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About James L. Crowder
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer questions about soils, soil amendments, drainage and proper planting. I have extensive background in homeowner labeled pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) and their proper use. I can also answer questions about the growing requirements of specific plants

Experience
I have 34 years experience in the lawn and garden business split fairly evenly between the retail nursery business and wholesale distribution of consumer lawn and garden products. From 1990 to 2000 I co-hosted a weekly call-in talk radio program in Memphis, TN.

Organizations
Garden Writers Association Horticultural Board of the Mid South Fair

Publications
Green Thumb Magazine - out of print

Awards and Honors
Past president of the Memphis Horticultural Society. Past president of the Memphis Bonsai Society.

   

You are here:  Experts > Style > Landscaping > Soil Issues

SubjectDate AskedExpert

plants that replenish soil nutrients?7/9/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: i'm an avid gardener, and i made myself a large garden that usually provides abundant food and the ...
  A: Your plants may be stunted from the rain and never recovered. There are a number of plants like ...
Large area of backyard to muddy for many months of the year we can't use it!!!7/8/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: We have a large 6 x 6 metre shed in our backyard and as a result it shades most of the grassed area ...
  A: I think ground cover is your best option. The location is not good for grass. I'd lay landscape ...
grass seems to be dying despite watering schedule7/8/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I live in Southern Oregon and have somewhat of a clay soil base below my lawn. I also have part of ...
  A: You didn't tell me what kind of grass you have. If it's a cool season grass like fescue, bluegrass, ...
Killing weeds through river rock7/7/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: My sister has river rock surrounding her pool and back deck. Just spent three days pulling weeds. Do ...
  A: Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide you can spray over the rock and kill anything there. If ...
new soil won't absorb water7/5/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: We just enlarged a planter (for bamboo) with castle wall blocks. Since my local landscaper was out ...
  A: Here are a couple of options... 1. Till coarse bark into the top 4-6" of soil. I'd add about 2" on ...
Soil killing my flowers6/29/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I think my soil is killing my flowers in one of my garden beds. How much soil should I remove in ...
  A: soil doesn't kill plants. They may die from toxins in the soil, fungal diseases, insects, improper ...
soil around my rhubarb6/18/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I've been told the soil my rhubarb has too much nitrogen and that's why my plants won't turn red. ...
  A: Fertilize with a zero nitrogen fertilizer, if you need to fertilize at all. Use commercial ...
grading6/14/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I have dampness in my basement and looking to solve it with grading. I am having difficulty finding ...
  A: Grading can be tricky. You need to be real sure where the water is now going to go. Getting it off ...
grading6/14/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I have dampness in my basement and looking to solve it with grading. I am having difficulty finding ...
  A: If you are using clay to divert surface water, then pure clay or a clay/soil blend should work. ...
silver soil bugs6/13/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: except all of a sudden there are these lil tiny tiny sliver/gray bugs all through out the soil. I ...
  A: You can drench the soil with pyrethrum, an organic insecticide, to get rid of them. Mix it at label ...
Chemical smell in garden soil.6/13/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: When I purchased my home, about seven years ago, I created a series of three circular raised beds of ...
  A: If the stump is still green, it will rob the surrounding soil of nitrogen as it decomposes. You'll ...
Gardenia Fertilizer6/12/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: Good morning James. I live in the Los Angeles area & the soil in my yard is clay. We dug large ...
  A: Before you adjust the pH, you should have it tested. Most garden centers will do that quickly and ...
mothballs6/12/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I use mothballs around the outside edge of my garden. How far away should I place it so that it ...
  A: I'd stay a foot away from your garden. However, I've never seen mothballs labeled for garden use, ...
RE: Red Clay6/10/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: James, We are building a new home here in South Carolina. Our soil is a beautiful sandy and brown ...
  A: The clay may have been a necessity to be able to pour a slab and driveway. Clay is not bad. It ...
red tips6/9/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I live in the Piney Woods of Southeast Texas and I am trying to grow red tips. However, the leaves ...
  A: Your nursery is wise. They're in the rose family and get a nasty leaf spot disease. They are a very ...
How to identify grub damage6/9/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I'm not sure if you can assist with this, but I am guessing my issue has something to do with soil, ...
  A: Usually an infected plant is not worth the cost of saving it, unless it has some sentimental value. ...
How to identify grub damage6/8/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I'm not sure if you can assist with this, but I am guessing my issue has something to do with soil, ...
  A: I don't think it's grub damage. Dig out a square foot of soil. If you find 15 or more grubs in that ...
Planting Grass in Rock Filled Soil5/30/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I have an area of land approximately 12,000 sq feet that was recently cleared of brush, etc. ...
  A: I'd want a minimum of 8". The soil needs to be the same type soil you have, except without the ...
raised planting bed5/29/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I would like to build a raised planting bed around an existing red maple tree. Will it hurt the ...
  A: Depends...on the size of the tree. On a mature tree, adding a 3'-6' wide bed will not hurt the tree. ...
st. augustine too high???5/28/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I keep my st. aug (raleigh) cut at the highest level my mower will cut. I have been fighting gray ...
  A: Worry about weeds later. You can always get them out. You want to encourage tillering, the side ...
soil around a dead oak5/28/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: The soil seemed wonderful and easy to till, sandy and loamy and initially all the vegetable plants ...
  A: the soil may be deficient, but it would have little to do with the oak. Oaks however, tend to grow ...
st. augustine too high???5/27/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I keep my st. aug (raleigh) cut at the highest level my mower will cut. I have been fighting gray ...
  A: I'm not that concerned about the height, although taller grass dries slower than short grass. Bag ...
What is this weird tubular thing?5/27/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I came out to my garden one morning and found this soft, weird tubular thing pushing up out of the ...
  A: It's a mushroom, probably a dog stinkhorn. They are slimy and smelly. The part you see is just the ...
Soil for typical christmas tree5/27/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I have a small christmas tree in a pot, which needs repotting into a larger one, what kind of soil ...
  A: It's possible. Many plants are field grown and then dug and potted. But plants used as Christmas ...
moisture5/26/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: Rest assured this is not a homework question. If you think the question is so Fundamental, I do not ...
  A: I volunteer my time to answer questions for people who have problems. You don't have a problem. You ...
ground cover5/24/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I live in northern california.I have what I think is vinca minor growing on a slope doing great in ...
  A: Euonymus coloratus looks similar and likes the sun. It can be semi-evergreen in some climates. ...
dog urine spots on lawn5/24/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: We have bare spots on the lawn of our rental property from the former tenets dogs....how should I ...
  A: First check your pH. It should be around 6.5 and add lime if it's too low, sulphur if it's too high. ...
soil issues5/16/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: my husband has been working really hard on our lawn. and now we have a flea problem. we were told to ...
  A: Hydrated lime is not labeled as an insecticide so I don't know why anyone would suggest it. It may ...
iron is soil killing grass & plants5/15/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: Savannah GA. Just found out that my yard has iron in the soil that was brought in at time of ...
  A: Lime is the cheapest and best fix, but you still need more. Apply another 40 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. ...
soil issues5/14/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: my husband has been working really hard on our lawn. and now we have a flea problem. we were told to ...
  A: Hydrated lime changes the pH rapidly. If he used 40-50 lbs per 1000 square feet or less, just water ...
Blob on my sets!!!!5/12/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: Reently I planted some onion sets. They are doing well except one a.m. while inspecting, found some ...
  A: You have to be very careful with soap and oil sprays on veggies. It is very easy to fry the foliage. ...
browning of cedars5/11/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: My area of the country is renowned for granite outcroppings. Indeed, our cellar floor is bedrock ...
  A: Check you pH. Junipers and true cedars should be fine in the 5.5 to 6.5 range. Adjust the pH to ...
Soil for typical christmas tree5/10/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I have a small christmas tree in a pot, which needs repotting into a larger one, what kind of soil ...
  A: Take a look at the soil in the container. You want to match the soil type it is currently growing ...
Blob on my sets!!!!5/8/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: Reently I planted some onion sets. They are doing well except one a.m. while inspecting, found some ...
  A: It sounds like neck rot, a fungal disease. It's usually associated with too much nitrogen, so be ...
Soil & my corn crop5/5/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I live in Cent. Texas where soil is sandy. I have had good luck with hybrid sweet corn in the past ...
  A: A light dose of a high nitrogen fertilizer when it's past the 3-leaf stage will really make it jump. ...
Acidic soil under pines vs oaks5/5/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: It is my understanding that the fallen needles (leaves) of a pine tree are in the pH range of 6.2 ...
  A: It's not as simple as it sounds. The pH of the foliage is dependant on the pH of the soil and the ...
Potting5/3/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I have several large pots (whiskey barrels, etc.). Is it o.k. to keep the soil in from year to ...
  A: I replace the soil in my containers every other year. At the beginning of the second year, I add in ...
Otto Luykin laurels5/2/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I had 5 of these laurels, planted in Fall 08. Zone 6, clay, alkaline soil in my area. This Spring, ...
  A: I would expect some leaf drop of the oldest, internal leaves as the new growth emerges. If the new ...
Treating Cat Contaminated Soil4/30/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: I have read many of your solutions pertaining to treating cat contaminated soil, the use of hydrated ...
  A: I don't think spraying will work. Five lbs. in a gallon of water poured over a small area may work, ...
could it be clay soil that's killing my trees and plants4/30/2009James L. Crowder
  Q: Crowder, I live in Davenport, IA (52807) in a relatively new subdivision, the front yard (north ...
  A: Lift the plant and keep the roots wrapped in wet newspaper if you can't plant immediately, but try ...

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