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1500 questions
10
votes
2 answers
"sterilizing" a flower bed
We recently moved into a new house that has a flower bed that is completely infested with weeds. It's basically solid weeds. We spent the day hand-weeding and getting rid of most of what we can see.
What else can/should we do to prevent the weeds…
Jeffrey Blattman
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2 answers
Does urinating at the base of a tree help it grow?
I've been reading about tree fertilizers and urea constantly comes up as a good source of nitrogen for trees. Let's say your dogs always pick the same tree to urinate on every day. Would that tree be healthier, grow faster etc. as a result?
Guy
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10
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2 answers
What is this bluish-grey bug on my lettuce, and how do I treat it?
I have a planter with several lettuce plants and other plants growing on my balcony. Recently, all of "normal" leafy lettuces were rapidly overcome by a bug. A sawtooth, more mizuna-like lettuce was spared, as were sage, parsley, onions, and…
Jonathan
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10
votes
1 answer
Why do sunflowers move only flowers towards the sun?
We all know that sunflower's flowers move so that they face the sun. But the photosynthesis happens in leaves, not in flowers. Why is then so important for a sunflower to move its flower, if its leaves more or less stay put?
VividD
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10
votes
4 answers
What is the right time to water my lawn?
I finally own my home and this is my first spring. I have a decent front lawn that I want to keep as green as possible. I've always been told not to water in the day as it can burn the grass (as a result of the sun). Is this true? Is it true all the…
David Lozzi
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10
votes
2 answers
Transplanting indoor vegetable starts outside
Last year, I tried to start most of my vegetable garden inside while it was still cool outside. This included peas, corn, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, pumpkins, and zucchini.
Once it warmed up, I took them all outside and planted them. Within a…
jdickson
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10
votes
4 answers
What is this 3cm green caterpillar from northern California?
We have a number of these caterpillars in the yard. They are about 3 cm long. This is on the peninsula south of San Francisco, CA, USA. I initially thought of geometer moths but it seems to have the full complement of prolegs.
Ross Millikan
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10
votes
2 answers
Why is my pear tree dying around the blossoms?
Shortly after the blossoms fell on my pear, areas around the blossoms started to turn black and die. This is spreading. Although the dead areas tend to be on the end of the branches, there are exceptions where a branch may have 2 or 3 dead zones…
winwaed
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10
votes
3 answers
Can I put a compost pile under a tree?
The most convenient spot for my new compost pile happens to be under a young apple tree. I would put it there, but I have a few questions first.
Will I be able to make successful compost in heavy shade?
Will the tree's roots be bothered by (or…
J. Musser
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10
votes
1 answer
How many spears can I expect from an average asparagus plant ready for harvest?
Pictures of young asparagus plants seem to indicate multiple spears will come from a single plant. But pictures of mature plants are harder to interpret.
I want to know so that I can determine how many asparagus plants I should plant.
Om Patange
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10
votes
1 answer
A seedling with three (instead of two) cotyledons
I started 44-cell tray of Echinacea angustifolia several weeks ago. I noticed the other day that a seedling in one of cells has three cotyledons:
Is that normal?
This is a cell with two "normal" seedlings:
Note: You probably noticed that root and…
VividD
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10
votes
4 answers
Should I repot my plants that I bought online?
I just bought several houseplants that were delivered to my home. I'm super excited that I got them, but I have to confess that these are my first plants ever. Now my friend told me that you should repot them immediately.
But I watched a Youtube…
Philipp Mochine
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10
votes
2 answers
What should I do before using dried up bagged potting soil?
I bought potting soil (good stuff) a year ago. Since then the bag dried out.
What can I do to get it moist again? Should I just water it?
Mary-Kate
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10
votes
2 answers
What can I grow in a very damp, shaded part of the garden?
I have a small flower bed which is in a very shaded corner. It never gets any direct sunlight, and tends to be very damp (although it's well-drained - but the water never evaporates).
I'd like to be able to grow something in it - can anyone suggest…
WhyNotSmile
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10
votes
5 answers
Plant recommendation for gift for kindergarten students
My wife is a kindergarten teacher and this year, as an end of year gift for the children, she wanted to give them each a small tomato plant to bring home on the last day of school.
She asked me to grow these as I already grow seedlings for our…
Gilles
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