>> NOTHING IS BETTER THAN FRESH FOOD FROM THE GARDEN, I JUST CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH.

>> THIS PARTICULAR PLANT WILL ACTUALLY SHOOT UP ADDITIONAL LEAF TISSUE.

THE PROGRAM WAS TO CREATE FOOD FOR THE PUBLIC.

THEY ARE PUBLIC ORCHARDS.

>> IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT REALLY IS WORTH IT.

WHEN YOU SEE ALL THESE BLOOMS AND IT'S GORGEOUS.

♪ DENNIS: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO GREAT GARDENING.

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

WE HAVE OUR GARDEN EXPERTS WITH US TONIGHT.

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

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

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

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

ORG.

HOW ABOUT CURRENT CONDITIONS.

DEB: BEAUTIFUL.

TROPICAL, 72 DEGREES.

BOB: QUITE A DIFFERENCE A WEEK CAN MAKE.

SPRING, MAYBE ALMOST IN THE SUMMER.

DEB: IT IS GREAT.

DENNIS: SPRING IS IN OUR REGION.

WE WANTED TO LOOK AT GARDENS OF DENA POST AND THE BEAUTIFUL WATER FEATURES.

>> I'M DINA POST.

>> AND I'M DAVE PAGEL.

>> WE'RE ON WOODLAND AVENUE AND WELCOME TO OUR GARDEN.

>> WHEN WE ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY, WE INHERITED THE GOLDFISH POND THAT'S DOWN THERE.

SO WE CLEANED THAT ALL UP AND KIND OF STARTED THERE AND DEVELOPED OUTWARD FROM THERE AND BEING ON WOODLAND AVENUE WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC, THE WATER NOISE IS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR.

SO WE JUST HAVE EXPANDED OUTWARD, ADDING WATER FEATURES.

THE UPPER ONE IS THAT IS OUR KIND OF BIRD BATH THING.

THE THING THAT MAKES THE BIRDBATH IS AN OLD CHINESE GRISTMILL STONE MILLING STONE AND THE TROUGH IS A SOLID BLOCK OF SANDSTONE THAT'S BEEN HOLLOWED OUT.

AND IT CAME FROM CHINA.

AND THEN WE FITTED IT WITH SOME SORT OF VINTAGE LOOKING FAUCETS AND THEN LANDSCAPED WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL BROWNSTONE THAT SALVAGED MATERIAL.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT ROCK THAT WE JUST THINK IS SO BEAUTIFUL IN THE GARDEN.

>> AS A KID, I COLLECTED ROCKS ALL THE TIME AND DAVE'S DEGREE IS IN GEOLOGY.

AND SO WE'VE ALWAYS LIKED ROCKS.

>> AND THEN DINA SOFTENED IT ALL UP WITH THE PLANTS AND THE POTS AND EVERYTHING.

AND SO TOGETHER IT WORKS PRETTY WELL.

DENNIS: BOB, YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT EARLY SPRING GARDENING ACTIVITIES?

WHAT WE CAN DO.

BOB: STILL EARLY SPRING.

I HAVE TO COMPLEMENT THE COUPLE ON THE LAST VIDEO.

A SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPING AND PROPERTY, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH THE HARDSCAPES.

WHAT I -- WHEN I TAKE A LOOK AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, VERY EARLY SPRING.

WE DIVIDED THIS WAY.

LOOK AT YOUR LANDSCAPE, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDEN.

THE LANDSCAPE, GET OUT AND CLEAN SOME UP.

A LOT OF DEBRIS, A LOT OF LIMBS WERE LOST, PINECONES, PINE NEEDLES.

GET THAT ALL CLEANED UP, USE A NICE FAN RAKE.

REPAIR ANY GARDEN STRUCTURES.

THINK OF THE HARD STRUCTURES, PAVING.

THERE WAS FROST THE LAST WINTER.

PRUNE UP YOUR SHRUBS AND TREES WHILE THEY ARE STILL DORMANT.

WE MIGHT GET ANOTHER DAY OR TWO, THE BUDS WILL POP FAST.

OVER THE HILLS, THEY HAVE NOT BROKEN.

GO AHEAD AND PRUNE THEM.

AND YOU HAVE HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS.

WE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL OF THEM.

IF THEY BLOOM ON NEW WOOD, YOU WANT TO TRIM THE OLD WOOD.

ANYTHING BRITTLE AND DRY, WE MIGHT LEAVE FOR BEES, BUT TAKE IT OUT AT THIS TIME.

WE COULD START THINKING ABOUT PLANTING YOUR PERENNIALS, AS LONG AS THE FROST IS OUT, YOU CAN PUT THEM IN THE GROUND.

THE EARLIER THE BETTER.

TAKE A SOIL TEST, SEND IT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, , WISCONSIN, THEN YOU GET THE RESULTS BACK IN TIME FOR SPRING PLANTING.

A LOT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW.

BUT STAY IN LANDSCAPE, STAY OUT OF THE VEGETABLE OR THE FLOWER GARDENS.

YOU WANT TO STAY OFF OF THE WET AREAS.

WE DON'T WANT COMPACTION.

HEAVY SOIL, CLAY SOIL.

DON'T ADD INSULT TO INJURY BY COMPACTING THIS.

WE ARE GETTING AWAY FROM OVER TILLING.

IF IT IS WETNESS, MUDDY, YOU CAN CLUMP THINGS UP AND OVER TILL.

AND THE OBVIOUS, DON'T PLANT ANY FROST SENSITIVE PLANTS.

WE ARE A LONG WAYS AWAY FROM WHEN WE HAVE FROST FREE DATES, THAT IS EARLY JUNE.

YOU WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

LET'S NOT APPLY ANY TYPE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS.

WAIT UNTIL THE PLANTS ARE ACTIVELY GROWING.

IT CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY.

BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

LET'S NOT JUMP THE GUN TOO EARLY.

PLENTY TO DO IN THE LANDSCAPE.

THE VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDENS WILL COME A LITTLE BIT LATER.

>> THANK YOU.

NEXT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RIGHT TOOLS TO USE ON YOUR GARDEN.

LET'S HEAD OVER TO BYRN'S GREENHOUSE WHERE DEB SHOWED OFF SOME OF THE TOOLS SHE USES REGULARLY.

>> SOME OF THE BASIC TOOLS IN A GREENHOUSE ARE OBVIOUSLY A WATERING HOSE AND WAND.

AND THE ENDS FOR IT, SOMETHING SO THAT YOU CAN CUT THROUGH STUFF.

AND IN CASE YOU NEED TO EVER EITHER FERTILIZE OR SPRAY A SPRAYER IS REALLY NICE FOR THAT.

THIS IS A FISKAR AND IT CUTS EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING.

IT'S GOT A SPRING.

SO THAT'S REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL.

IT'S NOT AS TIRING TO USE.

SO WE USE A REALLY LIGHT HOSE.

IF YOU HAVE A LONG HOSE, YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF WATERING OR YOU'RE DRAGGING THAT HOSE ALL OVER.

LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT'S LIGHT AND MAYBE NOT AS MUCH VOLUME BECAUSE YOU'RE DRAGGING ALL THAT WATER WITH YOU.

AND THIS ONE WE LIKE BECAUSE IT'S GOT A HEAD THAT YOU CAN CHANGE OUT AND IT'S GOT ALL KINDS OF USEFUL SPRAYS.

SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF PESTS, THESE ARE HANDY TO HAVE.

THIS IS A REALLY NICE HEAD.

GOOD HEAD GIVES YOU GOOD VOLUME AND GIVES YOU A GOOD SPRAY.

YOU CAN SET THE AMOUNT THAT GOES ON AND THEN THE VOLUME AND THE WAY THE SPRAY GOES.

REALLY EASY TO USE, REALLY HANDY IN A GREENHOUSE.

YOU CAN ALSO USE THEM OUTSIDE WHEN YOU'RE PLANTING WHATEVER YOU GOING TO USE AS A SPRAY AND IT'LL TELL YOU THIS IS ONE TABLESPOON PER GALLON.

ANOTHER TOOL IN THE GREENHOUSE THAT WE USE, WE USE CHICKENS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE ROOSTERS.

CHICKENS HELP CLEAN UP SOME OF THE PESTS IN THE WINTER.

WE HAVE SHEEP.

WE DON'T USE ANY HERBICIDES IN OUR GREENHOUSE OR PESTICIDES, SO WE USE OUR SHEEP TO COME IN AND CLEAN UP ALL THE WEEDS.

WE LOVE ALL OF OUR ANIMALS.

THEY ALL HELP THE FARM RUN AND THE GREENHOUSE RUN.

DENNIS: STARTING TO GET INTO THE LANDSCAPE, MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF RAKES AND THINGS WE SHOULD USE.

>> PRETTY SIMPLE.

BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THEM.

JUST A LAWN RAKE ON THE LEFT, ON THE GARDEN RAKE.

THAT HAS NO PLACE IN THE LAWN OR TURF AREAS.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THATCH IN ZONE THREE AND FOUR.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT LONG A GROWING SEASON AND HAVE NOT MANAGED IT INTENSELY.

USE THE LAWN RAKE TO SWEEP UP SOME OF THE LITTER WHERE THERE IS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE DONE TO THE ACTUAL SOIL AREA.

YOU'VE GOT UNDERGROUND RHIZOMES ON THOSE GRASS PLANTS BELOW THE SURFACE.

LET'S NOT DAMAGE THEM THINKING WE ARE DOING A PROPER CLEANUP.

>> WE'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS COMING IN LIKE CRAZY.

RUTH FROM DULUTH, WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO SPREAD WEED AND FEED ON THE LAWN?

BOB: THAT IS IF YOU WANT TO SPREAD WEED AND FEED.

SOME SAY NEVER.

BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER TOPIC -- I WOULD SAY AGAIN, A MULTIPURPOSE PRODUCT LIKE THAT, ALWAYS READ THE DIRECTIONS.

WEED AND FEED WILL GO ON WHEN THE LAWN IS DAMP, AFTER IRRIGATION OR RAINFALL EVENTS.

SO THEY STICK TO THE BROADLEAF'S.

THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS CRITICAL WITH THAT TYPE OF COMBINATION PRODUCT.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE USE OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

DENNIS: JULIE FROM HERMANTOWN.

HOW DO WE GET DEVILS PAINTBRUSH, ORANGE HOCKWEED OUT OF THE EARTH?

>> WEED AND FEED, WILL IT TOUCH IT?

BOB: PROBABLY NOT.

IT HAS A VERY HAIRY LEAF.

MY ADVICE, IT IS GOING TO GROW INTO LOW FERTILITY AREA.

MANAGE YOUR FERTILITY.

BLUEGRASS OR OTHER SPECIES, YOU NEED MORE NITROGEN AND ORANGE HOCK WEEDS IN THERE.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF YOU GET IT OUT, YOU HAVE TO USE SOME TYPE OF HERBICIDE.

BUT WE HAVE A NON-SENSING SOAP SO IT BREAKS DOWN THE PRODUCT, BUBBLES SO IT SPREADS THROUGH THAT SURFACE AND GETS DOWN TO THE HERBACEOUS PART OF THE LEAF.

AND THE FALL IS GOING TO BE BETTER THAN IT IS THIS TIME OF YEAR.

DENNIS: JOHN HAS A 50-YEAR-OLD CHRISTMAS CACTUS.

HOW SHOULD HE GO ABOUT WATERING IT AND FERTILIZING IT?

DEB: WATERING IT, THE CACTUS WILL GIVE YOU CLUES.

IT WILL GIVE A DIRT GREEN, IT WILL GO A LITTLE TOO WILT WHEN IT WANTS WATER.

YOU DON'T WANT TOO MUCH WILT, BUT IT WILL TELL YOU.

YOU CAN FEEL THE SOIL WITH THESE GREAT TOOLS WE HAVE.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IF THE SOIL IS DRY.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU HAVE IT LOCATED.

IF IT IS NEAR.

, INDOORS, OR IF YOU BRING IT OUTSIDE, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION AND HOW MUCH WATER IT WILL USE.

YOU CAN'T GET ON THE SCHEDULE WITH IT, YOU JUST HAVE TO TOUCH IT, FEEL IT, LOOK AT IT.

IT SHOULD LET YOU KNOW.

A LOT OF TIMES, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO MUCH FERTILIZING.

BOB: VERY LOW MAINTENANCE, 50 YEARS OLD IS TREMENDOUS.

THE GREAT TOOLS LIKE THIS MOISTURE METER.

CHECKING THE SOIL LEVEL, DON'T OVERWATER THOSE.

DON'T OVER TRANSPLANT THOSE.

DON'T OVERFEED THOSE.

THEY REALLY ARE LOW MAINTENANCE PLANTS.

DEB: THINK ABOUT GETTING CUTTINGS OFF OF IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IF IT IS 50 YEARS OLD.

YOU WANT TO PRESERVE IT AND PASS IT ON.

BOB: I LOST MY GRANDMOTHER'S CHRISTMAS CACTUS WHEN I SET IT OUTSIDE AND A DEER FOUND IT.

BUT COMING BACK.

BUT TAKE CUTTINGS FOR A LITTLE PROTECTION.

DENNIS: BACK TO THE DULUTH PEONY.

LAST WEEK, WORKING, CAN LINDA GET THEM?

DEB: MY AUNT IS LOOKING FOR THEM.

SHE SAID SHE FOUND SOME, AND WE SHOULD HAVE SOME THIS WEEKEND GOING INTO NXT WEEK.

AND WE WILL BE BULKING THEM UP FOR NEXT YEAR.

BUT WE HOPE TO HAVE THEM BY THE BEGINNING -- MONDAY TUESDAY.

AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME MORE IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE TWIN CITIES.

BOB: OLD-TIME VARIETY INTRODUCED IN THE 30'S, BUT THE OLDIES ARE GOODIES.

I LIKE THAT EXPRESSION AS WE AGE A LITTLE BIT.

DENNIS: WHY DO YOU LOOK AT ME?

[LAUGHTER] DENNIS: HOW DO I KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME TO PLANT MY VEGETABLE SEEDS IN THE GROUND?

DEB: SOIL TEMPERATURE.

BOB: SOIL TEMPERATURE IS THE KEY THING.

STAY AWAY FROM WARM SEASON CROPS.

THIS TIME, THE THIRD WEEK OF MAY, YOU WANT TEMPERATURES UP AT LEAST 50 DEGREES IN THE UPPER SOIL SURFACE AREA.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU GO IN EARLIER, YOU WANT THEM TREATED WITH SOME KIND OF FUNGICIDE, BECAUSE WE CAN LOSE A LOT OF WARM SEASON CROPS IF THEY GO TOO AND THE TEMPERATURE IS TOO COLD.

DEB: COLD SEASON ONCE, YOU CAN START WITH TIME, GET THEM.

DON'T TRANSPLANT YOUR OWN UNTIL YOU HAVE GOOD ROOT ON IT.

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE PUTTING IT IN THE GROUND FOR SURVIVAL.

DENNIS: STEPHEN IN TWIG AREA HAS HYDRANGEAS.

HE'S HAD THEM IN THE GROUND FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AND THEY HAVE NEVER BLOOMED.

BOB: THAT IS INTERESTING.

DENNIS: TOO HOT?

THEY ARE ON THE EAST SIDE OF HIS HOUSE.

BOB: GOOD FERTILITY.

WE DON'T KNOW THE HYDRANGEA, BUT I WILL SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH ENDLESS SUMMER, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL INTRODUCTIONS TO THE WHOLE SERIES FROM ONE OF OUR GOOD NURSERIES IN THE SOUTH.

WE FOUND LITTLE STRESS HURTS.

IF THEY ARE GROWING VEGETATIVE LEE, PLENTY OF FERTILITY, SUNLIGHT, WATER.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY STRESSED ENOUGH TO TRIGGER BLOOM.

DEB: IT COULD BE PH TOO.

I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT HYDRANGEAS REACT IF IT IS NEAR FOUNDATION AND YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER PH.

THEY CAN BE STRUGGLING.

THE PENS ON IF IT LOOKS GOOD AND IT HAS GOOD VIGOR.

IT CAN BE LIGHT.

IF THEY HAVE FILTERED SUN, THEY MIGHT NEED MORE.

BOB: THE ORIGINAL IS MORE CHALLENGING.

TRY SOME OF THE INTRODUCTIONS, THEY BLOOM BETTER.

IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE DOWNSIDES OF SOME OF THE EARLY HYDRANGEAS THAT WERE INTRODUCED.

DENNIS: MARY FROM HIBBING HAS A FOUR FOOT DEEP RAISED BED AND PLANTS BECAUSE, MORNING GLORIES, AND ZINNIAS.

THEY DON'T USUALLY BLOOM UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER.

WHAT IS SHE DOING WRONG?

DEB: WOW.

LOCATION AND HOW MUCH SUN IS IT GETTING?

BOB: SUN AND WARMTH.

SHE DID NOT TELL US THE EXPOSURE.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE AWARE.

EVEN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.

THE SUN IS IN THE SOUTH.

HAVING AN ISSUE LIKE THAT, SHE'S NOT GETTING EARLY ENOUGH GROWTH SO THAT WE CAN SET IT.

THE OTHER POSSIBILITY, OFTEN TIMES THERE IS TOO MUCH NITROGEN AND FERTILIZER GOING IN THERE.

USING A WATER-SOLUBLE, SPIN THE BOX AROUND.

WE HAVE SO MUCH NITROGEN THE FIRST NUMBER.

WHEN YOU WANT PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM TO ENCOURAGE BLOOM.

AB INITIALLY WHEN THE PLANT IS GROWING.

THEN YOU HAVE TO TRIGGER THE REPRODUCTIVE PROCESS.

TYPICALLY HIGHER PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM LEVELS WILL DO THAT.

DEB: SHE MIGHT WANT TRANSPLANTS.

THE SEED TO GERMINATE AND TAKES A WHILE, OR STARTED EARLIER.

IT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IF SHE GETS IT AHEAD OF TIME AND GETS IT INTO THE GROUND.

DENNIS: CINDY PLANTED BULBS AND DAHLIAS, SHE READS ON THE INSTRUCTION SHE'S SUPPOSED TO DIG THEM UP AFTER THE FIRST FROST.

WHAT IF SHE LEAVES THEM IN THE GROUND?

DEB: THEY ARE DEAD.

TURNS TO MUSH.

DENNIS: I'M SORRY, CINDY.

BOB: YOU'VE GOT TO GET THEM OUT OF THE GROUND.

THAT IS ONE OF THE LOVELY FALL TASKS.

THEY DON'T TAKE THE WINTER.

DENNIS: MARY FROM VIRGINIA ASKS IF TOMATO LEAVES ARE POISONOUS.

CAN THEY BE PUT IN THE COMPOST PILE?

CAN RHUBARB LEAVES GO IN THE COMPOST PILE?

BOB: SHE ASKS INTERESTING QUESTIONS.

THE TOMATO, WE NEVER RECOMMEND CONSUMPTION.

ANY PART OF LEAF TISSUE IN GENERAL, THE LEAVES ARE NOT PARTICULARLY TOXIC.

BUT THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT POTENTIAL ISSUE.

COMPOST, THERE WILL NEVER BE AN ISSUE.

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH DISEASE AND INSECTS, BUT THE LEAVES WILL BREAK DOWN VERY READILY.

DON'T BE CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT THAT.

THE OTHER QUESTION?

RHUBARB.

THAT IS VERY INTERESTING.

THE LEAVES CONTAIN FOLIC ACID, AND THAT CAN BE POISONOUS.

YOU NEVER WANT TO EAT THE LEAVES.

THE STEMS ARE NEVER POISONOUS UNLESS WE GET A LATE FROST AND WE HAD THAT JUST LAST YEAR IN SOME PLACES, IF IT ACTUALLY WILTS THE PLANT.

RHUBARB WILL BE UP, THEN WE CAN GET ACCUMULATION OF IT IN THE STALK ITSELF.

IF IT HASN'T WILTED, THE STALK IS NEVER POISONOUS.

IF IT HAS, I WOULD DISCARD IT.

BECAUSE IT CAN COLLECT THE EXILIC ACID FROM THE LEAVES.

DENNIS: TOM FROM WASHBURN.

WHEN IS IT SAFE TO PUT OUT HIS ONIONS?

BOB: GO RIGHT NOW.

IT IS PERFECTLY SAFE.

EVEN IF THEY ARE ACTIVELY GROWING, THEY WILL TAKE 19, 20 DEGREES.

SET THEM OUT RIGHT NOW.

DENNIS: FROM LAKESIDE, THE DEER KEEP GOING THROUGH THE YARD AND ARE EATING EVERYTHING.

BESIDES FENCING, WHAT CAN SHE DO?

BOB: SHE HAS OPTIONS DURING THE SUMMER.

AND I THINK -- HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR THIS, I LIKE GOOD FENCES.

THAT IS THE ONLY THING I KNOW THAT STOPS THEM.

YOU CAN HAVE A COMMON NATION OF ELECTRIC AND STEEL FENCES.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, SPRINKLERS TRIGGERED BY MOISTURE, AND THEY ARE QUITE EFFECTIVE.

I THINK IF YOU HAVE A PET, A DOG WILL BE VERY EFFECTIVE SCARING THEM OFF.

NOT RUNNING, BUT SCARING THEM OFF.

BUT REPELLENTS WILL BE USEFUL UP TO A POINT.

CONSTANTLY ROTATE THEM.

THEY GET USED TO THESE TYPE OF THINGS.

ROTATE THEM, MOVE THEM.

NEVER LET THEM GET A CHANCE TO EAT ANYTHING, OR THEY WILL TEAR DOWN THE FENCE.

DEB: START EARLY, START RIGHT AWAY.

THE SOONER YOU TRAIN THEM TO GO AROUND, THE BETTER THE RESULTS.

DENNIS: GOOD INFORMATION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RIGHT TOOLS TO USE WHEN YOU ARE WORKING IN YOUR GARDEN, PRUNING AND TRIMMING.

I BROUGHT SOME OF MY OWN TOOLS.

I BROUGHT A RACHET PRUNER.

IF YOU HAVE WEAK HANDS, IT RACHETS DOWN ON A BRANCH AND YOU CAN TAKE SOMETHING THAT IS ONE INCH, 1.5 INCHES WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITH GOOD RATCHETING PRUNER.

AND IT IS VERY TOUGH.

THIS IS AN ANVIL TYPE PRUNER.

IT HAS A MOVING BLADE AND A SOLID SURFACE TO CUT AGAINST.

THE ONLY TIME I USE THESE, BECAUSE THEY CRUSH THE PLANT MATERIAL, CUTTING IT AND CRUSHING IT.

WHEN I'M CUTTING ROSES FOR USE IN DISPLAYS AND THAT SORT OF THING, OR CUTTING PEONYS, BECAUSE IT CUTS THE ROOT TISSUE.

THEN WE HAVE A BYPASS PRUNER.

THIS ONE HAS AN ARTICULATING HANDLE.

IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH YOUR HANDS, THAT SORT OF THING, IT IS A NICE PRUNER.

IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY SHARP.

IT IS A GOOD PRODUCT TO USE.

I USE THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES IS THIS MINIATURE PRUNER.

IT IS SPRING, KIND OF LIKE THE ONES DEB SHOWED EARLIER.

SPRING-LOADED, BUT FOR DEAD HEADING.

PRUNING SMALLER SHRUBS, TREES, THAT SORT OF THING.

BOX WOODS, IF YOU'VE GOT WILD HARRISON WANT TO CLEAN THEM OFF.

IF YOU'VE GOT A BIG BRANCH TO TAKE, THESE ARE LOPPERS.

THESE ARE EXTENDED HANDLE LAUPERS.

YOU CAN TAKE THEM TO A FOUR INCH BRANCH, 3.5, FOUR INCH BRANCH.

THEY ARE GREAT, HAVE A LOT OF LEVERAGE, AND THEY WILL CLEAN UP YOUR YARD NICELY.

IF THAT IS NOT QUITE RIGHT, YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE -- YOU CAN GO TO THE SAW.

THIS IS A TELESCOPING SAW YOU CAN USE.

IT IS HANDY IN THE GARDEN.

MY TOOLS ARE CLEAN.

I CLEAN THEM AFTER EVERY USE.

I SANITIZE THE BLADES IF I CUT ANYTHING I THINK IS DISEASED.

I USE REGULAR ALCOHOL WIPES, THAT SORT OF THING.

ONE OF MY NEW FAVORITE TOOLS, BOB WILL STEAL IT, I'M SURE.

THIS BATTERY-POWERED STEEL CHAINSAW.

YOU CAN TAKE IT UP TO ABOUT AN EIGHT INCH LIMB, BRANCH, SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

NO GAS MOTOR, NOTHING.

PUT A LITTLE OIL ON THE BLADE IF YOU'RE USING IT.

BUT IT IS AN EXTREMELY HANDY TOOL TO USE.

SMALL, PORTABLE, YOU CAN CARRY IT WITH YOU.

IN THE TOOLBOX, KEEP IT AFTERWARDS, RECHARGE THE BATTERY AND YOU ARE GOOD TO GO FOR NEXT YEAR.

THEN WE HAVE SOME INTERESTING PRUNER.

THIS IS KIND OF A LONG REACH PRUNER THAT I USE.

IF YOU HAVE VINES ON YOUR HOUSE, OR YOU HAVE -- MAYBE YOU HAVE A HANGING PLANTER THAT HAS SOME UNUSUAL BRANCHES HANGING DOWN, IT WILL PRUNE THEM.

ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES IS IT NOT ONLY CUTS IT, BUT IT HOLDS WHATEVER YOU HAVE CUT, SO YOU CAN BRING IT DOWN AND PUT IT INTO YOUR WASTE RECEPTACLE OR COMPOST PILE, WHATEVER YOU MIGHT NEED.

THEN I THINK WE HAVE A SLIDE OF A COUPLE OF OTHER TOOLS.

THERE IS A LONG REACH PRUNER.

THE ONE ON THE RIGHT HAS A SAW BLADE, BUT IT ALSO HAS AN ACTUATING CUTTING BLADE THAT WILL TAKE THINGS UP.

YOU CAN ADJUST THE HANDLE TO ABOUT 20 FEET IN ORDER TO CUT SOMETHING YOU NEED.

THE OTHER ONE, THE GREEN ONE ON THE LEFT IS AN ARTICULATING HEDGE TRIMMER.

THAT IS GREAT.

YOU CAN ADJUST THE HANDLE ON THAT.

IT IS BATTERY OPERATED.

AND IF YOU HAVE -- IN YOUR YARD, A HEDGE, AND YOU ARE KEEPING THEM LEVEL, YOU CAN USE IT TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE ARBORVITAE A BETWEEN OUR PROPERTY LINES.

IT IS A GREAT TOOL FOR THAT.

THE NEXT SLIDE OVER, A BATTERY-OPERATED 20 INCH BLADE HEDGE TRIMMER.

I USE IT WHEN I'M KNOCKING DOWN A HEDGE TO BRING IT DOWN TO A MANAGEABLE HEIGHT.

SAY IT HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HAND AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

IN THE OTHER TWO ARE HAND PRUNERS.

REGULAR HEDGE TRIMMER AND A SHAPING HEDGE TRIMMER.

SOME NICE TOOLS.

DEB: NICE AND CLEAN.

BOB: AND IT IS MONEY WELL SPENT.

DENNIS: LIKE A CARPENTER WITH GOOD TOOLS, THEY WILL DO A GOOD JOB.

BOB: I HAVE A LITTLE TOOL ENVY.

WE BELIEVE IN MULTIPURPOSE TOOLS.

IT WILL PRUNE UP YOUR APPLE TREES.

IT IS NOT BAD FOR SELF-DEFENSE, EITHER.

DENNIS: LET'S GET INTO SOME QUESTIONS.

TRACY ASKS IS IT TOO EARLY TO RAKE HER LONG?

BOB: YOU WANT TO GET OUT AND RAKE LIGHTLY.

WE DON'T WANT TO RAKE IN ANY OF THE ACTUAL PLANT MATERIAL.

DON'T BE TOO AGGRESSIVE.

DENNIS: BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL POLLINATORS LIVING IN THE GROUND, SHOULD WE WAIT UNTIL THE SOIL REACHES 50 DEGREES TO TURN IT OVER FOR PLANTING?

DEB: THAT WILL NOT HURT.

BOB: IT WOULD NOT HURT USING THAT.

IT IS UNDISTURBED AREA.

PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO BE CONCERNED.

OR THERE PROBABLY AREN'T NATIVE NESTS.

BUT IT IS -- MORE AND MORE, WE WANT TO SEE AREAS LEFT UNDISTURBED.

YOU MAY NOT WANT TO TURN THEM AT ALL.

JUST DEDICATE A PORTION OF A GIVEN AREA.

WE WILL LEAVE IT ALONE WHERE THEY WILL BE OVER IT.

DENNIS: DAVE FROM PIKE LAKE HAS AN APPLE TREE IN HIS BACKYARD, LAYING A NEW PATIO.

HOW CLOSE CAN HE GET?

DEB: DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH SOIL COMPACTION IS GOING INTO THE SOIL.

YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR DRIP LINE , HOW MUCH PRESSURE YOU ARE PUTTING ON IN COMPACTION.

BOB: APPLES DO HAVE A TASK ROOT RUNNING DOWN.

THE DRIP LINE, YOU WANT TO BE OUT WHY THE EXTENSIONS ARE GOING TO BE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

BUT YOU MIGHT GET AWAY FROM BEING A LITTLE CLOSER, BECAUSE OF HOW THE ROOT SYSTEM GROWS.

DEB: AND HOW MUCH OR IT ISN'T HOW MUCH MORE IT WILL GROW.

BOB: AND MORE ON ONE SIDE.

THEY MIGHT NEED SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE.

DENNIS: THANK YOU ALL FOR TUNING IN GREAT GARDENING.

IF YOU WANT MORE, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AT GREATGARDENINGWDSE, SUBSCRIBE TO US ON YOUTUBE AT YOUTUBE.COM/GREATGARDENING, AND LIKE WDSE-WRPT ON FACEBOOK.

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

THANKS BOB AND DEB, YOU TWO WERE -- WE WILL BE NEXT WICKS -- WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

ENJOY OUR TIME IN THE GARDEN.

♪