Gardening Q & A: What Is Mulch Paint and more

Question: Paul, I saw a gigantic wasp in my yard and it disappeared into a hole in the ground. What was it, and is it dangerous?

The cicada killer is found all over the country but is most common east of the Rocky Mountains, in areas where annual cicadas are prevalent. It flies about in search of— you guessed it — cicadas, which it paralyzes with its sting, then takes into its subterranean lair, the entry to which is a small hole in the ground.

Once there, the cicada killer lays an egg in its prey and in no time at all the egg hatches, and the developing larva feeds on the cicada.

By the way, although the cicada killer isn't particularly aggressive, it will sting if provoked, and its sting can be extremely painful — not unlike that of a giant wasp.

Question: You mentioned once that you inoculate your ponds with bacteria. What kind of bacteria?

Answer: There are several different strains of bacteria that can be added to ponds, but rather than rattle off a bunch of strange Latin names, let me just say that I think it's a good idea to experiment with several, because some are better at reducing algae, while others do a better job of breaking down organic matter such as fish waste.

I add the bacteria once a week, and as a result I never need to add chemicals of any kind to maintain good water quality.

Question: How do you water newly planted seeds without washing them away?

One solution is a special fitting designed for misting (figure B). It's gentle on the soil and the seeds.

Another is a wand used by professional growers (figure C). These aren't cheap, but they work great and they last nearly forever.

Answer: This wand tool (figure D) uses water to loosen the soil, thereby making weeds easier to remove. All you do is connect the unit to the hose, stab it into the soil near the base of the weed, squeeze the trigger to release the water and remove the weed.

These babies work best on weeds with deep taproots, in particular dandelions, pokeweed and thistle. For smaller weeds, you're better off using a hoe or some sort of weeding tool.

And speaking of weeding tools, there's one whose design is simple and straightforward (figure E). It works like a champ, and its designed for left- or right-handed weeders.

Question: I use five-gallon plastic buckets for all sorts of gardening stuff, but the lids are really hard to take off. Any tips?

Answer I, too, use a lot of buckets like this and find it difficult to remove the lids.

When these buckets are full of heavy stuff like fertilizer or tools, the wire handles really dig into your hands. This little device (figure H) makes all the difference in the world. Just slip it under the handle.

Answer: I'd heard of it but never used it, so your question prompted me to buy some and see how it works. The idea behind it, of course, is that mulch tends to lose its color and fade over time, and painting old mulch is much cheaper than buying new mulch.

For even coverage, it's best to work side to side, then up and down. And the longer you spray a given area, the darker the color will be.

According to the manufacturer, this stuff lasts up to six months. But keep in mind that it can also stain certain surfaces, so be careful when working around plants and paved areas. Oh, and by the way, it comes in various colors, from light brown to red.

Question: Help! Water gushes out of my gutter drains and into my beds, washing away the soil.

Answer: Consider one of these options: