the camp and the pond that we do not want to endanger. If we put a foundation over the area where the tree roots extend, are we going to […]
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