Search Results

Hi, I have a row of a ... #170037

Asked March 13, 2014, 11:19 PM EDT

Hi, I have a row of a dozen white fir that is about 40 feet tall. They were probably planted in 1960. They provided plenty of privacy when we first moved in (30 years ago) but have thinned out at the lower levels and their tops now block the winter sun from our south facing windows. Could I top them at 30 feet? When would be bet time to do it? Or do I need to replace them? If they only have a 50-year life, what happens when they reach the end of their life span? Are there urban foresters that would take them down and make lumber out of them? I've thought about replacing them, what would you suggest? The neighbor's elm cuts down some of the direct light on the lower third of the current firs. Thanks

Hennepin County Minnesota

Is there a disease or trend causing kid mortality this winter? #164606

Asked January 21, 2014, 1:11 PM EST

Our good friends have a 25+ head of mainly Boer goats on a small hobby farm located in Beavercreek (Oregon City). As of this last Friday evening since mid December, out of 7 does there were 10 dead kids! This has never happened here. 2 kids were born about 1 month early, a set of quads were born maybe 7-10 days early and were all dead (but we don't know if maybe we could have saved them had we been there). Since that time one doe had to be induced and ended up with a dead kid inside, covered in yellow. The doe is very ill. Another doe had quads -- 1-10 lbs, 1-7lbs, 1-5 lbs, and 1-1 lb. There have been other dead kids and does not coming out of the birth very well. These people are experienced w/ livestock and have had these goats for about 5 years and vaccinate for everything. Are there other examples of unexplained kid or lamb deaths in the area that we need to look into? What about blood samples?

Clackamas County Oregon

How to prepare soil to grow grass after evergreen shrub removal #160862

Asked December 02, 2013, 7:57 PM EST

Two years ago we cut down all of the old overgrown evergreen shrubs in front of our 1960's home. This last summer we dug out all of the roots. There are now large bald spots where the shrubs and/or needles were where nothing will grow. I would like to plant grass in these areas, but I'd like to know how to prepare the soil. I am guessing that the pH is the reason nothing will grow. We live in West Washoe Valley and our soil is primarily decomposed granite.



Washoe County Nevada

Is "modern" wheat unhealthful? #151953

Asked October 07, 2013, 3:03 PM EDT

There is a raging debate in the public arena about the wheat that was developed by Dr. Borlaug in the 1960's.  A popular bestselling book, "Wheat Belly" and countless self-proclaimed "experts" say that our present wheat supply is unhealthy and even 'toxic' to human health.  The scientific community, and nutritionists do not seem to be engaging in this dialog, and it is hard for the average citizen to make sense of the claims.  Could you please point to scholarly, scientific articles on the matter?


Harris County Texas

After effects of Spinach #146229

Asked August 12, 2013, 9:59 AM EDT

After I eat spinach I feel a film on my teeth that I don't get when I eat other lettuce/vegetables. Can you tell me why that is?

Westchester County New York

Raspberry cane borer - Have to prune immediately or can it wait til after fall harvest? #145647

Asked August 08, 2013, 2:31 PM EDT

Hello, We live in north eastern WI.  We have approximately 100 feet of everbearing raspberries.  Each cane lasts two seasons -- in year one it gives berries in the fall Sept-October time and the following year it bears fruit in end of July-August before dying off.  This is the first year we have noticed what appears to be raspberry cane borer...or something very similar.  We have not seen the insects themselves, but are finding rings around the tops of some plants and are having tips break off at that ring level.  Much of the advice I have read online recommends trimming off the canes approx. 6 inches below the bottom-most ring in hopes of trimming off where the larvae are before they travel farther down the cane and overwinter in the bottoms.

 My question:  It's the beginning of August and the tops that have not yet broken off are loaded with raspberries that will come ripe in the next 4-8 weeks..  How quickly do the larvae move down?  And how far?  Do I need to trim off the top now?  I will lose a significant amount of berries doing this.  Or can I wait until I get this fall season's fruit off and then take out the whole plant?  Will that be soon enough?
 
Thanks.

Outagamie County Wisconsin

Soil Prep after new construction #144951

Asked August 03, 2013, 4:01 AM EDT

We just built a house and the builder used "sandy loam" to fill.  Fortunately, the dirt from our septic field was used first so we only have about 4 inches of loam until you hit native dirt. The loam used is pink (horrible from what I gather) and not the dark brown/fertile stuff. Our native dirt is clay.  So Im thinking of tilling it to 8-12 inches and adding compost.  The question: how much compost and what type?

Williamson County Texas

After diseased weeping drake elms trees have been removed, what do I do about new shoots? #144448

Asked July 31, 2013, 3:26 PM EDT

We live in Florida and had three weeping drake elms on our lawn.  We had them removed, due to the fact that they were dying and diseased.  We also had the roots ground out.  In two of the spots the trees are growing back.  They look more like bushes and are about 2.5 feet tall.  Our thoughts are that since they appear to be healthy, let them grow back.  If we do let them grow back, can we trim them so they can be more tree-like rather than bush-like?  Also, several shoots are growing back in one spot. Should we kill these, or can we let them grow as they are?  Thank you for your time and advice.



Pinellas County Florida

1 jar of jam remained liquid after canning #144234

Asked July 31, 2013, 10:20 AM EDT

I made a batch of blueberry jam and canned them in 4 oz mason jars using a water bath. I also filled two pint size containers with the same jam mixture but did not use the water bath because they were going into the refrigerator to be consumed within the next week or two.  One of the 4 oz jars never firmed up and remained a complete liquid. What happened?

Cumberland County Virginia

Rejuvenating soil after artificial lawn #142267

Asked July 29, 2013, 12:48 PM EDT

I am a Landscape Architect and I have a client who bought a house with artificial lawn.  They want to remove it and replace it with a Kentucky Bluegrass lawn.  What kind of soil remediation will be required to successfully grow lawn?

Denver County Colorado