Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange
Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
103
votes
4 answers

Can weeds be put into compost, or will they grow again when the compost is used?

I usually discard weeds but it occurred to me that they would probably be good for compost. Are there any steps I can take to use them in compost without having them grow again when I use the compost? Do different types of weeds need different…
WileCau
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8 answers

How do you identify a plant?

I'm pretty new to gardening and landscaping. Having recently bought a house, one of the things I'd like to be able to do is identify the trees and smaller plants that are on the property so I can learn how to take proper care of them. Rather than…
JavadocMD
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76
votes
7 answers

What are the best conditions for basil?

What are the best conditions for basil to grow? I live in the UK and it never seems to last that long. Recently I've been putting the plants in the shade and drenching them in water, which seems to be working so far.
Dan
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68
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11 answers

How do I apply spent coffee grounds as a fertilizer?

I've read that spent coffee grounds work well as a fertilizer. But the methods of application are all over the map. Some indicate using it in compost, others suggest spreading it and broken eggshells as an insect deterrent, and others recommend…
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson
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59
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7 answers

Is it bad to water plants in the evening?

Is it bad to water plants after the sun has gone down or near dusk? If so, why?
Jim Geurts
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59
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4 answers

Tips on lawn maintenance and weed control

I have a lawn that is growing more and more weeds as the days go by. What is the best method of tackling this problem and returning my lawn to its former lush and green self?
kzh
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53
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3 answers

How do you know if you are watering a plant too much vs. too little?

I live in Arizona, and I can never tell if I am watering my plants too little or too much. Plants are very touchy here - and you have to be able to read the signs correctly. I can't. What signs are there for each?
johnnietheblack
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51
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2 answers

How long before poisons like Round-up become inert?

If I spray some grass with a poison like Round-up or Kills All, how long before that spray is not dangerous to plants? So for example, if after spraying, I walk through the sprayed area and then onto my lawn, how long until I am not going to be…
Vaccano
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50
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12 answers

How often should you mow a growing lawn?

During the warm months when my grass is growing, is there a mowing schedule I can use to encourage the lawn to be green and healthy? Mine often seems "unhappy" when it's been cut (goes pale, some browning), which makes me want to mow it…
Paul Turner
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48
votes
11 answers

How do you safely and effectively stop a cat from pooping in your yard?

Our neighbor's cat keeps pooping in our mulch and around our yard. Is there a safe and effective way to stop neighborhood pets from doing so? Has anyone used a method that works well?
taber
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47
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3 answers

What's an organic way to discourage crabgrass from a large "lawn"?

I have a large area that's infested with crabgrass. I'd like to use organic methods to encourage the grass mix over the crabgrass. The fact that it's a large area means I can't afford to apply (nor do I want to) herbicides. The soil is acidic and…
bstpierre
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45
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3 answers

How to prevent avocado from drying out indoors?

I have an avocado plant that has grown indoors since it was a pit. It grew first in a badly insulated, north-facing, wet and cool house, where it grew splendidly. After I moved it to a well insulated house with central heating and lots of light, the…
neydroydrec
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45
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3 answers

How hot can my compost get?

I went to stir my compost pile the other day, and to my surprise, when I dug into the center of the pile, I found that it was hot. As in, really hot. Once I removed the top layer steam was literally rising off of it. I didn't have a thermometer…
JSBձոգչ
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45
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6 answers

Crop rotation theory v. practice

Every guide to growing vegetables will have an early section on rotating roots, brassicas and legumes. There might even be a little diagram with neat evenly spaced and sized areas marked out for each group. It always sounds so simple in theory. But…
Tea Drinker
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44
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2 answers

What factors affect the spiciness of jalapeños?

Researching growing jalapeños, I've seen people mention how water-starving your jalapeño plants can lead to spicier peppers. How true is this? If there's any truth to it, what tips can you provide about watering amounts? How much is too little? Does…
JavadocMD
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