ArcaMax

Q: Mother's Day is May 11, and I want to give my mom flowers because she loves them and instilled a love of plants in me. I don't have a green thumb or much money, but I want to show my love by buying some plants and putting them together in some pots I know she likes. Can you give me some tips to make them look better?

A: Isn't it wonderful to...Read more

Q: What can you tell me about ladybugs? We have aphids on our iris and rose plants. Do ladybugs really help by eating them? Should I buy some or wait for the ones living nearby to come?

A: There are about 5,000 species of ladybugs worldwide with about 500 species in the United States. They start out as yellow, orange or red eggs laid in small ...Read more

Q: Last year, our yard was infested with voles. They ate the bark off several shrubs during the winter. We called somewhere to take care of this problem. They came out and sprinkled some poisoned food down in the vole holes and in their tracks. We spent about $300 for this first-time procedure, and then the company wanted $49 a month to do any ...Read more

This is the Easter season, during which we celebrate Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday. So, I thought we could look at some plants that have the word resurrection in their name. There is a fern native to the U.S. commonly called the resurrection fern; a spike moss from the Chihuahuan desert is commonly called the resurrection plant; and there...Read more

Q: My home state of Kansas is going to ban Bradford pear trees in 2027. I like this tree and was thinking of buying another one as a local nursery is having a sale. Is the tree as bad as they say it is?

A: Bradford pears are probably worse than they are saying. Let's start at the beginning and bring you up to date. Bradfords are a variety of ...Read more

In honor of April Fools' Day, let's take a look at some foolish advice gardeners sometimes get and give about garden soil.

No. 1: Throwing banana peels or eggshells around the base of potted plants or your garden vegetables will help the plants grow.

Let's look at the reasoning. Banana peels contain a lot of potassium, and eggshells contain ...Read more

Potting Mix

Q: A gardener friend moved and left me with several bags of ingredients for making potting soil. I have never made potting soil before. What proportions should I use? Do these ingredients go bad at some point?

A: First, I want to make a slight distinction between potting soil and potting mix. When you use the word soil, it implies ...Read more

Q: I heard from a friend that since I have some shrubs that bloom early in the spring, I can prune some branches early to bring indoors. I thought that spring-blooming shrubs were supposed to be pruned after they bloom. What do you think?

Many spring-blooming shrubs and trees are best pruned by what is called the shrub renewal method of pruning...Read more

Q: I have seen so many headlines saying that vegetables are contaminated with E. coli bacteria. I grow a lot of my own vegetables, and I am wondering how this happens and how to prevent it. Why do commercial farms that have so many ways to protect their product seem to be the worst at this?

A: I am not sure you are right in your premise that ...Read more

Q: After two years of trying to grow a vegetable garden, I am almost ready to give up. You know -- three strikes and you are out. I have been doing some reading and am now more confused than ever, but it appears that the soil is the problem. The garden is in full sun, and I use a drip hose to keep it watered. There are so many things I could buy...Read more

Q: I was digging around in the back of my refrigerator and found a sealed package with leftover vegetable seeds from last year. There are some that are in the original packaging and some seeds in baggies that I harvested from a few tomatoes and peppers. How do I know if the seeds are still good? I don't want to plant them and not have them grow ...Read more

Q: I received a Phalaenopsis orchid as a present last fall, and it is still blooming. I have never tried growing an orchid even though I do have some other house plants. I am wondering what I should do with it this summer when it is warmer outside. Are there other orchids that grow in similar situations that also bloom for a long time?

A: Yes, ...Read more

In just a few weeks, winter will be over. Most birds will be happy it is over, too. The typical sparrow or cardinal that comes to a backyard feeder weighs about as much as a quarter. They spend virtually every waking moment looking for food (just like teenagers) and may consume 15% of their body weight on a cold winter's night trying to stay ...Read more