Monthly Archives: July 2009

Trees Losing Leaves in Hard Soil

By Ellen Wells | Published: July 6, 2009

Q. Three days ago I dug eight 3-ft. by 3-ft. holes for trees. These holes were made in hardpan. I used a jackhammer to get down as far as I could tolerate before collapsing in a heap of protoplasm. I amended the soil properly and planted the trees, properly watered afterward to moisten, not [...]

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Rabbits Eating Wave Petunias

By Ellen Wells | Published: July 6, 2009

Q. Something is eating my Wave petunias. Not sure what it is. They are torn in the middle of the stem, like something is gnawing them?
Jacksonville, Illinois
A. Thanks for growing Wave Petunias. My best guess is the problem you have is rabbits. I have a rabbit problem in my Aurora, Illinois, subdivision so I’ve seen [...]

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Pollinating Topsy Turvy Tomatoes

By Ellen Wells | Published: July 6, 2009

Q. I have three Topsy turvy tomato plants. I was wondering how to pollinate them? I have them in a screened-in porch.
-Summerville, South Carolina
A. Tomatoes “self pollinate” but the mechanism is tricky. Bees usually do the job but there shouldn’t “be” any bees on your porch! The pollen is up inside the flowers. Wind can [...]

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