Q: How do I know what type of soil I have?A: There are home test kits that you can buy to use on any type of soil to see what you have. There are five types of soil. Loamy soil, which is the best type of soil to have; clay soil is bad because it holds moisture, but not nutrients; sandy soil doesn't do anything but let everything good drain out; and if you have heavy loam or light loam soil you are in pretty good shape.
Q: I have some perennial chrysanthemums in my garden that get large long before they bloom. Can I cut them back in the summer and still get blooms in the fall?
A: Yes, you can cut them back just don't cut them all the way to the ground. Don't cut off any buds, or you won't get blooms. They make nice green plants during the summer, but can get leggy if not properly maintained.
Q: What are some good houseplants for a house that has very direct sunlight?
A: Ferns, narrow leaf figs, Christmas cactus, cyclamens and even gardenias are great.
Q: I have a side yard that is filled with ground cover vinca, but there is some poison ivy in the bed. Is there a way to get rid of the poison ivy and not kill the pretty ground cover?
A: Yes! You'll have to spot treat the poison ivy. Get an herbicide and a paintbrush and paint on top of the leaves. Don't worry about the stems or the underside. Wear gloves -- and whatever you do, don't ever burn poison ivy plants!
