>> I LIKE THE WAY THEY LAY THEM OUT.

THEY ARE NOT JUST STRAIGHT LINES ANYMORE.

>> BLUEBERRIES WILL TAKE ABOUT FIVE YEARS FOR A BUSH TO RIPEN BEFORE YOU CAN GET A VIABLE FREE CROP OF OF IT.

>> THIS IS THE CALM FLOWER, VERY POPULAR.

>> THIS IS THE WEEPING WORD USAGE WAS.

-- DECIDUOUS.

>> THE VARIETY WE HAVE, IT IS INSPIRING.

♪ >> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING FOR "GREAT GARDENING."

WE HAVE SOME GREAT TIPS AND ADVICE IN STORE FOR YOU TONIGHT.

JOINING ME IS GARDEN PROFESSIONAL 10 BURNS AT A -- DAN BURNS.

THEY ARE READY TO ANSWER YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

OUR PHONE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ST.

LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ARE ALSO STANDING BY.

CALL LOCALLY AT 218-788-2847, OR EMAIL US AT ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

WE ARE TAKING QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

BUT FIRST, LET’S CHECK OUT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS OUT THERE.

>> WATER.

LOTS OF WATER.

>> AND SOME GREEN GRASS FINALLY.

HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT?

>> THE RAIN LAST WEEK REALLY HELPED.

>> WE ARE OFF TO KIND OF A SLOW START, BUT AT LEAST WE ARE OFF TO A NICE SPRING.

WE NEEDED THAT MOISTURE.

>> WE REALLY DO.

>> LAST YEAR WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT FIRE.

>> THE PLANTS ARE GETTING READY AT UND.

>> THIS SHOWS YOU ALL THAT COMPACTION, SO YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL.

IT IS VERY EARLY, BUT WE SHOULD GO THROUGH A LOT OF THAT DAMAGE.

THERE’S A LOT OF SNOW MOLD AND OTHER COMPACTION OCCURRING RIGHT THERE.

>> WINDY IN THIS SHOT.

THAT’S NICE.

>> JUST LIGHT RAKING RIGHT NOW AND LET THINGS RECOVER.

>> NICE.

>> OH, LOVE THAT GREEN.

>> WE ARE STARTING TO GET THERE.

>> NICE.

KEEP CALLING IN YOUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THOSE, BOB, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO START OFF WITH TONIGHT?

>> WE HAD SOME REAL INTERESTING EXPERIENCES THIS SPRING BECAUSE WE HAD A RATHER REMARKABLE WINTER.

IF I COULD TAKE YOU BACK A LITTLE BIT, WE HAD REAL HEAVY SNOWFALL EARLY AND WE ARE ALL FEELING GOOD ABOUT THAT.

WE LIKE TO SEE THAT PROTECTION IN THE SOIL.

HOWEVER, WE HAD SOME RATHER SEVERE ANIMAL MOLD DAMAGE WE HAVEN’T SEEN BEFORE, SO CONSEQUENTLY WE CHANGED SOME OF OUR CONDITIONS.

PEOPLE WILL BE PLANTING SOON.

TREE STOCK IS EXTENSIVE AND YOU HAVE TO THINK OF IT AS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, SO YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE ESSENTIALS FOR PROTECTING SOME OF THESE SMOOTH BARK TREES, WHETHER AN ASH TRAY, SUGAR MAPLE, OR APPLES AND OTHER FRUIT TREES.

FIRST, PROTECT FROM DEER AND RABBITS, METAL FENCING, USE REPELLENTS DURING THE GROWING SEASON.

BUT DURING THE WINTER, YOU NEED TO GET A FENCE TO PROTECT THEM.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE VOLES, GO FIRST, AND A SON SCHOOL.

THESE CAN AFFECT THE STEM OF THE TREE.

THE CRITICAL THING, THEY DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE WHITE.

YOU CAN USE A BLACK DRAIN TILE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GAP BETWEEN THE PLASTIC AND THE ACTUAL BARK.

THEN THE CYLINDERS MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE THERE IS CONTACT BETWEEN THE STEM AND THE PLASTIC.

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE DAMAGE WE SAW LAST YEAR.

WHEN THE CYLINDERS ARE REMOVED, WE ARE GOING TO INSTALL A LARGER CYLINDER AT THE GROUND LINE BECAUSE WE HAD VOLE DAMAGE EVEN ON MORE MATURE TREES.

REMEMBER, IF YOU CAN USE A TREE WRAP INSTEAD OF A CYLINDER, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT OFF IN THE SPRING.

THE WORST THING IS WATER THAT RUNS BETWEEN THAT IMPERVIOUS LAYER.

AS SOON THAT BARK BEGINS TO EXPAND, THEY HAVE TO COME OFF.

AND I WILL SHOW YOU SOME PHOTOS.

HERE IS ONE WHERE THEY EXPAND VERY QUICKLY.

IT CAN SURPRISE YOU.

IF YOU DON’T GET IT OFF AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE THAT COMES FROM THAT, HERE IS SOME DAMAGE.

THIS ONE CAME FROM LEAVING THAT COLOR ON ONE YEAR TOO LONG.

WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AGAIN.

YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT PROTECTION AGAINST DEER AND RABBITS.

ONCE AGAIN, HERE IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE IT STAYED ON TOO LONG.

THAT CUT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO HEAL UP, IF EVER.

WE CAN GET THIS EFFECT AS WELL.

THAT TREE WILL LIVE BUT NEVER HAVE THE SAME VIGOR.

THESE ARE THE CRITTERS THAT CAUSED ALL THE DAMAGE.

THIS IS A VOLE.

WE WILL THINK TERESA FOR SENDING US THESE PHOTOS.

LOOK AT THAT DAMAGE.

THAT IS A VERY MUCH WERE TREE.

WE SAW THIS MULTIPLE PLACES.

I CAN SHOW YOU WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO HIM -- WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO A TREE.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS THE TISSUE RIGHT HERE.

ANY TIME A VARMINT COMES IN AND CHOOSE THROUGH THAT AND CUTS INTO THIS AREA RIGHT HERE, IF IT CIRCUMSCRIBES THE ENTIRE DIAMETER AND CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TREE, THAT TREE BASICALLY IS DEAD BECAUSE THERE’S NO WAY TO CONDUCT THE SUGARS BACK DOWN INTO THE ROOTS.

SO, BE VERY CONSCIOUS OF KEEPING THAT PROTECTED.

THESE ARE TWO TREES.

A SEMI-DWARF TREE FOLLOWED BY A STANDARD TRAY THAT IS MUCH MORE VIGOR IN THE STANDARD TREE.

THEY SEEM TO BE RESISTANT TO THIS VOLE DAMAGE.

THE SEMI DWARVES AND THE DWARF ARE NOT.

YOU WANT TO BE SURE WHEN YOU ARE PROTECTING THOSE TREES, WHEN YOU TAKE THAT CALLER -- COLLAR OFF, YOU DON’T HAVE THAT DAMAGE.

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TREE THAT IS PRODUCTIVE AT PRODUCING FRUIT AND WILL LAST A LONG TIME FOR YOU.

30, 40, 50 YEARS.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, BOB.

NOW LET’S GET TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE A VIEWER NAMED TESSA WHO SENT US SOME PHOTOS OF DAMAGE OF HER TREE.

SHE WRITES, HELP.

OUR KITTIES CLIMBED UP OUR CRABAPPLE A FEW SUMMERS AGO, LEAVING SOME SCRATCHES AND SCARS.

THEY HEALED NICELY, BUT THIS FALL I NOTICED THAT YELLOW BELLIED SAP SUCKERS TAPPING ON IT.

WILL THIS RECOVER ON ITS OWN OR SHOULD I TREAT IT WITH WOUND DRESSING?

THE TREE IS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OLD.

>> I THINK THE KIDDIES GET A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THE DAMAGE -- I THINK THE KITTIES GET A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THE DAMAGE.

THERE’S NOT TOO MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

IF IT REPEATS, YOU CAN PUT A COLUMN OF WINDOW SCREEN AROUND IT.

BASICALLY THE TREE HAS TO HEAL ITSELF.

THE DAMAGE WILL NOT KILL A TREE.

IT WILL REDUCE ITS GROWTH TO SOME EXTENT, BUT THAT TREE BASICALLY HAS TO RECOVER ON ITS OWN.

YOUNG TREES SHOULD HAVE THAT COLLAR, BECAUSE THAT PREVENTS THE SUN SCAR.

THEN YOU GET DAMAGE TO THAT OUTER LAYER OF THE BARK AND INNER BARK.

>> GOOD QUESTION.

LOU AND DULUTH IS HAVING TROUBLE GROWING RHUBARB.

THEY HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BUYING NEW PLANTS, BUT IN TWO YEARS THEY ARE GONE AND DON’T COME BACK.

ANY HINTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

THEY LIVE IN A WOODED AREA JUST NORTH OF DULUTH.

>> THERE IT IS.

I THINK IT IS THE WOODED AREA.

IT IS TOO MUCH SHADE BECAUSE RHUBARB SHOULD BE A NO FAIL.

IT SHOULD NOT BE HARD TO GROW AT ALL.

IT IS A VERY EASY CROP.

BUT IF THEY ARE PLANTING IN THE SHADE -- OR IT CAN BECOME SHADY.

YOU CAN PLANT IT IN AN AREA AND IT CAN BECOME SHADY AND YOU CAN LOSE IT.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

IT IS ALMOST CONSIDERED A WEED CROP IN A WAY.

BUT FULL SUN, GOOD DRAINAGE, AND YOU HAVE TO CONTROL SOME OF THE TURF.

BUT I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, NUMBER ONE IN A SHADED AREA.

FULL SUN.

>> DIANE HAS TRADED OAK LEAVES FROM LAST YEAR AND PUT IN PILES IN BLACK BAGS.

SHE WANTS THEM FOR MULCH AND COMPOST, BUT SO FAR THEY JUST LOOK THE SAME AS THEY DID WHEN SHE PLACED THEM IN THE BAGS.

HOW LONG DOES SHE NEED TO GET THEM TO BREAK DOWN?

>> IT COULD BE 50 YEARS IF SHE DOESN’T MODIFY IT A LITTLE BIT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, SHE PUT THEM IN THE BAGS AS A MULCH AND WE WANT THEM TO STAY DRY, WHICH IS THE ISSUE, BECAUSE YOU WANT MULCH TO BE FLUFFY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS COMPOST, SHE NEEDS TO INTRODUCE TWO THINGS.

A LITTLE BIT OF MOISTURE, THEN GET THE BACTERIA WORKING, WE NEED TO GET A NITROGEN SOURCE.

THAT COULD BE COMPOST, RAMA NEWARK, A BIT OF SYNTHETIC -- RAW MANURE, A BIT OF SYNTHETIC.

>> OR PLANTED INTO THE SOIL AHEAD OF TIME.

>> OR SHE COULD PLANT IT.

WE NEED THOSE OTHER COMPONENTS.

>> CAROL WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO FERTILIZE YOUNG PINE TREES.

[LAUGHTER] >> FIRST OFF, TREES DON’T NEED A LOT OF FERTILITY.

THAT IS ONE REASON WHY WE HAVE LOW FERTILE SOILS AND WE HAVE A GREAT CONIFER FOREST.

IF SHE IS GOING TO FERTILIZE, A LITTLE BIT OF FERTILITY DOES NOT HURT AT ALL.

USE A BALANCED FERTILIZER.

>> CAROL IN HERMANTOWN LAST SUMMER HAD A BEAUTIFUL CROP OF BROCCOLI ALMOST READY TO HARVEST, THEN SOME CRITTERS STRIPPED ONE OF THE PLANTS DOWN TO THE STEM.

THEY HAVE A WELL FENCED GARDEN, DEER AND RABBIT PROOF, BUT WHAT CRITTER DO YOU THINK IT WAS AND WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST FOR THIS GARDENING SEASON?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE FENCING, DOESN’T IT?

>> IT DOES A LITTLE BIT.

I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

>> I THINK EVERYONE HAS.

>> I THINK SHE HAS GROUND SQUIRRELS.

GROUND SQUIRRELS WILL GET UNDER A FENCE, THEY WILL HAVE THE BOROUGHS UP ABOVE, AND THEY WILL DO A FAIR AMOUNT OF DAMAGE.

BASICALLY DIFFERENT KIND OF TRAPS CAN BE USED, BUT YOU HAVE TO TRAP THEM OUT.

THEY ARE PRETTY HARD TO CONTROL.

>> YOU WON’T EVEN SEE THEM.

>> OK.

THESE CRITTERS.

AS WE GET INTO THE GROWING SEASON, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT A FINISHED PRODUCT.

LAST SUMMER, WE STROLLED THROUGH THE COLORFUL GROUNDS OF A HOME IN HERMANTOWN THAT WOULD GET ANYONE EXCITED FOR GARDENING.

>> I THINK THAT’S IMPORTANT AND GARDENING THAT YOU HAVE A PLAN.

SO, I THOUGHT ABOUT THREE THINGS, BASICALLY.

I WANTED COLOR, SO OF COURSE I WAS VERY CAREFUL ABOUT CHOOSING WHICH PERENNIALS.

IT IS MOSTLY A PERENNIAL GARDEN.

THEN I LOOKED AT TEXTURE.

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW?

YOU WANT TO HAVE SOFT CORI OFFICES, THE STRONG BARK.

THE TEXTURE AND THE HEIGHT IS IMPORTANT.

MY NAME IS MARCIA DOTY AND WE ARE HERE AT MY GARDEN IN HERMANTOWN.

THIS GARDEN IS ABOUT NINE YEARS OLD.

IT IS ALL ABOUT TIMING.

YOU TRY TO HAVE A GARDEN THAT IN THE SPRING, NEW LIFE AND YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE COLOR THAT IS COMING OUT, THEN MID-SUMMER OF COURSE THOSE THINGS FADE AWAY, BUT YOU HAVE OTHER COLORS THAT COME THROUGH.

AND IN THE FALL, IT IS SO SPECTACULAR WITH NEW COLOR.

IT IS JUST FUN TO THINK THOSE THINGS.

TEXTURE, COLOR, TIMING.

IT’S JUST EXCITING.

BUT A PLAN IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I KEEP A JOURNAL SO I CAN KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

CERTAINLY WE HAVE STORMS THAT MIGHT HURT PLANTS OR WE DIDN’T GET ENOUGH SNOW.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT BEAUTIFUL BLANKET OF SNOW IS REALLY GOOD FOR THE GARDEN.

IT IS JUST MAKING SURE THEY ARE FED.

IN THE FALL, THERE WILL BE SOME DEADHEADING AND THERE WILL BE SOME CUTTING BACK.

THEY ARE EASY TO GROW AND THEY ARE THE MINNESOTA GROUNDCOVER.

THESE AND THE OTHER PURPLE ONE ARE A WONDERFUL PERENNIAL, VERY HARDY.

EVERYTHING IS IN MINIATURE, SO YOU LOOK FOR MINIATURE PLANTS.

THIS IS A MINIATURE SEED.

YOU CAN HAVE THE COLOR WITH THE VIOLETS THAT ARE SO DELICATE AND SWEET.

THEN WE HAVE LITTLE FIGURINES HERE THAT ARE LITTLE FAIRIES SLEEPING.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF NAUGHTY PEOPLE, THE TROLLS BY THE BRIDGE.

AND THIS LITTLE FAIRIES SLEEPING.

OUR GRANDCHILDREN REALLY ENJOY THIS.

SO, THAT IS MY EXCUSE TO DO IT.

I AM DOING IT FOR THE GRANDKIDS.

I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS A PERENNIAL.

EVERYTHING HERE COMES UP EVERY YEAR.

THAT IS WHAT A PERENNIAL DOES.

WHAT IS FUN ABOUT THIS IS IT IS ALL SUCCULENTS.

IT IS SO UNIQUE.

THERE IS SUCH VARIETY.

THIS WILL PROPAGATE, THIS WILL FALL OVER AND LITTLE BABIES, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL CALL THEM HENS AND CHICKS, THE LITTLE BABIES WILL COME UP NEXT YEAR.

I WILL BE SURPRISED WHAT POPS UP AND I WILL JUST LET IT BE.

LET IT HAVE PERSONALITY.

THIS IS ALL SUCCULENTS, ROCK GARDEN PERENNIAL.

THIS IS THE ROSES.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE TAKE CARE OF THE WEEDS.

IT IS A LOT OF WEEDING.

THEN MAYBE I WILL SEE A BRANCH OR SOMETHING THAT IS SUFFERING AND I WILL HAVE TO SNIP IT OFF.

JUST KEEPING THE GARDENING CLEAN, WELL FED, HYDRATED.

IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE I’M TAKING CARE OF A CHILD, DOESN’T IT?

>> SUCH A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.

BY THE WAY, MARCIA’S HUSBAND IS THE FORMER MAYOR OF DULUTH.

SHE SAYS HE IS IN CHARGE OF DIGGING.

NOW TIME TO ANSWER MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

I NOTICED LAST YEAR THESE VERY SMALL WORMS SHOWED UP IN THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR RASPBERRY HEDGE I PLANTED.

SO, SHE DIDN’T EAT THEM.

WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT CAN I DO TO ERADICATE THEM BEFOREHAND?

I DON’T HAVE MANY DEAD BRANCHES TO TRIM AT ALL.

>> WE KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.

[LAUGHTER] >> DO TELL.

>> THIS IS THE LARVA OF THE SPOTTED RING, THE DREADED INSECT THAT CAUSES SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH RASPBERRIES IN PARTICULAR.

RASPBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, AND STRAWBERRIES.

I THINK REALLY YOU WANT TO, AS SOON A SET AREA IS RIGHT, YOU WANT TO HARVEST EVERYTHING.

A PESTICIDE PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE A NIGHTMARE FOR THE HOMEOWNER BECAUSE YOU HAVE WAITING PERIODS AND YOU WILL ONLY GET THIS ADULT INSECT ON A VERY RIPE FRUIT, SO THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET THROUGH THE WAITING PERIOD TO ASSURE YOURSELF THAT PRODUCT IS SAFE AND THAT FRUIT IS SAFE.

THE BEST THING I THINK YOU CAN DO IS HARVEST EVERY DAY, PICK UP ANY FRUIT THAT HITS THE GROUND.

HARVEST, CONSUME, PRESERVE, FREEZE, AND NEVER LET THEM GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU SEE THE LITTLE WHITE WORM BECAUSE THEY ARE KIND OF OBNOXIOUS.

>> JUST COOK THEM DOWN AND FREEZE THEM.

>> I LET SOME SIT AND I HAD THEM COVERED.

I TOOK A PICTURE OF THAT AND SHOWED IT TO ONE AUDIENCE.

TWO DAYS LATER, SOMEONE CALLED AND SAID, NEVER SHOW THAT PICTURE AGAIN.

I HAVE HAD NIGHTMARES EVER SINCE.

SO I WARN PEOPLE WHEN I SHOW THEM THAT PHOTO.

>> MARY IN DULUTH HAS RHODODENDRONS EATEN BY BUNNIES.

HOW DO WE STOP THIS AND WILL IT COME BACK?

>> WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE GURGLING.

-- GIRDLING.

HAS IT GONE ALL THE WAY AROUND?

ANY DAMAGE IS GOING TO TAKE THEM OUT QUICK.

>> YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

THEY WILL POP THE BUDS.

>> THAT IS STORED ENERGY SO THAT WILL BE THERE ANYWAY, BUT SHE WILL HAVE TO WATCH.

>> SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE AND REPLACE THEM.

>> JAMES WANTS TO KNOW IF IT IS TOO LATE TO TRIM APPLE TREES IN ASHLAND.

>> I WOULD SAY IT IS GETTING A LITTLE LATE.

THE BUDS HAVE BROKEN IN MOST CASES.

I THINK IT IS A LITTLE WARMER THERE.

INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING NEW GROWTH, IT RATHER RESTRICTS IT.

I PROBABLY WOULD WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

>> OK.

WHAT OTHER RESTRICTIONS, IF ANY, CONCERNING BACKYARD COMPOSTING IN DULUTH?

>> I DON’T KNOW.

>> I HAVE A LITTLE IDEA.

ORDINANCES CAN ALWAYS CHANGE, BUT MOST MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDING DULUTH HAVE SOME KIND OF ORDINANCE ON BACKYARD COMPOSTING.

IN DULUTH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF CONTAINER ON THREE SIDES, SO IT LETS YOU ACCESS IT ON THREE SIDES.

BUT YOU CAN’T PUT IT RIGHT UNDER THE PROPERTY SIDE.

THERE IS A 20 FOOT RESTRICTION OR SPACE -- SETBACK, THERE IS THE TERM I AM LOOKING FOR.

YOU CAN’T HAVE ANYTHING THAT HAS ANY OBNOXIOUS ODORS, SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT AEROBIC.

DON’T JUST PILE A BUNCH OF GRASS IN THERE.

MIX THINGS UP.

THEN YOU WANT TO KEEP ALL OF THE EGGS AND MEET EVERYTHING ELSE OUT OF THERE SO IT WE DON’T ATTRACT VERMIN.

I HAVEN’T READ THE ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE VERY TYPICAL.

JUST RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND BE A GOOD COMPOSTER.

SOME KIND OF CONTAINER SYSTEM.

>> CHERYL IN DULUTH WANTS TO KNOW, WHAT WAS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF TREE DAMAGE THIS YEAR, DROUGHT OR ICE OR BOTH?

>> IT’S WHAT WE SHOWED EARLIER.

I THINK THE MAJOR CAUSE WAS VOLES, AND THAT CAME FROM THE VERY EARLY SNOWFALL.

THESE VOLE GOT SO HUNGRYS THEY WENT THROUGH THE OLD BARK THEY NEVER REALLY BOTHERED WITH BEFORE.

BUT I THINK THEY DID A LOT OF DAMAGE.

>> GOOD QUESTIONS.

WE ARE SO EXCITED.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US TONIGHT?

>> I BROUGHT A FEW THINGS.

RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE GARDEN CENTER.

EVERYONE IS ITCHING TO GET DIRTY AND GET INTO THE DIRT AND START SOME CONTAINERS.

SO, WHAT WE DO IS WE DO THESE THINGS CALLED PIES.

WE PUT COMBINATIONS TOGETHER OF THINGS THAT GO TOGETHER, AND PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE DRILL, FILL, AND SPILL.

WE FOCUS ON FOLIAGE, COLOR, AND FOLIAGE SHAPE.

WE USE COLEUS ON EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT GO-TWO.

THEY SET OFF ALL THE GREEN FOLIAGE.

WE LIKE GRASSES AND WE LIKE A LOT OF DAHLIAS.

DAHLIAS ARE GREAT, THEY HAVE GREAT FOLIAGE.

SWEET POTATO VINES ARE GREAT.

THESE ARE SETTING EVERYTHING OFF TOGETHER.

THEY ARE NOT HARD TO PLANT.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT DOING THIS IS YOU CAN PLANT IT AHEAD OF TIME.

IT DOESN’T TAKE A TON OF SOIL AND IT CONTAINS THE PLANTS.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE MAKE THEIR CONTAINERS, THEY PLANT THEM IN THE BIG CONTAINER AND THINGS GET TOO WET, THEY CAN NEVER USE IT, IT IS HARD TO HAUL IN AND OUT.

IF YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTAINERS WHERE YOU NEED TO PUT THEM, YOU CAN USE FULL SOIL ON THE CONTAINER, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO ADD LIKE SODA.

CANS AND FOAM TO IT THE PLANTS -- LIKE SODA CANS AND FOAM TO IT.

THE PLANTS WOULD PREFER SOIL.

ANY LITTLE BOWL WITH DRAINAGE, PUT SOME HOLES IN IT, OR YOU COULD USE A CONTAINER FROM LAST YEAR.

FILL IT UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SOIL.

I’M GOING TO DO IT IN THIS PIE BECAUSE IT IS REALLY HANDY WHEN YOU PUT INTO YOUR CONTAINER BECAUSE IT FITS IN, AND THIS WILL FILL A 16 TO 20 OUNCE CONTAINER WHEN YOU’RE DONE.

YOU WILL HAVE ALMOST A MONTH FOR IT TO GROW UP TOGETHER, AND YOU CAN BRING IT IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE.

YOU CAN HARDEN IT OFF, MAKE IT COOLER, AND NOT OVERWATER IT.

AND WE USE A LOT OF GERANIUMS.

I AM GOING TO TAKE THIS GERANIUM, AND IT IS A DARK SALMON.

YOU JUST PUT IT RIGHT IN.

WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERING MAKING YOUR CONTAINERS, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHICH.WAY IT IS FACING ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A ONE POT POTS OR AND THE ROUND POT?

THIS WHEN I THINK I WILL DO AS IN THE ROUND.

THIS WILL BE ON THE SIDE.

WE LIKE CANNAS ALSO.

THEN YOU JUST POP IT OUT.

IT IS REALLY EASY.

I MAKE A MESS EVERYWHERE I GO.

THEN YOU STAND THEM UP TOGETHER LIKE THAT, AND WE ARE GOING TO ADD A COLEUS.

I THINK WE WILL GO WITH THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY AND THE BRONZE PLAYS OFF REALLY WELL WITH THE CORAL AND MAKES IT POP.

AGAIN, WE ARE CONSIDERING OUR FOLIAGE.

>> SO ABOUT A MONTH IT CAN LAST?

>> IT CAN LAST FOR A MONTH.

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE ROOTS TO REBOUND TO START GROWING AGAIN.

IT NEEDS TO GET TO THE EDGE OF THE POT.

THAT’S WHY A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU PUT A CONTAINER TOGETHER, IT DOESN’T SEEM TO GROW FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE ROOTS NEED TO GET TO THE EDGE BEFORE IT STARTS TO PUT ON VEGETATIVE WEIGHT.

I WILL PUT IN A SWEET POTATO THERE.

YOU WILL PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER.

YOU WANT IT TO BE KIND OF LEVEL.

THAT IS NOT THE GREATEST STEP FOR THAT GERANIUM.

BUT YOU WANT IT LEVEL SO WATER CAN ACTUALLY GET IN IT AND SETTLE THE SOIL.

I DON’T WANT YOU TO PACK THAT SOIL IN.

I JUST WANT YOU TO LEVEL IT OUT.

IF YOU NEED TO SNAKE THE GERANIUM A LITTLE, THAT WILL BE FINE.

BUT THIS WILL GROW TOGETHER BEAUTIFULLY.

>> THE COLORS ARE SO MAGNIFICENT, AREN’T THEY?

>> THE BREEDING IS AMAZING, WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> THERE IS SO MUCH JOY IN A SMALL LITTLE CONTAINER.

>> IT BECOMES GIGANTIC AND YOU CAN MAKE REALLY BIG CONTAINERS OUT OF THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

LET’S GET TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

CAROL AND SUPERIOR HAS A 16 BY 16 VEGETABLE GARDEN.

IT HAS BEEN OVERCOME WITH WEEDS.

SHOULD THE SOIL BE REPLACED?

>> NO, THE WEEDS NEED TO BE REPLACED.

[LAUGHTER] GENERALLY, NONE OF US WANT WEEDS.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A GOOD BED FILLED WITH WEEDS, YOU HAVE SOME FERTILITY THERE.

>> AND THEY WILL ADD FERTILITY BACK IF YOU TILL THEM IN.

>> IF SHE HAS WEEDS, YOU HAVE TO DIG THOSE OUT.

I WOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME RIGHT NOW PULLING AND DIGGING AND LIFTING.

ANY PERENNIAL WEEDS HAVE THAT UNDERGROUND STEM THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN OUT, SO YOU WILL SPEND PLENTY OF TIME CLEANING IT UP, THEN SHE WILL BE OK.

IF YOU ARE GOING GOOD WEEDS, YOU CAN ALSO GROW GOOD PLANTS.

>> THAT’S TRUE.

>> MARIAN IN WEST DULUTH WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO CLEAN A RAIN BARREL.

>> OH.

LAST YEAR WAS DRY AND MUNICIPAL WATER COSTS HAVE BEEN GOING UP.

I THINK SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ALGAE.

I AM NOT OVERLY CONCERNED.

>> YOU COULD THROW A LITTLE BLEACH IN THERE.

>> I THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

I DON’T THINK I WOULD BE CONCERNEDTOO -- I DON’T THINK I WOULD BE TOO CONCERNED.

>> KATHY IN SUPERIOR HAS EVER BEARING STRAWBERRIES.

THEY DO GREAT IN JULY, BUT IN AUGUST ALL THE BERRIES ARE MUSHY AND TASTELESS.

WHY IS THIS?

>> WELL, I AM GOING TO SAY THAT IT IS PROBABLY THE HEAT THAT IS GETTING IT LATE IN THE YEAR.

YOU GET FAST GROWTH ON AN EVER VERY?

TWO -- ON AN EVER BEARING.

WERE THOSE IN CONTAINERS, DID SHE SAY?

>> SHE DIDN’T SAY.

JUST PLANTED ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> IF THEY ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, MAY A PARTIAL SCREEN.

I WOULD RATHER SEE AN EAST EXPOSURE, WHERE WE DON’T THE INTENSE HEAT IN THE FALL.

I THINK IT IS HE RELATED.

PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO A STRUCTURE, A MASON STRUCTURE THAT HOLD ONTO A LOT OF HEAT.

SO SHE MAY WANT TO MOVE THEM OUT IN AWAY IF THERE IS MASONRY INVOLVED, OR REFLECTION OFF OF A LIGHT COLORED BUILDING.

>> MARION WANTS TO KNOW WHEN A ROSEBUSH SHOULD BE PRUNED?

HERS IS VERY LARGE AND OVER 20 YEARS OLD.

>> RIGHT NOW.

LET’S CLEAN IT UP.

CLEAN THAT CROWN AREA UP.

YOU HAVE TO GET AIRFLOW THROUGH IT.

I WOULD TAKE IT BACK.

IF IT IS REALLY LARGE, I CAN IMAGINE IT IS PRETTY LARGE, YOU CAN TAKE IT BACK A THIRD TO A HALF AND CLEAN UP THE CROWN TO GET GOOD AIRFLOW AND THAT WILL FLUSH A LOT OF BUDS OUT, TOO.

AND FERTILIZE IT AFTER YOU ARE DONE.

>> MARGARET HAS RHUBARB THAT HAS GOLDEN DAMAGE AFTER THE FROST.

DO THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE SOIL SURROUNDING THE PLANT AS WELL AS THE PLANT?

GOLDEN DAMAGE.

>> GOLDEN DAMAGE?

>> FIRST OFF, IT IS A LITTLE EARLY BECAUSE MOST RHUBARB IS JUST GETTING TO EMERGE, SO I AM NOT EXACT LAY SURE.

MAYBE IT IS A WARM SPOT.

RHUBARB, IF WE HAVE RHUBARB UP, IT IS USUALLY FROST RESISTANT.

BUT IF WE HAVE A HEAVY FROST OR FREEZE, YOU HAVE TO CUT THAT BACK.

THAT IS THE ONLY TIME THE STEMS CAN BE POISONOUS.

THEY CANNOT BE POISONOUS UNLESS WE GET A HARD FREEZE.

THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY CONCERN, CUTTING THEM DOWN AND LETTING THEM REGROW.

PARTICULARLY THIS EARLY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

OF COURSE, SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BOB AND DEB FOR SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR THE NEXT EPISODE OF GREAT GARDENING.

IN THE MEANTIME, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

♪ ♪