Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / August 2006

I've diagnosed the problem I've been having with my phalanenopsis/doritis
leaves as thrips (confirmed at orchid society meeting). What's a good
treatment to get rid of the little sapsuckers?
Richard

I have a load of Heritage Tomatoes this year, so I'm looking for some ideas on
how
to preserve them.
                                     Sherwin D.

Any suggestions how to remedy this problem?

Anyone doing it?

I have just taken delivery of some hosta plants, which I intended for
around a hedge area. Now I'm just wondering if I should pot them up and
wait for the spring before planting them out?
LW

I've just planted a new yew hedge, consisting of 30 pot-grown plants
about 18" - 2' high.  Should I cut back the plants now, or leave it
till next spring?  And how much should I cut them back?  They've got
about 2-3" of new growth on them, but I know Yew can be cut back to old

i have read so many things that say that cedar mulch slowly kills plant
and shrubs by leeching the nitrogen and nutrients out of the soil.
i was wondering what anyones opinion would be on this as i had though
of using cedar mulch around my spireas, hostas and a lot of othe

i have just taken on an allotment, surrounded by books, magazines,
offers of "good advice". trouble is - how do I start? I have the option
of a strimmer, a chainsaw or a flame thrower ;) Definately a case of
can't see the soil for the undergrowth! I'm really up for making a good

I set up a new vege garden a few weeks ago. Figured we could starve
waiting till I finish building the proper terraced garden beds, so I
knocked up a temporary bed out of plywood and bits of timber and
filled it with a mix of mushroom compost, cow/sheep manure and

Can anyone name this rose?
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/150235038/1150239206042089446yWlYGp
It is so beautiful, and I would love to get it.  I would ask the owner
of the photo, but I cannot find a contact link, and I seriously doubt

Http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23365032-details/Hosepipe%20ba
n%20to%20stay%20for%20a%20year/article.do
How can the provision (of water be all about money?
Depressing....

While cleaning in my basement this weekend (a traumatic thing to do cuz
I'm a packrat) I found a jar of okra seeds that I saved about 15 years
ago.  Maybe 16 or 17 years, but less than 20.  I started to throw them
out, but I was curious if they might still be viable.  So I took ...

I have hundreds of bumblebees in my garden, and they are gentle like honey
bees and love my sunflowers and squash. Good polinators. I have noticed that
in the evenings, a lot of them find a nice cozy leaf or flower and curl up
and spend the night there. In the morning, I have a ...

This year my sister noticed a few colonies of Crane Fly orchid at my
parents and right now many of the plants have podded.
Has anyone had any success in propagating these by seed?
What did you do?

I'm in Southern Ontario and have finally got a grub infestation under
control - now I have to re-establish my damaged front lawn. What's the
best approach for me to use and is Fall the best time to do it?