>> ANYTHING THAT I CAN DRILL A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM CAN BECOME A PLANTER.

>> IT'S GREAT FOR WILDLIFE, BUMBLEBEES.

>> WHEN WE MOVED HERE IT WAS JUST A HAYFIELD.

>> IT GIVES YOU THAT INNER PEACE, IT'S A BAD DAY, GET OUT IN THE GARDEN.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME THE GREAT GARDENING.

I'M YOUR HOST SHARON YOUNG AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL OUR LONG EPISODE.

WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDENING SEASON AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE OUR TIPS AND TRICKS WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

AS USUAL WE HAVE OF OUR GARDEN EXPERTS WITH US.

THEY ARE HORTICULTURIST AND EDUCATOR BOB OLEN, AND GARDEN PROFESSIONAL DEB BYRNS ERICKSON.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM GARDENERS ACROSS THE REGION WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR EXPERTS.

PHONE VOLUNTEERS ARE HERE TO RECIEVE YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL AS ACCEPT PLEDGE DONATIONS DURING OUR PROGRAMMING THIS EVENING.

CALL US AT 218-788-2847 OR OR E-MAIL US AT OUR NEW E-MAIL ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS.

WE HAVE VIDEO.

ALTHOUGH NOT EVERYTHING IS IN BLOOM, WE STILL SEE SOME BEAUTIFUL SITES.

>> TULIPS.

SUCH A SPECTACULAR LOCATION.

WE ARE JUST SO BLESSED AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.

IT'S JUST GETTING STARTED, IT'S FANTASTIC.

DEB: THAT IS.

MORE TULIPS.

SHARON: LAST SUMMER WE VISITED THE DULUTH JAPENESE PEACE BELL GARDEN, WHICH IS A FEATURE OF ENGER PARK.

WE SPOKE WITH CO-CHAIR EE-RE-NUH HALLER, WHO ENLIGHTENED US OF THE SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORY OF THE GARDEN.

>> I AM A COCHAIR OF WHAT'S PART OF THE ORGANIZATION AND EVERYTHING GOT STARTED AND WAS BROUGHT TO DULUTH AFTER WORLD WAR II.

EVENTUALLY IT WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE BELL THAT CAME IN WAS RETURNED TO THE TOWN.

AND AS THE APPRECIATION OF THE RETURN BELL, WE RECEIVED THE SISTER BELL, THAT IS AT THE END OF THIS PATH.

SO IN 2005 WE HAD CONVERSATION RIGHT HERE BY THE BELL OPERATING A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE GARDEN AS THE AUTHENTIC ENVIRONMENT THAT SURROUNDS THE BELL.

THERE ARE FOUR ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF EVERY JAPANESE GARDEN.

THE BACKBONE OF THE GARDEN IS THE STONE.

ALL OF THE STONES AROUND THE GARDEN ACTUALLY COME FROM AROUND THE PARK.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN CREATING THE JAPANESE GARDEN CONNECTING THE OLD TO THE NEW.

THE NEXT ELEMENT WOULD INCLUDE MAN-MADE OBJECTS.

RIGHT BEHIND ME, THE ENTRYWAY IS MADE FROM THE RECLAIMED REDWOOD.

THERE IS ALSO STONE PAGODA AND STONE LANTERNS.

THE BRIDGE OVER THE DRY CREEK.

ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS, INCLUDING THE BELL HAVE BEEN MADE BY HUMANS.

THE THIRD ELEMENTS ARE THE PLANTINGS.

THIS WOULD NOT BE YEAR FLASHY, VERY COLORFUL GARDEN IN TERMS OF THE COLOR, BUT MOST OF THE OTHER PLANTS REALLY ALLOWED TO CREATE THE TEXTURE, THE SHAPES IN THE LAST ELEMENT IN EVERY JAPANESE GARDEN IS WATER.

ALL OF THE WATER IS SYMBOLIC.

WHETHER IT'S A DRY CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH, AND THEN THE ZEN GARDEN ITSELF, WHICH IS FILLED WITH THE GRANITE CHIPS AND RAKED BY THE VOLUNTEERS TO REPRESENT THE WAVES OR MAY BE THE REFLECTION OF THE CLOUDS.

OUR GOAL WAS TO CREATE AN AUTHENTIC ENVIRONMENT AROUND THE BELL, BUT ALSO AN EDUCATIONAL SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE THAT CULTURE WITHOUT LEAVING OUR TOWN.

SHARON: YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AZALEAS.

BOB: THE AZALEA SERIES IN THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SERIES HAS REALLY CHANGED OUR LANDSCAPE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST AND INTO CANADA.

IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S LATE JUNE OR EARLY JUNE, THE FLOWERING HAS BEEN SPECTACULAR, AS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S ALREADY PLANT PROGRAM IN THE 1950'S.

A SHOUT OUT TO DR. LEON SNYDER WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAM AND BRINGING SO MANY OF THESE INTO OUR NORTHERN CLIMATE.

FOR THEIR NORTHERN LIGHT SERIES, WHICH WAS THE FIRST ONE INTRODUCED, THAT STARTED IN 1954, AL JOHNSON WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE, AND KUDOS TO THAT GENTLEMAN, HE'S NO LONGER WITH US, BUT HE WAS SO INSTRUMENTAL.

NORTHERN LIGHTS WAS INTRODUCED IN 1978, 24 YEARS OF THAT INTRODUCTION CROSSING HEARTY NATIVE VARIETIES WITH SOME TO THE FARTHER SOUTH AND NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 14 VARIETIES IN THE NORTHERN LIGHT SERIES AND AS I MENTIONED, THE LIGHT SERIES HAS CHANGED OUR LANDSCAPE IN THE SPRING, AL JOHNSON DOESN'T GET A LOT OF CREDIT BECAUSE HE WAS FOLLOWED UP BY A MARVELOUS INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTRODUCING SO MANY OF THESE VARIETIES IN THE LIGHT SERIES, AND THEN STAMP WAS -- STAN WHO STILL WORKING AT THE ARBORETUM.

HE STILL INTRODUCING VARIETIES.

YOU WILL SEE THE ELECTRIC LIGHT SERIES, WHICH IS THE DOUBLE AZALEA.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL.

THERE'S SO FEW PLANT BREEDERS THAT HAVE SPREAD ALL OF THIS BEAUTY FOR US THROUGHOUT OUR LANDSCAPE AND THIS YEAR THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT.

SO THEY ARE NOT DIFFICULT TO GROW, REALLY.

THEY ARE HEARTY AND LAST A LONG WHILE, YOU WANT.

OR PARTIAL SHADE.

THEY DON'T MAKE IT REALLY HOT, MORNING SUN IS GREAT, GOOD DRAINAGE, MAYBE AFTERNOON SHADE.

YOU WANT TO SOIL AGAIN THAT IT'S WELL-DRAINED AND NUTRIENT RICH.

GET SOME GOOD ORGANICS AND GOOD COMPOST.

IT SHOULD BE ACIDIC.

IT'S BLUEBERRY TERRITORY, THAT'S ESSENTIAL, SO IF WE WILL FERTILIZE, MAYBE WE WILL FERTILIZE TWICE A YEAR.

RIGHT AS THE BUDS BEGIN TO COME, PROBABLY THE FIRST FERTILIZER APPLICATION, AND THE SECOND ONE WHEN BLOOM BEGINS TO DROP IN ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO, AND THEN YOU WANT TO STOP ANY FERTILIZING.

WE REALLY WANT THEM TO SETTLE COMING INTO THE FALL.

THERE ARE WATER-SOLUBLE'S.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, AMMONIUM SULFATE IS AVAILABLE IN OUTLETS AND PROVIDES THE AMMONIUM COMPONENT IN THE SULFUR WILL KEEP THE PH BELOW WHERE WE WANT THAT DEPRESSED AIR.

IT'S FOR 5.5 BELOW ARE PH WITCHES 6.5 TO 6.8.

IN THE OTHER THING I WANT TO CAUTION ABOUT, YOU WANT TO PROTECT FROM DEER.

THEY LOVE THOSE BLOOMS, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING EARLY IN THE SEASON TO MUNCH ON BEFORE THE GRASS GETS OUT THERE.

PROTECT FROM THAT.

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS, THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY BEST.

THAT GROWS FROM HERE WELL UP INTO CANADA, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE ORIGINALS.

WE HAVE A FEW OF THESE IN OUR LANDSCAPES, WHICH WAS CHERISHED.

THIS WAS KNOWN FOR THEIR ORANGE COLOR BUT WAS VERY HEARTY.

PART OF THE BREEDING HISTORY OF THE NORTHERN LIGHT SERIES.

BUT NOW WE HAVE SO MANY OTHERS THAT ARE JUST SPECTACULAR IN TERMS OF COLOR.

I THINK THESE LIGHTS ARE APPROPRIATELY NAMED AND IF YOU EVER GET THE COLOR, HERE'S THE FLOUR, JUST SPECTACULAR.

A VERY NICE AZALEA GARDEN AT THE ARBORETUM.

PINK LIGHTS, AND ANOTHER IN THE SERIES THAT'S VERY OUTSTANDING AND ATTRACTIVE.

THERE'S ADDITIONAL COLOR.

SO THEY EACH HAVE A UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC, BUT WHITE LIGHTS, THAT COMBINATION OF WHITE AND THAT BEAUTIFUL PINK COLOR OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IS SPECTACULAR.

SPREADS VERY NICELY, AGAIN, THEY DON'T TAKE A LOT OF CARE, THEY WILL TAKE A LOT OF PRUNING BUT KEEPING THE SOIL ACIDIC AND KEEPING THE DEER AWAY, THEY ARE ALSO WONDERFUL SOURCE OF NECTAR FOR THE POLLINATING INSECTS, WHICH WE ARE ALL AWARE SO IMPORTANT.

YOU CAN LOOK AT UMB'S CAMPUS, THEY SURROUND THEIR INTRODUCTION INTO THE ACTUAL CAMPUS ITSELF.

SO ENJOY THEM AND CONSIDER PLANTING THEM IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

SHARON: THANK YOU, EQUATE -- A GREAT QUOTE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR QUESTIONS.

JERRY IS WONDERING HOW TO KEEP THE DEER AWAY FROM TULIPS AND VEGETABLES.

BOB: THIS IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

TULIPS, YOU REALLY WANT TO SCREAM THOSE OFF, THERE ARE A LOT OF REPELLENTS.

IF YOU USE REPELLENTS, MANY CAN BE EFFECTIVE.

ROTATION ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IF YOU GET THE OUTSIDE AREAS OR PERIMETERS OF THE PROPERTY, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION.

SHARON: KATHY IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS HAS A QUESTION ABOUT SWEET POTATOES.

CAN SHE GET SWEET POTATOES FROM A SWEET POTATO VINE?

DEB: SWEET POTATO VINES DO HAVE SWEET POTATOES.

I'VE HAD THEM, THEY ARE NOT VERY TASTY, THEY ARE A LITTLE FIBROUS AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF FLAVOR.

THEY AREN'T VERY BIG BUT YOU WILL GET THIS FROM IT.

IF YOU KEEP THE TUBE OR FOR NEXT YEAR, YOU WILL NOT KEEP THE SAME SWEET POTATO.

YOU WON'T GET THE LIME GREEN DARK FOLIAGE.

BOB: THE OTHERS WERE BRED FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE VARIETIES, GEORGIA JET IS STILL MY FAVORITE IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

IF YOU CAN GET THE GEORGIA JET AND PUT IT OUT ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO, THAT WILL BE GOOD ON CREDIBILITY.

SHARON: WE HAVE AN EMAIL FROM JASON, WHAT CAN BE PLANTED EITHER ANNUAL OR PERENNIAL TO HELP KEEP THE MOSQUITOES AWAY?

BOB: A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE GREENHOUSE LOOKING FOR THE MOSQUITOES SINCE CHANEL TYPE GERANIUM.

IT HAS GOOD FRAGRANCE AND GENERALLY PEOPLE PLANT THINGS THAT HAVE FRAGRANCE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ROUGH THEM UP TO USE THEM, BUT THEY ARE REALLY A DISGUISE OF YOUR BREATH AND THE ATTRACTION FOR MOSQUITOES.

THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT HERBS PEOPLE HAVE USED LAVENDER WITH PRETTY GOOD SUCCESS, AND THEN SUPPOSEDLY, MOSQUITOES HATE CITRUS SMELLS.

THAT'S WHY THEY GO FOR THE SINTRA NOLA, URANIUM -- CITRONELLA, GERANIUM, AND IT HAS A LIGHT FRAGRANCE BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FRAGRANCE DISGUISING YOU.

ANYTHING WITH A STRONG FRAGRANCE.

BOB: AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY STRONG TO KEEP MOSQUITOES DOWN THIS YEAR.

IT WAS HUGE THIS YEAR AND STILL IS.

SHARON: MARY FROM DULUTH WANTS TO KNOW IF PEOPLE CAN PURCHASE FRUIT TREES FROM ST. MARY'S COUNTY.

IF SO, HOW, IF NOT, WHERE DO YOU BUY YOUR TREES?

SHE USED TO GET AN ORDER FORM IN THE MAIL.

BOB: THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY PROGRAM OR ARE RETAILING ANY TYPE OF PLANT MATERIAL.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND FRUIT TREES CAN REALLY BE OBTAINED FROM LOCAL NURSERIES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN SHORT SUPPLY BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS INTERESTS.

THEY MIGHT BE 7, 8, 9, 10 YEARS OLD SO THEY DID NOT ANTICIPATE THIS TYPE OF DEMAND OF INCREASED PRODUCTION.

THEY'VE BEEN SHORT SUPPLY BUT THEY ARE AVAILABLE LOCALLY.

>> YOU WANT ONE WITH GOOD CALIBER THAT ARE GOOD SIZE.

WE GET FRUIT ON HOURS EVERY YEAR IN THE POT -- IN THE PART.

BOB: THE OTHER THING IS, PROBABLY LOCALLY.

THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE I'VE SEEN SAME VARIETIES GROWING FAST.

TALK WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER AND GET MATERIALS.

WE HAVE A GREAT WHOLE SEALER -- WHOLESALER.

MAKE SURE THAT THE PRODUCT, YOU DON'T WANT TO SHOP FOR PRICES, YOU WANT TO SHOP FOR WALLY.

NOT JUST THE NAME, BUT WHERE WAS IT GROWN, WAS A GROWN RIGHT IN MINNESOTA?

TALK WITH YOUR DEALER, SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY ON A QUALITY TREE AND IT WILL PAY OFF OVER THE NEXT 20 TO 50 YEARS.

SHARON: FUNGUS ON THE LEAVES.

IS IT STILL OK OR SAFE TO EAT?

DEB: IT'S GOING TO BE FINE, TOTALLY FINE.

BOB: THERE'S SOME WORSE THAN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FUNGUS.

CUT ALL THAT OFTEN IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

SHARON: FUN APPLE TREE LAST YEAR AND THIS WINTER TO SIDE BRANCHES PARTIALLY BROKE OFF.

CAN SHE BIND THEM BACK UP?

SHE'S NOT AWARE OF THE KIND OF TREE.

BOB: -- DEB: YOU MIGHT AS WELL TRY, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE IF YOU ACTUALLY HEAL IT.

BOB: JUST MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE A SPLIT THAT WILL CARRY WATER INTO THE MAIN CORE OF THE TREE.

GET INTO THE CENTER PORTION OF THE TREE.

IF SHE CAN SQUEEZE IT TOGETHER TIGHT AND MOLDED TOGETHER THAT WAY, IF YOU COULD DO IT THAT WAY AND GET THAT LAYER TO LINE UP, THEY CAN HEAL.

SHARON: TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT AZALEAS.

SHIRLEY WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU CAN CUT THEM DOWN TO THE GROUND AND LINDA WANTS TO KNOW HOW DO YOU PRUNE THE NORTHERN LIGHT AZALEAS?

BOB: THEY ARE REAL WITTY AND YOU WILL NEVER CUT THEM TO THE GROUND.

YOU CAN PRUNE THEM AFTER THE BLOOM, YOU CAN CUT THEM BACK IN SHAPE FOR ANOTHER JUNCTION, BUT DON'T BE AGGRESSIVE.

THEY AREN'T LIKE THE SHRUB THAT WILL COME BACK AND FLOURISH.

YOU WANT TO PRUNE CAREFULLY AND NOT MORE THAN 10% OR 15%.

SHARON: TIM IS WONDERING IF THERE'S A PODCAST YOU RECOMMEND THAT WILL HELP ENCOURAGE AND LEARN ABOUT VEGETABLE GROWTH?

DEB: JOE, WHAT IS HIS GARDENING ONE?

BUT HE HAS THE SHOW, A GREENER WORLD ON PBS, HE HAS A WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC PODCAST HE HAS A WEBSITE WITH IT, HE'S BEEN DOING PBS FOR YEARS, IT'S FANTASTIC.

SHARON: KEVIN IS WONDERING HOW TO ELIMINATE POTATO BUGS.

BOB: YOU GOT ANY GOOD IDEAS.

DEB: NO, BOB.

BOB: IT'S ONE OF THE REAL CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY AFTER WINTER LIKE THIS BECAUSE OVERWINTER IN THE SOIL AND THERE WAS SO MUCH PROTECTION.

JUST ELIMINATE AS MANY AS YOU CAN.

IF YOU HAVE A FEW PLANTS, HAND-PICKED CONTINUOUSLY.

I'VE SHARED THIS WITH PEOPLE BEFORE, IT SOUNDS CRAZY BUT OPEN UP A SMALL AREA, TAKE THE SNOW OFF THE GARDEN BED AND YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL WONDER IF WINTER HAS GOTTEN CRAZY, BUT IT'S THAT OPEN EXPOSED SOIL AND THAT COLD PENETRATION THAT WILL KILL VELARDE.

THE HOMEOWNER DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PESTICIDE CONTROLS, EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO USE THEM.

SHARON: SHORTLY WE ARE GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP KEEP PROGRAMS ON THE AIR.

BUT FIRST, LET'S CONTINUE HIGHLIGHTING UNIQUE GARDENS IN THE REGION.

OUR NEXT ONE IS RUN BY THE GARDEN CLUB PART OF THE DULUTH GARDEN FLOWER SOCIETY.

IT'S COMMUNITY BUILT IN GROWN AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.

>> MY NAME IS AND, I THINK IT'S LONDON ROAD, BUT IT'S PROBABLY HERE BECAUSE IT SWITCHES HERE AT THE CORNER.

THE GARDEN CLUB, WHICH IS PART OF THE DULUTH GARDEN SOCIETY, EVERY CLUB IN THE SOCIETY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE PUBLIC SPACE IN DULUTH AND THIS IS WHERE WE CHOSE TO HAVE OURS.

A FRIEND OF MINE STARTED IT IN 1999, WE ARE STILL IN ACTIVE GROUP, A LOT OF THE CLUBS IN THE SOCIETY ARE AGING OUT AND THEY HAVE STOPPED GARDENING IN THE PARKS WHERE THEY HAD GARDEN TO.

OUR CLIMBING HYDRANGEA, WHICH CLIMBS UP THE COTTONWOOD TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, IT'S NOT QUITE STILL IN BLOOM RIGHT NOW.

WE PLANTED ALMOST AT THE BEGINNING OF WHEN WE PLANTED THIS GARDEN, WHICH IS IN 1999, WE ARE GUESSTIMATING AT 60 FEET TALL BECAUSE NOBODY'S CLIMBING UP THERE TO MEASURE.

WE HAVE SOME V BOMB.

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE GARDEN, WE HAVE PROBABLY SIX ACTIVE MEMBERS, SOMETIMES SEVEN OR EIGHT, WHICH WE REALLY LOVE, WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE WATER METER, THE HANDLE WASN'T WORKING RIGHT, BUT WE HAVE A VERY NICE HANDLE FOR ARTHRITIC HANDS.

WHEN WE ARE HERE AS A GROUP DOING SPRING CLEANUP OR FALL CLEANUP, THE NEIGHBORS COME BY.

SOMETIMES THEY ARE DRIVING BY WHEN ONE PERSON IS CLEANING AND THEY WILL YELL OUT THE CAR, WE LOVE THE GARDEN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK WITH KEEPING IT UP AND THAT JUST GIVES YOU MORE SHARON: WELCOME BACK TO GREAT GARDENING, WE HAVE MORE TO SHOW YOU INCLUDING DEB TALKING ABOUT DAHLIAS.

BUT FIRST LET'S GET BACK TO SOME pQUESTIONS.

LISA ELLUME IT HAS DEAR EATING BLOOMS OFF THE CRAB.

DOES THIS DAMAGE THE TREE?

ARE THERE ANY OTHER DETERRENCE?

BOB: DEAR ISUES, DOES IT DAMAGE THE TREE, YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T WATCH -- WALK TOO MUCH DAMAGE, THERE'S TOO MUCH FOLIAGE.

SO IT ISN'T ANY GOOD FOR THE TREE, GETTING BACK SOME OF THE LIGHT NETTING WON'T WORK FOR YOU.

YOU CAN GET A GOOD STURDY FENCE, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SEVEN TO EIGHT FEET IN HEIGHT AND WE HAVE TO EXTEND BEYOND THE REACH OF THE BRANCHES BUT GOOD SOLID, METAL REACHING IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE YOUR BEST BET.

ELECTRIC FENCING WON'T WORK BUT NOT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

DIFFERENT REPELLENTS POTENTIALLY IF YOU WANTED TO LOCATE THEM BUT IT'S A CHALLENGE OTHER THAN GOOD, STRONG METAL FENCING.

SHARON: MARY JO EMAILED US ABOUT HER APPLE TREE THAT HAS GREAT POLLINATION.

IT'S A NINE TO 10 FOOT TALL, SIX FOOT DIAMETER AND HEALTHY IN EACH CLUSTER OF FRUIT HAS FIVE TO SEVEN APPLES FORMING A QUARTER AND A HALF INCH IN DIAMETER.

MANY RANCHES HAVE THREE TO FIVE CLUSTERS OF FRUIT AND IT WAS IN FULL BLOOM ON MAY 22.

CAN SHE THINNED THE FRUIT AND HOW MANY PER CLUSTERS SHOULD BE LEFT TO MATURE ON THE TREE?

IN SHORT BUT?

BOB: WELL, DEB?

I DID A LITTLE WORK ON THAT ONE TIME AND WE HAD SO MUCH BLOOM, SO MANY TREES ARE CARRYING WAY TOO MUCH FRUIT, SO THE TREE WILL SHED A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, SHE WILL TAKE IT DOWN TO THE BARE MINIMUM, APPLE TREES HAVE GOT A FRUITS PER THE LOSS'S FORM OFF THE FRUIT.

YOU WANT TO GET DOWN TO ONE FRUIT FIRST PERIOD.

SHE WILL TAKE ON MORE THAN THAT AND WE FOUND THAT ABOUT -- IT TAKES ABOUT 20 LEAVES TO SPARK ONE GOOD QUALITY FRUIT SO YOU WON'T COUNT ALL 20, COUNT ALL 20 SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA AND IT WILL BE REAL HARD TO DO, FOR -- PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES WHO LOVE THE PLANTS.

REMOVE THAT FRUIT IN THE TREE WILL THANK YOU.

THERE WILL BE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THAT TREE IF YOU LEAVE ALL OF THAT ON, AND IF YOU DO LEAVE IT ON, YOU WILL GET A HEAVY FRUIT LOW THIS YEAR BUT IT WILL BE VERY, VERY LIGHT NEXT YEAR.

TRY TO THIN THAT OUT AND EVEN OUT THE FRUIT LOAD.

SHARON: SHELLEY WANTS TO KNOW THE BEST WAY TO GET GRASS OUT OF AN EXISTING FLOWER BED.

SHE TRIED PULLING IT OUT BUT IT JUST KEEPS COMING BACK.

DEB: IT'S JUST CREEPING IN?

BOB: THE GRASS IS TOUGH.

YOU KNOW WHAT SHE WILL DO, MAY BE IN THE EARLY SPRING IS LIFT EVERYTHING OUT, LET IT SIT TEMPORARILY, YOUR CHOICE, YOU COULD USE NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE , LIGHTSABER ROUND UP AS A POTENTIAL PRODUCT, EVERY ONE OF THOSE HAS TO COME OUT AND THEN YOU REPLANT THE ROOTS OR THE TUBERS FROM THE PERENNIAL MATERIAL.

THAT'S THE WAY TO CLEAN IT UP, SELECTIVELY IS DIFFICULT TO DO IT ANY OTHER WAY.

DEB: YOU PUT A BARRIER AROUND IT ONCE YOU GET IT ALL CLEANED UP.

BOB: YOU DON'T WANT TO BE CHEAP ON THE BARRIERS.

THE LESS-EXPENSIVE BARRIERS DON'T STAND UP AT ALL.

YOU WILL DO IT AGAIN AND IT WON'T BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

SHARON: ALAN KNOWS IT'S EARLY BUDDY PLANTED APPLE CRISP -- APPLE TREES AND WAS WONDERING ABOUT PROTECTION FOR THE WINTER.

BOB: DEAR, DEAR, DEAR PROTECTION.

NUMBER ONE, AND HE WANTS A CYLINDER AROUND THEM, NICE SIZE, SIX TO EIGHT INCHES.

IT WILL ABSORB SOME OF THE SUN BUT AS LONG AS THAT BLACK PLASTIC COLUMN DOESN'T TOUCH WITH THE BAR, AS SOON AS THAT PARK EXPANDS OR THE TRUNK EXPANDS, YOU HAVE TO GET THOSE COLORS OFF, IT MIGHT BE FIVE OR SIX YEARS DOWN THE ROAD BUT DON'T LET THEM GROW TO THAT CONTENT POINT BECAUSE DAMAGE COULD OCCUR.

SO THE MAINSTEM NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED IN THE ENTIRE TREE NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE DEER DAMAGE WITH A GOOD, SOLID METAL FENCE AND THEN YOU ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.

DEB: GET A NICE SIZE ONE.

BOB: I WILL SHARE THIS WITH YOU BECAUSE I PUT MANY OF THESE ON, DON'T TRY TO CUT IT.

SLID IT DOWN THE DRAINAGE LINE AND THEY WILL OPEN UP NICE FOR YOU.

GET THEM OFF AND THEN LATER IN THE FALL IS WHEN WE STEAK A LOT OF TREES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WOOD SYSTEM TO GET DEVELOPED.

YOU WANT THAT TREE TO SWAY IN THE WIND.

EARLY IN THE SEASON YOU DON'T NEED TO STEAK THEM BUT YOU DO NEED TO GET A COLUMN AROUND THERE AND PROTECT FROM DEER AND DO THAT AS SOON AS YOU PUT THE TREE IN THE GROUND.

I MADE THE MISTAKE OF PLANTING THE TREES AND ASSUMING I COULD DO IT THE NEXT MORNING.

I THINK THEY WATCH THEM BECAUSE I'VE HAD DAMAGE OCCUR THAT RAPIDLY.

DEB: BE PREPARED.

BOB: BY THE FENCING WHEN YOU BUY THE TREE.

>> RICH MENTIONED YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT RABBITS.

HE HAS A WHITE HYDRANGEA BUSH WITH FOUR TRUNKS AND RABBITS HAVE EATEN MOST OF IT, WILL IT SURVIVE?

DEB: IT WILL COME BACK, HE CAN CUT OUT THAT DEAD MATERIAL AND THAT WILL HELP IT FLUSH IT OUT.

BOB: THEY ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

THESE YOU CAN CUT HARD AND THEY WILL COME BACK IN A SEASON LIKE THIS.

SHARON: THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR RICH.

DEB, LET'S TALK ABOUT DAHLIAS.

DEB: LET'S TALK ABOUT DAHLIAS.

THEY WERE FIRST DISCOVERED BY AND INSTALL.

IT IS DAHLIA.

I ALWAYS SAID DALIA AND I AM COMPLETELY WRONG.

HE IS SWEDISH AND DISCOVERED THEM IN MEXICO.

WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF THEM WE SHOULD THINK OF MEXICO ON EMULATING THAT KIND OF SITUATION FOR GROWING THEM SUCCESSFULLY.

AND THEY ARE AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT VARIETIES, YOU CAN START FROM SEED IN MID-MARCH, AND THEN THEY WILL BLOOM IN JUNE, AND THEY ARE SMALLER IN STATURE BUT YOU GET A VARIETY OF COLOR, 10 TO 12 INCHES TALL.

AND JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE AC DOESN'T MATTER, THEY WILL TURN IN TO A TUBE OR IN THE FALL.

THE SECOND ONE IS A CUTTING DAHLIA, WHICH THEY HAVE DONE BEAUTIFULLY BREEDING FOR THESE AND THERE ARE SO MANY CHOICES WERE SKIES THE LIMIT FOR COLOR.

THEY WILL START TO BLOOM IN APRIL TO SEPTEMBER, AND THEY CAN RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 10 INCHES TO 36 INCHES TALL, LIKE THIS ONE THE ILLUSION YELLOW THAT'S ON THE SCREEN IS GREAT FOR THE MAIN PART OF THE CONTAINER.

IT'S A BIT EASIER TO MAINTAIN IN THE GARDEN BED AS FAR AS WATER BECAUSE THEY DO DRINK A LOT OF WATER WHEN IT GETS HOT, AND THEN THE THIRD IS A TUBE OR, THIS ONE HERE IS DINNER PLATE DAHLIA, AND WE START OUR TUBERS IN EARLY MARCH, WE PUT THEM IN A CONTAINER AND WE WATER THEM WELL AND WAIT FOR IT TO SPROUT.

AND THEN THEY WILL BLOOM JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER, JUST DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE DINNERS BECAUSE THEY TAKE LONGER BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE BLOSSOM AND IT TAKES A LOT LONGER FOR THAT PLANT TO GENERATE THE ENERGY TO MAKE THAT GIANT ONE.

IT WILL GET 24 TO 36 INCHES TALL EASIER AND A LOT OF FOLIAGE WEIGHT AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU WILL NEED A LARGE CONTAINER OR A GOOD BRACING ON IT.

AND THEN THEY ARE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS A PERENNIAL THAT BLOOMS ALL SUMMER.

EVERY DAY SOMEONE IS COMING THROUGH.

IT WILL BLOOM ALL SUMMER LONG AND YOU CAN HAVE TUBELESS FOR A LONG TIME AND YOU CAN DIVIDE THEM AND HAVE A LOT OF THEM.

AND AS FAR AS CARE GOES DURING THE SUMMER, THEY LOVE SIX TO EIGHT HOURS OF MORNING SUN OR YOU DON'T WANT THAT HOT 2:00 TO 4:00 WEDNESDAY REALLY GETS HOT IN THE FOLIAGE CAN SCORCH AND THEY NEED RECOVERY, SO A COOLDOWN TIME.

JUST DON'T PUT THEM WHERE THEY WILL COOK ALL DAY LONG.

WHEN YOU TRANSPONDER THEM, YOU CAN PUT THEM DEEPER INTO THE SOIL MAKE SURE YOU WATER THEM WELL, WATER THE WHOLE WELL AND STICK THEM IN AND WATER THEM BECAUSE YOUR ROUTES HAVE BEEN PUT DOWN.

YOU COULD GO FOUR TO SIX INCHES DEEPER THAN WHAT THEY'VE BEEN GROWING AT AND IT STABILIZES REALLY NICELY, AND THEN YOU MIGHT NEED AN ADDITIONAL CAGE FOR THE LARGER VARIETIES BECAUSE THEY GET.

THE BOYCOTT THE BLOSSOMS, THE MORE THEY WILL BLOOM BECAUSE ONCE THEY START TO SIGNAL THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SEED, AND SOME WILL GO TO SEED, IF YOU CUT THEM THEY WON'T AND THEY WILL KEEP PRODUCING.

THAT'S HER DRIVE, TO PRODUCE A SEED.

WATCH FOR SUNBURNED LEAVES AND POSSIBLY A LACK OF WATER.

THAT PICTURE COULD BE TOO WET OR TOO DRY, THEY LOOK IDENTICAL.

YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR FINGER IN THE SOIL, CHECK IT AND DO NOT OVERWATER IT BECAUSE YOU COULD GET A WELT AND THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THAT AND YOU WILL NEED TO DIG IT UP AND DRY IT OUT.

DIGGING TUBERS AT THE FIRST SIDE OF DAMAGE OR FROST, YOU CAN LIFT THEM AND LET THEM DRY ON THE SOIL AND YOU CAN, I WAS DISCUSSING THIS WITH A CUSTOMER TODAY, I SAID YOU CAN LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CONTAINER.

YOU COULD TAKE THAT CONTAINER AND PUT IT IN A SPOT THAT GOES BETWEEN 40 TO 50 DEGREES AND 70% HUMIDITY.

THE CUSTOMER SAID, WHAT IF I JUST CAUGHT UP THAT DINNER PLATE BACK INTO A CONTAINER AND THEN BRING IT IN AND I'M LIKE, THEN YOU ARE AHEAD.

IN SPRING IN MARCH YOU CAN PULL IT OUT AND IT'S READY TO GO AND IT WILL HAVE WINTERED WELL.

IF YOU ARE DIGGING IT OUT, LIFT IT AND LET IT DRY.

HUMIDITY IS 70% TO 80%.

WE LIKE TO USE WHICH SHAVING OR BEDDING.

COULD CAUSE ROT.

IF IT'S TOO MUCH WORK, GO TO YOUR LOCAL GREENHOUSE AND GET A FRESH ONE IN THE SPRING AND YOU CAN HAVE THEM FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

SHARON: NANCY EMAILED US AND HAS GROWN ASPARAGUS FOR YEARS AND DISCOVERED PLANS COVERED WITH ASPARAGUS BEETLE.

SHE PICK THEM OFF AND DROWN THEM IN SOAPY WATER, THIS YEAR THEY ARE BACK IN FULL FORCE, WHAT CAN SHE DO TO GET RID OF THEM?

BOB: FOR THE HOMEOWNER IT'S A CHALLENGE WE DON'T HAVE PRODUCTS .

I WISH I HAD A REAL GOOD ANSWER FOR HER, PICKING THEM OFF, SHE WANTS TO TRY TO DO THAT, MAYBE WE WILL HAVE TO THINK HARDER AND COME UP WITH A NONCHEMICAL CONTROL.

ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S IN THE SOIL AND IT WAS A REALLY GOOD YEAR FOR ANY INSECT THAT WAS IN THE SOIL, SO SHE MAY NOT EXPECT THIS TO CONTINUE.

AS SOON AS WE GET AN OPEN WINTER, THEY WILL COME ALONG.

THAT WILL DO A LOT TO ELIMINATE THE POPULATION.

JUST WHEN YOU CAN HARDLY STAND THEM AND YOU THINK THEY WILL CONSUME EVERYTHING, THEY HIT A POPULATION PEAK IN THE NUMBERS CLIMB.

I WILL NOT GET OVERLY DISCOURAGED, BUT I DON'T HAVE A REAL GOOD CONTROL FOR HER.

SHARON: IN JUST A SHORT TIME WE WILL ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO KEY PROGRAMS LIKE GREAT GARDEN GOING.

BUT LET'S CHECK OUT YOUR PHOTOS SENT IN.

>> LET'S SEE WHAT'S GROWING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

COLLECT FROM -- COLETTE SENT US THESE PHOTOS.

RENE FROM KETTLE RIVER, MINNESOTA SENT US THESE LOVELY BLOOMS.

SEND US PHOTO FROM YOUR GARDENS, EMAIL S AT GREAT GARDENING AT PBS NORTH.ORG AND IT COULD SHOW WITH MORE QUESTIONS.

THE LABEL SAID THE PLANS WERE PERENNIAL BUT THEY ARE NOT GROWING THIS YEAR.

DO THEY GROW LATER OR MIGHT IT BE BY ANNUAL.

THEY DID BLOOM.

DEB: THEY ARE BIANNUAL BUT SOME OF THE BREEDING HAS LED TO MORE PERENNIALS, BUT I DID HAVE A FEW PEOPLE SAY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH IT.

THEY ARE NOT THE EASIEST.

SOMETIMES SOMETHING GETS TO THE TAPROOT.

I'M GOING TO GET SOMETHING GOT TO IT BECAUSE IT SHOULD COME BACK.

BOB: WITH THE SNOW IT SHOULD COME BACK, BUT IF THAT WAS THE SECOND YEAR, DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THOSE PERENNIAL CHARACTERISTICS.

DEB: IF IT SAID PERENNIAL I WOULD GUESS ON THE TAG.

SHARON: THERE'S A VIEWER THAT LIVES CLOSE TO SPIRIT MOUNTAIN AND WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU CAN RECOMMEND BOXWOOD SUITABLE FOR A GARDEN?

BOB: YOU MEAN THE PLANT BOXWOOD?

I THINK THEY SHOULD DO JUST FINE , REALLY.

THERE WILL BE LAKE EFFECT AND BOXWOOD HAS THE CONFLICT.

I DON'T TAKE IT SHOULD BE DIFFICULT IF IT'S COMMON BOXWOOD.

>> BILL WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS EVERYTHING SEEMED TO GROW BETTER AND FASTER AFTER LIGHTNING?

DEB: AFTER LIGHTNING FIELDS, IS AT TURNS BEAUTIFULLY GREEN.

BOB: THIS IS NATURE'S WAY.

APPROXIMATELY WHAT WE ARE READING IS VERY STABLE.

OXYGEN SPLITS THAT NITROGEN, YOU GET NITRATE AND NITRATE IS THE FORM OF NITROGEN THAT THE PLANT WANTS A YOU GET THAT CARRIED IN WITH THE MOISTURE IN THE PLANK IT'S A REAL SHOT OF MOISTURE.

>> WHO KNEW WE HAD BOUGHT THE SCIENCE GUY.

>> IT'S FUN, THE NITROGEN CYCLE.

BUT THAT'S NATURE'S WAY OF PUTTING NITROGEN IN THE GROUND.

>> SOMETHING HAS BEEN SHOWING HER GREEN BEANS.

SHE SPRAYED TODAY, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN SHE DO.

BOB: I'VE HAD THAT SAME EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS A HARD WINTER FOR HUMAN BEINGS.

INSECTS SPEND THEIR LIFE CYCLE IN THE SOIL.

I'VE GOT SOME MAJOR PLANTINGS AS IT'S TAKEN OUT PROBABLY 50% OF THE PLANTING.

ALL YOU CAN DO IS REPLANT, THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME.

REPLANT THAT INSIGHT GOES THROUGH ITS LIFE CYCLE A B BOTHERED THE SECOND TIME, CROPS WILL COME A LITTLE BIT LATER.

FORGET ABOUT THE PESTICIDES, THAT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT AT ALL.

>> WE HAVE A VIEWER THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHY THEY ARE HAVING SUCH A PROBLEM GROWING A GARDENIA.

IS IT THE DIRT OR THE SIZE OF THE POT?

>> THEY WERE GROWING IT INDOORS, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THE GARDENIA IS NOT HEARTY AT ALL.

HOW BIG IS THE POT, WHAT IS THE SOIL THAT THEY ARE USING FOR THE GARDENIA.

AND, WE DON'T HAVE THE BEST CLIMATE FOR IT.

BOB: SUN EXPOSURE.

>> LOTS OF SUN.

SHARON: AGNES HAS 10 FOOT CEDAR TREES AND THE BRANCHES ARE GREY AND LOOK DEAD.

IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO REVIVE THE BRANCHES?

BOB: THEY WILL SHED THOSE LOWER BRANCHES ANYWHERE THAN THE OLDER BRANCHES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE FROM HEAVY SNOW LOADS.

I DON'T THINK THAT MADE ANY EASIER BUT I WOULDN'T BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT BRANCHS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED.

THEY WILL BE DROPPED ANYWAY.

SHARON: THAT'S ALL FOR GREAT GARDENING TONIGHT.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS ON INSTAGRAM AT GREAT PARDONING PBS NORTH AND ON YOUTUBE AT YOUTUBE.COM/GREAT GARDENING.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S EPISODE POSTED TOMORROW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH BOB AND DEB.

IT WAS AWESOME TONIGHT WITH YOU.

BOB: THANK YOU, IT WAS A NICE EVENING.

SHARON: WE WILL BE BACK FOR MORE GREAT GARDENING LATER THIS YEAR BUT UNTIL THEN FROM ALL OF US HERE AT GREAT GARDENING, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME AND PLEASE ENJOY THE GARDEN.

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