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Landscaping & Design/Questions Answered by Expert Russel Ray
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Xeriscaping front yard | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: We recently bought a house in LA county and are planning on xeriscaping the front yard. We aren't ... A: Hey, Megan. You should be able to install new xeriscape landscaping yourself. That's because most ... | |
| planting ideas | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: I cut out some trees that were near my ding room window and kitchen window since their roots were ... A: Hey, Elsa. I'll be in Chula Vista next week. I'll be in the 91910 zip code on Date Avenue. It will ... | |
| planting ideas | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: I cut out some trees that were near my ding room window and kitchen window since their roots were ... A: Hey, Elsa. It's not unusual to find a rusted weep screed and it might not need to be replaced ... | |
| planting ideas | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: I cut out some trees that were near my ding room window and kitchen window since their roots were ... A: Hey, Elsa. Actually, I would suggest removing those bricks near your foundation. That littlte ... | |
| savannah holly | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: I am wanting to plant a savannah holly in my front yard next to water plates. I have two water ... A: Hey, Pam. The best way to answer that question is, "Would I do that to my own property?" My answer ... | |
| Dividing a sago palm | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: My sago palm has divided (but still attached) and I have 2, each about 4' tall. Can I divide into 2 ... A: Hey, Cheri. Most of the time you can, but before you do, check to make sure that the new palm ... | |
| walkway using rocks? | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: Russel, I am looking to cover my side yard which is currently all dirt. I am looking to use crusher ... A: Hey, Timothy. I've used cardboard and newspaper as a weed barrier before, and it works quite well. ... | |
| fenign around outside air conditioner | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: we have an outside A/C unit and want o put up some fncing to keep our dog form urinating on the ... A: Hey, Les. It doesn't really matter what type of fence you put up, but make sure that there is ... | |
| moss | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I realize i may not be in your area of expertise but they currently don't have a "lawn" expert.I was ... A: Hey, Will. Moss indicates that your soil is wet all the time. The easiest solution is to cut down ... | |
| mazus reptans ground cover | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: ..want to plant. Cannot find any info re whether deer will eat the mazus like a salad. Your answer ... A: Hey, Julie. Mazus reptans is not listed as either a deer favorite or one that the deer will avoid. ... | |
| cypress hedges | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: when is the best time to cut back an overgrown cypress hedge that has not been been trimmed for up ... A: Hey, Ray. Since the cypress is an evergreen, it's always growing. However, growth is slowest in the ... | |
| irish moss in vermont | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: We are building a field stone patio which faces northeast and gets morning sun and partial shade ... A: Hey, Susan. I'm not that familiar with your weather in Zone 3 in Vermont, but if irish moss will ... | |
| Private Drainage Easement | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: Russel, I posted the following question to Sean Murphy @ AllExperts last week and he responded ... A: Hey, Ron. I don't think the mulch was the cause of the problem. The weak spot in the wall and ... | |
| flooded backyard | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: We have been wanting to put a plant like a bush that will suck up all the water and requires low ... A: Hey, Cole. There are plants that like water, but plants can't absorb the water instantaneously as ... | |
| red apple groundcover | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: i have a large area of red apple on a slope. part of it is a nice green and part of it is yellowish ... A: Hey, Gary. The yellow/brown red apple could have one of three problems: 1 - Lack of water 2 - Lack ... | |
| Artificial Turf-Residential | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in Southern CA. I want to reduce water consumption and maintenance of my yard. I am ... A: Hey, Sara. As with anything new (carpet, cars, paint, etc.), there might be a residual odor, but ... | |
| Wildflower planting | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: I would like to plant wildflowers permanently in my garden of perennials. It is October and I am in ... A: Hey, Veronica. I think you're going to have problems getting the wildflowers to do well if you're ... | |
| Lawn fabric and mulch | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I live in Alpine, California and we have gophers so a lot of plants I have had to put in hard wire ... A: Hey, Nancy. Home Depot sells some excellent mulch in all sizes. It's by EarthGro. It's all I use ... | |
| Lawn fabric and mulch | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I live in Alpine, California and we have gophers so a lot of plants I have had to put in hard wire ... A: Hey, Nancy. Why do you "need to put at least three inches of mulch on the ground"? I can tell you ... | |
| non native Australian Pine trees | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: Ray, I am a novice gardener. My home was recently treated for termites and I was advised to not use ... A: Hey, Judy. The Australian pine is not a true pine, but I'm not aware of it producing new trees ... | |
| mulch, termiticide, rocks | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: Ray, I am a novice gardener. My home was recently treated for termites and I was advised to not use ... A: Hey, Judy. It's the novice termite professional who recommends against mulch. There is no problem ... | |
| redapple | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I live in El Cajon, Calif. and have many dead spots in my red apple. It is as if someone has walked ... A: If you're in El Cajon and you have dead spots in your red apple, I suspect one of two things: You ... | |
| bark or mulch? | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: WE ARE PUTTING DOWN LANDSCAPE FABRIC IN THE DIRT AREAS ( LONG STIPS 4FT WIDE AROUND THE PERIMETER OF ... A: Hey, Don and Judi. Lots of little dogs have problems with mulch splinters in their paws. You want ... | |
| Weed fabric | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: We are going to remove the old sod from our lawn and use gravel and low maintenance and watering ... A: Hey, Mari Lee. You'll have better overall success if you put a weed fabric down. It will help ... | |
| Retaining wall drainage | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: About to go to settlement on a home, and my home inspector noticed that the retaining wall on the ... A: Hey, Scott. I don't know what it would cost to fix the problem because I've never done it, don't ... | |
| crape myrtle shrubs | 8/15/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering if crape myrtle, either bushes or dwarf can tolerate swimming pool area's around the ... A: Hey, Carolyn You shouldn't have any problems, either with being near a swimming pool or with the ... | |
| Bermuda grass seed | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I told my landscaper to please spread some Bermuda grass seed (which I bought) on the naked areas ... A: Hey, Jennifer. If you have a large area, it's best to break up the soil and prepare it well for ... | |
| Bermuda grass seed | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: I told my landscaper to please spread some Bermuda grass seed (which I bought) on the naked areas ... A: Hey, Jennifer. The answer would depend on how large the naked areas were rather than how many there ... | |
| Keepin water away from home | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: My house sits 8 to 12 inches lower than my two neighbors with only about 16 to 20 feet distance ... A: Hey, John. If your drainage and dry well didn't completely solve the problem, one or the other ... | |
| Landscape Ideas | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: ..I have this beautiful big fenced in backyard with great green grass. I would like some ideas to ... A: Hey, Mica. What I like to do with the perimeters and corners is to create a wandering path from ... | |
| water-wise landscaping | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: Live in Poway. Interested to hiring someone to do our front yard. We would consider small fountain, ... A: Hey, Amy. I used to have a big list because they were my competitors but I haven't done that type ... | |
| Retaining walls & trees | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: We are looking at replacing an existing timber retaining wall (made of coppers logs) which is ... A: Hey, Mick. I've always liked the interlocking bricks because they leave room for me to plan stuff ... | |
| Rock around house | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a problem with animals attempting to dig under my house and up against my foundation. Several ... A: Hey, Teresa. Generally, putting rocks around the foundation shouldn't cause a problem and will ... | |
| Hiding utility box directly in front yard | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: We are in a brand new home-there is a 33"w x 31"L x 28"high green utility box in the middle of the ... A: Hey, Sue. First thing you need to do is check with the utility company to make sure they don't have ... | |
| Green Giant Arborvitae | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I recently planted 2 green giants in my side yard.. approx 5 feet from the house......Do I need to ... A: Hey, Lin. I would definitely be concerned if they are only five feet from your house. The green ... | |
| ocotillo | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: I am in AZ, the thorn branches come out from the spongy stalks low and high - I want my Ocotillo to ... A: Hey, Mike. So what you want to do is create a thornless plant by taking the time to cut every thorn ... | |
| ocotillo cactus | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: Can I remove the thorny gray parts of the ocotillo without harming it? My ocotillo is large, ... A: Hey, Mike. You can prune the Ocotillo to keep it more compact if you want. It tends to grow tall ... | |
| Saga Palms | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: Ray, I love Saga Palms. The problem is I live in Alabama. To order them they say Zone 7-8. I ... A: Hey, Debbie. Northern Alabama is in Zone 7, and Southern Alabama is in Zone 8, so I don't see a ... | |
| Trimmer | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I don't know if this is up your alley but here goes, I have a lawn trimmer that has two ports for ... A: Hey, Doug. I haven't had a trimmer in several years, but the one I owned had a fishing-reel like ... | |
| Natural Woven Fencing | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: natural fence to serve as a screen wall in a restaurant. I saw photos on this website that I would ... A: Hey, Holly. Most of the natural fences are being used in Europe and China. We do have a lot of ... | |
| Flooded bushes | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: This is a follow up question. The gentleman who answered the original is no longer able to answer, ... A: Hey, Broken hearted. I'm not sure I completely understand the scenario. If I understand correctly, ... | |
| landscaping for water runoff around a house foundation | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: Due to water seepage into a basement through a concrete block foundation after hard rains, it has ... A: Hey, Deb. You would want less soil, not more, around a foundation in all circumstances except when ... | |
| pavers around pool | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: We have an inground pool surounded by cement approx 3 feet wide. And then the rest is grass. We ... A: Hey, Christine. In my opinion, absolutely! There are many, many ways to use either or both of ... | |
| Fence over Unistone Block Retaining Wall | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I am planning to put a fence, chain link fence, and i have a 60 ft back which i did several years ... A: Hey, Dominic. In your climate, if you let water get down in the holes, yes, I'm sure the blocks ... | |
| Astro turf or? | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: Russel, First thanks for your time. I am leveling an area and wanting to lay down like an ... A: Hey, Chris. I guess it really depends on the look you want to achieve, the budget you have, your ... | |
| Drainage problem | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: We have a drainage'route'in our front yard that pools water on our enter cement pathway. Is there ... A: Hey, Linda. The concrete will crack. Most of us who have dealt with concrete for many years believe ... | |
| what to plant | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a question as to what to plant. Right now I have no landscaping in the front of my house. It ... A: Hey, Jill. I'm not going to be much help for you there in Michigan because of your cold winters and ... | |
| Cactus & other desert plants | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I recently did a desert garden design in Palm Springs. Using various plants: barrel cacti, red ... A: Hey, Catherine. They don't need to be watered, but you can water them if you want. If you water ... | |
| Cactus & other desert plants | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently did a desert garden design in Palm Springs. Using various plants: barrel cacti, red ... A: Hey, Catherine. Over in Palm Springs, those should do just fine on whatever rainfall you get each ... | |
| planting succulents | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I are planting mini jade, flipping flapjacks and red New Zealand Flax. Do we need to ... A: Hey, Nicholas. Unfortunatley, I don't know where you are or what your weather is like. If you get a ... | |
| landscaping | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: we live on a fairly steep hill, mostly Georgia, red clay. It creates a huge erosion problem. We ... A: Hey, Diane. I don't think sod would be a good choice. There are two things that I do on steep ... | |
| moisture around slab | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: My wife has planted some flowers right against our concrete slab foundation and I am concerned about ... A: Hey, James. Neither of those should cause any problems over there in Arizona if you take care of ... | |
| moisture around slab | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: My wife has planted some flowers right against our concrete slab foundation and I am concerned about ... A: Hey, James. You did well to install some block against the foundation. The actually make vapor ... | |
| monkey grass this year...monkey grass last year | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: russel I planted monkey grass around my beds last year. Initially, it took off and make a great ... A: Hey, Dusty. I think there are three possible answers: First, there are some underground critters ... | |
| Building a block fence | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I live in the county and would like to build a block wall down the edge of the easement road and ... A: Hey, Mike. When you say you live in the "county," are you here in San Diego County, or do you mean ... | |
| Plant Beds on a wood deck | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: We'd like to build 2-3 plants beds on our enormous wood deck. Our backyard is well shaded by trees ... A: Hey, Lew. Based on my own past experience loading my wood decks with all sorts of pots and ... | |
| dust in the backyard | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I have to labs and they stay in the backyard. The problem i am having is that there houses are under ... A: Hey, Phyllis. The problem is that you have two labs! Been there, done that. LOL Our two fine, ... | |
| Wet yard | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: Part of our yard stays with standing water all fall/winter long. We are also the lowest yard in the ... A: Hey, Donee. I wish I was there, knew where you are, or had some pictures. What I'd like to do is ... | |
| full shade groundcover between flagstone | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: A few years ago we put flagstone in an area of our lawn that received little or no sun. We put moss ... A: Hey, Bill. I don't think moss is going to do well in Salt Lake under those conditions, as I think ... | |
| how do we improve our back yard? | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: Hi there! Hopefully I'm asking the right person this question... We recently moved to a beautiful ... A: Hey, Maggie. The resolution to your situation is much more involved than what I can provide here, ... | |
| Eradicating bermuda grass/weeds from desert landscaping | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I live in Tucson, Arizona. I moved into a home a few years ago that had poorly kept grass. About a ... A: Hey, Matei. The thing you forgot to do ws put down a barrier between the bare ground and your ... | |
| What can I plant on top of retaining wall at lake? | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: What can I plant on top of a rock retaining wall to cover the cement bags on top and trail over into ... A: Hey, Carol. As with any plant, you'll have to prune it, but it looks like you have a pretty nice ... | |
| What can I plant on top of retaining wall at lake? | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: What can I plant on top of a rock retaining wall to cover the cement bags on top and trail over into ... A: Hey, Carol. It sounds like you're somewhere in Central to East Texas. I that were my retaining ... | |
| i need advice | 12/28/2008 |
| Q: i have a problem with my concrete on the side of my house hole after hole pops up on the side of it ... A: Hey, Ceasar. Do I presume correctly that the concrete on the side of your house is a walkway? Or is ... | |
| replanting a pine tree | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a pine tree in my yard about 20 ft high. I would like to move it to another part of my yard. ... A: Hey, John. I cannot answer your question definitively without knowing what kind of pine tree it is ... | |
| lava rock vs. mulch | 11/1/2008 |
| Q: I'm an inexperienced landscape chair for our community in South Florida. A few residents would like ... A: Mulch is far superior to lava rock. The reason is because lava rock won't deteriorate and decompose ... | |
| Transplanting fir trees | 10/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a small (about 24" tall) fir tree that is potted and living in my house. It was a gift to me ... A: Hey, Sandy. If it's the kind of fir that I think it is—and it probably is since you got it last ... | |
| Dry shade | 10/8/2008 |
| Q: I live in Connecticut in zone 6B and I am interested in finding plants that do well in dry shady ... A: Hey, Laura. I think if you were to post your question in the general area you'd get better ... | |
| Red Apple ground cover | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a HUGE bank in front of my home covered with Red Apple ground cover. Hot, dry area facing ... A: Hey, Bonnie. Your picture looks like the result of a gopher infestation. Red apple should ... | |
| Slope Landscaping | 9/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a big steep and big slope in my back yard. Any idea how to landcape it with low cost? I ... A: Hey, Cindy. There are many things you can do. I like to terrace them and then create little ... | |
| drainage | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: new house, new lanscape. water does not drain off patio correctly so I have been digging a "little ... A: Hey, Debi. The rip rap will help keep the rocks in place if you get a significant water flow ... | |
| drainage | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: new house, new lanscape. water does not drain off patio correctly so I have been digging a "little ... A: Hey, Debi. What you're doing is creating a very simple "French drain." The best French drains are ... | |
| Used rail road ties | 9/19/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for used railroad ties to build a retaining wall. I know Home Depot and some others ... A: Hey, BJ. Any large piece of lumber will be "gouged and cracked" after it dries. When the lumber is ... | |
| railroad tie retaining wall | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: We plan to extend an existing railroad tie wall to a longer length. The old wall had been preserved ... A: Hey, Cheryl. You might contact an old, well-established landscaping service and see what they would ... | |
| railroad tie retaining wall | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: We plan to extend an existing railroad tie wall to a longer length. The old wall had been preserved ... A: Hey, Cheryl. I don't know what state you're in, but in all the states where I've worked since 1973, ... | |
| RE: Fence help | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: Trying to gather information about building a fence. First should I use concrete or dirt to secure ... A: Hey, Eric. Your fence will last a lot, lot longer if you use concrete, and the fence will be more ... | |
| xeriscape/drought tolerant plants for backyard slope? | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: I have read your answers to the other questions and I am quite impressed. I would love to hear your ... A: Hey, Todd. Rather than watering the weeds to get them to grow, and thereby wasting water in our ... | |
| desert landscaping plan | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for a basic desert DIY landscaping design plan for my front yard. I live in the Palm ... A: Hey, Maria. You can't mess something up if you create something that you'll enjoy, something that ... | |
| Weeds in flower beds | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: I bought my house in June 2007. The back flower beds were very overgrown with healthy perennials. I ... A: Hey, Judi. Without the weed cloth, the mulch will eventually simply decompose and turn into nice ... | |
| Weeds in flower beds | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: I bought my house in June 2007. The back flower beds were very overgrown with healthy perennials. I ... A: Hey, Judi. There's no need to wait at least a year because weeds have a very short growth cycle. ... | |
| landscaping | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: I live in SoCali in the high desert (Antelope Valley) we have desert conditions and high winds. The ... A: Hey, Darleen. If I were in your area, I would get some boulders and rocks that can be carried by ... | |
| drainage problem | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: We live in a 1900-sq.ft. split level home. We were a bit desperate when we were house hunting 10 ... A: Hey, Amy. I think there are some workable solutions to your problem that won't be overly expensive. ... | |
| leaky waterhose connections | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: Why is it that almost ALL waterhose connections leak? They leak at the faucet, they leak where ... A: Hey, Ray. It is amazing that this is 2008 and we can't stop those leaks. They were leaking 43 years ... | |
| areca palms | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I have planted 3 areca palms outside of a window to create a privacy/light filter.....can I control ... A: Hey, Kristi. I think the only thing that topping will do is kill the main stalk and force more ... | |
| Red Apple Ground Cover | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: This may not be your area of expertise but here goes. I have red apple ground cover in a large ... A: Hey, Kathy. Red apple, as well as the other ice plant varieties, are usually very easy to get to ... | |
| areca palms | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I have planted 3 areca palms outside of a window to create a privacy/light filter.....can I control ... A: Hey, Kristi. Generally you don't want to cut off the top of a palm tree. However, I have seen areca ... | |
| walkway materials | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: We live in N. Virginia and want to have a 4' walkway installed to our front door that is stable for ... A: Hey, Jesse. I actually would use a combination of those two methods. Pour a concrete base of about ... | |
| removing sand from rocks | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: Recently the liner in our above-ground pool collapsed,water went between the sides of the pool and ... A: The easiest thing to do would probably be to get that screen mesh or shade cloth and some pails or ... | |
| removing sand from rocks | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: Recently the liner in our above-ground pool collapsed,water went between the sides of the pool and ... A: Hey, Linda. I'm not totally sure that I'm understanding what happened. Did you have sand in your ... | |
| Gardening during a drought | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: We have been experiencing severe drought seasons the last 2 years I've lived in North Carolina. I ... A: Hey, Nikke. The link works because I tried it before I sent it to you. If you're typing it, you ... | |
| Gardening during a drought | 6/27/2008 |
| Q: We have been experiencing severe drought seasons the last 2 years I've lived in North Carolina. I ... A: Hey, Nikke. Most grass needs daily watering to continue to look good, so it's not going to make it ... | |
| liner for rock | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: When I bought my home it had Roses, Hedges, ect. planted against the house. Due to termite ... A: Hey, Dorothy. I would not use the shingles in the ground. Too many pollution problems can result ... | |
| Planting Monkey Grass | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: I live in Mississippi and would like to know how to plant and care for monkey grass. A: Hey, Andrew. Monkey grass in your area should be very easy to grow. Over in Louisiana, Texas, and ... | |
| pink japanese magnolia | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: i received a 3ft. tree? from a friend. im a little confused because the note w/it says 20/25ft. yet ... A: Hey, Susan. Yes, as you know with your crepe myrtles, many trees can be kept as shrubs, and many ... | |
| Cacti | 6/22/2008 |
| Q: We have had a patio built under our deck. I have not monitored exactly how much sunlight it gets ... A: Hey, Patty. Most of them will probably die, but not really from sunlight. They'll die from ... | |
| Plants for screens | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: Have a pool going in, need some ideas for good screen bushes to block neighborhood views. Any ... A: Hey, Mark. Part of the answer will depend on where you are. However, I've seen good vegetation ... | |
| Railway Ties | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: We have railway ties graduated as a retaining wall. They are very secure and no rot. Nothing wrong ... A: Hey, Rick. If you're looking for a quick fix, consider some flower bowls and hanging baskets. I ... | |
| Crepe Mrytle | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: Couldn't find an expert in this field, but hope you will be able to help. I have a Crepe Mrytle that ... A: Hey, Ricky. Crepe myrtles are pretty adaptable to drastic pruning, so you should be able to prune ... | |
| grass under pine tree | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: we live in utah, have a large pine tree in the front yard that is close to the drive way. can't ... A: Hey, Matt. The short answer is "Grass doesn't grow under pine trees." In fact, I don't think ... | |
| paving stones | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: I recently bought creeping thyme which was called "Footprint plants" in the nursery, meaning they ... A: Hey, Patricia. There's at least three possible reasons. One is that it did get too hot before they ... | |
| Xeriscaping Backyard | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I recently purchased a home in Rio Rancho, NM and are interested in xeriscaping are ... A: Hey, Martha. With you lack of a green thumb and living in Rio Rancho, you sound like the ideal ... | |
| Mulch and hillside erosion control | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: I have a hillside home in San Diego where I'm currently clearing my hillside of English Ivy and ice ... A: Hey, Mark. You didn't buy my other house, did you? LOL I've probably tried all the mulches ... | |
| Flowers for a sunny garden and shady woods | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I would love to plant flowers in my very sunny front garden that faces west and gets the sun in the ... A: Hey, Joyce. Unfortunately, I don't know what city/state you're in, so I can't be too specific. ... | |
| steep hill | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: is it ok to plant burning bush on a steep hill, i planted two they seem to be ok, but i need more ... A: Hey, Tricia. They should be okay, but I think you need some ground cover to really hold the ... | |
| rubber plant | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a potted rubber plant that has outgrown its pot. I would like to know if I should repot or ... A: Hey, Cynthia. The rubber plant has always been one of my favorites because they are very adaptable ... | |
| wet land and plants | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I lived here for 30 years. He passed away recently. Our goal was to build. Now I will ... A: Hey, Patricia. I'm going to presume that it's wet because you live in an area where it rains often ... | |
| drainage | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: My sump pump pipe goes through the wall outside and under my lawn and drains out by the curb. I ... A: Hey, Theresa. I'm having problems visualizing exactly how everything is laid out, but I think that ... | |
| landscaping in the desert | 5/14/2008 |
| Q: I live in Rio Rancho, NM, and have a very large backyard. It currently includes juniper, dirt, and ... A: Hey, Tracie. I can think of a few things you could do. First, for ground cover, check out ... | |
| flower bed | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I want to build a small square flower bed around our pecan tree but i don't want to damage the roots ... A: Hey, Lori. I think it would since it's been my experience that trees, especially older trees and ... | |
| sego palms | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: How often should one water and how much water is need for sago palms in Orange County Calif area. ... A: Hey, Jerome. Sago palms do quite nicely down here in San Diego with nothing but the rain that ... | |
| the right tree for a small planter in a pooldeck planter | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a small planter 3'x6' in a concrete pool deck. I am looking for just the right tree that ... A: Hey, Mary. Any tree is going to be messy, either all the time, like pines, or, in the case of ... | |
| patui over top a septice tank | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I would like to put a patio over top my septic tank with an opening to get in it to drain when ... A: Hey, Mike. Those are two questions that are difficult to answer. For cost, I would suggest visiting ... | |
| flagstone herb pathway | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: A while ago I cut down a hugs tree in my back yard....... the chips sat for over a year before I was ... A: Hey, Madge. Ground preparation can vary depending what size flagstone you're going to use. I've ... | |
| flagstone herb pathway | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: A while ago I cut down a hugs tree in my back yard....... the chips sat for over a year before I ... A: Hey, Madge. I went researching a "hugs tree" before I realized that you probably meant "huge tree." ... | |
| patui over top a septice tank | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: I would like to put a patio over top my septic tank with an opening to get in it to drain when ... A: Hey, Mike. By "patio," I'm presuming you mean a concrete one. Yes, you you can do it, but I don't ... | |
| Watering. | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I planted a 4' Hollywood Juniper tree and I would like to know if I'm watering it the ... A: Hey, Ric. If your temperatures stay where they are, then you probably won't be overwatering the ... | |
| Erosion on Slope in NM | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: Hey Russel, After the installation of a sewer line on a steeply-sloped lot we are not surprised to ... A: Hey, Lu. Ah, Ruidoso. Been there many times. Pleasant memories. I think you're using the silt ... | |
| Cleaning flagstone | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: I'm wondering what is the best way to clean flagstone. I've tried pressure washing, which doesn't ... A: Hey, David. I think you've hit on the two best methods. Another one, though, is a good brush and ... | |
| The backyard of my house is wet | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: The backyard of my house is slopped down to my house and also lowers than house’s back yard behind ... A: Hey, Ali. I would recommend getting a landscape professional out there to look at things. I can't ... | |
| Slope Landscaping | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: After being in our home (rental) 1 year we realize that the slope in the backyard (approx 30 degree) ... A: Then I would put some pots in some strategic places, use some landscape cloth to run from pot to ... | |
| Sega Palm Mold | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I live in central NC,My Sega Palm was given to me 8 years ago, It sites in a screended in porch ... A: Hey, Pete. I'm assuming that you mean the trunk of the palm when you say "canes." I have not heard ... | |
| Slope Landscaping | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: After being in our home (rental) 1 year we realize that the slope in the backyard (approx 30 degree) ... A: Hey, Laurie. 75 lbs. dogs will do what 75 lb. dogs want to do. She will love the bark, especially ... | |
| drainage system | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: a new drainage was built in the corner of our backyard when our house was built after destroying the ... A: Hey, Ednacunanan. Unfortunately, that's a question that is impossible to answer without visiting ... | |
| Weeds | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: My son is in 4th garde and has decided to do a science project on why weeds grow faster than plants, ... A: Hey, Tanya. Now that's an interesting science project. I wonder why I didn't think of it 40 years ... | |
| flagstone patios | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: I question has to do with laying a flagstone patio in mortar on an excavated soil base not on a ... A: Hey, Chad. Personally, I would not try to lay a flagstone/mortar pavement on anything other than a ... | |
| low water plants | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I am completely re-doing my front yard. Right now it has nothing- it is just wood chips and rocks. ... A: Yes. Succulents. You can create a tropical-looking paradise and have the lowest water bill in the ... | |
| Really Really Wet Yard Help!!!! | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Ray, I read one of the articles that you answered and I thought maybe you could help me. My ... A: Hey, Kristi. I had to laugh some at your question because I was born in Kingsville, Texas (down ... | |
| what to plant in drought striken Georgia | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: I want to grow a privacy hedge for the back border of our property.The taller it is the better for ... A: Hey, Dave. There's not a lot of good options for tall hedges that are drought tolerant, but I have ... | |
| Desert plantings | 2/2/2008 |
| Q: I live in Borrego Springs. Our lot is totally desert natural. Palo Verde trees, mesquite, indigo, ... A: Hey, Barbara. Borrego Springs, huh? Hot, hot, hot, although I live out in East County, so I deal ... | |
| Cactus | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I purchased a single stem cactus from a vendor at a Farmer's Market about 4 or 5 years ago. It was ... A: Hey, Lizette. It sounds like you have a type of Carnegiea (Saguaro), Cereus, Myrtillocactus, or ... | |
| Wet Yard | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: Our house sits in the middle of a hill, with the back sloping toward the back of our house and the ... A: Hey, Amanda. Your house sounds like a former house of mine with the back sloping to the house and ... | |
| Savannah Holly | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: Is Savannah Holly danger to the foundation if planned close to the house? What is a perfect ... A: Hey, On. Savannah Holly can get grow to heights of 20-30 feet with a spread of 15 feet. A good ... | |
| Minimizing water in a very wet yard | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: Our back yard holds a lot of water. It will remain soaking wet for days after a rainfall. We need ... A: Hey, Angela. I was hoping that you were closer to me. Unfortunately, I've never worked in ... | |
| Pavers and weeds | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: Hey there Russel. I really couldn't find a category for my question so I picked you! Aren't you ... A: Hey, Diane. I would not use salt. It creates its own problems, as you have found out. Rather, use ... | |
| 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: Hey, Guy. I have no idea how much it would cost because I have always done it myself. Which answers ... | |
| Weeds | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: I have some weed block fabric and some pine mulch. Will putting this down kill the weeds and stop ... A: Hey, Brenda. The best way to do it is to remove all the weeds as much as possible, spray some weed ... | |
| Bougainvillias | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I heard that Bougainvillea have a pretty hardy root system and can over time destroy a foundation. ... A: Yes, it is, but only if you let them get out of control. Here's a picture of the hillside in front ... | |
| Red Clay, Type of Mulch and Dogs | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: My question is what would be the best mulch to cover red clay around a pool area? We have nice ... A: Hey, Cathy and Don. It sounds like you're trying to keep the dogs from playing in the dirt and then ... | |
| Crushed Oyster shell as a walkway | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: My Wife and I are designing a Williamsburg Garden in our Central NJ home. We would like to create ... A: Hey, Gary. There's a few places that you might be able to find it, including feed stores, pet ... | |
| jasmine | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: I purchased and planted a jasmine vine about 4 years ago.I don't remember exactly what kind it was. ... A: Hey, Sonjie. There are, indeed, varieties that do not bloom, but it would be somewhat unlikely that ... | |
| Wits end on weeds. | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: I have been landscaping the same area several times. Every time I think "there is no way that weeds ... A: Hey, Ryan. You're not the first person to be frustrated by weeds. "Weed" is my four-letter word. ... | |
| Mound of earth | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: I am currently having my garden landscaped. When I say garden it is actually to the rear of the ... A: Hey, Marina. Well, first, I hate to see soil of any type hauled away from a property. I believe ... | |
| WHAT TIME OF YEAR TO REPLANT SAGA PALMS | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: I planted saga palms in my flowerbed last spring. I want to take some of them out of the flowerbed ... A: Hey, Jaime. The sago palm is a very tough and drought tolerant plant that is not a true palm. You ... | |
| Ivy Transplant | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: I want to transplant some of my friends Ivy to my property. I have 4 questions on the subject: 1. ... A: Hey, Ryan. The answer to all four of your questions would depend on the type of ivy, the difference ... | |
| Rain catch | 9/15/2007 |
| Q: Russel, First, thanks for volunteering your time here. We recently had a deck and patio ... A: Hey, Harrison. If I'm understanding you correctly, the deck is a second-story deck that serves as a ... | |
| Florida/Mulch/Weeds/Fungi | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: Help! We have a backyard area (approx. 1ft wide x 25 ft long) on either side of the pool that is ... A: Hey, Lisa. That sounds like powdery mildew but without a picture I can't be certain. It also sounds ... | |
| Mudslides in front yard | 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: Hey, Kelly. It's difficult to answer a question like yours from a description, but it sounds to me ... | |
| Approriate plants for north side with overhang | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: We have an area on the north side of our house with a 3 to 5 foot overhang/soffett. It gets very ... A: Hey, Kathy. If I were as far north as you are (I'm in San Diego), I would definitely look into the ... | |
| Raise Water Proofing Tar line on foundation exteriour if I add dirt | 8/17/2007 |
| Q: I am planning on putting in my landscaping in tomorrow and I just noticed that the tar line is even ... A: Hey, Timothy. Absolutely raise that tar line. You can do it with proper flashing, too. However, as ... | |
| ROCK YARD | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: MR. RAY, MY PROPERTY IS 15 MI. INLAND FROM SAN DIEGO, AND I WANT TO REPLACE MY GRASS YARD WITH ... A: Hey, Fred. If you're planning on putting down black plastic and rocks, I don't think you need to ... | |
| plants around the pool | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: The pool takes all of my back yard there is only cement around and along the wall/ fence there is a ... A: Hey, Rosy. You've picked plants that can survive with brown thumbs. The angel's trumpet will be the ... | |
| plants around the pool | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: The pool takes all of my back yard there is only cement around and along the wall/ fence there is a ... A: Hey, Rosy. Ah, hummingbirds and fragrant plants! A woman after my own heart! I wish I knew what ... | |
| Steep Slope Landscaping | 8/7/2007 |
| Q: I have a hillside that is quite steep. It's about 70' long by 12' deep at the ends and 22' deep in ... A: Hey, Paul. Most good landscape fabrics, such as those you are considering, are very coarse and ... | |
| Steep Slope Landscaping | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: I have a hillside that is quite steep. It's about 70' long by 12' deep at the ends and 22' deep in ... A: Hey, Paul. Steep slopes can be both fun and exasperating to work with. I personally find them fun. ... | |
| Japanese Maple | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: I have a Bloodgood Japanese Maple that I bought about 5 years ago it is a beautiful tree with deep ... A: Hey, Rona. The Bloodgood is a gorgeous maple, but I've never seen one with green leaves. Even the ... | |
| 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: Hey, Pamela. Your question is very broad, and the answer really must be left up to personal taste. ... | |
| Forsythia Bush | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: I purchased 2 5 gal Forsythia bushes at the local hardware at 1/2 price & plan to plant them in a ... A: Hey, June. Forsythias grow best in very well-drained soil and in full sun, so I think planting them ... | |
| Sego Palm | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: I purchased and planted a sego palm about six years ago. I live in Florida and it seems well-suited ... A: Hey, Michelle. What you seem to be describing, "severely yellowed and wilty," is normal. It is, you ... | |
| River Rock Around Pool | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: I live in Queen Creek, AZ and have a small 40' x 36' back yard with a 14' x 28' pool and a 12' x 10' ... A: Hey, Brian. Well, it's a shame that I didn't get your question a mere 72 hours earlier because then ... | |
| Water absorbing trees/plants | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: I have ground water issues in my house. Our sump pump comes on every time it rains. All our ... A: Hey, Al. It sounds like you might need more sump pumps installed in strategic locations since it ... | |
| Sega Palms - yellowing | 7/5/2007 |
| Q: I live in AZ. I recently (5 months) ago planted 2 sega palms in my backyard by the pool. It's ... A: Hey, Elaine. I think you're watering too much, especially if the yellow is on all branches out ... | |
| Cottoneaster | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: I have a cottoneaster that I want to dig up and plant in a different place in my yard but I don't ... A: Hey, Marcia. Generally, you want to move any plant when all, or most of its sap, is in the roots. ... | |
| 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: Hey, Richard. I can think of three plants that I always think look good in corners: holly, with its ... | |
| Water absorbing trees/plants | 6/30/2007 |
| Q: I have ground water issues in my house. Our sump pump comes on every time it rains. All our ... A: Hey, Al. While planting trees that drink lots of water sounds good, I have to disagree. Here's why: ... | |
| Weeds in exoscape | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: My name is Norman Munsey and I'm a project manager for a general contractor. We had a project in ... A: Hey, Norman. Using pre- and post-emergent weed killers is one way to go, but I think that's too ... | |
| replacing grass | 6/17/2007 |
| Q: i want to replace my grass turf with rocks, can i place turf fabric/ weed barrier directly over the ... A: Hey, Mike. Yes, you can. I've done it with great success. However I would recommend spraying the ... | |
| xeriscaping_resourses | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: I need a good refence source for native species & xeriscape design in Southwest Florida A: Hey, SFH. I think you get a fair amount of rain there in Southwest Florida, so you should have no ... | |
| Patio bricks | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: We have patio bricks outside and the previous owner applied a clear coat to them.The coating has ... A: Hey, Perry. I'm not sure why anyone would clearcoat brick since, by its very nature, it is porous. ... | |
| Laterals of septic system under garden | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: I just discovered that my laterals for my septic system run underneath the garden area (about 40' by ... A: Hey, Clyde. It will, indeed, affect the garden moisture. You will also find that the plants ... | |
| desert theme | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: I did my desert landscape 2 years ago and have recently began a renovation. Some of my original ... A: Hey, Steve. You might be asking the wrong person because I'm not a fan of leaf blowers. I like to ... | |
| Yucca Cane Plants | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: My husband & I were looking for some tropical looking, yet inexpensive plants for 4 large planters ... A: Hey, Ashland. My climate here in San Diego is similar to your climate there in Myrtle Beach. I have ... | |
| replanting a conifer tree | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: I'm having some pines cut down due to disease. The stumps will be ground.I've been told I cannot ... A: Diplodia blight is caused by a fungus, and the Austrian pine is an exotic species that is ... | |
| circle landscape | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I live at the end of a cul de sac with a circle containing in the center a tear drop shaped area ... A: Hey, Everett. I've seen many things done with such islands: --formal hedges that require regular ... | |
| replanting a conifer tree | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I'm having some pines cut down due to disease. The stumps will be ground.I've been told I cannot ... A: Hey, Shirley. It would depend on the type of pine and the specific disease. Some diseases live in ... | |
| mini pine forest | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: I would like to plant 2, preferably 3, rows of pine trees at the edge of our back yard. And I would ... A: Hey, Gracie. I did the same thing once at a house I owned in Houston, which is at the western edge ... | |
| planting tech. | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: My father had a large design installation end of last August where most of the plants, evergreens ... A: Hey, Dave. Forty years ago, yes, the burlap definitely should have been removed, but today's burlap ... | |
| Color in a garden | 4/22/2007 |
| Q: I am a new planter who likes a lot of color in the landscape. I would like to know what to plant to ... A: Hey, Candis. I'm like you in that I have this inherent dislike of water bills. Without knowing ... | |
| replacing lawn with native grass | 4/10/2007 |
| Q: We have two recommendations for replacing two relatively small areas of lawn with native grasses: ... A: Hey, Jan. You should be able to plant both blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and red fescue (Festuca ... | |
| landscape update | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: When is the best time to transplant hostas and day lillies? What are the best no-maintenance plants ... A: Hey, Beth. Both hostas and day lilies are pretty versatile plants as far as transplanting goes. ... | |
| raised flower beds | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: ..thanks for this site...i have a huge problem with deer...we have enclosed a decent size area with ... A: Hey, Margaret. You didn't tell me what area of the country you're in, so it's difficult to provide ... | |
| choosing shrub | 3/25/2007 |
| Q: I hope you can steer me in the right direction for purchasing shrubs to put around the front of our ... A: Hey, Wanda. You live in an area similar to where I live in San Diego in that there are a lot of ... | |
Landscaping & Design
Answers by Expert:
Russel Ray
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about water-wise landscaping, xeriscaping, and using native vegetation, cactus, and succulents to create a home paradise that won't increase your water bill.
Experience
My wise ol' grandmother got me started with cactus and succulents 42 years ago. The rest, as they say, is history.
Organizations
National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Better Business Bureau of San Diego
Education/Credentials
After graduating from Texas A&M University, I started a plant-sitting business in Houston to take care of the house plants when people went on vacation. That went on for five years before I moved back to College Station and started several businesses, one of which was a landscaping business specializing in "dry" landscaping.
Awards and Honors
The privilege of working with people.
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