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1500 questions
30
votes
13 answers
What is a good alternative to pressure treated wood for raised beds?
I've had my pressure treated wood raised beds for my vegetable garden since 2005 and was recently made aware of the potential risks of using this kind of wood. I have seen conflicting articles saying that it may be OK to use pressure treated wood…
Ann Addicks
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9 answers
How do I remove dandelions without damaging my lawn?
My lawn is infested with dandelions. Although they're benign, the flowers are fun to play with and the plant has several useful properties, it sure is an eyesore and I'd like to get rid of it. How can I eradicate this weed without damaging my…
Lorem Ipsum
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30
votes
5 answers
What are some sustainable alternatives to peat for potting compost?
I've just finished writing the tag wiki for organic and was thinking about wider issues of sustainability. Perhaps the best area where I could improve things personally, would be to use an alternative medium for seed trays. At the moment I use…
winwaed
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30
votes
6 answers
How can I control thistle in a lawn?
Our back fence (an iron bar fence) borders a golf course, and between us and the fairway is about 50 feet of "native" landscaping. This mostly means long, native grass (some type of crab grass?).
Unfortunately, next to one section of my backyard, a…
Nicole
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30
votes
3 answers
What are some houseplants that can clean the air, especially chemicals from cigarettes?
I know of the research done by NASA on indoor plants which can clean/reduce certain pollutants in the air. I am very interested in planting such houseplants in my house, as it is sometimes filled with cigarette smoke.
According to the above…
lamwaiman1988
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30
votes
5 answers
Ant colony in my compost bin: are they beneficial?
I've got a smallish black plastic compost bin in my garden and I recently noticed that an ant colony has taken up residence. This has happened a couple of times in the past, but they tend to move on when I turn the compost (not surprising, given I'm…
Mal Ross
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29
votes
5 answers
How do I grow root vegetables in pots/grow-bags?
We have a flat (apartment) with no garden, but would love to grow root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Is it possible to grow these in a pot, container or grow-bag, or do they need too much depth for this?
If it is possible, what containers…
robintw
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29
votes
5 answers
What is a fast-growing deciduous tree for shading house in summer? (Long Island, NY)
My town recently took down a large 80 year old maple tree that sat on the south side of my house. Unfortunately that tree provided much-needed shade and now I have already noticed very high temperatures in my house.
I would like to plant a…
Tim
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29
votes
4 answers
Is staking young trees helpful or harmful?
I frequently see small trees staked with some support twine or rope, presumably to aid against strong winds.
However, I've heard or read somewhere that staking small trees can actually be harmful, preventing them from building a natural resistance…
JYelton
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29
votes
3 answers
What vegetables will grow well in limited sunlight?
Our backyard receives limited sunlight due to three massive trees in a small area. There is only about 2 hours of direct sunlight per day to my vegetable patch.
Could I get some suggestions for vegetables that can be grown with limited sunlight?
I…
going
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29
votes
7 answers
How do I keep mosquitos out of my fountain?
I found lots of mosquito larvae in my fountain. How can I get rid of them?
A local store has the doughnut thingies but they are expensive. I'd prefer a homemade solution if possible.
I tried vegetable oil. It worked but looks ugly.
Any other…
Kevin Lawrence
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28
votes
2 answers
How do you discourage cilantro/coriander from bolting too quickly?
What techniques can be used to discourage cilantro from bolting too quickly? I plant them and it seems that they almost immediately go to seed after they've reached maturity.
Michael Todd
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28
votes
2 answers
What are the criteria for picking out vegetables to grow together in "Three Sisters" garden?
A "Three Sisters" garden is a garden grown consisting of three different crops which help each other grow in some fashion. Such as Corn, Squash and Beans. I read about it in Roots Shoots Buckets and Boots, an awesome book for making gardens with…
Peter Turner
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28
votes
5 answers
How should I properly prepare a raised bed vegetable garden?
When building a raised bed for a vegetable garden, what do I need to do to properly prepare the soil? It is going to be mixed with different types of vegetables and herbs that I will rotate out all year long.
Should I buy the more expensive garden…
Jacob Schoen
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28
votes
2 answers
My second year garlic has flowers. Is it safe to eat?
Apparently I didn't find all my garlic bulbs last fall and they grew to 4 feet tall this spring. They have a large, white flower head. I want to try cooking with it, but don't want to risk my family's health.Does anyone know if the different parts…
agent-j
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