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- Q.How To Solarize Garden Areas - You have conflicting information regarding solarizing flower beds. One page says: You can also solarize beds by spreading black plastic ...
- Q.Some Of My Seeds Sprout But Fails To Stabilise Or Grow Strong (pic Attached) And Most Of The Seeds Don’t Sprout As Well. Pls Gui - de.
- Q.Brown Grub Like Worms In Garden Soil - Need help identifying these brown grub worms. My box garden soil is literally moving from them all. Are they bad? ...
- Q.My Dirt Is Hard Like Concrete And No Matter Nothing Grows - The house caught on fire and I don't know if that plays a big part what to do
- Q.Along With A Soil Delivery To Top Off My Raised Bed Came An Infestation Of Voles - How can I remedy my problem organically?
- Q.How Long To Leach Soil From Oleanders? - I am in zone 9. Oleanders pulled out March 2023. I would like to plant spring 2024 in that bed.
Asked by
Anna Draper on
July 8, 2022
89129Q.How To Solarize Garden Areas
You have conflicting information regarding solarizing flower beds. One page says: You can also solarize beds by spreading black plastic over an area in full sun for a month to kill the fungus. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/controlling-fusarium-wilt.htm Another page says: Only clear plastic be used to solarize garden areas. Clear plastic allows sunlight to pass through more easily, which is vital for soil heat retention. Black plastic does not sufficiently heat the soil. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/how-to-solarize-garden-beds-to-eliminate-garden-pests-in-the-soil.htm So, which one is it? Clear or black?
Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 8, 2022
Certified ExpertA.Really, clear is better. I have used black in the past for pasteurization, but it will not kill persistent fungi. If you need to kill off something like Phytopthora, then clear will be your best bet.
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- Asked by
rajeethp on
July 16, 2022
Mumbai - Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 18, 2022
Certified ExpertA.That looks to be clay soil, rather than potting soil! Seedlings will need a lighter mix in container.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/seed-starting-mistakes.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/soilless-seed-mix-info.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Answered by
rajeethp on
July 22, 2022A.This is the normal soil that I bought from the local Nursery. Perhaps the water is more which makes it looks like that.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 3, 2022Q.Brown Grub Like Worms In Garden Soil
Need help identifying these brown grub worms. My box garden soil is literally moving from them all. Are they bad? How do I get rid of them? Are my plants okay and is it safe to eat the vegetables from the plants that the worms have infested under and around? I had a nitrogen depletion a couple months ago and added blood meal to my soil as a quick fix to my, at the time, dying plants. I am thinking it had something to do with this problem. Please help! Thank you!!
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
August 11, 2022
Certified ExpertA.You may have soldier fly larvae and they are harmless. Crane fly larva are similar, too. Here is more:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/basics/soldier-flies-in-compost.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 7, 2023Q.My Dirt Is Hard Like Concrete And No Matter Nothing Grows
The house caught on fire and I don't know if that plays a big part what to do
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
August 7, 2023
Certified ExpertA.You can work some amendments into the soil where you would like to grow something. I'm also including articles about plants that do grow in clay soil.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-improve-clay-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/shade/plants-for-shady-clay-locations.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/shrubs-that-like-clay-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/plant-for-compacted-soil.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Charlie's Mom on
November 18, 2023
17368Q.Along With A Soil Delivery To Top Off My Raised Bed Came An Infestation Of Voles
How can I remedy my problem organically?
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
November 20, 2023
Certified ExpertA.To keep voles away from your garden using natural methods, try attracting owls, hawks, and snakes—they're natural vole hunters. Build owl boxes to give them a cozy home. Create barriers around your plants using mesh or hardware cloth to stop voles from digging. Use plants that voles don't like, and spray natural repellents made from things like castor oil or garlic mixed with water. Keep your garden tidy by trimming grass and vegetation to remove hiding spots for voles. You can also set traps with a mix of peanut butter and oats, plant vole-repelling flowers, and add beneficial nematodes to the soil to naturally control their population. By doing these things, you'll have a healthier garden without using harmful chemicals.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/vole-control.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/plants-voles-dont-like.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
joy42455 on
November 21, 2023
77077Q.How Long To Leach Soil From Oleanders?
I am in zone 9. Oleanders pulled out March 2023. I would like to plant spring 2024 in that bed.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
November 22, 2023
Certified ExpertA.The leaching process in a garden bed depends on various factors such as soil composition, water content, and drainage. Generally, leaching can take a few hours to a few days. Sandy soils with good drainage may leach more quickly, while clayey soils with poor drainage may take longer. Adequate watering to flush out excess salts or nutrients is essential for effective leaching.
Here is other information about leaching:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-leaching-information.htm
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