>> NOTHING IS BETTER THAN FRESH FRUIT FROM THE GARDEN, I CANNOT SAY THAT ENOUGH.

>> THIS PARTICULAR PLANT WILL SHOOT UP LEAF TISSUE.

>> THE PROGRAM WAS TO CREATE FOOD FOR THE PUBLIC.

THEY WERE ORCHARDS.

>> A LOT OF WORK, BUT WORTH IT WHEN YOU SEE THESE BLOOMS.

IT IS GORGEOUS.

♪ >> WELCOME TO GREAT GARDENING.

I'M DENNIS LAMPKIN, YOUR HOST FOR THIS EVENING.

WE HAVE OUR EXPERTS WITH US.

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

AS ALWAYS WE WANT TO HEAR FROM GARDENERS ACROSS THE REGION WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR EXPERTS ON ALL THINGS GARDENING.

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS PROGRAM ARE HERE TO ANSWER PHONES.

CALL LOCALLY AT 218-788-2847 E-MAIL US AT ASK@WDSE.

ORG.

HOW ABOUT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS?

FINALLY GOT SOME SPRING AND SUMMER.

>> SOME RAIN.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

BUD'S BEGINNING TO BREAK.

>> I DROVE UP FROM THE CITIES, THEY WERE A LOT OF GREEN.

>> SPRING, PROBABLY MOVING INTO SUMMER QUICKLY.

THAT IS HOW THAT HAPPENS.

>> THE THEME IS COMPOSTING.

WE TRAVEL TO THE HOME OF DEBORAH ORTMAN, WHO SHOWED US THE BEST WAYS TO GENERATE COMPOST AT YOUR HOME.

>> MY NAME IS DEBBY ORTMAN, WE ARE IN -- MINNESOTA.

I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU MY COMPOST SYSTEM.

I HAVE BEEN COMPOSTING FOR 40 YEARS.

FROM 2002 TO 2012, I WAS A CONSULTANT FOR THE WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR SANITARY DISTRICT, AND I COORDINATED THEIR FOOD COMPOSTING PROGRAM, THEIR MUNICIPAL COMPOSTING PROGRAMS.

SO WE COLLECT FOOD WASTE THAT GOES INTO OUR BACKYARD COMPOST THAT IS FRUITS, VEGETABLES, BANANA PEELS.

AND WE ALSO SEPARATE MATERIAL THAT WILL GO TO THE SANITARY DISTRICT.

THERE ARE DROP OFF SITES WHERE IT'S FREE FOR HOMEOWNERS TO COLLECT FOOD WASTE AND BRING IT TO ONE OF THESE DROP-OFF SITES.

THE MATERIAL THAT WE PUT INTO THAT BUCKET WOULD BE MEAT, BONES, RICE, BREAD, DAIRY PRODUCTS, THINGS YOU CAN'T PUT INTO YOUR BACKYARD COMPOST.

COMPOSTING STARTS IN THE KITCHEN I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE YOU GENERATE THE FOOD WASTE FROM BAKING, COOKING, YOU KNOW, MAKING SALADS, YOU KNOW, EATING FOOD ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, 25% OF WHAT GOES INTO THE LANDFILLS GOES INTO YOUR GARBAGE, IS FOOD WASTE THAT CAN BE RE-UTILIZED, RECYCLED, AND MADE INTO COMPOST.

IF I'M GOING TO FIX AN ONION, PEOPLE THROW THIS INTO THEIR GARBAGE, WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A COOL COMPOST BUCKET LIKE THIS, AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT IS IN THERE IS COFFEE GROUNDS, EGGSHELLS, TWIGS, ONION PEELS.

AND THEY ALL GO INTO MY BACKYARD COMPOST.

INSTEAD OF ONION PEELS, THEY GO IN HERE.

IN SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, WE HAVE COMPOST THAT COMES OUT OF THIS.

THE OTHER SYSTEM WE HAVE IS UNDER OUR SINK.

HERE WE HAVE THIS CONTAINER.

THIS IS A CONTAINER THAT GOES TO THE WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR SANITARY DISTRICT.

THIS HAS A BIODEGRADABLE BAG ON IT.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S SOME LEFTOVERS FROM A DINNER.

WE PUT IN HERE WHAT WE CAN'T PUT IN HERE.

SO THIS THE SANITARY DISTRICT CAN TAKE MATERIAL THAT YOU WOULDN'T PUT INTO YOUR BACKYARD COMPOST SYSTEM.

SO THEN WHAT WE DO IS WE TIE THIS ALL UP AND THEN WE HAVE A CONTAINER OUT IN THE GARAGE WHERE WE PUT THIS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO IN TO THE GARAGE WHERE I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE WE PUT THE MATERIAL THAT WE SEND TO THE SANITARY DISTRICT.

THESE ARE 12 GALLON CONTAINERS THAT YOU CAN GET FROM THE SANITARY DISTRICT.

AGAIN, WE HAVE A BIODEGRADABLE BAG THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE ON THE INTERNET.

AND THEN HERE IS JUST SOME OF THE FOOD WASTE THAT'S GOING TO THE SANITARY DISTRICT.

SO THEN THIS GOES RIGHT IN HERE.

AND WE TAKE THIS AND BRING IT OVER TO LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE.

YOU CAN FIND OUT WHERE THEIR DUMPSTER IS LOCATED AND DROP IT OFF ANY TIME.

THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT SHOULD BE SET UP IN EVERY SINGLE MUNICIPALITY.

THINK OF 25% OF FOOD WASTE GOING INTO YOUR GARBAGE AND LANDFILLS, WE NEED TO RECAPTURE AND RECYCLE THAT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE THE WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR SANITATION PROGRAM, START ONE.

OTHERWISE, YOU WILL HAVE TO GO WITH YOUR BACKYARD COMPOST.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR BACKYARD COMPOST PILES.

WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4.

THIS IS THE OLDEST ONE THAT WE WILL BREAK DOWN.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIRT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED AS ALL OF THE MATERIAL HAS BROKEN DOWN.

MAINLY WHAT IS IN HERE IS REFUSE FROM THE GARDEN.

LEAVES FROM OUR MAPLE TREES.

AND IT TAKES THREE TO FIVE YEARS FOR THIS TO BREAK DOWN INTO COMPOST THAT WE USE AS A SOIL AMENDMENT.

WE DON'T TURN THESE, WE LET THEM SIT HERE AND LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE.

THIS IS ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE FEET HIGH.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO EVEN USE OFFENSE.

I HAVE SEEN OTHERS HAVE A COMPOST PILE IN A CORNER OF THEIR BACKYARD AND LET STUFF BREAK DOWN NATURALLY.

WE DON'T LET FOOD WASTE IN THESE CONTAINERS.

IF WE DID, WE WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS WITH BEARS, RACCOONS, MICE.

SO NO FOOD WASTE GOES INTO THESE CONTAINERS.

IT IS GALVANIZED FENCING THAT WE GET.

YOU WANT GALVANIZED SO IT DOESN'T REST AND WILL LAST FOREVER.

THIS IS ABOUT SIX FEET AROUND AND FIVE FEET TALL.

HOMEOWNERS, THE MOST FEASIBLE ARE THE PAST -- PLASTIC CONTAINERS THAT WE PUT ALL OF OUR FOOD WASTE FROM THE KITCHEN.

THE SANITARY DISTRICT DID A STUDY THAT SHOWED COMPOST WITH FOOD WASTE HAS A HIGHER NUTRIENT CONTENT THEN THIS TYPE OF COMPOST.

IT MAKES SENSE.

YOU ARE PUTTING EGGSHELLS, GREAT FOR CALCIUM, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WHICH HAVE MICRONUTRIENTS.

IT IS A HIGHER QUALITY COMPOST.

FOR THE PLASTIC COMPOST BINS, THEY RUN ABOUT $200 APIECE.

THEY ARE PRICEY.

WE HAVE HAD ONE OVER 15 YEARS GOING STRONG.

THE PLASTIC IS THICKER, SO IT DOESN'T BREAK DOWN.

A $200 INVESTMENT IS WELL WORTH IT.

ESPECIALLY FOR A BACKYARD GARDEN OR IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE, BUT WANT TO GENERATE SOME COMPOST.

COMPOSTING MAKES SENSE.

GREAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, GOOD FOR LANDSCAPING AND YOUR GARDEN.

AND IT REALLY HELPS WITH KEEPING FOOD WASTE OUT OF THE LANDFILL SYSTEM.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

BOB, YOU WANTED TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT COMPOSTING SYSTEMS.

>> CERTAINLY.

I WANTED TO THANK THEIR BECOME A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION.

COMPOSTING IS ONE OF THE SIMPLE PLEASURES THAT YOU GET A GREAT DEAL OF JOY FROM FIGURING IT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS MY SYSTEM.

NOT TOO DISSIMILAR FROM WHAT DEBORAH IS DOING.

STARTED THIS SPRING WITH MY YARD.

THEN I HAD THIS CONTAINED AREA GO.

THAT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED FROM DEER AND OTHER MAMMALS.

THE FOOD WASTE REALLY DOESN'T REQUIRE MUCH MANAGEMENT.

THE RIGHT RATIO WILL BREAK DOWN QUICKLY.

YARD WASTE IS DIFFERENT.

YOU HAVE TO MANAGE ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR EFFICIENT COMPOSTING AND CAN BE DONE.

TYPICALLY, WE WILL GET THAT DONE, LOAD UP THE PILES.

THE BIGGER THE BETTER.

I DON'T CONTAIN IT, BECAUSE I MIGHT WANT TO TURN IT ONCE.

THE BIGGER THE BETTER, IT SELF INSULATES, AND IT WILL COMPOST.

SO WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A STABLE COMPOST IN 8, 9, 10 MONTHS IF YOU ARE MANAGING IT PROPERLY.

HERE IS THE INTERIOR OF THE FOOD WASTE.

THE VEGETATIVE FOOD WASTE HAS THIS RIGHT COMBINATION.

COMPOST DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN.

WE'RE BOTH ASSOCIATED WITH CLENCHING.

THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD A COMPOST PILE DEPOSITING LEAVES FOR THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS.

I DUG INTO THIS HUGE PILE.

I FOUND NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS FROM THE 1940'S.

COMPOSTING HAS TO BE MANAGED.

THE WHOLE PROCESS DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN.

YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH IT A LITTLE BIT.

THESE ARE THE BASICS.

ALL OF THE DECOMPOSITION IS OCCURRING IN BEING DONE BY AEROBIC BACTERIA.

THOSE ARE YOUR WORKERS.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEM HAPPY.

ENERGY IS NOT A PROBLEM.

THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT IS CARBON.

THIS ONE IS TRICKY.

YOU HAVE TO GET NITROGEN FOR YOUR WORKERS.

THEY WILL BUILD PROTEINS.

IT WILL EITHER COME FROM GREEN MATERIAL, GREEN AND BROWN.

OR YOU CAN USE A SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER TO GET THE NITROGEN COMPONENT.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT MOIST.

50% WATER.

THE FOURTH COMPONENT, IT HAS TO BE OPEN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO ADD SOIL.

IT COMPRESSES IT.

YOU DON'T WANT IT TO GO ANAEROBIC.

THEY CREATE SOME OF THE ODORS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

A CLEAN COMPOST PILE WHERE AEROBIC BACTERIA HAS NO ORDER ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND IT GETS HOT QUICKLY.

IF IT GETS HOT, YOU WILL HAVE A HOT PILE, 120, 130 DEGREES.

HAPPINESS IS A HOT COMPOST PILE.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF TOOLS.

I LIKE TO GET THEM SET UP AND READY TO GO.

WE ARE GOING TO CHECK THAT COMPOST PILE THIS IS A COMPOSTING THERMOMETER THAT WE WILL STICK INTO THE PILE.

AIR TEMPERATURE IS ABOUT 50, 60 DEGREES.

YOU STILL WANT THE COMPOST PILE TO BE 120, 130 DEGREES.

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD A COMPOSTING THERMOMETER, WE HAVE THE POOR MAN'S COMPOSTING THERMOMETER.

NOTHING MORE THAN A CHUNK OF REBAR, YOU BUILD A BIG PILE AND JAM IT INTO THE REBAR, PULL IT OUT, AND IT SHOULD BE HOT.

IF NOT, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK, YOUR WORKERS ARE NOT HAPPY.

GO BACK AGAIN.

PRINCIPALLY WITH YARD WASTE, MAKE SURE IT IS POROUS TO GET THE OXYGEN.

AND IT WILL FIRE QUICKLY WITHIN A FEW DAYS AND COMPOST THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS.

COMPOSTING SUCCESS BRINGS GREAT JOY, BECAUSE YOU NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF WHAT WE CALL GARDENERS GOLD.

>> SOME OF US DON'T HAVE BIG PROPERTIES WHERE WE CAN HAVE A COMPOST PILE.

WE LIVE IN TOWN, I DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY.

I SIGN UP WITH MY LOCAL CARRIER, AND THEY PICK UP THE YARD WASTE EVERY WEEK.

EVERY WEEK DURING THE GROWING SEASON FROM MAY 1 TO THE END OF OCTOBER, THEY PROCESS IT.

IF I HAVE STUFF, I HAVE TRIMMED BIGGER TREES THAT DON'T FIT, I CAN HAUL THEM DOWN AND IT IS VERY CHEAP.

IT WILL TAKE A PICKUP TRUCK LOAD AND THEY USE IT ON THE TRAILS, THE PARKS, THAT SORT OF THING.

SO IT HAS SOME ADDED BENEFITS.

PEOPLE WILL HELP YOU UNLOAD AND TAKE CARE OF IT.

THEN YOU CAN BUY IT BY THE BAG, OR IN BULK AND BRING IT TO YOUR HOUSE AND USE IT ON YOUR GARDENS.

GARDEN MAGIC.

>> A GREAT RESOURCE.

VIEWERS THROUGH THE REGION.

IF YOUR MUNICIPALITY DOESN'T HAVE A SYSTEM.

MANY OF THEM DO.

MANY MAY NOT BE AS MANAGED AS INTENSELY AS THE SANITARY DISTRICT.

IN MANY CASES, THEY HAVE A COMPOST FACILITY.

AND YOU CAN ACCESS MATERIAL.

>> LET'S GET TO A FEW QUESTIONS.

QUITE A FEW COMING IN.

RICHARD, HOW CAN I GET RID OF CRACK GRASS IN MY FLOWER GARDENS, BESIDES DYNAMITE?

[LAUGHTER] I WOULD SAY MOVE.

>> THAT IS A TOUGH ONE.

IN HIS PERENNIAL GARDENS, WHAT HE WILL HAVE TO DO IS LIFT THE PERENNIAL PLANTS.

AND RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE GOING TO DIG.

TAKE OUT THE UNDERGROUND RHIZOMES AND REPLANT.

SHORT OF USING SOME TYPE OF HERBICIDE, THAT IS ABOUT THE ONLY SOLUTION.

WHERE YOU ARE PLANNING, YOU IT WILL CREEP FROM THE OUTSIDE.

SO A LOT OF THE SYNTHETIC MATERIALS DROPPING DOWN TO SUPPRESS THE WEEDS AND PUNCTURE HOLES THROUGH THAT.

THAT WILL GIVE US A FIGHTING CHANCE.

>> JIM FROM WEST TO LOSE, CAN I ESTABLISH MY PEONIES AT THIS TIME OF YEAR?

>> YOU CAN.

THE BEST TIME IS IN THE FALL.

THEY PUT ON A LOT OF ROOT MASS.

BUT YOU CAN DO IT NOW, DIG THEM UP.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE GENTLE ABOUT IT AND KEEP THE EYES AS INTACT AS YOU CAN.

IF YOU WANT TO SPLIT AND MOVE THEM, AND I'M NOT SURE HE WANTS TO MAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS, BUT YOU CAN.

A NICE LIGHT SOIL, GOOD SUNSHINE.

YOU CAN DEFINITELY DO IT NOW.

AND NO QUACK GRASS.

>> PATTY FROM HAYWARD WANTS TO KNOW IF IT IS TOO EARLY TO USE PREEN ON HER GARDEN?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

>> I THINK IT IS.

>> IT IS.

PREEN IS -- IT GOES BY OTHER NAMES, BUT IT HAS A LABEL FOR A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS.

IT WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF QUACK GRASS.

YOU WANT IT RIGHT AS THE ANNUAL WEEDS ARE BEGINNING TO GERMINATE.

SOIL IS A LITTLE TOO COOL, AND IT BREAKS DOWN.

YOU WANT TO MAKE THE APPLICATION PROBABLY CLOSER TO THE END OF MAY, BUT NOT LATER.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THEM GERMINATING, THEN YOU KNOW.

>> THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LATE.

>> IF YOU HAVE ONE, THE FIRST ONE YOU SEE.

>> FIRST INDICATION THAT SOIL IS WARMING.

THERMOMETER IS NOT A BAD IDEA WITH SOIL TEMPERATURES ABOVE 40 DEGREES.

YOU WANT THAT PRODUCT RIGHT AS THE WEED IS BEGINNING TO EMERGE.

>> PAT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF HE CAN PUT WOODASHES IN HIS COMPOST.

>> NO.

MAYBE THAT IS THE QUICK AND EASY ANSWER.

WE NEVER WANT TO USE IT UNLESS THE SOIL TEST INDICATES YOU NEED LIME AND A LIME APPLICATION.

IT COMES OUT VERY BASIC.

THE OTHER ASPECT, IT WILL GIVE YOU COMPRESSION.

ONE OF THE COMPONENTS IS A POROUS PILE TO GET THE OXYGEN.

DO NOT PUT WOULD -- EVERYWHERE EXCEPT ON YOUR GRAVEL DRIVEWAY, UNLESS YOU HAVE TAKEN A SOIL TEST AND IT CALLS FOR LIME, AND YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE IT AS RECOMMENDED.

>> RAY FROM DULUTH, WHAT ABOUT BEARS?

DO THEY ATTACK COMPOST PILES?

>> THEY CAN.

BUT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PUTTING IN THAT FOOD WASTE, UNLESS YOU HAVE CHICKENS.

WE GIVE THE FOOD WASTE TO CHICKENS AND THEY COMPOST PILES.

>> WITH YOUR YARD WASTE AND WHATNOT, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED.

THEY WANT THE PROTEINS.

THE ONLY TIME YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH RESORTS WITH FISH GUTS THEY HAVE WORKED DEEP INTO THE COMPOST PILE.

BUT IT REQUIRES A LITTLE BIT OF SOPHISTICATION.

EVEN THEN YOU CAN FOOL THEM.

SO KEEP ALL OF THE MEAT PRODUCTS OUT OF YOUR COMPOST PILE AND THE BEARS WILL NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEM.

>> PEG FROM DULUTH WANTS TO KNOW, SHE HAS GALVANIZED STOCK TANKS.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR LIGHTWEIGHT TO PUT IN THE BOTTOM OF THOSE STOCK TANKS SO IT CAN BE LEFT OVER WINTER AND STUFF?

>> I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN FILLING IT WITH SOIL.

THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH SOIL.

TO PUT SOMETHING MORE OF YOUR CARBON ASPECT IN THE BOTTOM, IT WILL BREAK DOWN EVENTUALLY.

SOME PEOPLE SAY STYROFOAM, SODA BOTTLE.

SOME SAY THOSE THINGS TO TAKE UP SPACE.

BUT IF YOU ARE GROWING SOMETHING THAT NEEDS A LOT OF WATER AND SOIL FOR THE NUTRIENTS, USE THE BEST SOIL YOU CAN.

LOWER LEVELS CAN BE NOT THE BEST SOIL AND YOU CAN COMPOST ON TOP AND HAVE A NICE COMPOST FERTILIZER AND MAKE COMPOST TEA.

BUT YOU CAN USE LESS EXPENSIVE SOIL ON THE BOTTOM.

>> MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH A STOCK TANK IS DRAINAGE.

IF THEY FAIL, AND YOU MAY NOT WANT TO PROOFREAD THE BOTTOM.

WE GET A HEAVY RAIN LIKE LAST NIGHT, AND YOU CAN HAVE STOCK TANK.

YOU ARE NOT GROWING WATER LEVELS, YOU ARE GROWING OTHER THINGS.

THERE MIGHT BE AN AREA DOWN BELOW, AND YOU CAN PUT GRAVEL AND SOME TYPE OF PIPING SYSTEM.

>> MOST OF THEM HAVE A VALVE.

>> YOU MIGHT NEED DRAIN TILE RUNNING ON THE LEVEL SO YOU CAN GET THE EXTRA WATER OUT AND TO THE DISCHARGE VALVE.

>> A FEW YEARS AGO, WE VISITED THE HOME OF ALEC WHO GAVE US A TOUR OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL GARDENS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> THIS IS MY WIFE BARB.

WE LIVE ON SAINT ANDREWS STREET.

WELCOME TO OUR GARDEN.

I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING HERE, INCLUDING THOSE TOMATOES, CAME FROM A GREENHOUSE.

>> ALL OF THE TOMATOES ON THE BASEMENT IN THE GREENHOUSE.

>> THERE ARE SOME FLOWERS AND HERBS THAT SHE GROWS.

>> HE MAKES BLACKBERRY JELLY.

BLACKBERRIES ARE IN THE BACK.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF SEEDS IN THESE.

SO THE FIRE IS EATING THEM.

THEY ARE NOT THAT GOOD, BUT FOR MAKING JELLY, THEY WORK WELL.

WE ORIGINALLY PUT FENCES AROUND TO KEEP OUT THE DEER.

WITH RASPBERRIES THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE HAD SQUIRRELS GETTING IN.

SO THEY PUT A TOP ON AND COVERED IT WITH CHICKEN WIRE.

THIS IS MY MI SMARTER THAN A SQUIRREL PROJECT.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT IS REALLY NICE, A QUIET GREEN SPACE.

BUT WITH ALL OF THE GARDENS AND TREES, IT IS NICE TO PUT LEAVES AND CUTTING.

THIS IS THE AREA WHERE WE COMPOST.

WHEN THE KIDS WERE YOUNG, WE WOULD HAVE FIRES AND DO THE HOTDOGS.

OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE STREET HAD SEVERAL LARGE PINE TREES COMING DOWN THEIR YARD.

I CARVED IT OUT AND SHE TURNED IT INTO A PLANTER, AND IT LOOKS REALLY NICE.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE FAVORITE SPOTS.

EVEN IF IT IS RAINING OUT.

>> DO YOU HAVE A GARDEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?

GET IN CONTACT WITH US THROUGH EMAIL AT GREAT GARDENING AT WDSE.ORG.

IT CAN BE SEEN ON A FUTURE EPISODE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

THEY HAVE BEEN COMING IN FAST AND FURIOUS.

BILL FROM DULUTH WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT TREATING APPLE MAGGOTS.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU CAN.

>> IT IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON INSECT PROBLEM WE HAVE ON APPLE TREES.

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN A SPRAY REGIME THAT HAS TO START THE FOURTH OF JULY AND RUN THROUGH OFFENSE -- AUGUST.

IT IS AN AWFUL LOT OF PESTICIDE.

SKIP IT UNLESS YOU HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM.

YOU CAN USE CLEAR POLY SANDWICH BAGS AS IT IS EMERGING FOR YOUR HIGH-QUALITY TABLE FRUIT TO EXCLUDE THE FLY.

FLY DEPOSITS THE BIG, IT HATCHES, AND THE LARVAE WORKS THROUGH THE TRACK.

THEN IT HEADS FOR THE GROUND.

YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THE MAGGOT ITSELF.

BAG THE HIGH QUALITY FRUIT, IT WORKS REALLY WELL.

ANYTHING ABOVE THAT CAN BE PROCESSED.

APPLESAUCE CURES A LOT OF APPLE MAGGOT PROBLEMS.

>> KATHY FROM HAYWARD HAS CLIMATIC'S.

IT BLOOMS FROM TWO OR THREE FEET UP FROM THE GROUND PROFUSELY.

BUT THE TWO OR THREE FEET BELOW THAT, THEY TURN BROWN AND GET CRISPY.

WHAT IS WRONG?

>> IT IS NOT SNOW COVER.

>> THEN THEY TURN BROWN.

>> A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

WE ALWAYS SUSPECT AIR CIRCULATION.

WE EXPECT POSSIBLE FUNGAL DISEASE.

ON THAT CLOSE TO THE GROUND, IT DOES REQUIRE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT.

A SPECIFIC SITE IF SHE'S HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH IT.

SHE MIGHT CONSIDER MOVING TO ANOTHER LOCATION.

>> DEPENDING ON THE VARIETY.

SOME MIGHT WANT TO GROW MORE OFF OF THE NEW WOOD, OR THE RECURRING BLOOM.

DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH SHE IS GETTING TO BLOOM ABOVE.

IF IT BLOOMS VERY WELL, IT CAN BE HOW SHE'S TAKING CARE OF IT, IF SHE IS CUTTING IT BACK, WHEN.

>> WE WOULD HAVE TO GET MORE DETAILS, BUT THE LOWER LEAVES ARE ALWAYS OLDER, MORE VULNERABLE.

BEING SHADED ABOVE, AND THERE IS LESS AIR CIRCULATION.

TRYING TO IMPROVE AIR CIRCULATION.

NO OVERHEAD WATERING, MINIMIZING DISEASE PRESSURE.

IF WE HAD MORE INFORMATION, I WOULD SUSPECT A FUNGAL DISEASE.

>> JOHN FROM DULUTH WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF HE CAN PUT COFFEE GROUNDS AND BIG SHOWS DIRECTLY INTO THE SOIL AND WORK THEM IN.

>> SURE YOU CAN.

>> DIRECT APPLICATION.

SMALL AMOUNTS OF ANYTHING IS FINE.

BUT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TAKING LEAVES AND OTHER PRODUCT AND DEPOSITING ON THE FIELDS, TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.

ALWAYS COMPOST EVERYTHING FIRST.

PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES.

A SMALL AMOUNTS WILL NOT MATTER.

A LARGE AMOUNT OF ANYTHING, GETTING IN THE COMPOST PILE FIRST AND SPREADING THE DECOMPOSED PRODUCT.

>> BILL WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DISTANCE SHOULD BE BENEATH -- BETWEEN THE PLANTING, CEILINGS, AND LED LIGHTS.

>> >> A FOOT, BUT IT DEPENDS HOW HIGH THEY ARE GETTING.

IF IT IS DOING HIS JOB, THEY SHOULD STAY SHORT.

IT SHOULDN'T BE MORE THAN ONE FOOT.

IF IT IS THE RIGHT KIND OF LIGHT, IT SHOULD GIVE THEM ALL THEY NEED.

>> YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO STRETCH.

YOU WANT IT FAIRLY CLOSE, THREE OR FOUR INCHES, AND AS THEY GO, YOU CAN MOVE UP THE LIGHTS.

BUT THEY STRETCH AND YOU GET A TALL, GANGLY PLANT.

>> PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN COMPOSTING.

FRED FROM DULUTH, OUR DRUM COMPOST UNIT IS A GOOD IDEA?

>> I TRIED THEM ALL.

EVERY SINGLE SYSTEM.

DID RESEARCH ON ALL OF THEM.

SMALL AMOUNTS, IF THEY'RE CONTAINED LIKE THAT FOR THE KITCHEN WASTE, IT IS JUST FINE.

WITH MOISTURE, LARGE QUANTITIES, WHAT I FOUND WAS A GREAT BIG PILE.

IN SOME CASES, IT HAS TO BE CONTAINED.

YOU MAY HAVE ORDINANCES IN THE MUNICIPALITY YOU LIVE, SO IT HAS TO BE CONTAINED BY A LARGE PILE, MINIMUM OF FIVE FEET DURING THE WINTER.

BUT THE DRUMS ARE FINE.

BUT THEY'RE REALLY NOT NECESSARY.

IT IS JUST ANOTHER CONTAINER, AND YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THEM.

>> AND IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT, AND YOU DON'T NEED THEM TO GET OTHER MATERIALS WITH SMALLER QUANTITIES.

>> THANK YOU FOR TUNING INTO GREAT GARDENING.

FOR MORE, FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AT GREAT GARDENING WDSE.

SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE.

AND LIKE WDSE ON FACEBOOK.

IF YOU HAVE -- IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHECK OUT A QUESTION, EMAIL US AT GREAT GARDENING.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF THE SHOW, IT WILL BE POSTED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND PBS VIDEO APP.

THANKS, BOB, DAB.

IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN.

IT IS GETTING WARM.

LET'S GET OUT AND ENJOY THE GARDENS.

>> IT HAS BEEN FUN, AND WE WILL BE OUT GARDENING VERY ACTIVELY VERY SOON.