I want to plant a flat of carex appalachica. The area is currently covered with grass and weeds. Should I remove the exiting grass or just plant the carex in their own 6" plots and hope the carex will grow over the grass?

I have a stand of cherry laurels and one of the bushes has a white covering all over its bark. There are some dead branches on this particular bush. Can you tell me what it is and whether/how to treat it.

After removing a chinese elm tree, I surprisingly have previously unknown tulips and crocuses this spring in that area. I also have inherited irises that have not bloomed yet but will need to be divided. A neighbor gave me daylilies, but they have never bloomed in 10yrs. Advice on where the bulbs will do best? Currently iris and daylilies are partial shade and tulips/crocuses are full sun. I have no sprinkler system and have never watered them or amended the soil etc, but I'd like to create a flower bed with these opportunistic pleasant surprises because they obviously do well despite my black thumb. Only other plants are opportunistic roses that grow like crazy as well as a pine tree. No real grass lawn, mainly weeds that I am going to cover with cardboard then mulch to eliminate the yard. Thank you!

Hello. We have a customer who called asking for contact information for help with chicks dying. She was wondering if there was someone who could test for flu. She has raised lots of chicks but never had this problem before. We recommended her call the vet, but was wondering if there was someone else we could refer her to. Union County, Oregon. Thank you.

Hello, Do you have an updated crop chart with planting dates to reflect the USDA updated zones? The most recent one I can find is 2016. Thanks!

Hello! I am in charge of the older adult programs at the City of Minnetonka and I was hoping someone would be able to come to the community center in June to do a presentation on cicadas and the 13 year and 17 year broods that are going to emerge in late spring/early summer. Presentations can include a power point, or show and tell with items - last 30 - 45 minutes and then have 15-30 minutes for Q & A. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

Should the wire basket and burlap be removed from the root ball on the 9ft Green Giant Arborvitae we are about to plant?

I have put seedlings in my garden, only to have them eaten by voles. My garden is resided beds and fenced, but I think they are happily living inside the fence. I am looking for a repellant, and considering castor oil? But cannot determine if that would harm worms. This is a vegetable garden. Can you recommend a deterrent? I have tried red pepper with limited success; my cat is no help. Thx!