I've tried for years to find something that I can plant under a row of tall pines that edge our property. Nothing seemed to work in that dry, acidic soil, until I ran across a ground cover called "Dead Nettle" at our local garden center. It's a low plant that spreads nicely and has small white blossoms. Each year I take cuttings and add them to bare spots and they rarely fail!

Bill Silcox

Before you dig out that old or raggedy looking shrub try giving it a new look.  Start trimming away the dead branches from the bottom up.  Spare a few that have the most interesting architecture and best looking foliage tips.  Amend the soil, water well and fertilize.  You've just renovated an established plant and saved a whole lot of money by creating your own exotic 'topiary'

Reanierene

I have found that if you spray "Ivory" soap along with your water to the exterior shrubs and flowers, you will have very few mosquitoes.  Happy summer to all who try it.  Just fill your hose end sprayer with Ivory, attach your hose and spray away.

Della M. Schultz

I moved to Naples, Fl. 3 yrs ago so I am new to Southern gardening after living all my life in the Midwest. I planted two Bougainvillea bushes which constantly lost their leaves. I fertilized them and could never figure out what to do to rid them of whatever was eating the leaves. I have beautiful rose bushes which I regularly fertilize with a rose food containing a systemic so I never had to spray for aphids & etc. I fertilized the Bougainvillea bushes with rose food containing the systemic and I have not had a problem with the bushes losing their leaves since, which apparently took care of the insect eating the leaves. Every three months, I fertilize them with the recommended fertilizer of phosphorus and potassium. The bushes have finally started growing and look good.

Mary L. Thomas

When I plant shrubs or trees, I take an empty 12 or 16 ounce plastic soft drink or juice bottle and cut off the bottom. I then plant the bottle upside down beside the plant with the open mouth side down. If the bush or tree is very large or requires a lot of water, you can plant one on each side of the plant. The idea is similar to the small watering devices Park Seed & Wayside Gardens offer. But this is a much larger delivery system to help new larger plants that have a higher demand for water. It also puts the water really where you want it; down to the roots. Everyone is conserving water these days and this prevents a lot of water runoff when you are trying to "Deep Water" a plant. The bottle should be removed in the Fall/Winter to prevent the roots from freezing due to the excess water so close to the roots. If a dry second year is anticipated, another bottle can be planted again in the spring. Water soluble fertilizer can also be added to the bottle.  In this way, it will reach the deeper roots.  Use a smaller than recommended dosage to keep from burning the roots.

Mary Ann Reeley