Q. Hi Peter, I’d like to put a border around my approximately 40’X 40′ vegetable garden. Railroad ties would work nicely but I’m concerned about them leaching toxic chemicals into the soil and thereby ending up on my dinner table cleverly disguised as my awesome Super-Jubilee corn or Brandywine tomatoes. Are R/R ties a no-no…
Peonies Not Blooming
Q. I planted some peonies back six or seven years ago which still haven’t bloomed. They get plenty of sunlight – what could be the problem and can I fix it at this point. Rhonda Moore – Wynnewood, Oklahoma A. Well first off we can rule out age as being a factor. Peonies grown under…
Month to Month Lawn Care
Q. I would like schedule of month-to-month lawn care starting now. Thanks, Joe Miller – Puyallup, WA A. Laying out a maintenance schedule for you would be more than I can fit in this column so I am going to refer you to a publication from Oregon State University titled Maintaining a Healthy Lawn in…
Time To Plant Bleeding Heart
Q. When is it safe to plant bleeding heart .I received a plant but know nothing about when I can put it in my garden. Thank you for any advice you can give me. Christina Mulac – Louisville, Kentucky A. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is a hardy perennial in the continental US. Hardy means it…
Keeping Crows from Cherries
Q. How do i keep crows out of my cherry trees? I heard an owl decoy might work ..Help? Scott Landon – Surrey, B.C. A. I am sorry to say that the “Natural Enemy Scarecrow” sold to control “birds” is also the owl decoy (like the great horned owl decoys) used to attract crows for…