Paul James answers some pressing gardening questions:
Q: I just cut down a tree. Can I leave the roots in the ground?
A: Absolutely. Leaving them in the ground won't hurt a thing, and in time they'll decompose. Of course, if you plan on planting something nearby, you may wind up having to dig them out anyway. Removing tree roots is a pain, and I should know. I have a lot of roots to get out, and because I've got a lot of planting to do here, I've already started the root-removal routine using everything from a root slicer to a grub hoe to an axe to get them out.
Q: When should I prune my hydrangeas?
A: Perhaps the question should be why rather than when. You see, I wouldn't encourage you to prune your hydrangeas, except perhaps to remove damaged or diseased branches or to improve their appearance.
Depending on the type of hydrangea you're growing, you could actually prune away the flower buds. Hydrangeas bloom on either new wood or old wood. The big-leaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) and the oak-leaf hydrangeas of the species (H. quercifolia ) bloom on old wood (on branches or stems that grew the previous year); if you prune them, you wouldn't get any flowers the next year.
Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens) and peegee hydrangeas (H. paniculata 'Grandiflora') bloom on the current season's growth; pruning them won't diminish their floral display. The best time to prune any hydrangea is late winter to early spring.
Q: I live in New Jersey. When should I bring my tropicals inside?
A: I suggest that you bring tropical plants inside when overnight temperatures hover around the 50-degree mark. I'd also suggest you rinse your plants with a strong blast of water and spray them with a little insecticidal soap just to make sure you don't unknowingly move aphids and other critters into the house.
Q: Is there any way to prevent a poison-ivy outbreak?
A: Poison ivy contains oil that causes an uncomfortable and sometimes unforgettable rash when it comes in contact with human skin; all parts of the plants contain the oil, even the roots. In fact, a plant that has been pulled and allowed to dry for weeks can still cause a rash. You can get a rash even if you haven't had direct contact with the plant, because the oil can linger for days on clothing. If you think you've come in contact with poison ivy, wash your clothes immediately and quickly wash your skin with soap, lathering and rinsing several times.
Now, to answer your question about prevention. Yes, there are products on the market that can be applied to exposed skin, which form a barrier between your skin and the poison ivy oil. I know people who wouldn't think of walking in the woods or working around poison ivy without it. You can find it at garden centers and pharmacies.
Q: Someone said my sick pin oak needs iron. Have you ever heard of that?
A: Yes, and it's a fairly common problem among pin oaks growing in alkaline soil. The condition is iron chlorosis, and the telltale sign is yellowing between leaf veins. Products containing iron are readily available and easy to use. In fact, I think certain iron-based products should be used more, especially on turf grasses and broad-leaved evergreens.
Q: I like using hay and straw mulch, but it attracts a lot of spiders. What can I do?
A: Celebrate! After all, spiders are great for the garden. They feed on all sorts of bugs that might otherwise be feeding on your plants. The few poisonous spiders in North America, such as the black widow and the brown recluse or fiddleback, don't favor the habitat found in most gardens anyway.
Speaking of spiders, check out the orb weaver. It's one of the most beautiful spiders in the world, and--lucky for me--one of them chose to build its nest within the frame of my bedroom window, which means I get to watch it capture prey from the inside looking out. It's like spider television.
Q: How do you tell the difference between a red oak and a white oak?
A: The same way you tell the difference between a Vulcan and a human! You see, the leaves of red oaks are pointed, just like Mr. Spock's ears, while the leaves of white oaks are round like my ears.
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