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The Grumpy Gardener

Can I Cover Tree Roots With Soil?

October 21, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (6)

Question from Desperate Reader: I have a 40 year-old live oak with unsightly, exposed roots on the soil surface. We’re afraid someone may trip. Can we make a flower bed over the roots?

The Grumpy Gardener

Pruning Trumpet Honeysuckle

October 18, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (2)

Question from Desperate Reader: Could you tell me how and when to prune an ‘Alabama Crimson’ trumpet honeysuckle? Right now, it is a tangled, huge mess, but I don’t want to ruin the spring bloom.

The Grumpy Gardener

Why Didn’t My Confederate Rose Bloom?

October 16, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (3)

Question from Desperate Reader: I live in Texas and have had a Confederate rose for 5 years. The first three years, it bloomed beautifully. The last two years, we’ve had record heat and drought and it hasn’t bloomed at all. Should I blame the weather?

The Grumpy Gardener

Black Spot on Roses

October 14, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (0)

Question from Desperate Reader: I have black spot on my ‘Nearly Wild’ shrub rose. What can I do about it?

The Grumpy Gardener

Why Is My Crepe Myrtle Dropping Leaves?

October 11, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (3)

Question from Desperate Reader: I have two red crepe myrtle trees. Both started dropping leaves in midsummer and are now almost bare. I sprayed them with fungicide during the humid months, but they never did rebound. Any suggestions?

The Grumpy Gardener

Question of the Week — Why Are Tree Leaves Dropping So Early?

September 7, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (6)

It may be September, but it isn’t fall yet. So why are some of your trees already dropping leaves? There are three main reasons. Let’s discuss each scenario from no problem to minor problem to major, big-honking problem.

The Grumpy Gardener

Question of the Week — Why Hasn’t My Crepe Myrtle Bloomed?

August 30, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (10)

Solutions to Matters of Great Import Provided Here Free-of-Charge Q: My crepe myrtle bloomed great last year. But this year, it hardly has any blooms at all, even though it looks healthy. Why? Bo Dacious

The Grumpy Gardener

Question of the Week: How Can I Keep Mushrooms from Growing in the Lawn?

August 16, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (3)

Solutions to Matters of Great Import Provided Here Free-of-Charge Q: Big white mushrooms sprout overnight in our lawn after a heavy rain. Is there anything we can put down on the grass to kill them? Fannie Fungi

The Grumpy Gardener

Ask Grumpy a Question

August 14, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (3)

Submit your questions here. The answers will be free and worth the price.

The Grumpy Gardener

Question of the Week: Is It Safe to Plant Now?

August 1, 2012 | By Steve Bender | Comments (1)

Solutions to Matters of Great Import Provided Here Free-of-Charge

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