7 Garden Questions You're Afraid To Ask
Maybe there are no dumb questions, but some may seem so basic you hesitate to ask. Relax - you're not alone (and if you read the answers here, we won't tell a soul) - Midwest Living 2009:
1. Am I paranoid to worry about garden plants poisoning kids and pets? Poisonous Plants - Only a few common plants are poisonous if eaten, says Norm Lownds, curator of the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden in East Lansing. Others can cause allergic reactions if touched. One common threat: Yews (Taxus species). These shrubs often used by foundations produce poisonous red berries. Parts of several common plants, including rhubarb leaves, are harmful only if eaten in large quantities.
2. A shovel is a shovel, right? Are they really different? Shovels- A long handled, round-point shovel is a multitasker, just as good for moving gravel piles as digging holes. Look for a blade attached solidly to the handle with a metal shank that wraps around the entire handle (called a "closed-back" shovel). Wood handles are find for light work, such as raking leaves or shoveling mulch. Choose fiberglass for tough tasks such as digging or moving soil.
3. Do pots really need to have holes in them? Pots - If they hold plants, they need drainage holes. Otherwise, water saturates the soil and kills plants. Some pots come without holes, so either drill a hole or use it for decorative or water-garden purposes.
4. What does partial shade mean? Shade - Partial shade (or partial sun, depending on how you look at it) means a garden spot receives 4-6 hours of direct sunlight a day, says Chip Tynan, manager of the Missouri Botanical Garden's Horticultural Answer Service. Areas receiving more than 6 hours of direct sun are full-sun locations. Less than 4 hours of direct sun is called full shade.
5. Can I plant as soon as the weather warms up? Planting - You can plant cool-season annuals and vegetables such as peas and lettuce when there's still a threat of frost, Chip says. But hold off on warm-season annuals and vegetables, such as tomatoes, until your area's frost-free date. (Get the date from a local extension office.) You can plant most potted perennials, trees and shrubs anytime the soil is workable - even late fall. "As long as the ground isn't frozen and we are not in the grip of a desperate drought, you can plant container plants," says Chip.
6. What does "amend the soil" mean? Amending soil - This simple refers to adding organic matter to soil. Organic matter, in the form of compost or well-decomposed manure or leaves, improves soil texture, letting water and air seep in and nourish plants. It also adds valuable nutrients where roots grow. Homemade compost is ideal, but you can also buy compost at garden centers.
7. How do you make sense of numbers on fertilizer bags? Fertilizer - Most landscape plants benefit from a fertilizer labeled 5-10-10. The numbers represent the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer. For vegetable gardens and vigorously growing annuals, choose a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer labeled 10-10-10.