Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / August 2008

hi;
I have a backyard garden where I have been growing a stand of wheat
and spelt this year.  I'm trying to find out how one should go about
peeling the husk off of the grain.  Is there a particular machine that

Do any of the "big box stores" such as Walmart, Home Depot or Lowes
sell square tomato cages?  I need some and I do not have time for
mail order.  Thank you in advance for all replies.
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I am just about to go and earth up my potatoes in the bucket and was
wondering how do others earth theirs up and does it make any difference on
the crop you get.
I generally wait until the tops have shot through the dirt and are about

Earlier this year my local garden centre sold "dwarf buddleias" which
would only grow to 1M high. I hesitated - and they sold out!
Any opinions on whether these are any good?
Michael Bell

We have a lot of planters, containers, and large pots full of annuals. Would
like to re-use the potting mix. Any input would be most appreciated.

About 5 weeks ago I asked a question about my eucalyptus trees that seemed
to be dying. Well they have recovered and had a bit of a growth spurt. They
had been pot bound and I didn't plant them myself and we didn't know about
untangling the roots. I had read that you shouldn't ...

Anyone doing any serious Spring planting yet?

Hi, I have a question about my lawn..
I have noticed that on my lawn I have been having lots of dry
patches... An 'expert' came over and said I have bent grass- since
there were once many golf courses in the area at one time.  They

My zucchini have become lumpy.  I'm used to nice smooth fruit so this
is disconcerting.  Some are more misshapen than others.  They seem to
taste just fine.  Has anyone here any idea as to why the zucchini
fruit are lumpy?

Has anyone here designed and built their own rotating composter? Looked at
commercial ones, but I can't afford a second mortgage! :)

I been busy the last week or so and suddenly all the posts are cancelled except for
today.  Ingrid

It has finally rained here.  We have had an extremely dry summer.  Our
rain gauge (a pot sitting on the deck) was full this morning, so we
have had at least 2.75 inches of rain.  More predicted today.  I will
have to get out and pick tomatoes, watermelons and cantaloupes before

We have several thickets of blackberry bushes around the property and get
enough blackberries for me to make wine and my wife to make pies and jelly.
Picking them in this wild, inter-twined  state is a bit of a chore as anyone
who's picked blackberries knows. Plus a couple of ...

I recently got my first oncidium.  It was loaded with buds and seems
to be doing very well.  I also have 7 phals also doing great.
Question:  should oncidium blooms last as long as phal blooms?   Each
phal bloom can last months but the blooms on the oncidium seem to last

Please could you recommend suitable containers for storing apples.
I suppose some kind of stacking baskets would do the trick.
Any recommendations as to what to use and where to get them?