Question Answer Gardening Tips and Plant Care

Question Answer - Gardening and Plant Care Guide

Got a question about growing vegetables, caring for houseplants, or fixing lawn problems? This Q&A section shares quick, practical answers from real gardening experiences. Learn how to keep roses blooming, stop pests from eating your lettuce, and choose the right soil for potted herbs. Whether you’re curious about composting tips or need help reviving drooping leaves, you’ll find simple, step-by-step advice here. Each answer is designed to save you time, prevent mistakes, and make gardening more enjoyable. Explore topics for every season, from spring planting to winter plant care, so you can grow healthier, more beautiful plants all year long.

Recent Question Answer - Plant Care Tips

Can You Treat Ash Trees Yourself?

Start by understanding that treating ash trees yourself is possible for some problems, but the deadly emerald ash borer (EAB) often requires professional help. Smaller trees under 15 inches in diameter can be treated with homeowner products, but large, infested trees need certified arborists. This guide covers what you can handle on your own and when it's smarter to call an expert. What Are the Common Problems With Ash Trees? Ash trees face several pests and diseases. You should learn the most common ones before deciding on treatment. Emerald ash borer (EAB) – A metallic green beetle that kills trees within a few years. The larvae tunnel under the bark, cutting off water and nutrients. Ash yellows – A disease caused by a phytoplasma that stunts growth and yellows leaves. There is no cure. Ash anthracnose – A fungal disease that causes brown leaf spots and early leaf drop. Usually not fatal. Ash leaf rust – Orange or yellow spots on leaves. Most trees survive without treatment. Verticillium wilt – A soil fungus that causes wilting and branch death. No chemical cure exists. Most homeowners worry about EAB, and that's the focus of this article. Other problems like anthracnose or leaf rust are rarely worth treating yourself unless the tree is small and valuable. How Do You Know If Your Ash Tree Has Emerald Ash Borer? You cannot treat what you have not identified. Look for these signs of EAB infestation: D-shaped exit holes about 1/8 inch wide in the bark. These are adult beetles leaving the tree. S-shaped tunnels under the bark (called galleries). Peel back a small piece of outer bark to see them. Thinning canopy starting at the top of the tree. Branches die back gradually. Woodpecker damage. Woodpeckers eat EAB larvae and leave patches of missing bark. Epicormic shoots (also called water sprouts) growing from the trunk or main branches. If you see any of these symptoms, you need to act fast. Treating your ash tree yourself is only possible before the infestation is severe. Once more than 30% of the canopy is dead, professional treatment or removal is usually necessary. Can You Treat Ash Borer Yourself? The answer depends on your tree's size and the stage of infestation. For small ash trees (under 15 inches trunk diameter) that are still healthy, you can treat them yourself using soil drench or trunk spray products. The most common DIY treatment uses a systemic insecticide containing imidacloprid. You mix it with water and pour it around the base of the tree. The tree absorbs the chemical into its sap, killing EAB larvae when they feed. To do it right: Measure your tree's trunk diameter at chest height. Apply the correct dose according to the product label. Underdosing wastes money and can lead to resistance. Apply in spring or early fall (April to May or September to October) when soil is moist. Water the area well after application to move the chemical into the root zone. For larger trees, you need more powerful products like emamectin benzoate, which is usually injected into the trunk. Trunk injections are best left to professionals because they require precise drilling and dosing. Mistakes can damage the tree. If you decide to try a soil drench, consider a ready-to-use imidacloprid product designed for ash trees. Follow all safety precautions – wear gloves and keep pets away from the treated area. What Treatments Work for Other Ash Tree Diseases? For diseases like ash anthracnose or leaf rust, treatment is rarely needed. Healthy trees recover on their own. You can help by: Raking and disposing of fallen leaves to reduce fungal spores. Watering during dry spells to reduce stress. Avoiding overhead irrigation that wets leaves. For ash yellows or Verticillium wilt, there is no cure. Remove severely infected trees to prevent spread. Do not compost the wood. If your tree has mechanical damage from storms or lawn equipment, you can treat small wounds yourself. Use a clean pruning saw to remove torn bark. Do not apply tree wound dressing – it actually traps moisture and promotes decay. Let the wound heal naturally. For pruning, use sharp tools. A good quality pruning saw makes clean cuts that heal faster. What Tools and Products Do You Need for DIY Ash Tree Care? If you plan to treat your ash tree yourself, gather these items: Tool/Product Purpose Example Systemic insecticide (imidacloprid) Soil drench for EAB prevention Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed (example) Measuring tape Measure trunk diameter Any cloth measuring tape Watering can or bucket Mix and apply treatment 2-gallon bucket with pour spout Gloves and eye protection Safety when handling chemicals Nitrile gloves, safety glasses Pruning saw or loppers Remove dead branches Fiskars pole saw (for high limbs) Trunk injection kit (optional) For larger trees (professional use) Arborjet Q-Connect (professional grade) For safety, always read product labels. Wear chemical-resistant gloves when handling insecticides. Keep children and pets away until the treated area is dry. When Should You Call a Professional Instead? DIY treatment works best for prevention. If your tree already shows clear signs of infestation, a professional may be your only chance. Call an arborist if: Your tree's trunk diameter is over 15 inches. More than 30% of the canopy is dead. You see multiple D-shaped exit holes on the trunk. The tree is near your house, driveway, or power lines (a falling tree is dangerous). You are unsure about the correct chemical or dosage. Professionals use emamectin benzoate injections that protect for up to two years. One injection costs $10–$20 per inch of trunk diameter. For a 20-inch tree, that's $200–$400. Compare that to a few years of soil drenching at $30–$50 per year for smaller trees. Also, some areas have quarantines for ash wood. Check with your local extension office before moving firewood or pruning debris. A Simple DIY Ash Tree Treatment Checklist Use this quick list to decide if you can treat your ash tree yourself: Tree trunk diameter under 15 inches? Yes → Continue. No → Call an arborist. Less than 30% canopy dieback? Yes → Continue. No → Call an arborist. You have the right insecticide and protective gear? Yes → Continue. No → Buy supplies first. You know the correct dosage from the product label? Yes → Continue. No → Read label carefully. You can apply during spring or early fall when soil is moist? Yes → Go ahead. No → Wait for the right season. If you answer "yes" to all, you can safely treat your ash tree yourself. If any answer is "no," hire a professional. How Often Should You Treat Your Ash Tree? For EAB prevention with a soil drench of imidacloprid, you need to treat every 1 to 2 years depending on product strength and infestation pressure. Read your product label for specific intervals. For trunk injections by a professional, treatments last 2 to 3 years with emamectin benzoate. Re-treat before the protection runs out. Do not skip years because the tree can become reinfested quickly. If you live in an area with active EAB (most of the eastern and central U.S.), start treatment as soon as borers are confirmed within 10 to 15 miles of your yard. Prevention is cheaper and easier than saving a heavily infested tree. What Happens If You Don't Treat an Ash Tree With EAB? Without treatment, an ash tree infested with emerald ash borer will die within 2 to 4 years. The beetles spread quickly from tree to tree. A dead ash tree becomes brittle and can fall suddenly, damaging property or hurting people. If you decide not to treat, consider having the tree removed while it is still alive (green wood is easier and safer to remove). Dead ash trees often require more expensive crane or bucket truck work. Removing a small ash tree yourself is possible with a chainsaw and proper safety gear. But for trees over 20 feet tall, hire a professional removal company. Falling limbs and trunks can kill. Can You Save an Ash Tree That Has Started Dying? Yes, but only if the damage is caught early. If less than half the canopy is dead, a professional can sometimes save the tree with intense treatment. For DIY, it is not realistic. Once EAB larvae have girdled the trunk, water flow is cut off and the tree cannot recover. If you want to try, the only option is trunk injection by an arborist. Soil drenches work too slowly for a dying tree. Annual retreatment will likely be needed. For trees that are more than 50% dead, removal is the only safe choice. Plant a different species nearby (like oak, maple, or linden) so you don't lose shade in your yard. Is It Worth Treating Ash Trees Yourself? For small, healthy trees in areas with low to moderate EAB pressure, yes – DIY treatment is cost-effective and practical. You save the cost of professional visits. You can apply the treatment in one afternoon. But you must be consistent. Missing a year of treatment can allow beetles to get established. Once they are inside the tree, them you. DIY treatment works best as prevention, not rescue. If you have a large, mature ash tree that provides important shade, hiring a professional is money well spent. The cost of removal later is much higher than the cost of treatment. Finally, check with your local Cooperative Extension Service. Many offer free advice on ash tree care and may have bulk treatment programs for your neighborhood.
Do Barbados Cherry Trees Lose Their Leaves?

Barbados cherry trees (Malpighia emarginata, also called acerola) are semi-deciduous. This means they can lose their leaves for a short time, but it is not always a bad sign. Whether your tree drops leaves depends on your climate, the season, and how you care for it.
Do Plants Emit Co2 at Night?

Yes, plants do release CO2 at night as a natural part of their respiration process, but this is a normal biological function and not a cause for concern. During the night, photosynthesis stops due to the lack of sunlight, while cellular respiration continues 24/7. The amount of CO2 emitted at night is very small and does not pose any health risk to people or pets sharing the same room. Why do plants release CO2 at night? Plants release CO2 at night because of a process called cellular respiration. This is how all living organisms—plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria—convert stored energy (sugars) into usable energy (ATP) to power their cells. In plants, respiration is always happening, day and night. During the day, plants also perform photosynthesis, which uses sunlight to convert CO2 and water into sugars and oxygen. Because photosynthesis produces much more oxygen than respiration consumes, the net effect during daylight is a release of oxygen. At night, without sunlight, photosynthesis stops, but respiration continues, so the plant uses oxygen and releases CO2. Think of it like breathing for people. You breathe in oxygen and breathe out CO2 all day and night. A plant's respiration is like its own steady, quiet breathing—tiny, continuous, and essential to life. Is it harmful to sleep with plants in your bedroom? No, it is not harmful to sleep with plants in your bedroom. The amount of CO2 a typical houseplant produces at night is extremely small compared to the volume of air in a room. For context, a single person breathing all night produces far more CO2 than dozens of houseplants combined. The slight increase in CO2 from a few plants is not enough to cause any health issues, headaches, or problems with sleep quality. In fact, many people find that having plants in their bedroom improves mood, reduces stress, and can even help with humidity levels. A few popular bedroom plants like snake plants, spider plants, and aloe vera are often cited as "good for bedrooms" because they also perform a type of photosynthesis called CAM photosynthesis (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism), which allows them to take in CO2 at night and store it for use during the day. However, even plants that don't use this method are perfectly safe. What is the difference between respiration and photosynthesis? It helps to understand how a plant's two main gas-exchange processes work: Photosynthesis (happens only in daylight): Uses sunlight, water, and CO2 to produce sugars and oxygen. This is the process that feeds the plant and releases oxygen into the air. Respiration (happens 24/7): Uses oxygen and sugars to produce energy for the plant, releasing CO2 and water as byproducts. This is the plant's "metabolism" and keeps its cells alive. During the day, photosynthesis is much more active than respiration, so the plant absorbs more CO2 than it releases. At night, only respiration occurs, so the plant releases a small amount of CO2. The important thing to remember is that over a full 24-hour cycle, a healthy plant is a net absorber of CO2—it takes in more than it gives off. Do all plants release the same amount of CO2 at night? Not exactly. The amount of CO2 a plant releases at night depends on several factors: Size of the plant: A large, leafy plant like a fiddle-leaf fig will release more CO2 than a small succulent because it has more living tissue that needs energy. Growth stage: Actively growing plants respire more than dormant or slow-growing ones. Temperature: Warmer temperatures increase respiration rates, so a plant in a warm room may release slightly more CO2 than one in a cool room. Plant type: As mentioned, some plants (like orchids, succulents, and cacti) use CAM photosynthesis, which reduces the amount of CO2 released at night because they store it during the night for use during the day. Despite these variations, even the largest houseplant's nighttime CO2 output is very small—less than 0.1% of what a human produces by breathing. You would need hundreds of plants crammed into a sealed, tiny room to notice any meaningful change in CO2 levels. How much CO2 does a houseplant actually produce at night? Here is a simple comparison to show how tiny a plant's CO2 output really is. This table uses rough averages for a medium-sized houseplant in a 100-square-foot bedroom with standard ceiling height: SourceCO2 Produced (approximate per hour) One small hanging planter (e.g., pothos)0.001 grams One medium snake plant (12-inch pot)0.002 grams One human at rest30–40 grams A typical air freshener spray (one squirt)~0.5 grams As you can see, the plant's contribution is minuscule. Even 50 plants in a room would still produce less CO2 than a single person. Can plants improve indoor air quality despite nighttime CO2? Yes, and this is the bigger picture. While plants do release a tiny amount of CO2 at night, their overall effect on indoor air quality is positive. Through photosynthesis during the day, they absorb CO2 and release oxygen. They also help remove certain airborne pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene through their leaves and roots, a process often called phytoremediation. That said, it takes many plants to make a significant difference in air purification for an entire room. One or two plants in a bedroom are great for mood and humidity, but you might need a dozen or more for measurable air-cleaning benefits. If you want to maximize the air-purifying potential of your indoor garden, consider adding a portable air quality monitor to track CO2 levels and other pollutants. A simple monitor can help you see that even with several plants around, your CO2 levels remain healthy and safe. Check out popular indoor air quality monitors on Amazon for a helpful tool to measure your room's air (available in various price ranges). Does this mean plants compete with humans for oxygen at night? This is a common myth, but the answer is no—not in any meaningful way. The tiny amount of oxygen used by a plant at night for respiration is vastly outweighed by the oxygen it produces during the day. Over a 24-hour period, a plant is a net oxygen producer. The idea that plants "steal oxygen" at night is based on misunderstanding the scale of respiration. Think about this: A single tree can produce enough oxygen in one day to support two people. Meanwhile, its nighttime respiration uses only a small fraction of that oxygen. The same is true for houseplants. They are not competing with you for breathable air. They are living organisms that quietly contribute to a healthier environment. What about plants in a sealed terrarium or closed space? In a completely sealed environment—like a closed terrarium, a greenhouse with no ventilation, or a plant-filled van—the CO2 produced at night can accumulate. This is why sealed terrariums usually have small openings or are occasionally opened to refresh the air. But in a normal home or bedroom with any air exchange (even a tiny gap under the door), the CO2 from plants is diluted and becomes undetectable. If you keep plants in a very small, airtight room without any ventilation, you would notice a rise in CO2 from your own breathing long before the plants' contribution matters. The best way to keep any room fresh is to open a window or use a fan, which quickly disperses CO2 and brings in fresh air. What are the best plants for a bedroom? If you are still worried about CO2 at night, or you just want plants that are especially efficient, consider these popular choices that use CAM photosynthesis (they take in CO2 at night and store it): Snake plant (Sansevieria): Extremely low-light tolerant and releases oxygen at night. Aloe vera: Also releases oxygen at night and has medicinal gel in its leaves. Orchid: Many varieties use CAM and add beauty to any room. Spider plant: Easy to care for and great at removing formaldehyde. Peace lily: Known for its air-purifying abilities and lovely white flowers. All these plants are safe, easy to care for, and will not cause any CO2 issues. Should I remove plants from my nursery or child's room? No, there is no need to remove plants from a child's room. In fact, plants can help teach children about nature and provide a calming presence. The tiny amount of CO2 emitted is not a health concern. Just make sure the plants are non-toxic if a child might try to eat the leaves. Snake plants and peace lilies, for example, are mildly toxic if ingested, so keep them out of reach. For a nursery, consider safe, non-toxic options like the areca palm, Boston fern, or prayer plant. You can also look for a plant care guide book to help you choose the best, safest plants for your family's home. Browse beginner-friendly houseplant care books on Amazon for helpful tips on choosing and maintaining safe indoor plants. One simple checklist for sleeping with plants If you want to keep plants in your bedroom and feel totally at ease, here is a quick checklist: Choose small to medium-sized plants (one or two per room is plenty). Ensure the room has basic air exchange (a normal bedroom door or window gap is enough). Keep plants at least a few feet away from your face and pillows. Water plants in the morning, not at night, to avoid damp soil odors. Pick low-light tolerant varieties if your bedroom has no direct sun. Enjoy the mood boost and cleaner daytime air your plants provide. Do outdoor trees and gardens emit noticeable CO2 at night? Yes, but just like houseplants, the effect is not something humans can detect. A large tree can release a measurable amount of CO2 at night, but it is diluted by the vast volume of outdoor air. The overall effect of forests at night is that they cool the air and release moisture, but they do not create dangerous CO2 pockets. In fact, the world's forests are critical carbon sinks—they absorb far more CO2 overall than they release. So, if you enjoy sleeping with your window open to hear the trees rustle, you have nothing to worry about. The outdoor air is still far cleaner and richer in oxygen than indoor air in a sealed, plant-free room. What about the smell of soil or dampness from plants at night? This is a separate issue from CO2. Some potting soil can release a musty or earthy smell at night, especially if it stays damp. That smell is not dangerous, but if it bothers you, use a pot with drainage holes, water only when the top inch of soil is dry, and consider using a small dehumidifier or air purifier near your plant corner. A small indoor air purifier with a carbon filter can remove any minor odors and also help with dust and pollen. Find compact air purifiers for bedrooms on Amazon to keep the air fresh and clean. Is there any way to reduce nighttime CO2 from plants even further? If you absolutely want to minimize any possible CO2 release, you could: - Place plants in a room with good ventilation (window or fan). - Use a grow light to give them some artificial daylight hours, which can shift their respiration pattern. - Choose CAM plants like succulents and cacti, which handle CO2 differently. But honestly, for the vast majority of people, the standard houseplant is so low in CO2 output that no extra steps are needed. The benefits of having plants far outweigh any
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Can You Grow Heather from Cuttings?

Yes, you can grow heather from cuttings, and it is one of the most reliable ways to get new plants. The key is to take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or early autumn and provide the right humidity and rooting medium. With a little patience, you can multiply your heather for free.
How do I Start My Husqvarna Riding Lawn Mower?

Starting your Husqvarna riding mower is simple once you know the steps. First, sit in the seat, engage the parking brake, and make sure the blades are off. Then, turn the key to start the engine, following the specific instructions for your model whether it uses a key or an electric start button.
How do You Store Store Bought Pumpkin Seeds?

Store bought pumpkin seeds stay fresh longest when kept in an airtight container in a cool, dark place like a pantry. For months of extra life, you can refrigerate or freeze them. The key is to keep out moisture, heat, and light to prevent spoilage.
Do Geraniums Grow in Texas?

Yes, geraniums can grow in Texas, but success depends on choosing the right varieties and giving them extra care during the hottest months. These popular flowers thrive in the state's mild winters but struggle with intense summer heat and humidity. By following the tips below, you can enjoy colorful blooms from spring through fall.
How do Plants Spread?

Plants spread in several fascinating ways: by releasing seeds that travel by wind, water, or animals; by growing runners or underground stems; and even by splitting apart. Understanding these methods helps gardeners and nature lovers see how plants colonize new areas and why some become invasive.
Are Tangerine Trees Self Pollinating?

Yes, most tangerine trees are self-pollinating, meaning they can produce fruit with their own pollen. However, having bees, other insects, or a second tree nearby can increase your harvest. If you have a specific variety like Satsuma, you usually do not need a partner tree.
Can You Grow Herbs in Partial Shade?

Yes, you can absolutely grow many herbs in partial shade, though your choices will be different than for a sunny garden. Partial shade means the area receives 3 to 6 hours of sunlight a day, often dappled or morning light, and many herbs thrive in these conditions without turning bitter or leggy.