Thanks,
Betty

Betty,
 
Your gnats are probably fungus gnats.  You could replace the soil in your planters.  You can also treat your existing plants with a houseplant granular insect control.  We carry a bonide product that works well for $7.99.  It protects your plants from most insect pests for 8 weeks.  You just sprinkle on your soil and water it in. Though fungus knats do not harm your plants, they are a bother to have flying around.  I also recommend less soil moisture.  These little gnats are only in damp soil that is consistently wet.  Best wishes to you from Pahl’s!

First, you  Come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING ,

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE.   THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU  SOW.  NOT BAD, HUH?!

(sent to us from one of our customers, ENJOY!!)

I was so sorry to see your pictures.  It does look like vole damage.  The lawn will be easy to repair but your beautiful tree is another matter.  Voles can be trapped using similar traps that you would use to catch mice.  They love peanut butter and that is what seems to work the best for traps.  The box traps with sticky interiors will work well also.  You could also try some of the poisons that are good for mice or rat control. Just make sure pets do not get into any of those.  This winter, with the early snow cover and so much of it, provided a great environment for voles and mice.  I am sure many will find damage like yours.
As far as the lawn repair that is fairly easy.  If you just rake out the tunnels and trails, the roots of surrounding grass will move in quickly and fill the gap.  If needed you can overseed any areas with a good grass seed mix this spring.  Your tree may be a bigger problem.  There are no products to cover the missing bark areas.  Your tree may be damaged beyond repair.  The layer just under the bark of the tree is where the tree transfers all the water and nutrients up to the leaves.  If most of that is gone around the base of the tree your tree may not survive.  You can wait to see if it produces leaves and if it will get enough water movement up the trunk tissue.
Thank you for your question.  We are always glad to help where we can with all of your gardening needs.

Now is the time to freeze the wonderful fresh corn from Pahl’s.  Less then two weeks left for our season.  Many people have asked how to freeze corn so here is an easy way to do it.

Put a large kettle on the stove with water and bring it to a boil. As you wait for the water to come to a boil, shuck the corn.  Once the water boils, drop in the ears of corn and when it returns to a boil cook the corn for about 4 minutes.  Then remove the corn from the boiling water and immediately immerse the corn in ice water.  Filling your sink with water and ice works very well.  Once cool, cut the kernels off the cob and put them in freezer bags.  The corn will stay perfect for 6 to 9 months if done properly.  What a treat to enjoy fresh corn on a cold winter evening with dinner or for the holidays.  You can add your favorite seasonings and butter if you like as you heat your frozen corn before serving.  We hope you enjoy this easy way to freeze corn.  Enjoy!

Anne M. Porcaro

Dear Anne,
Honeysuckle vines are vigorous growers and bloomers.  They can be pruned for shape and size, and will appreciate a hard pruning (down to 18-24″) every few years. Trimming unruly stems to keep the honeysuckle under control can be done at any time during the season.  Hard pruning should be done in late fall or winter and only on healthy plants.

Sharon

It is not uncommon for tropical hibiscus plants to look tough after a northern winter indoors.  Yellow leaves and leaf drop are common problems.  Now would be a good time to bring them out from their spare room and give them as much light as possible, a southern window spot would be ideal.  Consider repotting the plants in new potting soil and a slightly larger pot- not more than an inch larger in diameter.  You can prune and shape the Hibiscus as well.  New leaf buds should appear in a few weeks. Begin a regular schedule of fertilization once the new leaves appear.  In late May the plants can go outside in a hot sunny spot.  Bringing a Hibiscus back to bloom takes a little effort, but the result is worth it.  Good luck in your endeavors.

Dee

Rhonda

Dear Rhonda,
The Manettia bicolor is a tropical vine.  Also known as the Candy Corn Vine it will winter over in the house, but probably won’t bloom in mid-winter.  We just don’t have enough sun during the colder months. The brown leaves you are getting on the plant may be the result of drier indoor conditions and should clear up once the plant is outside.
 Keep the plant watered and the soil moderately moist at all times.  Do not allow the plant to dry out between waterings.  If your vine has gotten too leggy (long stretches of stem between the leaves) it would not hurt the plant to trim it back now.  This will encourage branching and the result will be a thicker plant.  Freshening the soil with a good potting mix would also be helpful.  Remove the plant from its pot, shake off as much of the old potting soil as possible, and then replant in fresh potting soil.  If you
think the plant needs a larger pot- signs include roots wrapped around in circles at the bottom of the pot or roots coming out of the bottom of the pot- now is an excellent time to do that as well.  For the best growth on your candy corn vine you want the new pot to be no more than one inch in diameter bigger than its present pot.  You should be able to place your candy corn vine outside around mid-May.  Once nighttime temperatures reach about 50 degrees the plant will be safe.  Remember tropical plants do not like lower temperature.  They may not die, but they will not thrive until temperatures get more summer like Thanks for the question and good luck with your vine.

Dee

The mandevilla is another tricky tropical plant.  Like the candy corn vine the mandevilla will appreciate a warm, though not sunny, spot for the next few weeks.  Keep your mandevilla out of direct sun (that sunny window will burn tender new leaves) until it has at least 6 inches on the vine and more than one set of leaves. If you are seeing sprouts the plant is probably still viable.  I suggest repotting the roots in new potting soil, watering it lightly and seeing what happens.  When you repot it, check the roots; healthy roots will be firm, white or light tan, and flexible.  If the roots of your mandevilla are black or brown, mushy or stringy the plant isn’t likely to grow.  If there are spots of black mushiness, cut away that part of the root and replant only the healthy root.  Healthy roots, attached to the crown of the plant should grow a plant.  Most importantly, no direct sunlight until the leaves have expanded, moderate amounts of water and no fertilizer until you are ready to put it outside.  Remember the mandevilla likes it hot; so don’t put it, or any tropical plant, outdoors until temperatures get above 50 degrees at night.

Good luck with your mandevilla!

Dee