| Subject | Date Asked |
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| drainage | 8/19/2008 |
Q: I'm getting ready to land scape my backyard after a detached garage rebuild. I have clay not soil ...
A: Boy, you're in a pickle. I don't know about your specific situation (How much rain you get, how ...
|
| Flagpole lighting | 8/19/2008 |
Q: We have a twenty foot flagpole that we wish to illuminate. Will a 50 watt halogen floodlight provide ...
A: Here is a company that sells direct to consumers. Their fixtures go up to 250W. ...
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| Landscape edging to prevent mulch runoff | 8/18/2008 |
Q: I recently "installed" rubber mulch in shrub beds, etc, but am suffering with some areas where ...
A: Yes - Any sort of edging would help with this problem. There are so many choices. I usually ...
|
| Flagpole lighting | 8/17/2008 |
Q: We have a twenty foot flagpole that we wish to illuminate. Will a 50 watt halogen floodlight provide ...
A: Proper flag etiquette dictates that if you are to leave a flag out over-night, it is to be ...
|
| Hedge & Shrub Removal | 8/16/2008 |
Q: I want to begin a small shrub and hedge removal business. I intend to use my pick-up truck (91 ...
A: Nick, three things come to my mind regarding tree/shrub removal. Damage to underground pipes and ...
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| NEED HELP PRIVACY | 8/5/2008 |
Q: Marc Hi, I live in New York and my neighbor has a horse, their property is close to mine. I dont ...
A: The Tsuga canadensis / Canadian or Eastern hemlock was the right choice as it will grow in Full Sun, ...
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| Foundation Plantings | 8/5/2008 |
Q: I'm hoping you can help. I live in Connecticut, Zone 6. Our house is a shade of taupe with white ...
A: Euonymus Scale information: http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef428.asp I don’t know if ...
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| Regrading | 8/5/2008 |
Q: We need to bring in fill o regrade our yard. If we plan to add in fill against our currently ...
A: To cover a concrete foundation and make it water-proof/damp-proof, most builders use an ...
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| planting tropicals | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I live in the 94565 area and have 2 plumerias in pots and just purchased a Tiare plant. Can I plant ...
A: You are in a USDA zone 9B, but that just isn't enough information for your tropicals. As your ...
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| erosion control on steep hillside | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I have a a flat lawn area roughly 10-12 feet in depth followed by a steep hillside with a large tree ...
A: Good for you in your ability to stop someone from being a nuisance. I wish more folks would have ...
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| NEED HELP PRIVACY | 8/3/2008 |
Q: Marc Hi, I live in New York and my neighbor has a horse, their property is close to mine. I dont ...
A: HEMLOCK is poisonous to horses!! It contains an alkaloid that attacks their nervous system. It can ...
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| Foundation Plantings | 8/3/2008 |
Q: I'm hoping you can help. I live in Connecticut, Zone 6. Our house is a shade of taupe with white ...
A: Plant selections sound fine. The Skyrocket Juniper can get quite large, and possibly over-power ...
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| Patio Fill and base material | 8/2/2008 |
Q: We are collecting bids for a backyard patio. We have water issues so we want a very good base. We ...
A: You were instructed to ask for "grade 9" fill by whom? They might know of the subtle distinction. ...
|
| Sod Job | 7/31/2008 |
Q: I am about to sod a section of my yard that was destroyed during a sewer pipe repair. The job was ...
A: If you are talking about weed heights of an inch or two, then no, it is not a problem to till weeds ...
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| Lanscape a Mess | 7/30/2008 |
Q: We are also in the process of re-roofing and siding our home. We are planning on putting a gable ...
A: If you want great results, you've got to engage a professional familiar with your area. Try these ...
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| catch basin | 7/29/2008 |
Q: Does a catch basin need an out? Our front yard slopes toward the left front corner of the house. ...
A: Depends on the amount of water you are talking about...Water seeks its own level, so if you don't ...
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| steep hill and landscaping | 7/29/2008 |
Q: We have a steep hill that goes down to a paved driveway and to the lake. Right now on the steep ...
A: Afer re-reading this question a few times, I am a bit unclear - You want to remove a railroad tie ...
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| Growing Trees Indoors. | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I have about 600 1.5 year old tree seedlings (Colardo Blue Spruce and some White Pine) in foot ...
A: I was poking around, looking for information on indoor growing equipment, then in dawned on me that ...
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| Retaining Wall | 7/19/2008 |
Q: Our neighbors on 3 sides' yards are higher than ours so my husband says that we need to level ours ...
A: Sarah - The good news is that if you live in Sacramento proper (not Sacto County, Rancho Cordova, ...
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| Tree Ring | 7/13/2008 |
Q: I just have a very basic question which I hope you won't find too boring. I want to build a tree ...
A: Your question was posted in the "question pool" and after reading it, I began to notice these ...
|
| WEEDS BETWEEN PAVERS | 7/10/2008 |
Q: HAD OUR PATIO INSTALLED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND DID NOT PAY ATTENTION WHEN WE WERE TOLD TO APPLY JOINT ...
A: Just bought a big bag of "pre-emergent" granules from Home Depot...Kind of expensive (about ...
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| Drainage question | 7/7/2008 |
Q: Hope you can help me with a drainage question. My home site slopes from back to front. I am trying ...
A: Yes - If done with care. You are talking about a 1% slope, so silt in the pipe will accumulate more ...
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| I need help selecting a tree | 7/7/2008 |
Q: I have a raised deck, which looks onto our neighbors back yard, and live in a zone 3 climate. I ...
A: Here is the link for this tree: http://www.jfschmidt.com/articles/swedishcol/ Thank you for ...
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| Garden Statue Placement | 7/7/2008 |
Q: We want to place an antique zinc garden statue (previously was a fountain, but the bottom/base has ...
A: Here we call it decomposed granite, or D.G. It is an inexpensive material (about $18/ cubic yard ...
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| Plants to grow on the western exposure to reduce cooling needs of my coastal Texas home. | 7/6/2008 |
Q: We live on a small lot south of Houston, Texas (USDA Zone 9a). The bedrooms on the western side of ...
A: A shrub isn't going to get as high as required to screen out the sun from beating into these ...
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| Brick laying | 7/6/2008 |
Q: I currently have bricks layed very nicely on a layer of compacted sand ontop of a concrete patio by ...
A: Without pealing it all back, or talking to the previous owner, its hard to say why the sand was ...
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| retaining wall | 7/6/2008 |
Q: I have leveled my front yard which leaves a 3-5' deep area near the house in need of a retaining ...
A: Depends on which way the slope is...AWAY from the house is the ONLY way to go. Water still flows ...
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| Raising existing flower beds | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I'm interested in sprucing up my backyard. I currently have areas on each side of the yard for ...
A: Generally, yes. Depending on the plant types in your beds, the best time to do this "bed-raising" ...
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| New Yard | 6/17/2008 |
Q: Marc, I have just bought a home with a nice large back yard. It was landscaped a long time ago. The ...
A: This product should kill two birds with one stone. A product that protects the wood, extends its ...
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| laying a brick sloped patio | 6/15/2008 |
Q: I have an area approx 275 sq ft that we took out the lawn to lay a patio of 8 x 4 inch brick. The ...
A: Jonny - I don't quite understand what area or volume you are confused about... 1-1/2 inches of ...
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| Foundation Landscaping | 6/14/2008 |
Q: I have two planting beds that I have to plant from scratch and I have a few questions: - What is the ...
A: Regrading a planter depends on its size and condition. As a general rule, slope all dirt away from ...
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| awning installation | 6/13/2008 |
Q: I'm attaching an awning to my house. The awning is 8 feet 2 inches long and factory set at a 10 ...
A: Paul: At 10 degrees slope, the "fall" of the awning will be 1'-5". So add that to your 90" (or ...
|
| weeds | 6/13/2008 |
Q: We have weeds in my front and back yard(fairly large)> We have not done any landscaping, but we are ...
A: Ah - a different question, altogether. No chemical use for weed abatement. I am taking this ...
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| concreat pad needs leveled for pool | 6/12/2008 |
Q: I have recently purchased a large surface pool and the area i would like to set it up on is a very ...
A: I'm not aware of any "system" for leveling an existing, sloping concrete pad. To clarify: in your ...
|
| Pavers/cobbles for the backyard | 6/12/2008 |
Q: We had a deck in our backyard, which we recently removed. There's concrete layer underneath. We ...
A: How to install veneer cobbles on a driveway slab: ...
|
| carrotwood tree | 6/12/2008 |
Q: I planted a carrotwood recently in our front yard 4-6 feet from our septic tank and hubby is worried ...
A: The Carrotwood is considered a noxious weed in Florida, but its roots are generally well-behaved. 6 ...
|
| concrete around tree | 6/10/2008 |
Q: I have a large Magnolia tree in my backyard.I am putting concrete around the entire area that is ...
A: Sorry, Cami - There is no magic number that concrete should be kept back “x” feet from the trunk. ...
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| Ivy and shady lawn! | 6/9/2008 |
Q: Okay, just moved into a house where the last owner (of about 18 years) did not do a THING to the ...
A: You didn't say where you live, but it is referred to as the "Kudzu of the Pacific Northwest”. ...
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| Earth Berm/ Earth Roof - no concrete alternative? | 6/9/2008 |
Q: Marc, the home site is on a sort of steep hill and the plan is for an earth bermed house, one story, ...
A: One type of structure I remember from school used "rammed earth" construction. Pretty simple ...
|
| paving stones | 6/8/2008 |
Q: I recently bought creeping thyme which was called "Footprint plants" in the nursery, meaning they ...
A: Ed - Here is a great website that is interactive, and can help you zero in on a lawn-substituting ...
|
| Separating large area of gravel from grass | 6/8/2008 |
Q: We have a large area in our yard that has poor soil where nothing grows but weeds. We have killed ...
A: I would suggest black plastic recycled edging: http://www.olyola.com/roundtop.shtml Or ...
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| paving stones | 6/7/2008 |
Q: I recently bought creeping thyme which was called "Footprint plants" in the nursery, meaning they ...
A: Here is a link with other suggested planting hints. http://www.humeseeds.com/efcthym.htm It is a ...
|
| TOWN CENTER TREE PLANTINGS | 6/4/2008 |
Q: WE ARE DESIGNING A BUILDING IN A TOWN CENTER AREA WHERE THEY ARE REQUIRING TREE PLANTINGS IN AN AREA ...
A: http://www.jfschmidt.com/utilist.html Schmidt UtiliTrees™ designation is given to trees that are ...
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| Fieldstone raised bed | 5/8/2008 |
Q: I created a raised planting bed made of fieldstone found in our property ( from NJ, zone 6). The ...
A: Did you just lay the stonewall directly onto turf? I think the previous questioner was going to ...
|
| evergreen base | 5/8/2008 |
Q: we have decorative red shale rock around base of our huge evergreen tree, and among our shrubs/tree ...
A: Stone mulch has many benefits: It has low maintenance, free from wind damage and does not slide or ...
|
| building up a driveway | 5/7/2008 |
Q: Every year during breakup we have to deal with the mud pool that our driveway becomes. I would love ...
A: There are Pros and Cons of Crushed Gravel Driveways: cost, reduction in frost heaves in cold ...
|
| awkward discussion with landscape co. | 5/7/2008 |
Q: Late Fall of '07: the company sent a crew to clean out beds, trim back shrubs, etc. and to construct ...
A: I would run (not walk) to the phone and call the State Contractor's Board to see if this outfit is ...
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| need a patio cover idea | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I AM RENTING A HOME, IT HAS A LARGE CONCRETE PATIO (APPR 24'L X 6'W) BUT NOTHING ABOVE TO RELIEVE US ...
A: Lattice is o.k. It can become a maintenance issue, when time to re-paint or stain. There are tons ...
|
| stone bordered flower bed | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I am going to build a couple of beds on both sides of my deck and against my brick house. ...
A: Weed fabric: Lining the bottom won't help much. We specify it all the time here (under rock mulch), ...
|
| front walkway design | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I have a very flat front yard. I recently had a beautiful paver walkway with nice rounded design ...
A: I don't quite understand what you mean by "trench". I would not dig deeper than half the thickness ...
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| NATURAL PRIVACY FENCE | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I HAVE A L SHAPE AREA I WANT TO BLOCK. ON ONE SIDE I HAVE 3 OAKLEAF HYDRANGA THEN A CORAL BARK MAPLE ...
A: The Aucuba is a pretty snazzy plant, and it can get up to 6 feet tall. Here is a picture of one: ...
|
| Instant grass | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I just bought a new house that needs grass in the back yard. Some one told me that local ...
A: Yes, it’s called Hydoseeding - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroseeding It is a mixture of seeds, ...
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| stone bordered flower bed | 5/4/2008 |
Q: I am going to build a couple of beds on both sides of my deck and against my brick house. ...
A: Yes & Yes You will curse the day you decided to plop a planter on top of bermuda grass without ...
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| NATURAL PRIVACY FENCE | 5/4/2008 |
Q: I HAVE A L SHAPE AREA I WANT TO BLOCK. ON ONE SIDE I HAVE 3 OAKLEAF HYDRANGA THEN A CORAL BARK MAPLE ...
A: Depending on your USDA zone, I like the Japanese Laurel (aucuba japonica). Hearty down to zone 7B... ...
|
| trees | 5/3/2008 |
Q: i have a very small lot and just put in septic system the kind where you can see the green lids on ...
A: If, as you say you have a "very small lot", I would suggest NO trees. Here is a good website for ...
|
| landscape & design | 5/1/2008 |
Q: fast growing hedges, deer resistant, preferably evergreen to keep out nosy neighbors and planting ...
A: My personal choices for what you've descibed: Arborvitae ‘Green Giant’ (Thuja ‘Green Giant’), or ...
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| landscape & design | 5/1/2008 |
Q: fast growing hedges, deer resistant, preferably evergreen to keep out nosy neighbors and planting ...
A: My first choice for you: Arborvitae ‘Green Giant’ (Thuja ‘Green Giant’): It is deer resistant. For a ...
|
| garden steps | 4/9/2008 |
Q: I need to put steps on a slope in my backyard. The total run is 153" the total rise is 52". My idea ...
A: I think that 4 steps would be too few, for a decent of 53", and if I were designing this, I'd have ...
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| transplanting a small red maple | 4/9/2008 |
Q: have a small red maple in the wooded part of my back yard and want to move it to the front. it's ...
A: Sure. Easy. Spring is a good time to do this, and the tree you describe is still quite small. ...
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| Bridge | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I need to build a foot bridge to connect two properties. The clear span has to be 20 feet. Do you ...
A: Here i a guide for a site-built wooden foot bridge that may work: ...
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| driveway | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I am putting in a wide driveway/parking area next to my garage. The purpose is for eventual RV ...
A: Slopes you suggested are fine - 2% & 1%, repectively. I'd go for the 3/4" aggregate, as it should ...
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| Shade garden | 4/5/2008 |
Q: I am in zone 5 in Michigan. We built a home in a wooded area. Unfortunately most of the trees are ...
A: other than a rain-forest canopy! However, there is a lot of areas in the US that fall into a Zone ...
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| Natural shrub fencing | 4/3/2008 |
Q: We have a very open backyard and would like to put up some tall evergreen type of shrubs/trees along ...
A: Japanese Privet (Ligustrum japonicum) is marginal in your area...it does best in USDA Zone 9 and ...
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| Natural shrub fencing | 4/2/2008 |
Q: We have a very open backyard and would like to put up some tall evergreen type of shrubs/trees along ...
A: You are in a USDA Zone 7 (same as me). The Arborvitae will get up to 15 feet tall, and more open ...
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| Landscape Design Pricing | 1/29/2008 |
Q: I'm just starting out in Landscape & Interior Design. I'm not sure how/what to charge for my design ...
A: Specific to LANDSCAPE DESIGN, $10k is a HUGE sum for a backyard design, unless it is an exceptional ...
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| big yard | 1/27/2008 |
Q: i have a fairly large back yard with no trees or landscaping and a nasty looking fence from the ...
A: Marlys Bells book, ”Gardening & Landscaping in Central Florida” is available at Target.com & ...
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| Ground Cover (preferably evergreen) | 1/24/2008 |
Q: We have a small court yard garden where 'conventional' grass will not grow (due to trees that ...
A: Here, in the high desert of western Nevada (Where it is currently 20F and snowing!), we use the ...
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| raised river rock garden bed | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I live in Southern California and want to have a raised garden beds for my backyard. I have priced ...
A: Mortar/concrete holds its shape in a few minutes, and usually "sets" within 24 hours. It reaches ...
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| Landscape Design Pricing | 1/22/2008 |
Q: I'm just starting out in Landscape & Interior Design. I'm not sure how/what to charge for my design ...
A: What to charge for professional services…Hmmm. There are several ways to go about asking fees for ...
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| our flagstone on hot tub | 1/19/2008 |
Q: We purchased in August and notice a little bit of the flagstone rock from hottub that just falls off ...
A: I would worry. Flagstone is a variable material, depending on its origin. I spoke with a local ...
|
| innovative concepts in urban planning | 1/19/2008 |
Q: I am student styding in an architecture college. In the present semester we have been given a topic ...
A: I like to define my terms, so everybody is on the same wavelength when we come to discuss any topic ...
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| Adding curb appeal | 1/19/2008 |
Q: We have a 2-storey house which sits on a lot which is 50 feet wide. the distance from the curb to ...
A: You could certainly add some earth berms inside the planters, but I think the problem may not be the ...
|
| Improving runoff patterns on a grade | 1/18/2008 |
Q: I have no idea if you are the right person to ask about this, but from reading your past answers, ...
A: Sounds like there are two or three options for you, depending on the room available, and your ...
|
| Buffering road noise effectively | 1/17/2008 |
Q: The side of our house is located on a busy street on top a sloping hill (with about a 5' rise) So ...
A: To make a difference, the wall would have to be fairly large - here is a link to a "Garden Wall" ...
|
| Steep Driveway | 1/13/2008 |
Q: We have an extremely steep driveway leading up to our garage and house. The front yard, to the right ...
A: Here are a few "tricks" to consider: Give them something else to look at. Can you add a splash of ...
|
| landscaping on a slope | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I am afraid to do anything to my backyard because of the grade. My house sits on top of a hill in a ...
A: If I were in your shoes, I'd start by going to the library and looking for books on landscape design ...
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| finding a landscape architect | 1/10/2008 |
Q: How do i go about finding a landscape architect in my area. (Houston Area)I'm looking for someone to ...
A: Sounds like you are a more savvy design-conscious person. Glad you won’t just pick any “landscaper” ...
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| need 2 large photinia | 12/8/2007 |
Q: Our Katy TX home backs up to strip center. We've a tall brick fence and were nicely screened from ...
A: Here is the local listings for some possible nurserymen that can help you out... ...
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| Jacaranda trees | 12/4/2007 |
Q: I currently live near Sydney and the jacaranda are in full bloom (almost done 12/4/07) but moving to ...
A: The zones I was previously referring to were SUNSET zones primarily for west coast climates, created ...
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| Steep downward short driveway... | 12/2/2007 |
Q: What can you do with a front yard that is steep downward to the house? The primary problem is the ...
A: "Landscape" is the least of the challenges. I would imagine that storm & snowmelt drainage into the ...
|
| Usage of Slate for exterior patio | 11/27/2007 |
Q: We are working with a a landscaping firm to landscape/hardscape the exterior of our new-contruction ...
A: Installation over a concrete pad is excellent! It is difficult for me to convince clients that this ...
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| i hope you can answer my question | 11/27/2007 |
Q: how much does it usually cost to smash down concrete? i want to remove the cement that was placed ...
A: Yes, you can do it yourself, with a bit of planning and forethought. There are folks you can hire ...
|
| Zone 6 native plant advice | 11/6/2007 |
Q: I live on 3.5 acres in Foristell, Missouri Zone 6 and I am going to downsize my yard and would like ...
A: Roger - You're going to need a little bit of water to get things established, thats why most folks ...
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| replacing grass with rosemary | 11/4/2007 |
Q: I have about 25 square feet of grass in my front yard .. dogs seem to like the grass .. however, I ...
A: First, check to see if Rosemarinus officinalis grows in your area: a Sunset zone 4-24, and usually a ...
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| landscaping driveway ? | 11/4/2007 |
Q: I have a quick question, My driveway is stone and on the side closer to neighbor I have about 4 ft ...
A: You didn't specify a location, so I'm going to give as generic a response, and ask that you verify ...
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| Need plant ideas | 11/1/2007 |
Q: I live in the Philadelphia, Pa area. I would like to plant some plants on top of a 2 foot high ...
A: With winters, it is tough to have a "year-round" performer...but here are a couple for Zones 6 & 7: ...
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| ground cover | 10/30/2007 |
Q: I've got a slope that needs ground cover. I tried putting Fiesta Red Iceplants and rabbits and ...
A: It is a real head-scratcher here in the west. Two lists to consider (careful to consider your USDA ...
|
| Contour Grading | 10/30/2007 |
Q: I am having a problem on drawing finish contours for a access road. How do I know where they catch ...
A: If you are creating a grading plan, your first bit of information should be a topographic map of the ...
|
| English Ivy | 10/22/2007 |
Q: I just chopped some overgrown bushes in my very sunny front grassy lawn. After the bushes were ...
A: Probably the other way around - the lawn will invade your ivy and cause weeding problems. English ...
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| landscaping fill | 10/17/2007 |
Q: I am currently trying to replace some plants in an area that when it rains water runs through the ...
A: First, find your zone: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html Watery soil isn't that tough ...
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| Landscaping in the Salt Lake Valley | 10/16/2007 |
Q: Do you have any general advice for us here in the high desert Wasatch front (South Salt Lake ...
A: I alway like to direct folks to their local Agriculture Extension office for plant advice, but the ...
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| redesigning our front beds | 10/16/2007 |
Q: We recently bought a home and can't stand what the previous owners had for "landscaping" in the ...
A: I'll start with your last question, forst - soils tests: Here is a link of local firms with ...
|
| Patio under trees | 9/9/2007 |
Q: We have a grove of silver maples in our backyard (in Indiana) under which we lay mulch every year. ...
A: Of all of the trees, the Silver Maple is probably most resilient to a loosely laid paver patio, as ...
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| landscape design re: proportions:scale | 9/9/2007 |
Q: Good day, My question is how to "evolve a [landscape]design that has a proportionate visual unity ...
A: Nell - John Brookes is a prolific author, and I don't know which of his books this came out of - but ...
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| landscape to cover a fence | 9/9/2007 |
Q: I have a wooden fence that spans my back yard and along the pool area. The fence is 105' X6'. ...
A: Oleander would get too big. By eliminating "vines" from your list of options, you have literally ...
|
| Noise barrier for noisy neighbors | 9/8/2007 |
Q: I just finished reading your article about your suggestion for a erecting a noise barrier to highway ...
A: * * FOLLOW UP * * Again, my sympathies - But I ran across this item this morning - do you live in ...
|
| Patio Paver Molds?? | 9/7/2007 |
Q: I would like to add on to my existing basket brick patio. When I looked to see how the previous ...
A: John, I spent the weekend mulling over this item - I cannot find in my professional journals or ...
|
| Did I make a mistake using English Ivy in my garden? | 9/6/2007 |
Q: I live on the east coast in zone 6B. I have a natural rock wall in my back yard and at its base is ...
A: Your concern is well founded, as ivy is a pernicious plant known for "taking over", in the right ...
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| Trees close to a foundation | 9/5/2007 |
Q: We just moved to KC, Kansas (zone 5?) and purchased a new home with no landscaping in the back yard. ...
A: It is easier to tell you what NOT to plant - Avoid planting these shallow rooted tree species near ...
|
| Post and Board Fence style | 9/5/2007 |
Q: I have a colonial house abutting conservation land (i.e. wilderness). I currently have for a fence ...
A: I wish there was a site I could direct you to that has a "standard" deatil. Maybe this one will ...
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| Post and Board Fence style | 9/4/2007 |
Q: I have a colonial house abutting conservation land (i.e. wilderness). I currently have for a fence ...
A: Soulds like you are describing a "picket" fence (open to look through), versus a "board" fence ...
|
| septic fields | 8/27/2007 |
Q: You may refer me to someone if this doesnt work. I live in New England in zone 5, and none of you ...
A: Ajuga (Bugle Weed), is a shade- & moisture-loving annual, with over 40 varieties, that range in ...
|
| Sky Pencil-Holly | 8/27/2007 |
Q: I'd like to grow a Sky Pencil-jap. Holley in a container. I live in northern N.J. so have pretty ...
A: Sky Pencil Holly (Illex creneta) is hardy only to a zone 7 (-15 degrees) – so probably better along ...
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| Hardscape | 8/27/2007 |
Q: I recently fenced in my small backyard and there is almost no grass left due to my 2 big dogs. I ...
A: Most kennels use concrete, so that or innerlocking pavers could be used, unless it is in the full ...
|
| what tree would work? | 8/27/2007 |
Q: North shore of Long Island, New York Due to recent renovation on my neighbor's house, I would like ...
A: The kind of tree you're looking for is called a "columnar" tree, and many species have been ...
|
| Steep hill on a lake | 8/24/2007 |
Q: We live on a lake in central Minnesota. Our lot is about 50' wide and in the backyard, to get down ...
A: If there are no existing drainage ditches being crossed, I think that it come down to materials and ...
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| Walkway | 8/24/2007 |
Q: I have a brick with gray siding colonial home. We need to replace the front porch and walkway to ...
A: I don't think it would look too out-of-place or busy if the flagstone were actually cut stone versus ...
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| Walkway | 8/23/2007 |
Q: I have a brick with gray siding colonial home. We need to replace the front porch and walkway to ...
A: There are lots of options; almost too many to give you a very narrow answer...here are some links ...
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| Erosion | 8/22/2007 |
Q: I live on the West Coast of Florida. My backyard slopes down to a creek. The county recently built ...
A: There are ways to "armor" lawn with various devices to assist in keeping the soil & sod in place ...
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| live oak tree roots and house foundation | 8/21/2007 |
Q: MArc, We have been in this house (concete foundation) for 20 years. My husband planted a live oak ...
A: I was taught, "What you see above ground is what the roots look like below ground." Turns out this ...
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| Mudslides | 8/20/2007 |
Q: I've lived in my home for about 9 years. It is not a good lot. My house sits down from the road ...
A: Water is extremely damaging when it flows, and if it really is smoking down a large incline (135 ...
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| cleaning up after mountain laurel | 8/20/2007 |
Q: My husband recently cleared some of our land that had been over crowded with scrub brush, very leggy ...
A: Hmmm. I don't think so, depending on what you put in it's place. Some shade plants are designed to ...
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| Hibiscus near a foundation | 8/17/2007 |
Q: My neighbors house is about 7ft away from mine. She announced today that she was having 3 hibiscus ...
A: In Iowa, its not an invasive species, and no mention of root problems. more info here: ...
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| Pool/yard flooding | 8/17/2007 |
Q: With all the rain here in florida our yard & pool have flooded twice. The county guys came out, ...
A: Yard & pool flooding? Sounds pretty serious...and your options are sandbags for YEARS? Nope. ...
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| drainage issues | 8/17/2007 |
Q: they just built a home next to mine and i am now having alot of flooding in my back yard due to poor ...
A: Sounds like you are doing just that - holding up their permit...The builder is probably at the table ...
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| Sweet Gum Root System | 8/12/2007 |
Q: I have a 30 year old Sweet Gum in my courtyard. The garage and house are 8 and 15 feet away, ...
A: If the tree is 30+ years old, I doubt it will cause you a problem, if it hasn't already...Here is a ...
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| Privatizing a corner lot | 7/30/2007 |
Q: We just bought a house and wanted to privatize it a bit. There is no fence or hedging around it. The ...
A: Not quite a square lot (more of a trapazoid), but it sounds like it has lots of potential, as they ...
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| jacaranda trees | 7/27/2007 |
Q: I have two questions about jacaranda trees. I would like to plant one next to my driveway, and I ...
A: Grassy area should be fine without changing the watering regime. Just keep it watered until ...
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| jacaranda trees | 7/26/2007 |
Q: I have two questions about jacaranda trees. I would like to plant one next to my driveway, and I ...
A: I had to use my Sunset Western Garden book instead of the USDA charts to find your zone - looks like ...
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| bare landscape | 7/26/2007 |
Q: (you sound like a very knowledgeable individual.) Here it goes.... I'll try to include as much info ...
A: I took a day to think about this wide-ranging question, so sorry for the slow response. A good ...
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| landscaping near a side entry garage | 7/26/2007 |
Q: We just bought a home near Fayetteville, N.C. I am not sure what style garage/driveway we have, but ...
A: Curved? For all those formal entertaining occasions when the limos are stacked up delivering ...
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| hillside rock | 7/25/2007 |
Q: What can I do with the hill that is on my property? I had three landscaping contractors come in and ...
A: Retaining walls will add to the cost, but how safe is having to mow with cleats or a rope/pully ...
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| small back yard needs help | 7/25/2007 |
Q: We just purchased a home Grand Junction CO -the back yard is south facing and 14 wide to a white ...
A: A quick look at your zone, and it looks like you are in a USDA zone 6...as long as you are not on ...
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| Dirt against the side of a pool | 7/24/2007 |
Q: I was wondering if it's alright to put dirt directly on the side of a pool. My friends just put up ...
A: Sounds like an ABOVE GROUND pool, and if so you are correct: no dirt should be in contact with the ...
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| Beauty bark and Sod | 7/7/2007 |
Q: Can I lay sod over beauty bark and expect it to grow? Ken
A: "beauty bark"? That was a new term for me...So I did a quick web search. Neither the organic nor ...
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| deck/pool/erosion problem | 7/5/2007 |
Q: I have just installed an inground pool. My yard slopes so I now have hills from the pool decking ...
A: ..There are literally HUNDREDS of products & solutions that could work. "Erosion Control" is a ...
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| Reclaiming weed area | 7/4/2007 |
Q: I don't know if this is something you do so forgive me if I picked the wrong expert but here’s the ...
A: The most popular is "Roudup" (other similar brands are available at the "Big Box" hardware stores). ...
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| blank slate | 7/3/2007 |
Q: We recently bought a house with a big, rectangular, fenced in back yard. There is a pool w/ hot tub ...
A: $1,800 is a bit on the high side, but it depends on the lot size (you mentioned "big" - if it is ...
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| garden question | 7/1/2007 |
Q: I have built a 16" retaining wall in my backyard made of stone pavers. I have planted around 10 ...
A: I hope you know that these cute little arborvitaes will get 15-20 feet tall? (Unless you hedge them ...
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| Concrete Tree Rings | 6/28/2007 |
Q: I am trying to find a source for concrete curved tree rings. These are usually about 2-3 feet long ...
A: For commercial applications, there is a supplier I've used before: Quickcrete ...
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| question!!!!! | 6/26/2007 |
Q: I wasn't sure out of the list who to ask. But here is my question. I live in Texas, I planted two ...
A: They are on the big side of tree-moving...I calculate that they are a little over 6-1/2'' in ...
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| increasing home's value | 6/25/2007 |
Q: I was looking for someone with a tree expertise but noticed your comment in your profile 'how to use ...
A: In most of the studies I have read in my trade journals and magazines such as Money, etc. the very ...
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| what to plant | 6/18/2007 |
Q: I would like to plant some perennials in my backyard. The area is about 10 feet wide and 16 feet ...
A: Connecticut is in a USDA zone 5b to 6b, but if it is perrenials you are planting, you can stretch it ...
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| Jacaranda Tree | 6/17/2007 |
Q: Like Karl (previous question on Jacaranda Tree), I too have Jacaranda Trees that are having trouble. ...
A: I cannot be too specific, as I don't know the exact problems associated with your tree like its ...
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| Landscaping for a brick-front home | 6/17/2007 |
Q: I bought a brick front home a few years ago that basically has green bushes populating the garden ...
A: The purpose of a mulch is two-fold: so the bed looks "neat & tidy" and so the plant can retain ...
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| Landscaping ideas for a small sloping back yard | 6/14/2007 |
Q: Our back yard is roughly 17 feet from the house exterior to the fence. The length of the property is ...
A: Sandy. Yes, if you cannot build a deck, then retaining wall(s) may be in order. Is it your fence ...
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| pergolas | 6/10/2007 |
Q: I am measuring for a pergola and can not figure out what the measurements are that are listed. If a ...
A: The "base" of a pergola is the post/ground connection, which isn't going to be much more than a few ...
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| Jacaranda Questions | 6/6/2007 |
Q: I live in Tracy, California (central valley) and have a 18 to 20 foot Jacaranda in my yard, and ...
A: Pruning: I'd wait to see what is dead and what isn't - if it is obviously brown and shriveled, then ...
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| Jacaranda Questions | 6/5/2007 |
Q: I live in Tracy, California (central valley) and have a 18 to 20 foot Jacaranda in my yard, and ...
A: and grow best in USDA zones 9b-11 (Sunset zones 12,13,15-24)....Tracy is right on the boarder of ...
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| Hillside and planter drainage | 6/5/2007 |
Q: I have a question relating to drainage from my backyard hillside and planters. I have a retaining ...
A: It isn't the summer water that will get behind these walls. I grew up in southern California, and ...
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| recommendations for a screen in memphis | 6/3/2007 |
Q: iv got a bunch of huge magnolias in my front yard. im considering making a screen using rapidly ...
A: A few good evergreen choices for use as screens in Tennessee include Leyland Cypress, Japanese ...
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| Planting shade trees near a septic tank | 5/22/2007 |
Q: I live in CA.,zone 7, foothills of the Sierra's. I need to shade the western exposure of my home (it ...
A: ******* FOLLOW-UP - You can also buy bigger trees to start with - 4" caliper size and bigger. ...
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| design dilemma | 5/22/2007 |
Q: I have a 1935 cape cod style house with an enclosed front porch and no front entrance. Do you have ...
A: I infer that you want the front door to be the focal point (the place where attention is focused). ...
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| Landscaping with storm drain | 5/21/2007 |
Q: time and guidance. we purchased a new construction home with a storm drain. The storm drain is ...
A: Here is my favorite plant sector website: http://www.growit.com/PlantInfo/LandScape.Htm You'll need ...
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| Bradford pear | 5/21/2007 |
Q: I have a Bradford pear tree that is 12 years old. Up to last year it was beautiful until last ...
A: I don't recall the pears doing too well, when I lived in Charlottesville...maye a powdery mildew? I ...
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| Tall narrow decorative tree type | 5/20/2007 |
Q: I am looking for a tree that will grow tall (for privacy) and narrow ( 6 to 8 feet wide -between ...
A: You are in a Canadian zone 6a (roughly a USDA zone 5). Here are some clumnar/narrow plants that ...
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| regrading around foundation | 5/19/2007 |
Q: We have some water problem on one side of our house which is at a downslope in the subdivision. ...
A: How old is the home? If it is a recently built, the developer may have the pleasure of fixing this ...
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| Is my Jaracanda dying? | 5/17/2007 |
Q: I have a Jacaranda tree in my backyard and right now the tree is almost bare. We live in Daytona ...
A: Daytona BEach is closer to a 9A/9B, which is in the upper reaches of the Jacarada's zone. For more ...
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| Springs coming up | 5/16/2007 |
Q: I live in St. Louis near a river. This spring has been just a little wetter than normal. W have a ...
A: If I owned this property, I would consider putting in a "spring box" (do a Google search to see what ...
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| Pine Trees | 5/16/2007 |
Q: My house is set back from the street by about 35 feet. I have property on the right and left of my ...
A: Dave - Grass is pretty adaptable, so I don't think it is the acidic needles, but rather poor ...
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| wild flower garden | 5/12/2007 |
Q: I live in the Dallas Texas area and the back of my backyard is kind of a hump up to the fence line. ...
A: A tall order. For trees, shrubs, & groundcovers, i use a website to select plants at ...
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| ground cover or grass | 5/11/2007 |
Q: We have a very small hill behind our condo, is it better to plant it in grass or ground cover. THank ...
A: Not trying to be "indecisive", but it really depends on a number of factors - Just some guiding ...
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| staking junipers | 5/10/2007 |
Q: I planted a row of 18 skyrocket Junipers several years ago that have reached 7' in height. I have ...
A: My general rule is to not stake a tree beyond the first growing season (no more than about 18 ...
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| Mixing a flagstone walkway with paver patio | 5/8/2007 |
Q: We currently have a paver patio with a mixture of terra cotta and gray colors of various sizes of ...
A: flagstone comes in all sorts of colors, depending on availability...No, I don't think it would look ...
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| weeds in walkway | 5/8/2007 |
Q: 2 years ago I put in a brick walkway from my driveway to my back steps. It looks great, but every ...
A: We don't have such fertile soil here, but if you are looking for a total weed killer, try searching ...
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| stone walkway | 5/8/2007 |
Q: I have a 1910 Victorian in NJ. I am designing a garden walkway from my wrap around porch to the ...
A: If I understand your questions correctly, I think either type of stone will fit, "historically" ...
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| privacy (evergreen) hedge | 4/25/2007 |
Q: Other than Arborvities (more along the Giant Thuja or Leyland Cyprus) I am looking for a hearty ...
A: Leylands area good, but can get large - 80 ft, at up to 10 ft./year! Good news is that you can ...
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| Mountain-side concerns | 4/22/2007 |
Q: I live on the side of a mountain at the foothills of the Shenandoah mountains in Virginia. This acre ...
A: Basically three solutions: 1.) No-mow grass, 2.) Special equipment, or 3.) Plant something else. NO ...
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| Extending a driveway, overflow parking | 4/20/2007 |
Q: I would like to widen my existing driveway onto my lawn to accomodate overflow parking. Essentially ...
A: 3 x 6 isn't a HUGE problem. There are a number of products out there, and basically 3 ways to ...
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| Growing grass over septic tank | 4/20/2007 |
Q: Zone 6 - Western NY. I have a big problem growing grass over the septic tank (most likely due to ...
A: I don't believe it is escaping gasses, but rather shallow soils - 3-4" just isn't enough to keep ...
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| sorry, sorry site | 4/16/2007 |
Q: I have an area I REALLY need help with. It is on my west property line and is, of course, the 1st ...
A: The dry condition plus invasive surface roots really makes it tough. I'm guessing that the ...
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| blacktop driveway | 4/16/2007 |
Q: I have a large blacktop driveway that abutts the neighbors driveway. I would like to cut a planting ...
A: The rental yard should have a concrete saw you can rent. It hooks up to a water source (usually by ...
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| Screen plants for Houston area | 4/16/2007 |
Q: I may be able to sleep better tonight without worrying about spacing.We live in houston area. We ...
A: Here are some others to consider,since you're having trouble finding a bigger Yaupon Holly (all are ...
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| Tiling/Pavers over existing concrete | 4/15/2007 |
Q: I have two sets of steps and a platform at the entrance to my home. I would like to tile or pave ...
A: Yes, if there are no big "chunks" missing or obvious cracks & failures that need reconstructing ...
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| Live oak spacing | 4/15/2007 |
Q: I may be able to sleep better tonight without worrying about spacing.We live in houston area. We ...
A: My father lives near Conroe, so I know that some areas of Houston are plagued with heavy clay soils ...
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| Fieldstone border around flower bed | 4/14/2007 |
Q: I am considering installing a stone border around a flower bed that runs in front of, and the length ...
A: 1. Yes 2. Maybe, depending on install (see below) 3. No 4. Yes, if cost is a concern, over "exactly" ...
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| Flooded Backyard | 4/12/2007 |
Q: I purchased a new house in December. Once the thaw and spring rains came I discovered that they ...
A: Your problem is beyond an e-mail solution from the likes of me. You have three options: (1) ...
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| grass | 4/12/2007 |
Q: I live on a river and have some low areas near the shoreline that have only river silt lying in ...
A: You might try Bahia grass - a native to Argentina... http://www.turfgrasses.com/info/erosion.html ...
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| driveway landscaping | 4/11/2007 |
Q: We live in the suburbs and our neighbor cut down all the pine trees that lines our driveway. ( they ...
A: why should YOU care what THEY think, now? Funny thing: I was just out at a jobsite this morning ...
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| landscaping for drainage - Streambed followup | 4/9/2007 |
Q: we are considering putting in drains underground to drain off rainwater from two lawns that drain ...
A: They come in many sizes, and are pretty plentiful here (we're on the Truckee River), so the price is ...
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| landscaping for drainage | 4/9/2007 |
Q: we are considering putting in drains underground to drain off rainwater from two lawns that drain ...
A: Open channels are always preferred over a closed pipe system, for ease of maintenance as well as the ...
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| Hydrangeas need company | 4/6/2007 |
Q: We have a gray townhouse with white trim in Baltimore, MD with a North/Northeast exposure. The front ...
A: Hmmm. Year-round, in the shade/near shade, in the northeast is a tough one. My initial thought for ...
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| Wet Swale | 4/5/2007 |
Q: I have about 1 acre on a slope, with an underground spring keeping a swale wet 9 months of the year ...
A: I use an online plant selection program for general ideas for plants (www.growit.com) understanding ...
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| Pink Japanese Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana 'Rosea' | 4/4/2007 |
Q: Could you tell me how close to septic tank lines I can safely plant a Pink Japanese Magnolia without ...
A: Don - Your M. soulangiana has the potential for getting quite large (30-40 ft. ht. & about 20 feet ...
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| noise mitigation | 4/3/2007 |
Q: I live 60 feet off a highway. In the effort to mitigate vehicle noise, I want to build a earth berm ...
A: Place the berm as close to the noise source as possible, as this will have a "reflecting" property ...
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| Yard Floods | 3/27/2007 |
Q: I live in an area with multiple housing units. All the units yards drain into my yard. Our yard is ...
A: It may help a bit - it is called a dry sump, and it is used a lot of times in areas, such as yours, ...
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| Chainlink Fence | 3/26/2007 |
Q: I am looking at putting my house on the market in a couple of years and would like to improve the ...
A: I can think of 3 options: Remove, replace, or cover/dress it up. Remove the fence? If not, then ...
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| follow-on question about Bradford Pears | 3/26/2007 |
Q: Marc, We moved into this house almost 7 years ago. Among other plantings, there are two Bradfords. ...
A: I'm 90% sure its age...Dogs (and other critters) help by adding amonia and nitrogen. Unless you're ...
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| white flowering shrubs | 3/25/2007 |
Q: I'm looking for a white flowering shrub - to grow to about 5 or 6 feet, rounded shape to put in a ...
A: Maybe you are thinking Gardenias (G. jasminoides), for "big" white flowers? There are lots of ...
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| Growing plants under trees. | 3/24/2007 |
Q: I have a raised bed under an oak and a hickory tree in east Texas. I can't get anything to grow ...
A: Here is a handy "east Texas" shade-gardening link, with some plant suggestions: ...
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| Fencing | 3/23/2007 |
Q: Please help me! I am currently in the process of getting a privacy fence installed in my backlot. ...
A: Usually, the HOA/ARC has a Design Book or Landscape Guideline of some sort...or a standard detail. ...
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| follow-on question about Bradford Pears | 3/22/2007 |
Q: Marc, We moved into this house almost 7 years ago. Among other plantings, there are two Bradfords. ...
A: It is most likely one of two things: age or fire blight. Bradfords are relatively resistant to ...
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| landscape help | 3/21/2007 |
Q: I live in South Georgia in a 1917 Greek Revival home. The backyard really needs to be completely ...
A: Good morning, Rebecca - Sounds like it has the potential to become a charming spot. With the right ...
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| New landscape | 3/19/2007 |
Q: We have a new home in Parker Co and are planning the backyard landscape. I actually have two ...
A: Its kind of a "loaded question", as there is are a series of numbers that you cannot just GUESS ...
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| Patio Bricks | 3/19/2007 |
Q: I'm not sure if my question(s) are in your realm of expertise so please bear with me. We recently ...
A: Yep - in my area. You have a triangle whose area is 1,670 sq. in., or 11.59 square feet (In case ...
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| landscaping | 3/19/2007 |
Q: When i first mover into my home of 4 years the the builders planted shrubs that was yellow and ...
A: My wife absolutely *LOVES* being prepared, with all her checklists in order, and then only after ...
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| staining concrete | 3/18/2007 |
Q: Marc, I have heard that you can stain concrete. I have a set of ugly concrete steps and would like ...
A: Concrete is a very porous material and takes staining quite well. It is really a simple product. I ...
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| water flow in back yard (drainage) FOLLOWUP | 3/15/2007 |
Q: my back yard slants toward the house. no leakage in the basement, but the water flow from the high ...
A: I had not been to NDS' website in a while...They've been busy buying up other companies and now ...
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| groundcover (& shrub) recommendations | 3/15/2007 |
Q: Marc, I need some recommendations on what ground cover would be best for two in-ground planters I ...
A: I combined both evergreen flowering shrubs and groundcovers, as you have enough space to accommodate ...
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| Calculating Soil for raised beds | 3/11/2007 |
Q: We have constructed three raised beds. They measure 6' x 4'x l'. How much soil in yards do we need ...
A: 6 x 4 x 1 = 24 cubic feet. This is divided by 27, to get cubic yards, or .88 c.y. per bed, ...
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| Rabbits | 3/8/2007 |
Q: We live out on 5 acs. And boy I just can not believe the little cute rabbits are so destructive. ...
A: * * * FOLLOW-UP * * * Forgot to mention the obvious initial option - rabbit repellant; Available at ...
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| Landscape Design | 3/7/2007 |
Q: I am located in Georgia. I should have included that in my question. I read one of your past ...
A: Great! I love planning the design before the chovle hits the dirt; it saves a lot on the wallet & ...
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| Landscape Design | 3/7/2007 |
Q: I would like your suggestion on ways to create a landscape design for the front of the home. I have ...
A: It is your home, so trust your likes/dislikes; just because others or I suggest something, you have ...
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| need help with my yard | 2/27/2007 |
Q: I live in southwest Virginia. My yard is in 2 levels. Where the 2 come together is a rather steep ...
A: When I lived in VA, I was constantly fighting the weeds (invasive grasses). Even though it has a ...
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| Wisteria replacement | 2/26/2007 |
Q: I have a Wisteria vine growing on a Patio arbor for shade in the summer, problem is Wisteria is too ...
A: Depending on your USDA zone, here are a few "replacements" for your Wisteria: Morning Glory Vine (a ...
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| Design for Large Back Yard | 2/24/2007 |
Q: We have a large, aluminum-fenced backyard with a slight slope. We have planted some trees. What is ...
A: Like an artist confronted by a blank canvas, or a writer stumped by a white sheet of paper, it can ...
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| Landscaping ideas | 2/23/2007 |
Q: I have a problem with desinging a memorable landscape. I am creating a landscape for a library, ...
A: Who doesn't like roses & trees? (Actually, my sister-in-law doesn't like trees...) Creating a ...
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| house entrance | 2/12/2007 |
Q: we are one of 4 houses set back off the road in a rural setting and want ideas how to design the ...
A: I used to live on a similar community in Virginia...there were four of us on a cul-de-sac, in a ...
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| Low Maintenance Design | 2/7/2007 |
Q: I am looking to design the area in to the right of our door under the living room area with a ...
A: I don't mind long questions, if you don't mind looking a little deeper than a few plant suggestions, ...
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| mulching | 2/7/2007 |
Q: Marc, Thank you for your time. My backyard is a disaster! Half of it is ok with grass but about ...
A: Wood chips are a good "quick fix" for a dark, muddy area - I would use a hardwood variety, and no ...
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| Moss growth in paver patio | 2/3/2007 |
Q: I have a 3 year old brick paver patio and last summer I had a great deal of moss growth between the ...
A: Mike - there are two approaches listed below. The first is more "environmentally friendly", and ...
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| sun angles winter vs. summer | 2/2/2007 |
Q: I am in the process of planning new flowerbeds on the north side of my house. I live in zone 7a. I ...
A: 2 sites: One shows the concept of WHY it is more shady in the winter than in the summer. The ...
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| grading | 1/29/2007 |
Q: Ok that helped me soo much but now i have another situation with grading! i have flat areas and i ...
A: I thought I could just point you to an online PDF document or guideline explaining basic grading ...
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| grading | 1/26/2007 |
Q: I have to figure out grades in a park. I have random spot elevations but can not figure out the ...
A: Hope this isn't a homework question...because I didn't answer it until this morning! Sorry. Imagine ...
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| pruning | 1/21/2007 |
Q: i am in zone 5 (southern ontario)and wish to know if I can prune trees in the winter
A: depends on the tree or shrub - deciduous, evergreen, flowereing, fruit-bearing, etc. Here is a ...
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| Beryl Rocks? | 1/13/2007 |
Q: What are they and can you sell them have massive quantity kinda like a quartz crystal for jewlery
A: My son is a budding geologist, so I think I can answer this one. Here are some pictures of them ...
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| Potted Trees. Incorporating greenery downtown. | 1/9/2007 |
Q: I live in a small Eastern/Central Idaho town called Arco and am faced with the task of adding ...
A: You are in a USDA zone 4a (Sunset zone 1). The map is pretty tough to read, as the hills create all ...
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| Big drainage problem | 1/6/2007 |
Q: I purchased a house 10/06 Being a single women alone i got taken advantage of. I was never told of ...
A: Unfortunately, you have TWO problems: Mold & Drainage. The one problem (drainage) is enhancing the ...
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| Gravel patio | 1/6/2007 |
Q: Ok, I know this is a tough one. I have a concrete patio about 5m x 5m that I want to cover with a ...
A: I am assuming you want to do it yourself, instead of hiring someone else to mess with it. I have ...
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| Bradford Pear Tree | 1/2/2007 |
Q: hope you can help me. We have 3 large Bradfords in our front yard. We were calling to get ...
A: Sadly, the tree trimmers are correct. The Bradford has a short life; only about 25-30 years. See ...
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| color, trees | 12/28/2006 |
Q: I don't know anything about trees or gardening. I just moved in to a new place and what I want is ...
A: Depends on where you live...If color is the only consideration, I have a favorite site I go to so ...
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| Red Cordyline | 12/2/2006 |
Q: I have several red Cordylines behind a short wall. I want to keep them short so I see mostly ...
A: I'm not familiar with this Pacific Island tropical, especially as an outdoor plant...but here are ...
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| sago palm | 10/22/2006 |
Q: I would just like to know about pruning the sago,,How much and when ......Thanx for you're time!!!!
A: Though I do not live in an area that enjoys growing this plant, my brother does. It is a really ...
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| groundcover | 10/15/2006 |
Q: I live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. What ground cover would you suggest for a very shaded area ...
A: You are in USDA zone 9, with lots of options. Here are a few groundcovers that will grow in heavy ...
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| Tree Wall | 10/11/2006 |
Q: . We recently built a small retaining wall around several dogwoods in our front yard and also on ...
A: The unfortunate answer is YES, the extra soil will kill your trees. The tree's root system in in ...
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| Picket fence - where do I start? | 9/28/2006 |
Q: I'm buying a house with a partially fenced back yard. There will be a couple little dogs living ...
A: It is VERY feasible, no matter what sex you are! Handy & strong is good...you'll save on labor ...
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| Hydrander | 9/27/2006 |
Q: I have had a Hydrander (blue) for 6 years. I got beautiful blooms the 1st 2 years and nothing ...
A: There are all sorts of reason why a Hydrangea might not be blooming. Here is the National ...
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| lawn to garden | 9/27/2006 |
Q: I have Bermuda Grass where I want to put a garden. Can I just start tilling and raking? Thank You
A: I wish I had good news and it could be that easy! IF the grass has not gone dormant, yet, you'll ...
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| expert testimony design of parks | 9/25/2006 |
Q: We are a law firm in need of an expert in recreational park design. Our client is an elderly lady ...
A: Mr. Fox: I have worked for several firms in the past that provide "Expert Witness" services. As ...
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| Privet Hedge | 9/19/2006 |
Q: I have another question re: a shrub I bought that's new to me. I bought 3 variegated privits. My ...
A: There are about 14 different kinds of Privet/Ligustrum. The generic privets found at Lowes/Home ...
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| Downcast lighting | 9/19/2006 |
Q: our development requires downcast lighting to reduce light pollution but when I try to find downcast ...
A: "Downcast" is a pretty broad term...Where I live, they also call it "cut-off" or "shielded" ...
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| Decorative-dwarf-weeping tree close to home | 9/14/2006 |
Q: My wife and I need to replace a dwarf tree in front of our house. The tree will be very close to the ...
A: Here is a list of weeping forms for the Minneapolis (zone3!)area... ...
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| Landscape fabric | 9/11/2006 |
Q: You helped me last week with aquestion about a large periennial shade garden. My question has to ...
A: Is it just one, big, floppy piece? Usually, as you roll it out the "roll" side is the "up" side - ...
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| hill eroision | 9/4/2006 |
Q: I live in the L. a. area. my hill is a 45 degree slope about 55 ft up and down and 70 ft wide. I ...
A: By "apple groundcover", do you mean Carpobrotus/Ice Plant? This is a common plant for southern ...
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| redesign (Free-design?) | 8/28/2006 |
Q: well, after watching zillions of lanscape shows on HGTV and PBS, I see, homeowners on TV getting ...
A: I grew up on This Old House Classics & Hometime, and my beautiful bride had to endure watching all ...
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| Planning a AM sun border | 8/28/2006 |
Q: First, thanks very much for taking the time to consider my question. Your advice is very much ...
A: Hot dog! A record 9 questions in one e-mail... Happy to help out: For low maintenance, the weed ...
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| Synthetic grass | 8/27/2006 |
Q: I reside in Las Vegas so the heat and lack of rain have a lot to do with my considering synthetic ...
A: I heard last year about your city's "bounty" on turf grass...Here in Reno, natural turf is being ...
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| Pruning Sweet gum trees | 8/23/2006 |
Q: I have 3 Sweet Gum trees that live along a chain link fence in North Georgia. I really enjoy the ...
A: I have not seen any method to "prune" the base or side trunk off of a mature tree. (By the way, ...
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| Yellowing sweet gum tree | 8/21/2006 |
Q: I have a 4-5 year old sweet gum tree in Northeast Ohio. Lately, the leaves on the inside are ...
A: Some interior leaf abscission (leaf drop) almost always occurs in mid- to late-Summer as a response ...
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| Blue spruce close to house | 8/13/2006 |
Q: The former owners of our home planted a blue spruce about 3 feet from our home. The tree is now ...
A: The Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) needs space - so planting them too close to buildings, walks, or ...
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| Land question (sorta) | 8/11/2006 |
Q: Mr. Chapelle: Thanks for the quick response, and for the helpful suggestions. You're right, of ...
A: Wow - you are a patient man! He really sounds like a goober of a contractor. Maybe you can hire a ...
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| Courtyard Entry way - HELP!! | 8/11/2006 |
Q: My house is L shaped and we are converting the garage into a family room and adding a new garage ...
A: Sounds like you are still in the midst of construction. So, now is the time to make plans to "fix" ...
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| Land question (sorta) | 8/10/2006 |
Q: Mr. Chapelle: Not sure if this question is in your field of expertise, but maybe you can help steer ...
A: First off, some basic math - the square root of 16,000 sf is 126.5 feet x 126.5 feet. A very large ...
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| pics | 8/10/2006 |
Q: can u send me som nice pics of gardens to my mail or suggest sites were i can see?
A: I know it sounds simple, because it is! Go to Google.com, click on IMAGES, then type in the search ...
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| Bradford Pear | 8/8/2006 |
Q: I live in the Midwest and one of my Bradford Pear trees has lost all of its leaves. It started in ...
A: Sadly, I have no magic answer for you...it is probably dying or is already dead. And, it may due to ...
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| Front house landscaping | 8/8/2006 |
Q: Marc, Thanks for volunteering your time. We live in Frederick MD (about 25 miles North of Wash DC ...
A: If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say you were a USDA zone 6a/6b...I've been though Fredrick MD, on ...
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| Pruning forsythia bush | 8/7/2006 |
Q: I am in Western New York (Buffalo area) Can a forsythia bush be safely pruned back beyond where the ...
A: Forsythia is kind of like asparagus, in that you prune it back all the way to the ground...you ...
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| Installing pavers in a pathway | 8/7/2006 |
Q: I'm planning a 30 foot by 4 foot walkway on a slight slope (2 foot drop in about 30 feet). I want to ...
A: I'd go with the 3/4" rock, as the "turkey grit" sounds too unstable. By that, I mean that the ...
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| drainage problem | 8/5/2006 |
Q: This takes a bit of explaining, so please bear with me. We live in a development 15 miles north of ...
A: It sounds like you have bigger issue than a pesky drainage problem. Its called "subsidence" - for a ...
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| Looking for large yew | 8/4/2006 |
Q: I am looking for a rather large yew ... approximately 15 feet tall by 8 feet wide. Any suggestions ...
A: Linda- There are commercial plant locators (kind of like talent scouts), as most contractors don't ...
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| Jacaranda | 8/4/2006 |
Q: I planted the seeds of the Jacaranda tree and of a sapote tree. The labels were blown away by the ...
A: There are four different kinds of Sapote/Zapote grown in South America: black (Diospyros), white ...
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| 3d programs for garden design | 8/3/2006 |
Q: I think autocad or 3dstudio max are the best I'll wait for your opinion thanks
A: I had this question asked last year, and I still have no firm opinion...I've been using AutoCAD ...
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| weed block | 8/2/2006 |
Q: I have areas around my home (slopes, pool, house perimeter) where I want nothing to grow..what kind ...
A: There really is no good reason for using plastic sheets, because it traps moisture and stops air ...
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| trees near foundation | 7/31/2006 |
Q: Are these roots safe to be so close to the foundation or should we have it removed? Question 2: ...
A: 1.) What a lovely tree! The Cupaniopsis has no specific invasive root problems to speak of (its a ...
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| Sealing Paver Patios | 7/31/2006 |
Q: I was wondering if you could tell me the advantages and disadvantages of sealing a paver patio. We ...
A: There are several reasons you should seal your pavers. The most dramatic is for the aesthetic ...
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| How to stop ivy growth around window frames | 7/30/2006 |
Q: Is there a spray/chemical that you can paint on the wall to impede the sucker growth of Ivy, I have ...
A: I previously suggested the use of paint mixed with a chemical called Treflan. i frankly don't know ...
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| weed membrane alternative for flowerbeds | 7/29/2006 |
Q: i have 3 or 4 flowerbeds roughly 7 feet long and 18 inches wide. i want to put tree bark mulch ...
A: I've used old newspapers. Lay about four or five sheets down, punch holes where you want the "good" ...
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| landscaping around a detention basin | 7/28/2006 |
Q: We live in south eastern pennsylvania in a new construction house. we have a big back yard, but ...
A: some trees that can stand being alternatively wet, then dry are: Swamp White Oak - Quercus bicolor ...
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| PLANT AROUND OUR POOL | 7/28/2006 |
Q: ... WE ARE BUILDING A SMALL POOL 33X11 RECTANGLE WITH ONLY 3 FEET WIDE AND 11 LONG THIS AREA I WANT ...
A: Susie - Do you mean King Palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)? Yes, you are in one of the rare ...
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| privacy shade trees | 7/27/2006 |
Q: Can you recommend some fast growing bushes/trees for a shady area in Georgia that will cover the ...
A: You're in luck. There is a talented fellow named Walter Reeves that has a very exhaustive website ...
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| flooding pool patio | 7/27/2006 |
Q: A few years ago we had a pool installed. Because the back yard flooded, we raised the concrete ...
A: Not good, at all. Standing water next to a house is a big no-no. I would recommend a two-pronged ...
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| Landscaping around an inground storm shelter | 7/26/2006 |
Q: My son just bought a house in Norman, Oklahoma. Right outside the front door along the walk from the ...
A: Small world. I was born in Norman, Ok. I remember we were the only house on the block with a ...
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| controlling ivy on walls | 7/25/2006 |
Q: what is the spray you can paint on the wall to impede sucker growth you talked about in your 4/7/06 ...
A: I did a quick google search, but could not recall the name of the product, and I don't specifically ...
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| Jacaranda tree facts | 7/25/2006 |
Q: I have a very large (50+ft), healthy, jacaranda tree. Do limbs fall off jacaranda trees if they ...
A: Sorry for the delay. I looked through my technical information, and there is no obvious branch ...
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| new deck landscaping? | 7/24/2006 |
Q: we just installed a sunroom that opens to a 9 x12 smallish deck. it has white lattice around the ...
A: (Weird - sorry for the delay - I thought I'd answered this already - I'm changing offices and ...
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| sweet gum trees | 7/22/2006 |
Q: They are still relatively small so for now they don't pose any sort of threat. My issue is this. ...
A: The Liquidambar (Sweet Gum)is a good street tree, or screening tree in groves...IF there are no ...
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| Bradford Pear Trees | 7/22/2006 |
Q: What is the possible future outcome to the tree and my property if a professional cuts exstensive ...
A: Pear roots are not particularly sensitive to prunig, however, like most other trees, they are most ...
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| When should I plant holly plants? | 7/16/2006 |
Q: Marc, none of the shrub experts is in so you're getting this question-- hope you don't mind. My MIL ...
A: Generally, its good to plant in the Spring or the Fall, before 1st frost. Holly is generally ...
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| blue hydrangea | 7/16/2006 |
Q: What do I do to my soil (I know I need to add aluminum?) to make my white hydrangeas turn blue. How ...
A: I don't know if you can turn WHITE into BLUE, but many gardeners buy a blooming BLUE flowered plant, ...
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| regrading around the foundation - wet basement! | 7/16/2006 |
Q: We live in NE Iowa and are getting ready to sell our 100+ year old house. The problem is, during ...
A: Sounds like what you are trying to make is a parimeter drain, but it may not fully intercept the ...
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| Controlling vegetation growth | 7/14/2006 |
Q: I am having a horrible time controlling the growth of weeds and grasses in walkways and bush beds. ...
A: My sympathies. I'm surprised the "total kill" didn't work. You can practically spell our name with ...
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| moving trees | 7/13/2006 |
Q: I have just fenced my backyard and the previous owner put 2 big spruces and several bushes--i don't ...
A: Moving plants is o.k. I've moved trees over 25 feet tall, but the bigger they are, the less likely ...
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| Transplanting blue spruce | 7/12/2006 |
Q: Want to transplant a 3 ft tall spruce which is currently along a fence. How do I do this? Zone 5 ...
A: Its usually best done in the early Spring or Fall...the Summer sun just barbeques them before they ...
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| Bradford Pear | 6/28/2006 |
Q: I live in Indianapolis, In. We have a Bradford Pear tree in our front yard and love it. But the ...
A: Suckers usually come up from the grafted stock, and in older trees may indicate that the tree is in ...
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| what to do with a large 45 degree angle slope | 6/24/2006 |
Q: My house is on a hill. Behind my home is a 45 degree angle slope. It is quite large, and there ...
A: I took some time to respond to this, because I wanted to contemplate a little before suggesting ...
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| Laying Flagstone on Concrete Slab | 6/21/2006 |
Q: I want to lay 1/2" red flagstone with 1/2" joints on my existing concrete walkway. My climate is ...
A: I would use one of two products to directly attach these flagstones to the existing concrete - if ...
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| locus root system | 6/18/2006 |
Q: janesville, wi. 53548 just viewed a program on a cable show regarding an evasive root system ...
A: The roots of the black locust are usually shallow and wide spreading, but deep roots can also be ...
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| Tree House | 6/16/2006 |
Q: Can you give me guidance on building tree house or can you direct me to a source. thanks
A: Such a simple-sounding question....but, WOW! what a full subject! There are books, seminars, and ...
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| Planting in tree stump area | 6/7/2006 |
Q: I live in southern New Jersey, Zone 7. I had double scrub oaks removed..50 foot. The stumps were ...
A: The Russian Junipers (Juniperus semiglobosa), and in reality all the junipers (Siberian, Common, ...
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| Lawn alternatives | 6/4/2006 |
Q: Have a two family home in Linden NJ (6a or 6b zone) There is a small front lawn (about 10 by 6). ...
A: FOLLOW-UP I did not mean to imply that you CANNOT plant a shade or patio tree. The area required ...
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| i am beginner that needs help | 6/2/2006 |
Q: i a beginner and when other say these thing i dont know what thay mean so could you help me out so i ...
A: I don't do homework questions ("describe, define, illustrate, explain"....) However, if you want to ...
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| Non evergreen hedge | 5/30/2006 |
Q: I live on a corner property and need a hedge to block the view of the cars. I don't want the hedge ...
A: FOLLOWUP I read your quetion too quickly!~ I'm sorry. Forgive my carelessness. I thought you ...
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| Bradford Pear Tree | 5/30/2006 |
Q: I live in central Ohio and have a Bradford Pear that is planted near my paver patio. I have noticed ...
A: The tree is sufficiently mature, at 25 ft. tall. Trimming back one 1/2" surface root should not harm ...
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| ZONE 9 PLANTING | 5/28/2006 |
Q: I HAVE A HUGE OAK TREE IN THE FRONT YARD WHICH WON'T ALLOW ANYTHING TO GROW UNDER IT. I WANT TO PUT ...
A: Nope - I won't suggest Azaleas. I would, however, suggest you not fill the base of the oak with ...
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| Locus tree | 5/25/2006 |
Q: I live in Ontario Canada and have a Locus tree that is about 30 yrs. old. Some of it's branches are ...
A: FOLLOW-UP I didn't answer you main question (sorry!), which was should you prune it to increase its ...
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| sloping ground | 5/24/2006 |
Q: I am a novice in gardening. My backyard slopes out downwards towards the fence. I am thinking of ...
A: South-facing is good for those plants that need full sun. As for the slope with the fence at the ...
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| Late Sept. blooms.... | 5/22/2006 |
Q: I m writing to see if you might be able to suggest some plants that will still be doing well in LATE ...
A: I just recently picked up an interesting guide from Home Depot, called "Annual, Perennial, and ...
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| Slate path | 5/19/2006 |
Q: I am planning to build the main path to my house front door with slates. I am planning to use big ...
A: It would be a great look & it's a great idea. Also, weeds don't grow through resin-bound products. ...
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| retaining wall | 5/18/2006 |
Q: I would like to make my own retaining wall blocks were can I get block molds 12x8x4
A: FOLLOW-UP: I found a link that comes close... http://www.westbrookblock.com/products/8inch.htm ...
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| Ficus Hedges | 5/16/2006 |
Q: I live in Boca Raton, Florida and have been told by my HOA that Ficus Hedges are the only hedges ...
A: You're in a pickle. I hate HOAs that are formed with by-laws that are poorly written (usually by ...
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| creeping juniper | 5/15/2006 |
Q: Our creeping juniper appears to be dying in the middle of the plant - large 12-inch brown centers in ...
A: Could be all sorts of things...somebody stepped on it, or its drip emitter is clogged, or it's sick ...
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| WOOD CHIPS AROND TREE | 5/15/2006 |
Q: ------------------------- Followup To HELLO! I MADE A MISTAKE. I HAVE A BLACK MAPLE NOT A OAK AND I ...
A: Black Maples (Acer nigrum) are a shallow-rooted tree - their roots grow out for long distances (100 ...
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| trees | 5/13/2006 |
Q: I recently had to have a "mound" drain field system installed due to heavy clay soil. It's huge and ...
A: It used to be that the standard detail for this effluent system required the use of junipers to ...
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| WOOD CHIPS AROND TREE | 5/10/2006 |
Q: I HAVE A HUGE( 12 FEET AROUND) OAK TREE IN MY BACK YARD THAT I HAVE BEEN PUTTING RED WOOD CHIP ...
A: Depends on the type of oak...a Swamp Oak, that lives its life submerged in the southern woods of ...
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| Problem with Boxwoods | 5/8/2006 |
Q: I recently purchased four boxwoods from a local nursery and have a problem. I planted the shrubs in ...
A: I doubt it...sounds more like transplant shock, or failure to water them after initial planting, so ...
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| Tropical Lanscaping | 5/6/2006 |
Q: I live in Key West at present. I am buying a home in Charleston, SC. Will tropical plants grow in ...
A: Clemsen University's Ag Extension has a fine website for you to see what may grow in your new ...
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| OVERSEEDING MISTAKE | 5/4/2006 |
Q: I have a lawn that is 3 years old. I live in southern Ohio (Cincinnati).I have over seeded each fall ...
A: First, thanks for your patience...our ISP was down on Friday. I spoke with the fine folks at ...
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| Terraces | 5/4/2006 |
Q: We are buying a home that has an area at the rear of our lot that has a fairly sharp curved incline ...
A: FOLLOW-UP: I erred. It's not 5 cubic yards, its 50 cubic yards that typically triggers a grading ...
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| hydranger (spelling?) | 4/29/2006 |
Q: I recently bought a blue hydranger. I've been getting conflicting answers. Please help. Do I ...
A: You can fertilize a Hydrangea, but its not really necessary if you have a planter bed with ...
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| Mulch | 4/27/2006 |
Q: I have a house that was built in 1945. There was evidence of termites in the past but I have had it ...
A: I like free. I've enjoyed many "free" landscape items over the years, as friends & family have ...
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| lanscape help | 4/25/2006 |
Q: Wow - that is great info. If i can, let me add some clarity and look for your recommendation. I ...
A: This is a link for "tall & skinny" trees... http://www.backyardgardener.com/tree/indexlist25.html ...
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| lanscape help | 4/25/2006 |
Q: I'll keep it simple. I live in 94565. Hot as heck during the summer and somewhat of a clay ground. ...
A: Well, what you are looking for are large shrubs that can be pruned into small trees, or patio-sized ...
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| palermo tree | 4/24/2006 |
Q: someone gave us a palermo tree? . do you know anything about it or where i could find info about it ...
A: I don't know of a tree with that common name...maybe the Palmetto Tree (Sabal Palm) of Florida/South ...
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| garden paths | 4/21/2006 |
Q: How can we reuse concrete sidewalks by breaking it up into irregular pieces for a path?
A: Here is one person's adaptive re-use of broken concrete to make a path: ...
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| groundcover in NH | 4/21/2006 |
Q: I have been reading your suggestions for ground coverings on a slope. I've done the prep, but now I ...
A: As a follow-up, Bobbie, you mentioned that you live on a shoreline. Here is a link from UNH for ...
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| Boxwood Hedge | 4/15/2006 |
Q: We moved here 3 years ago and there is a boxwood hedge in the front that had been neglected. Over ...
A: I would not cut it to the ground. Their survival would be unlikely. Here is a good link from ...
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| Forsythia bushes | 4/14/2006 |
Q: I have a couple of rather large forsythia bushes along the border of my yard that for the last few ...
A: Forsythias flower from the previous season's growth, and not on new growth. Therefore, pruning ...
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| Noise barrier | 4/12/2006 |
Q: We have just moved to the mountains and have found a lot of 2 acres to build a house. The top area ...
A: A rockery wall as close to the noise source as possible will have a "reflecting" property to it, and ...
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| english ivy not adhering to concrete wall | 4/7/2006 |
Q: 10 years ago we planted cuttings of english ivy from my parents house along a 60' long, 20' high ...
A: Interesting - I'm usually asked how to STOP it from attaching to walls (there is a spray/chemical ...
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| hide a wall and wind brake | 3/31/2006 |
Q: i have a 6 foot wall around my back yard my area is is just west of palm springs avrage rain fall ...
A: My desert home, The Great Basin, actually is tougher on plants because it is a "cold desert"...you, ...
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| Privacy screen | 3/18/2006 |
Q: We bought our home in northern Ohio a few months ago and we have a large picture window in the ...
A: The quickest solution is a fence, curtains, or paying the neighbor to paint his house...but I think ...
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| gophers | 3/13/2006 |
Q: We would like to work on getting our yard in order. The major problem that we have is gophers. ...
A: With an average infestation, these little guys can move about 50 tons of soil per acre, in one year. ...
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| Fencing | 3/9/2006 |
Q: I'm wondering if anyone has come up with a sightful way to block grass from coming up around fences. ...
A: You can pave under the fence with concrete or brick pavers, but I wouldn't hesitate to use the ...
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| Jacaranda tree leaves | 2/26/2006 |
Q: I live in the San Diego area and have 3 jacaranda trees that I planted about 4 years ago. They ...
A: Its considered a "Semi-deciduous" tree - so leaves coming off in the fall is normal. Just about ...
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| Festuca rubra grass morphology. | 2/7/2006 |
Q: I would like to know the form and morphology (appearence)of Festuca rubra and its uses in the ...
A: General appearance and uses: http://www.annies |
