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About Mick Bridge
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
Expert in agrochemicals. Detailed knowledge of activity, use of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides etc. Benefits, disadvantages of agrochemicals v. organic farming. Also expert in garden and greenhouse ornamental plants including pest control.

Experience
Agrochemicals 30 years in the industry in England, the last 10 years as a self-employed consultant.
Garden plants 30 years as a hobby.

Education/Credentials
Degree in Biochemistry from Cambridge University, England

   

You are here:  Experts > Style > Landscaping > Agriculture

Questions Answered By Expert  Mick Bridge 
In Category  Agriculture

SubjectDate Asked

New garden - kill weeds before planting9/30/2008
  Q: I'm making a 12' x 12' garden where weeded field now grows. There are weeds, weeds, weeds! I was ...
  A: The best product is glyphosate (most famous trade name RoundUp). This kills all weeds but it is ...
10 yr old kousa dogwood is losing bark9/25/2008
  Q: why is my Kousa dogwood losing big patches of bark from the trunk to thelateral branches ? iI live ...
  A: It is very difficult to diagnose problems without seeing the tree, but ...
weigelia has disease9/4/2008
  Q: the leaves on my weigelia are becoming coated on both sides with a white, powdery substance that ...
  A: It is very difficult to diagnose plant diseases without seeing the plant, but your description ...
copper as a fungicide9/3/2008
  Q: was after any info on the use of copper on wheat to prevent or treat rust/fungal spores or any other ...
  A: Copper is no more 'natural' than any other fungicide. Any copper ores you could dig from the ground ...
Fruit trees9/1/2008
  Q: I have one of each, prune, pear,apple and three cherry trees on my yard which I intend to prune ...
  A: Spiders are good. They eat many pest insects and are no problem to humans. They don't eat your ...
How to Kill Ivy8/13/2008
  Q: My neighbor has a wooded area that backs up to my fenced-in yard. The wooded area is full of ivy ...
  A: I have answered this question a couple of times before, if you'd like to look at previous answers. ...
watermellons8/5/2008
  Q: can u tell me why all my mellons are rotting on the vine.all of them are doing this.the start out ...
  A: It is impossible to diagnose a disease in a plant without seeing it, but if you look at ...
soil depletion8/2/2008
  Q: The line from the organic minifarming community is that large scale industrial farming is slowly ...
  A: As always with debates like this, the arguments get confused and too simplistic. Minerals in the ...
tomato fungus7/31/2008
  Q: Every single year I have yellowing, spotting and then finally the leaves dry up and fall off my ...
  A: It is not possible to diagnose a plant disease without seeing the affected plants, but this is ...
blackberries7/25/2008
  Q: I have this yellow residu on my blackberries,what is it.Also they look like they are bruised. Can we ...
  A: It is pretty well impossible to diagnose diseases or pest damage without seeing the damage. Does the ...
Orchard Grass7/25/2008
  Q: I am trying to get rid of orchard grass in my lawn. What is 2,4D? Is it something I can buy at the ...
  A: You can buy 2,4D at hardware stores but it isn't any good at getting rid of orchard grass from ...
sick weeping cherry7/24/2008
  Q: I have a weeping cherry tree that is at least 12 years old and is dying in parts. It has been ...
  A: There's not a lot that I can say to help, unfortunately. Ornamental cherries can get fungal and ...
Eliminating Moss6/29/2008
  Q: It there any household item that is effective with killing moss. I have a moss problem in-between my ...
  A: Stupid as it may seem, it is illegal in Britain to recommend pesticides or weedkillers etc. that do ...
commercial sulphur6/18/2008
  Q: I have a bag of commercial sulphur, there is no rate on the bag. The business is not longer around. ...
  A: The amount to use depends on the current pH, the pH you want to go down to and the type of soil you ...
Lilac borers6/18/2008
  Q: I have lilac borers & waould like to use somthing to rid of them, I understand they over winter in ...
  A: I'm glad these pests are not a problem in England. There are insecticides to control them but ...
poisoning ivy5/31/2008
  Q: I have a large area of wild ivy and want to poison it. I do not want to cut it back at all to start ...
  A: The best product to use depends on what you want to do with the ground after the ivy is dead. ...
Redbud5/29/2008
  Q: The bark on our redbud is falling off in big chunks and looks like we could easily peal off the ...
  A: It is very difficult to diagnose tree problems without seeing the plant. However, Redbud does ...
Weed Control Chemical Usage in Vegetable Garden5/28/2008
  Q: I have a question about weed/grass killer uage in vegetable garden. Here is my dilemma, we have not ...
  A: I'm sorry, but I have to support the customer service line. I agree that you should wait one year. ...
Hot Chillie plants5/28/2008
  Q: I have nicely full grown chillie plants in my backyard. It is full of flowers. But no fruits. This ...
  A: I grow chillies every year in my greenhouse (summers are not warm enough in England for consistent ...
ivy, poison ivy5/18/2008
  Q: I have poison ivy growing amongst my ivy. I want to get rid of the poison ivy by spraying but my ...
  A: This is very difficult, if not impossible. No weedkiller will kill the poison ivy and leave the ivy. ...
nullifying the effect of Rodeo weed killer5/14/2008
  Q: I have made the same mistake as the poster who mistakenly used Round-Up weed killer on his lawn. ...
  A: Rodeo has the same active ingredient (glyphosate) as Round Up. Effects are usually seen within a few ...
nullifying the effect of a weed killer5/6/2008
  Q: Help im desperate! I have used weed killer on my garden in error. At approximately four hours after ...
  A: OK. This is a contact herbicide. Grass will die but some shrubs and perennials may well survive if ...
nullifying the effect of a weed killer5/6/2008
  Q: Help im desperate! I have used weed killer on my garden in error. At approximately four hours after ...
  A: I'm afraid there is nothing you can do now. How bad the results will be depends on which weedkiller ...
Goodday Sir5/1/2008
  Q: pls I will like you to give me the advantages and disadvantages of agrochemicals such as ...
  A: Without the use of Agrochemicals (the general term covering all the categories you listed) it is ...
killing alfalfa4/23/2008
  Q: how can i get rid of the random alfafa plants growing in my lawn and flower beds and garden? ...
  A: Sorry for the delay in replying. Yes, glyphosate is inactivated on contact with soil. It does not ...
killing alfalfa4/22/2008
  Q: how can i get rid of the random alfafa plants growing in my lawn and flower beds and garden?
  A: This is two separate problems; plants in your lawn and plants elsewhere. Firstly, the easier one, ...
Trace Mineral Uptake Rates and Soil Depletion3/30/2008
  Q: Although it may seem obvious to some, my question relates to the race mineral uptake rates and the ...
  A: The answer, as you might expect, is very complicated. Linear / exponential. 'Good' soils contain a ...
need help3/21/2008
  Q: can you anwser this" how does multi-tier cropping system increase productivity?"
  A: Firstly, I'm sorry to have taken so long to answer, but I was away for Easter and forgot to book out ...
superabsorbent polymers3/17/2008
  Q: The makers of superabsorbent polymers (corn starch based) claim this product will save water ...
  A: I have to say that I have not seen trials data on these specific products but I can make some ...
Killing IVY2/24/2008
  Q: I would like kill IVY that is wrapped around a large, old fir tree in our front yard. We have a ...
  A: This is a question I have answered a few times before, so below is a previous answer: I would first ...
Science2/20/2008
  Q: why do some farmers alternate planting clover alfalfa with their wheat and canola crops
  A: Because clover, alfalfa, peas and beans are legumes. Most plants, including wheat and canola must ...
corn2/18/2008
  Q: I would like to know some different products to use on corn fields to keep the weeds at a minimum or ...
  A: I don't know this product and I don't know where you live so I can't recommend a named product. The ...
Henbit Control2/12/2008
  Q: What is 2-4D and where ca I purchase it? Is that the name I'll be looking for? ANSWER: 2,4-D is ...
  A: Sorry, there is a fault on the site. The 2,4-D info is there but the search engine doesn't find it. ...
Henbit Control2/12/2008
  Q: What is 2-4D and where ca I purchase it? Is that the name I'll be looking for?
  A: 2,4-D is short for (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid. It is a weedkiller first discovered in the ...
Ivy veins left on the house2/10/2008
  Q: We recently scraped off all of the ivy on the side of our house that was grown by the old owner. We ...
  A: I know they look messy but the best thing to do is leave them alone. They will rot away over a ...
ddt chlordane benzine1/15/2008
  Q: How do I get rid of these chemicals in the dirt in our front and back yards?
  A: Sorry not to have replied sooner. I was away a couple of days and forgot to check out. I'm afraid ...
Reforestation herbicide1/12/2008
  Q: I am told that there is an herbicide you can broadcast spray over a field of freshly planted pine ...
  A: There are a few herbicides that can be used in different situations. See for example ...
Earth worms and millipedes1/11/2008
  Q: Back in June 2006 we re-did our landscape and with it we got enriched soil. Well, as soon as it ...
  A: I was asked a similar question in October and earlier in March, so this problem seems common. The ...
Knowledge rating error1/11/2008
  Q: I am sorry somehow I must have hit a wrong button but rated your knowledge a 1 when I meant to rate ...
  A: Don't worry. If you want to rectify it, you can do so with an email. The following is the advice ...
Sour orange trees1/9/2008
  Q: I am an American retiree now living in GUatemala. I bought a house with some sour orange trees that ...
  A: As a rough rule of thumb, for most trees the roots extend about as far as the branches. Obviously, ...
urea alternative1/9/2008
  Q: Is poultry manure a suitable organic fertilizer alternative to urea on pineapple?
  A: Yes, for example see the Sri Lankan site: ...
orange tree11/18/2007
  Q: i have a 4 ft orange tree that flowered and produced a very tasty crop the first year we had it. ...
  A: It is very difficult to diagnose a problem without seeing the plant. However, I can make some ...
Growing pumpkins11/10/2007
  Q: I grow about 2 acreas of pumpkins. I have a big problem of keeping the weeds out. I do not use any ...
  A: It is difficult to diagnose a crop problem without seeing the plants or having other data. However, ...
Flowers of sulpher11/2/2007
  Q: Where can I get Flowers of sulpher in Perth W A please
  A: This is a very specific question. Since I don't live in Australia, it is very difficult to answer. ...
Fertilzers10/25/2007
  Q: Many farmers have found that fertilizing their fields during dry periods can be counterproductive, ...
  A: The ingredients of fertilizers have to be taken up from the soil by a plants roots. This takes place ...
Worms on my patio10/7/2007
  Q: I wake up in the morning and their are hundreds of short black worms nesting in the cracks on my ...
  A: I answered a similar question in March of this year and so I'm copying that question and answer ...
grass overtaking riding arena9/27/2007
  Q: We recently bought a new home on 3 acres ready for horses. It's located in a small subdivision with ...
  A: This has to be done in two phases. Firstly, get rid of the weeds you have and secondly, stop them ...
mango plant with damage, overwatering could be the problem.9/19/2007
  Q: I have a small mango orchard in the north of sinaloa, Mexico, I think I have been overwatering my ...
  A: I'm sorry but it is almost impossible to diagnose disease / growth problems from photographs. You ...
Ecessive weed growth9/10/2007
  Q: I wish to convert a weed & brush infested area into a hard weed free surface. I wish to hack down ...
  A: I'm very sorry to have taken so long to reply, but I have been having problems with excessive spam ...
lime on horses pasture8/31/2007
  Q: My co-boarder at the stable wants to lime our horse pasture to produce better hay. My question is ...
  A: Liming without adding fertilizer will only improve grass growth if the pH is so low that nutrients ...
corn8/10/2007
  Q: My neighbor, a retired farmer, plants about a 1/4 acre of corn every year (not always in the same ...
  A: Unfortunately it is almost impossible to give an answer to this without seeing the crop as there are ...
How to kill and remove ivy8/1/2007
  Q: I have just recently purchased a house in Atlanta, GA and the back yard (approx 45' x 60') is ...
  A: in principle this is OK, but you are doing things in the wrong order. For RoundUp to work it needs ...
Bird Repellent7/18/2007
  Q: How do I keep birds off of my deck banister with using recommended "sticky stuff", which our ...
  A: There is no chemical or very scientific way of doing this. The only way is a physical barrier. If ...
killing tumbleweeds7/8/2007
  Q: I killed the leafy weeds in our desert-landscaped gravel yard with a homemade recipe of vinegar, ...
  A: Unfortunately, the term "tumbleweeds" applies to different plants in different areas of the US, and ...
aspargus patch with poison ivy7/6/2007
  Q: We have an asparagus patch which has been producing greatly for the last 10 years. There is now ...
  A: There is a way but it isn't easy. You need to apply a herbicide called glyphosate (main trade name ...
killing ivy7/1/2007
  Q: I have a well-established beech hedge of approximately 50 years 12 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide. ...
  A: Glyphosate is the best product to use. It is sold in agriculture under many names, but the most ...
boxes on trees6/27/2007
  Q: We have red boxes hanging on trees throughout our county and they have ribbons that are black and ...
  A: I can't tell you what they are as it depends where you live, what the crops are and who makes the ...
Citrus question6/23/2007
  Q: Up until two years ago, it hadn't produced fruit for several years. I've been trying to provide TLC ...
  A: Firstly, I am sorry to have taken so long to reply. I went away on vacation for a week and forgot to ...
Clover overtaking the pastures6/1/2007
  Q: We have a big problem with clover overtaking our horse pastures, it is everywhere on our 8 acres. ...
  A: OK. Nitrogen will change a little from year to year, but not significantly. You say the soil had a ...
Clover overtaking the pastures5/29/2007
  Q: We have a big problem with clover overtaking our horse pastures, it is everywhere on our 8 acres. ...
  A: There are weedkillers that can kill broadleaved weeds in grass pastures, but they are less effective ...
going organic after weed killer has been used on the land5/24/2007
  Q: i am grow organic produce for myself. but am thinking of branching out to sell locally. i have been ...
  A: I don't know where you live so I can't tell you local standards. In England, where I live, if ...
killing of Ivy5/4/2007
  Q: I have recently taken on a job and there is a lot of Ivy in the garden, I don't think I will have a ...
  A: I would first of all spray the ivy at the base of the trees with glyphosate. It is quite safe to ...
U.S. Zone hardiness accuracy?4/12/2007
  Q: I am asking a somewhat general question, but with specific plants in mind. The Camellia Nuccio's ...
  A: I think you are trying to be too exact. Ratings for plant hardiness can only be estimates. I grow a ...
Weather4/5/2007
  Q: It is predicted that the tempature will drop to 31 degrees on Saturday nite in my area. Will this ...
  A: This is a very complicated question. The first problem is that I don't know where you live. I assume ...
agriculture vs. agronomy3/31/2007
  Q: This may seem like a ridiculous question but nowhere on the web can I find an answer to the ...
  A: Agronomy is simply scientific agriculture. Agriculture is an activity. You plant things, they grow. ...
Mass of Earthworms3/29/2007
  Q: Just wanted to find out about a mass of earthworms I saw today. They were all different types, ...
  A: Earthworms coil together in balls in the soil to survive dehydration in summer. This is called ...
earthworms coming into my home3/24/2007
  Q: Every spring for 3 years now we have earthworms come though our walkout basement door into our ...
  A: Earthworms are not normally a problem getting into houses. There is no reason for them to be there ...
MEASUREING SOIL MOISTURE3/12/2007
  Q: Do you know of an inexpensive way to measure average soil moisture for a 30-60 period? I want to ...
  A: It depends what you mean by a large area. However, look at: http://www.sowacs.com/ for lots of ...
flowers in nj2/14/2007
  Q: Is it true that New Jersey can't grow flowers?
  A: I'm not sure what is implied by your question. Are you suggesting that you've heard that the soil ...
Worldwide farming acerage2/2/2007
  Q: I am trying to find out how much U.S. land is devoted to agriculture and the same for the world. I ...
  A: Data for the USA is not too difficult to find. Full data from 1997 is available at: ...
Moist fertilizer1/28/2007
  Q: Two years ago I purchased a major brand of fertilizer containing weed killer. This bag cost 35.00. ...
  A: No, you can't mix it into water as the atrazine will not wet and mix in and even if it did, would ...
mulberry tree production1/14/2007
  Q: I have two beautiful mulberry trees in my driveway. One male and one female. I love the shade that ...
  A: It is possible with some trees, such as the olive, to use a high pressure jet of water to knock the ...
Agriculture/Soil12/2/2006
  Q: I have two questions. What information concerning soil, does the Textural Class Triangle convey, ...
  A: Sorry for delay in replying. The Textural class Triangle conveys only and exactly the percentages of ...
flowers of sulphur11/22/2006
  Q: I live in Canada. I have a book which says to dip the end of Echeveria cuttings into flowers of ...
  A: Flowers of sulphur is just very fine elemental sulphur. It is prepared by sublimation (going ...
soil11/7/2006
  Q: what are the initial sources of soil organic matter?
  A: Sorry for long delay. I forgot! If by initially you mean in evolutionary terms, then the first ...
Fertilizer Injection10/20/2006
  Q: Traditionally chemical fertilizers are being applied to plants through the soil (taken up by roots ...
  A: Firstly, I'm sorry to have taken so long to reply, but I have been away at a conference for 5 days ...
allelopathy10/18/2006
  Q: What does allelopathy role in pests management for sustanable agriculture?
  A: At this stage, it doesn't really have one. There are well documented cases of weeds exhibiting ...
Dead Worms On Driveway, Sidewalks and Curb10/17/2006
  Q: In answer to your questions. Same soil "as in clay" in the front and back. Application settings ...
  A: It is still very puzzling. Because the front is sunnier than the back, the soil could have dried out ...
Dead Worms On Driveway, Sidewalks and Curb10/16/2006
  Q: Although I know you were stumped on the dead worms question, I simply must share that my husband and ...
  A: I'm sorry, I don't remember being asked this question. I've checked back over my Q and A's back to ...
Good source for pesticides effects on humans10/9/2006
  Q: I was just wondering if you knew any good sources of information reguarding commercial pesticides ...
  A: Sources of information: I don't know what part of the world you live in, but you should look at info ...
a white powder on my mango plant (looks evil)10/7/2006
  Q: I germanated a mango seed about five years ago and now it's about 60 cm.tall. life seemed good for ...
  A: It is very difficult to try to diagnose plant diseases without seeing the plant or at least a ...
earthworms10/1/2006
  Q: My 7 year old daughter just found a nightcrawler in our driveway that appeared to be having babies. ...
  A: It depends what you mean by normal. Was the nightcrawler having babies? No. It was dying of a ...
ethanol9/30/2006
  Q: We read a lot about ethanol as a fuel but not methanol, why is that?
  A: Mostly because we know a lot about fermentation of plant materials to produce ethanol, because man ...
science, soil9/27/2006
  Q: i've read one of your q's & a's about soil and it was very useful. here's mywhat is roots function ...
  A: Roots have to take up water and nutrients (NPK plus micronutrients). Animal waste adds nutrients to ...
organic farming marketing9/27/2006
  Q: how does product in organic farming been marketed? is it competetive? is organic farming product is ...
  A: The products of organic farming are marketed to the proportion of the public who believe scare ...
Vines on brick wall9/16/2006
  Q: We purchased a three story town home in April, 2006. On the northeast corner, vines have apparently ...
  A: If you cut through the vines near the ground, the tops will gradually die off and then in several ...
ddt and malathion9/16/2006
  Q: just want to all the information on the above said ddt and malathion, their uses, manufacturers and ...
  A: DDT Insecticide organochlorine NOMENCLATURE Common name DDT (BSI, E-ISO, (m) F-ISO, ESA, JMAF). ...
Pond chemicals9/7/2006
  Q: A couple of years ago, we had a pond dug in our back yard/woods area. My brother who also has a ...
  A: Firstly, the only product called Princep 90 that I know of is a herbicide containing Simazine (see ...
Kill Tumbleweeds7/18/2006
  Q: How can I kill Tumbleweeds
  A: Unfortunately, the term "tumbleweeds" applies to different plants in different areas of the US, and ...
Corn plants and nitrogen7/14/2006
  Q: In a corn field will a deficiency or lack of nitrogen cause a corn plant to be brittle or weak to ...
  A: See http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/plant2/l741.pdf. Stalk rots can be worse when there is a ...
weed control7/14/2006
  Q: what is the best way to kill and control tumbleweeds? we have gone over them with lawnmower and it ...
  A: Unfortunately, the term "tumbleweeds" applies to different plants in different areas of the US, and ...
growing a fruit tree7/9/2006
  Q: we live nest to a man made lake that takes run off from the road and has elaveted fecal and ...
  A: It is impossible to give a definite answer without full details of the lake. Does it have a concrete ...
Mango disease7/7/2006
  Q: Mango plant leaves have developed burning effect. Burning starts from tip and progresses downward. ...
  A: This sounds like the roots are damaged. Diseases do not usually look like this. It is often caused ...
Allelopathic effects7/7/2006
  Q: Sir: If you will contact me at dale@softley.com I can give more details including photographs. If ...
  A: OK, I understand. I'm sorry if I was teaching my grandmother to suck eggs. Nearly all the people ...
Sensitve Fern in pastures7/4/2006
  Q: I have a large population of sensitive fern in several of my rotationally grazed horse paddocks.I ...
  A: I'm afraid I know of no organic solution to sensitive fern or other problem fern control in grass. ...
killing ivy around arbortivae trees7/2/2006
  Q: I've used Roundup to kill the leaves of the ivy. Pulled the ivy out of the trees, still remaining ...
  A: You don't have to pull the roots out. If the RoundUp has worked properly, they are dead. Glyphosate, ...
greenhouse project7/1/2006
  Q: I am carrying out a project on the greenhouse effect at intermediary level and would be grateful if ...
  A: Automated drip systems can be bought easily, but I can't recommend a brand as I don't know what ...
mulberry trees6/17/2006
  Q: I was told that you could spray a mulberry tree to keep the fruit from setting. What do you spray it ...
  A: It is possible with some trees, such as the olive, to use a high pressure jet of water to knock the ...
redbud tree roots6/16/2006
  Q: We just put in a retaining wall and are wanting to put in some trees. The width of our backyard is ...
  A: Sorry for the delay in replying. I was away for the weekend and didn't pick up my emails. Damage to ...
Flowers of Sulphur6/6/2006
  Q: I have a lemon tree who's leaves are turning yellow. I checked the PH balance and it is too ...
  A: Flowers of sulphur is just a fine powder of pure sulphur. It can be obtained from some garden ...
tree roots5/24/2006
  Q: We have a large Maple tree(probably atleast 75 years old) in our yard and we want to put a sidewalk ...
  A: A normal lifespan for Maples in an urban environment (they may last longer in a completely natural ...
tomato growing5/22/2006
  Q: how long after harvesting a tomato field can you grow tomatoes again or switch to peppers?
  A: In Europe only one crop can be grown a year because of frost / low light levels in the winter, so I ...
organic farming research5/17/2006
  Q: My name is Siti Khairunnisa Binti Omar. I am now studying Accountancy, Australian Matriculation ...
  A: I'm afraid that this is such a big subject that it would take me many hours to answer all your ...
grapevine moving5/15/2006
  Q: I want to move my grapevines to do additions to my home. the grapevines are about 15 years old and ...
  A: Grapevines have very deep roots and at 15 years old the main tap root will go down a long way. ...
Sand Functions5/13/2006
  Q: I want to know that what is the Major Functions of Sand in Soil. Is it beneficial for Soil or not. ...
  A: Soil is made up of 3 major ingredients. Clay, sand and organic matter. The best soil has a good mix ...
Tree planting.5/5/2006
  Q: Bridge, My question is simple: I live in Chicago. I'd like to plant a Bo (Sacred Fig) tree in my ...
  A: Simple answer - probably not. It is a sub-tropical tree that grows very large. At ...
Ivy4/25/2006
  Q: How can I clean up my flower beds from the ivy that is very overgrown? I love my birds, I don't ...
  A: The herbicide glyphosate (sold as RoundUp in many markets, but there are lots of other trade names) ...
was my ivy poisoned3/22/2006
  Q: I have ivy growing on a fence that runs between my house and the neighbors, The ivy has been on this ...
  A: This can be done but it would be very expensive. Some agronomists are experts in the symptoms of ...
poison ivy3/13/2006
  Q: I just purchased part of my families homestead. I have a house that needs a lot of work. One of my ...
  A: Firstly, I'm sorry I didn't get back to you on this yesterday. For general information, look at: ...
herbicide2/20/2006
  Q: does hordeum spontaneum is a weed in your farm.if it is a weed what herbicide you use for control it ...
  A: No, it doesn't grow in Western Europe. It is only found in the Middle East and North Africa. I ...
allelopathy2/19/2006
  Q: whath does the effect of waterstress on wheat allelopathy ?
  A: The simple answer is that at this stage we don't know. Scientific work in this area is at a very ...
Nematodes1/29/2006
  Q: Am having a bad time with nematodes and tomato plants. I understand that Vapam was used at one time ...
  A: A label of Vapam at http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld0FG010.pdf Shows you the current safety requirements ...
agriculture1/14/2006
  Q: i was wondering if grain crops like sorgum,millet,maize,etc could be grown with the use of ...
  A: Many crops are grown in Africa under irrigation. Generally, if irrigation is available it is used ...
Soil Depletion Myth or Fact?12/16/2005
  Q: There's a lot of talk on my alternative diet groups re this new idea that scientific studies from ...
  A: Firstly, sorry for the delay in replying. I have been away for a few days. Of course, the answer is, ...
onion anad tobaco12/12/2005
  Q: why isn't the rotation good for keeping onion and tobaco safe from diseases ?
  A: Crop rotation is used to stop pests and diseases carrying over from one season to the next. With ...
normal day12/9/2005
  Q: i would like to learn about HOW you go about in your job on a normal eight hour day, what you do, ...
  A: I work mostly from home on the computer. I put together applications for pesticide approvals to ...
flowers of sulphur11/20/2005
  Q: First and foremost thanks for your last reply. Very helpful indeed. One simple question. I have ...
  A: Firstly, I apologise for taking so long to reply - my broadband connection has been down for a day ...
mixing insecticides and fungicides11/13/2005
  Q: Can i mix sulphur based products with copper based ones? The idea is so that while i spray with ...
  A: No, in general, it is not a good idea to mix these two materials. The reason is that in the mixing ...
organic farming9/24/2005
  Q: how are you , what is the meaning of organic farming ? and what's the difference between it and ...
  A: Organic farming is in principle, farming using only "natural methods", compared with modern farming ...
herbicides9/24/2005
  Q: I would like to ask about herbicides and its affect on soil ? thank you sir for your time
  A: This is too big a question to answer in a few words. There are many types of herbicide used in many ...
citrus leafminer9/6/2005
  Q: I live in Florida & I have three Citrus plants (Lemon & Orange). They have insect problems. When I ...
  A: Look at for general information and predators. ...
How can I kill Ivy vines?7/25/2005
  Q: We have ivy that the previous owner planted. My wife and find it undesirable because it is hard to ...
  A: Round Up is the solution. The problem is that ivy leaves are very glossy and so most of the spray ...
sickly kousa dogwood7/19/2005
  Q: I purchased a kousa dogwood the first of June. I thought it looked a little weak, but it was the ...
  A: I'm afraid you should never buy a sickly looking tree. If its the last one in the nursery, go to ...
Tomato plants7/13/2005
  Q: I live in New York city and have a small tomato garden. The plants are growing great and have fruit ...
  A: It is very difficult to diagnose plant disease problems without seeing the plants or at least an ...
raspberries7/6/2005
  Q: Mick, we have some ever bearing raspberrie plants in our garden, this year it was a very cool ...
  A: I think it is unlikely that the problem is lack of water. This would cause general wilting rather ...
Weed spray6/4/2005
  Q: Do you know of any broad leaf weed spray that can be used arround shrubs and trees. I find that ...
  A: I assume the areas around the fruit trees and shrubs are not grassed. If the shrubs/trees are ...
Best Herbicide?'5/29/2005
  Q: I run a poultry farm and I need your advice on a good herbicide. I need something I can use to kill ...
  A: The best herbicides for residual weed control in these circumstances should contain bromacil or ...
Copper Sulphate as an algacide5/29/2005
  Q: I can get copper sulphate from the local co-op in the crystal form called "bluestone". I need to ...
  A: I can't give you a definitive answer on this, but I assume "bluestone" is Copper sulfate ...
Blueberry Farm5/10/2005
  Q: Subject nearby is using a sound device to protect blueberries from birds. Sounds like a shotgun. It ...
  A: I'm afraid that there aren't a lot of options. I don't know of any effective electronic or ...
Farmer's Son has Questions?5/9/2005
  Q: I have just moved back home to help my father on the farm. We planted corn last week using atrazine ...
  A: To find out what chemicals can be used on cotton, look at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ Bear in ...
Vegy Garden4/29/2005
  Q: I just started diging up the dirt to make it soft. I need some help on what to do from this point ...
  A: I'm sorry, but this is too complex a question to answer here. You need to read a book or books on ...
blackberries4/26/2005
  Q: I have wild blackberries that are bitter how can i make them sweet
  A: The simple answer is that you can't. Cultivated blackberries are selected varieties that have been ...
Farms4/20/2005
  Q: What kind of herbicides, pesticides, etc. do they use on farms where the cattle eat their food? And ...
  A: Sorry for delay in replying. Cattle eat grass. Farmers want to maximise grass production, to ...
function of dolomite4/19/2005
  Q: I have treid using dolomite to raise the pH of soil growing common Bermuda grass. I would like to ...
  A: Dolomite is a mixed magnesium / calcium carbonate rock. It contains about 10%+ of Magnesium. ...
Pesticides3/4/2005
  Q: How is the pesticide DDT made? How does DDT work? Why does DDT effect aquatic animals more than ...
  A: This sounds suspiciously like a homework question, but I'll answer it. 1. Condensation reaction of ...
Mealybugs2/8/2005
  Q: I have a problem with mealybugs & wish some specific advice. I have an extensive plant collection & ...
  A: I'm sorry to have taken a couple of days to reply, but I have been away on business. Firstly, ...
flowers in non-chlorinated water1/24/2005
  Q: I am in 5th grade and I am doing an experiment with cut flowers to see which water they grow best ...
  A: I don't normally answer homework questions, but this is so simple I will. Your cut flowers are not ...
WATERING11/25/2004
  Q: I WOULD LIKE TO SAVE RAIN WATER TO USE IN THE FUTURE. THE ONLY PROBLEM I SEE IS THAT MOSQUITOS CAN ...
  A: I collect rainwater in two barrels in my garden and use it for watering without big problems with ...
grow fast from little?10/28/2004
  Q: I've tried to find some methods, but to no avail. I can't even find the one my friend mentioned on ...
  A: I have found the following info which I hope is of help. I'm off to a conference next week, so I'm ...
blight10/24/2004
  Q: First things first—Thank you. Your descriptions of powdery mildew and gray mold were clear. Is it ...
  A: Yes it is possible you have both, but the grey mould is opportunistic, that is it infects plants ...
Biogas from chicken litter and slurry10/23/2004
  Q: Mick Bridge, I am a student in Estonia, Talinn writting a theses on the topic of production of ...
  A: There is an excellent search engine at http://www.google.com If you type "chicken manure biogas" ...
blight10/20/2004
  Q: I think I have a blight problem. Cucumber,squash,watermellon, most vine type veggies. Two ...
  A: Blight strictly only attacks tomatoes, potatoes and related plants. Cucurbits (cucumbers, melons, ...
Use of Agrochemicals10/2/2004
  Q: How does the use of agrochemicals damage the natural environment?
  A: This is a very big question and would need a many thousand word answer that I cannot give here. It ...
Redbud roots9/19/2004
  Q: Mick, We have a beautiful Redbud in our yard, and would like to build a short landscaping wall on ...
  A: It depends how big / old the tree is and how much root you would sever. A tree's roots normally have ...
Use of sulphuric acid9/17/2004
  Q: Why would a farmer spray an unharvested potato crop with sulphuric acid? This has been done near my ...
  A: When a farmer wants to harvest his potatoes, he doesn't want any green tops on them because the ...
Foliar Feed/Spraying8/19/2004
  Q: I'm currently following USDA recommended mixing of vegetable oil (canola), and dishwashing detergent ...
  A: If you combine them they will still work. The only problem is that you might scorch the leaves of ...
Vines8/14/2004
  Q: I have made a BAAAAAD mistake. I thought the look of vines growing up the chimney would be ...
  A: I'm sorry, but know only 2 ways to get rid of it. The first is to do nothing and it will gradually ...
leaf hoppers7/28/2004
  Q: We have a virginia creeper and every year we get leaf hoppers. Is there any way of getting rid of ...
  A: Yes, Robins are good. Basically birds (other than carnivorous ones like owls and eagles) are divide ...
leaf hoppers7/18/2004
  Q: We have a virginia creeper and every year we get leaf hoppers. Is there any way of getting rid of ...
  A: Firstly, I am very sorry to have taken so long to reply to your question. I have been on vacation ...
SAFE WEED CONTOL?7/13/2004
  Q: , but can you please tell me the following: What is this Glyphosate? Where can I buy it,{HOME ...
  A: RoundUp is the trade name. It is produced by Monsanto. I don't know where you would buy it in the US ...
Sumac (Staghorn) & Redbud7/11/2004
  Q: We made the mistake of introducing Staghorn Sumac into our (Canadian Agricultural Zone 5b) back yard ...
  A: Are there Sumac suckers coming up around the base of the Cercis? If not, then the roots are probably ...
SAFE WEED CONTOL?7/10/2004
  Q: I live on the East Coast. Can you suggest to me what option(s) I have when it comes to a Safe (store ...
  A: RoundUp (active ingredient glyphosate) is the answer. It is not harmful to humans or other animals ...
Earthworms6/27/2004
  Q: I have a questions about earthworm habits. I'm a retired elementary science teacher in the ...
  A: Sorry not to have replied sooner. There were some problems yesterday - I couldn't access the website ...
"Brown Fields"6/22/2004
  Q: I am a forester who is working with a landowner who has purchased a property that is classified as a ...
  A: I am not based in the US, so cannot answer this question in detail. However, if you look at: ...
how can i5/22/2004
  Q: mick is there a chemical or spray i can get to kill ivy i want to be able to spray and kill it to ...
  A: Glyphosate (RoundUp or Tumbleweed (in UK for garden use)) is the best product. The active is ...
plants to choose5/22/2004
  Q: Greetings! I am not sure if you will be able to help me--I could not find a category that exactly ...
  A: If you really want to have no bees then you are restricted to plants without showy flowers. There ...
how do i4/26/2004
  Q: tell me an effective way to kill moss growing between my patio slabs cheers mick i will drink a ...
  A: The best thing to use is a pesticide called Dichlorophen. It is sold for home and garden use in ...
orange tree4/23/2004
  Q: I live in the north where it gets very cold but I was wondering if it is possible to grow an orange ...
  A: Yes it would grow indoors. It would still be best if you could move it outside for the summer and ...
HORSETAILS4/5/2004
  Q: HOW the heck do you eliminate these awful things.. They destroy my lawn, burms, my beautiful ...
  A: I'm sorry, but it is almost impossible to destroy them if you are next to wetland as they have a ...
weeds, exotic species3/18/2004
  Q: How much money is expended yearly in the US to battle exotic plant species?
  A: According to http://www.reeusda.gov/agsys/ipm/delfosse.htm "Globally, weeds comprise the most ...
Bioengeneering2/20/2004
  Q: What is bioengineering and what exactly are the effects of it on people and animals?
  A: I'm afraid that this is a huge question that can't be answered in the time or space available on ...
organic vs. synthetic2/14/2004
  Q: I have been researching for a while, and I have come to know that produce grown with organic ...
  A: I don't think this is strictly true. Plants grown organically (which inludes use of organic ...
Plants and pollution1/15/2004
  Q: "Is is safe to grow fruit and vegetables near a main road or will pollution make them unsafe to eat? ...
  A: A busy road will generate a lot of dust containing soot particles (from diesel vehicles ...
How to stop stumps from sprouting5/13/2003
  Q: We bought a house two years ago and several trees had been allowed to grow in places where removal ...
  A: You need a product containing Ammonium Sulfamate. One trade name in the US is Amcide. This is a ...
plant help5/4/2003
  Q: > Hello, > I am a student doing doing a project on plant. Part of the > project is emailing plant ...
  A: I'm sorry to have taken so long to reply, but I have been ill. As you say, plants do not need soil. ...
Kills plants around it.3/26/2003
  Q: I know that wormwood and mugwort are supposed to kill the plants around them with secretions from ...
  A: Plants such as these (and Rhododendron ponticum as another example) are toxic to other plants not ...
Fungicides For Anthracnose In Chiliy12/4/2002
  Q: Recently my chiliy was attacked by anthracnose.I'm using fungicides name Difenoconzole & Mancozeb to ...
  A: First I cannot recommend pesticides for use outside the United Kingdom as I cannot ever be fully ...
Meyer lemon needs help10/16/2002
  Q: Help... I think I may have killed my dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree.. It is about 7 yrs old and had tons of ...
  A: There are two possibilities. The first is that there is something else wrong with your lemon other ...
Is there hope after DDT and Melathion??9/18/2002
  Q: I live in a small nation in S.E.Asia which still uses these old pesticides. I am attempting to aid ...
  A: Yes, there is. Firstly, Malathion, although very toxic to a wide range of insects and people, is an ...
Fungal disease4/22/2002
  Q: My Spring Cabbagaes have developed a white fungal disease. Could you tell me what it is, and how I ...
  A: Unfortunately, this could be one of three possible diseases; botrytis, downy mildew or powdery ...
Out of control grapevine4/2/2002
  Q: Two years ago I trimmed back a grapevine that was taking over a pine tree on my property. I cut it ...
  A: The best method is to treat it with a herbicide. If you don't want to use herbicides, then ...
Weed control --- Henbit4/2/2002
  Q: We have a large amount of henbit in our orchard grass hay fields. 20 acres has been established for ...
  A: The most effective method is to spray it with 2,4-D. This does not affect grasses but will kill the ...
sustainable agriculture3/18/2002
  Q: The world is always concerned with environmental issues. Being part of a small family farm I'm ...
  A: The use of "natural" or "organic" methods can replace the use of artificial fertilisers and ...
Use of biosolids in land reclamation projects3/15/2002
  Q: Bridge: I am a writer in Northeastern Pennsylvania (anthracite mining country), USA. A local coal ...
  A: I'm afraid I can't help a great deal as this is a bit outside my area of interest. However, ...
Alkali in soil2/8/2002
  Q: Mick, would you happen to know how to get rid of alkali in the soil. We have a lot of it here in ...
  A: I'm afraid the simple answer is that you can't. Unfortunately, the level of alkali salts in alkaline ...
organic viticulture1/14/2002
  Q: Does growing disease-resistant vines make a vineyard inorganic?
  A: No, it is a standard technique of organic growing to select varieties resistant to disease or pests, ...
Fungus on Collard greens?11/24/2001
  Q: I would like some advice re the above Due to approaching winter, I transplanted some collards from ...
  A: There are two possible diseases. Powdery mildew and Botrytis. The latter is the more likely and the ...
Atrazine & various vegetables10/10/2001
  Q: I'm going to start up a "CSA" operation next year, where families pay so much in advance and get ...
  A: Atrazine is used worldwide on a number of crops including corn, but they are mostly woody plants - ...
Which is better to use in growing okra seeds?9/6/2001
  Q: Which of the following are the best to use to grow okra seeds and why? Biofertilizers (fungi), ...
  A: It won't make any difference. If you follow the instructions for the use of the commercial fertilser ...
Lime green bottles?8/15/2001
  Q: My family recently drove through South Arkansas/North Lousiana to the Gulf on vacation. We passed ...
  A: The most likely explanation is that the fields were comparison trials of different crop varieties or ...

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