| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Hydrated lime | 10/5/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: Can hydrated lime be used in a dog pen to control odor? Is exposure to hydrated lime harmful to ...
A: Hydrated lime is labeled for use around stables and dog pens for odor control. After application, ...
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| Fungus infection in soil. | 9/28/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: An area in my garden border has produced some large toadstools. Digging around them the soil shows ...
A: Your two plants may have died from a root disease, but I don't think the mushrooms are associated ...
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| Clay Soil | 9/27/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I have been reading your answers in relation to clay soil and planting in these conditions. I have ...
A: For your trees and shrubs, just site preparation when you plant is fine. To establish a healthy ...
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| Strawberries | 9/26/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: Crowder thank you in advance for your help.For the past 3 years my strawberries have died 8-10 weeks ...
A: Here in Tennessee, the state university will test your soil for just a couple dollars per sample. ...
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| Massangeana Cane (corn plant) | 9/12/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: My name is Hannah Nguyen. MY husband bought a massangeana plant before chrismast. It was really ...
A: You are correct about the pot size. It should not have been re-potted. They are very susceptible ...
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| white matter on soil | 9/12/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: Every year my raised flower beds start having a white substance on top of the soil. I am not sure ...
A: It sounds like a fungus from your description and it's probably harmless to your plants. Cultivating ...
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| Spikes Dracaena and peace lilies | 9/11/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: The spikes plant was a gift. When I rec'd it the roots were coming out of the bottom of the pot so ...
A: Most tropical plants perform better when they are root bound. Mostly, because they drink up water ...
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| pine cone mulch | 9/10/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I have an abundant supply of pine cones and am shredding them into mulch. I am not sure what the PH ...
A: I'd use it to plant with and as a mulch. It may, over time, lower your pH, but you should be ...
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| slimy red tubular fungus 1-3 inches.... | 9/10/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I live in SE Pennsylvania, and I have several red, slimy, tubular fungus/mushrooms growing in my ...
A: There is a late summer mushroom know as "witches cap" that is red with a yellow stalk. The timing ...
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| Excessive alkali in well water | 9/9/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: Here I am again from rural Reno, NV. Bought a soils test kit and found that I have a very high ...
A: I think you should first fix the water. If you keep adding the water, you can't fix the problem. ...
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| adding soil | 9/9/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I have a well-established lawn on one side of my house, but unfortunately, I need to add about 2-3 ...
A: Your choice depends on the type grass. Fescue, blugrass and other cool season grasses, probably ...
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| Soil drainage problem | 9/9/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I dug a hole to put a shrub in. I noticed that it was extremely dry and hard compared to the rest ...
A: Dig your hole very wide, about 3 times the width of the root ball, but no deeper than the rootball. ...
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| soil mixture for out door pots for growing reeper vegetables | 9/3/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I am making a terrace garden. The volume of each pot is about 100 liters.I have used ordinary soil ...
A: Adding coarse rock or gravel to your soil mix will speed drainage and filling the pot 1/3 to 1/2 ...
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| Fungus and fungus gnats in Miracle Gro Potting Mix | 9/2/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: This year I purchased Miracle Gro Potting Mix for the first time. This soil was used for my front ...
A: Mold/fungus/mushrooms are likely wherever there is decomposing organic matter and moisture. Fungus ...
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| Fixing my terrible lawn!!! | 9/2/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: My name is Will and I live just outside city limits in a town that is inbetween the deciduous ...
A: You can use these products anytime the temperature is above 40 degrees and below 85 degrees. ...
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| Fixing my terrible lawn!!! | 9/2/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: My name is Will and I live just outside city limits in a town that is inbetween the deciduous ...
A: All the weeds you mentioned are considered "broadleaf weeds" and can be easily killed with any ...
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| planting in soil that has cat feces/urine in it | 9/1/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I live in the city with a small backyard and garden which is shady due to the other buildings ...
A: Test the soil pH. It probably is acidic. You can loosen the soil, add lime (how much depends on ...
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| Stunted plants in rural Reno, NV | 9/1/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: Have had an ongoing problem with stunted plants, in containers, a small garden patch, and my entire ...
A: It's not likely anything in the water but ask your neighbors if they have the same problem. If so, ...
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| lawn | 8/18/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: Have a lawn that is mostly just patches of grass and weeds. Tried planting grass seed in the bare ...
A: You need to determine why the patches are bare. Is it from soil compaction or shade? Adding soil ...
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| mold growing inside the bag of purchased house plant potting soil | 8/15/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I recently purchased a name brand of potting soil to do my indoor potting and re-potting. The soil ...
A: I certainly would not use the soil for indoor plants. Most fungus that grow on soil do not hurt the ...
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| Soil | 8/14/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I have a 300 year old Oak tree (approx) in my garden and I've heard about soil re-conditioning. Can ...
A: Sims, Around an existing tree in good health, I would add liquid or granular humates and liquid ...
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| Plastic Soil | 8/6/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I recently purchased a new home and have had a number of drainage issues. One landscaper mentioned ...
A: I'm afraid I'm not much help. I haven't a clue what he means by plastic soil. I thought maybe I'd ...
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| Why will my garden plants not grow? | 8/6/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: We moved into our new house last year and this spring I planted a few pepper plants, tomato plants ...
A: only add lime if you need to. Have your soil tested and then adjust the pH if necessary. A little ...
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| clayey soil | 8/5/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: i want to start a vegetable garden but the soil is very clayey, how do i improve it?
A: Till the garden to loosen the soil. Then add a couple of inches of leaves, grass clippings, ...
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| soil erosion | 8/4/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: We live in TX. We bought a house which was built in 1997. After we moved in i noticed in one day ...
A: Use the same type soil that is in the bed, not bagged soil. If it's clay, use clay. Continue to ...
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| Bare spots | 8/4/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: Mr. Crowder; I hope you can help me, I appreciate you volunteering for this service. I live in ...
A: New homes usually have several lawn issues. Soil compaction from construction equipment, buried ...
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| Nematodes | 8/3/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I think I found the problem to the stunting and eventual decimation of my ginger plants---NEMATODES. ...
A: Microscopic examination might tell you for sure and some types, like root-knot nematodes, may be ...
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| astibes | 8/3/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I have about twenty astibes that I divided two years ago. I've had them for five years. Although I ...
A: Astilbes like moist but well drained soil. By mid July, mine look pretty bad from the heat, so I ...
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| Dog Urine on Maple Tree | 7/24/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I live in Atlanta, GA and have an approximately 5 year old maple tree that has been damaged by male ...
A: It's best to just monitor the split. Don't cover it with anything and no pruning paint. If there ...
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| plant poisoning? | 7/23/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I have a row of Rose of Sharons planted along my fence. They were little twigs when they started ...
A: Without sending off soil and tissue samples to be tested, you can't know if it was intentional or ...
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| clay soil | 7/21/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I don't know anything about plants. I just know that I want some in front of my house. There was a ...
A: Most plants will not tolerate standing water. You'll need to elevate the bed to help drainage. You ...
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| mulch tilled into clay soil | 7/21/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: read your article on mulch and nitrogen. 3 years ago I established new beds, and was advised – and ...
A: the mulch should be done. The chlorosis could be from the soil staying too wet. Water locks up iron ...
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| mulch tilled into clay soil | 7/20/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: read your article on mulch and nitrogen. 3 years ago I established new beds, and was advised – and ...
A: decomposition is complete now. You'll need to add nitrogen in a well balanced fertilizer every ...
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| Dog Urine on Maple Tree | 7/19/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I live in Atlanta, GA and have an approximately 5 year old maple tree that has been damaged by male ...
A: I don't think the dogs had anything to do with what's happening to your tree. The roots are well ...
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| fertilizer | 7/17/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: last year i was using naturize fertilizer time release granules and my small garden produce lots of ...
A: Regular water soluble Miracle Gro is not a timed released fertilizer. It's good, it's quick, but ...
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| soil for my area | 7/15/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I have decided to start a flower garden and vegetable garden and plant shrubs. Now, in digging the ...
A: I'd choose none of the above. Go to your garden center and look for a finely ground pine bark. ...
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| Can mushrooms harm vegatable garden & ant control | 7/15/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: I have several raised vegetable garden plots and I am continually pulling small tannish brown ...
A: Mushrooms are not harming your garden, just don't eat them. Ants aren't normally a problem, but a ...
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| Inoculaid | 7/14/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: Tell me what you think about the product Inoculaid.
A: I was not familiar with the product. I did a little research on the Internet and this I can tell ...
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| Dying grass on drain field | 7/13/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: What would be the most likely causes for dying grass directly over the individual drain legs of my ...
A: If the ground is wet there, I suspect either root rot/fungal problems or a toxin that has been added ...
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| Black walnut trees | 7/12/2008 | James L. Crowder |
Q: We removed a black walnut tree 8 years ago. I was wondering if the toxins would be out of the soil ...
A: Juglone is known to be released for several years as the roots begin to decay. It does not move ...
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