Black walnuts need to be planted deep
“Those things are better which are perfected by nature than those which are finished by art.” —Cicero
Q: I planted some black walnuts in pots and than scattered them under a couple of inches of soil. They have not done anything. Are they dormant? — Karen, Townsend, Mass.
A: Black walnuts need to be planted deep. Acouple of yards would have been better. Dig holes with a crowbar and go down as deep as you can. Push the nuts down to the bottom. They need the gradual tempera ture change to sprout. It may take two years to come up.
Q: We have four boxwood. One of them yellowing. It is on the northwest corner. We lost one of them this past year. What do you think? — Marlene, Taylorville, Ill.
A: You should check for scale or spider mites. Since 2012, your zone is now 6. This means more plants like box can be grown in your area. Because the plants are vulnerable to cold winds, I suspect they are suffering winter damage. Move the yellowed box to an area where they will have sun at least a half day. Spider mite or scale can be treated out of doors with malathion. Follow directions on the label, if needed.
Q: How do I get rid of sweet clover in my lawn? — Bertha, Cambridge, Ill.
A: I am a strong advocate of keeping clover in the lawn. Clover is a martyr grass that will die away when there is sufficient nitrogen in the soil. Since it attracts bees, it is helpful for pollination of flowers in addition to adding nitrogen to the soil. Clover takes nitrogen from the air and breaks down the nitrates in the roots to feed the other grasses. If you give the lawn sufficient fertilizer the clover will disappear. You have an inexpensive source of fertilizer that you could grow to love.
Q: Grubs have completely wiped out my lawn. Can I turn it over and start again? — Bob, Coventry
A: It may prove fruitless unless you have 6 to 8 inches of loam. With a sandy subsoil in your area, fertilizers and other compounds will leach out quickly. Your loam should be rich with organic material. Manure, peat and shredded pine needles will help build the water retention ability and nutrient needed for a good lawn. You may decide to build a Japanese or rock garden instead. Whatever you do decide, you will still have to treat the area for grubs. Before you bring in loam for the lawn, you can harrow and till the present remnants of the lawn. This will help build body for the new lawn or garden.