I unexpectedly received several rare strawberry plants. Currently living in USDA Zone 6 -- what can I do to ensure they survive such late planting & a potentially hard winter? [more inside]
posted by muirne81 on Nov 19, 2009 - 2 answers

Is using a concrete slab with holes for plantings the best weed prevention in my backyard garden? [more inside]
posted by boby on Oct 24, 2009 - 14 answers

What kind of tree/plant is this? [more inside]
posted by melissasaurus on Oct 18, 2009 - 7 answers

What should I do with a (relatively) giant back yard? [more inside]
posted by zompus on Oct 13, 2009 - 21 answers

How to turn an abandoned field into a productive vegetable garden? [more inside]
posted by unSane on Sep 29, 2009 - 17 answers

Poison oak within garden yard mulch (scratch) How long will it be toxic (scratch) Any way to make it less? [more inside]
posted by artdrectr on Sep 26, 2009 - 10 answers

What do I do with the lower meadow that is currently overgrown with goldenrod? [more inside]
posted by mearls on Sep 24, 2009 - 9 answers

How do I build a basement vegetable garden in winter? I have gardened over spring/summer/fall outdoors. I need advice on what lights to buy, what vegetables can grow over winter, how to pollinate, etc. Also, can I use heat lamps to help with the warmth loving vegetables, or is that too energy inefficient?
posted by idyllhands on Sep 20, 2009 - 17 answers

I'd like to find a source in NE Illinois or even Chicago for heirloom seeds and garlic for my Aunt, bricks and mortar if possible. I couldn't seem to find anything promising online, and there are a lot of online places, but I'm in Canada so I have no experience with the U.S. based companies. [more inside]
posted by glip on Sep 20, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm being offered $100 to remove "Ornamental Grasses", any experience with the removal of plants would be greatly appreciated. I need the money, badly, I just have never done this kind of work before. [more inside]
posted by guptaxpn on Sep 9, 2009 - 11 answers

Ideas for backyard garden on heavily wooded lot? [more inside]
posted by priested on Sep 4, 2009 - 11 answers

We've been getting molehills in our front garden lately, and we want them to go away. Which anti-mole technology is best for us? [more inside]
posted by Artw on Aug 24, 2009 - 10 answers

So for the second year in a row, our cucumbers have grown spherical, small and nasty. We would prefer traditionally-shaped cucumbers that are not essentially bitter balls of seeds. No good cukes this year (I think we got a few normal ones last summer). Any ideas why this is happening? [more inside]
posted by Mayor Curley on Aug 20, 2009 - 13 answers

I am a failure as a gardener and a human being. What the hell did I do wrong with the vegetable patch? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot on Aug 17, 2009 - 30 answers

I'm thinking of replacing my lawn with artificial grass or some other thing that doesn't require constant upkeep. I'd like to hear your experiences with such horticultural matters. [more inside]
posted by reenum on Aug 13, 2009 - 22 answers

IdentifyPlantFilter: A new plant has sprung up in my Mother's rock garden this year. She loves it, but had no idea what it is! Can you help us identify it? [more inside]
posted by pghjezebel on Aug 10, 2009 - 6 answers

GardenFilter: We just harvested some potatoes and came across these potato-like knot things. We found about five or six in a bed that hosted both potatoes and garlic, though they were found kinda far from the garlic and well under ground—at least four inches. What are they? [more inside]
posted by Toekneesan on Aug 2, 2009 - 17 answers

I just bought a brand new house in mid-May. I've never owned a home before and I'm new to yard keeping. The entire yard was sodded in May. Recently my builder mentioned following Scott's four step process. I'm located in the midwest. Can you explain what Scott's four step process is? Can you also point me to a link (preferably on Lowes.com) for exactly which fertilizer I should buy to use this week? Any other tips to help a newbie? Thank you!!
posted by gocubbies on Jul 30, 2009 - 8 answers

PlantIdFilter: I've searched all the weed databases for my area trying to id this thing here. No luck, so either it's not a noxious weed or I need more help. [more inside]
posted by fiercekitten on Jul 27, 2009 - 6 answers

Every year on my porch in Boston, Ma. I grow a few different vegetables in large planters. This year one is pumpkins. After several years of growing crops in the same soil, how can I rejuvenate the soil to make it better for the next crop?
posted by boby on Jul 21, 2009 - 11 answers

GardenFilter. What insect will these translucent (and possibly glowing) eggs turn into? Photo here. [more inside]
posted by joeyo on Jul 16, 2009 - 5 answers

Help us use our abundant home-grown tomatoes, even though our tomato tastes disagree! [more inside]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur on Jul 8, 2009 - 33 answers

I am responsible for managing a small coffeehouse. We are currently offering free wifi to our customers. We are looking for an option to restrict our internet access. There are two possible options we are considering: 1. Have a redirected landing page for a customer first logging onto our network. This would allow us to capture their e-mail address, have them agree to an AUP, etc. 2. Install a more elaborate software system to give our customers custom access codes, etc. Our wireless router is a Linksys WRT160N. Thank you.
posted by 4chrisd on Jul 6, 2009 - 16 answers

Help me identify this weird plant growing in our garden. [more inside]
posted by christinetheslp on Jul 2, 2009 - 8 answers

How do I grow food and be more sustainable in a shady city apartment? [more inside]
posted by Lord_Pall on Jul 2, 2009 - 16 answers

Tomato Plants showing some mold (SoCal) [more inside]
posted by silsurf on Jun 29, 2009 - 5 answers

I have some questions about pest control in the garden, coupled with mysteriously disappearing plants. [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot on Jun 23, 2009 - 16 answers

Can I Eat It Filter: a cat pooped in my lettuce bed... [more inside]
posted by Wavelet on Jun 11, 2009 - 21 answers

What plant is this? [more inside]
posted by Sourisnoire on Jun 10, 2009 - 14 answers

What's this bright magenta berry growing in my yard? [more inside]
posted by MeghanC on Jun 9, 2009 - 14 answers

It's time for another round of Name That Plant. I got a flat of plants for free and i'm not sure what they are. Can you help identify? pic here [more inside]
posted by escher on Jun 8, 2009 - 6 answers

What is the name for this type of fence? Fairly thin metal posts with lots of tabs punched out onto which a large metal mesh can be placed (not chain link) and fastened. (And where can I get some?) [more inside]
posted by imposster on May 31, 2009 - 11 answers

We want to freeze vegetables for the winter. Here's the trick: we don't want to use a refrigerator. [more inside]
posted by puckish on May 31, 2009 - 19 answers

I found some tomato plants growing wild in my back yard in February. I transplanted them to a safer location, and now one of them is about five feet tall (and going). Help me identify the tomato variety? [more inside]
posted by jabberjaw on May 29, 2009 - 9 answers

how do I utilize my have-a-heart trap to get the bunnies out of my garden? [more inside]
posted by genmonster on May 25, 2009 - 12 answers

Something is digging in my garden, what do I do? [more inside]
posted by fozzie33 on May 20, 2009 - 14 answers

How can I direct or reflect sunlight into a shaded part of my garden? [more inside]
posted by Sevenupcan on May 6, 2009 - 2 answers

What is this plant? [2,3] [more inside]
posted by srboisvert on May 2, 2009 - 9 answers

Just shoveled out a new garden 2 weeks ago. Put some tomatoes and peppers seedlings in, and already have some baby pepper and tomato plant is flowering well. Looking for strange or exotic veggies or herbs I can put into the remaining space. This east facing plot probably gets 4-6 hours of direct sun (more once we get further into summer). I live coastal in San Diego, so it would be zone 10. It also never get's hotter than 90F, and never below 32F. Very dry, so low water plants are a plus, but I dont mind watering a small area often. I have no preference starting from seed or seedling, so either one works.
posted by ShootTheMoon on May 1, 2009 - 20 answers

TexasvegetableGardenFilter: Ok..So i decided to build a garden box and i need help with what i should and shouldnt plant. I built a 3x8 garden box and is about a 1 1/2 ft deep, and would like to grow organic vegetables, what can i plant this weekend? I was hoping to grow a salsa garden..Onions, Tomatoes, Jalepenos, etc..What else?? How many plants is it capable of housing? Spacing between plants?? Never done this before and im really excited just need some advice to get started. Thanks!!! I live in Dallas, Tx.
posted by lateriser on Apr 29, 2009 - 8 answers

How can I get rid of squirrels so I can have a balcony garden? [more inside]
posted by KateHasQuestions on Apr 28, 2009 - 18 answers

I have a fairly large yard (1440 sq. ft.) in the Los Angeles area that is like a giant rocky slab of concrete mixed with a bit of 25 year old construction debris. I would like to have a beautiful yard in which I enjoy myself. [more inside]
posted by Sophie1 on Apr 23, 2009 - 14 answers

I am planting my flower garden this weekend, and looking for suggestions. It gets no sun in the morning, and FULL sun from about 11am/12pm until sunset. I live in DC Area. I would like to find some stuff that is low maintainence. Any help would be great?
posted by fozzie33 on Apr 23, 2009 - 5 answers

Where can I buy established blueberry plants that are ready for transplant in northern Massachusetts? [more inside]
posted by csimpkins on Apr 23, 2009 - 9 answers

Help a first-time vegetable gardener strategize what to grow versus what to keep buying at the farmers' market. [more inside]
posted by Rykey on Apr 14, 2009 - 24 answers

How long is a pack of flower seeds good for? [more inside]
posted by boulder20something on Apr 8, 2009 - 7 answers

Small, inexpensive solar projects for the yard? Got one done and I'm curious about what else I can do... [more inside]
posted by azpenguin on Apr 3, 2009 - 4 answers

Vegetable gardener living in SoCal (zone 9) wants to try growing black-eyed peas (cowpeas) in big raised beds in the backyard this summer. Problem: being Yankee-born and raised, I have never grown, eaten, nor even seen black-eyed peas before, on the vine or off. Suggestions for backyard-worthy varieties, gardening tips, companion planting possibilities, and authentic recipes desired.
posted by Asparagirl on Apr 2, 2009 - 12 answers

Seeking appropriate and flavorful crop suggestions for my gin garden. [more inside]
posted by potch on Mar 30, 2009 - 21 answers

Asking for a friend. She got her soil tested and the lead levels are at a toxic, and in fact, illegal level. It's a rental, and the whole building was planning a community garden in the yard. Now they're not so sure. [more inside]
posted by nax on Mar 27, 2009 - 15 answers