Subscriber Garden Questions Answered - Open Garden Event

[@HoosierDaddy_]

You're the only person on KZbin actually teaching. You are personally responsible for my beautiful gardens and my love of this. The others showcase a lot of things, then dump 5 pounds of plantone in the hole, say nothing else and move on. I may see some plants I'm interested in on other channels, but I NEVER buy them unless I find a video of your opinion and expertise. I seriously ask myself "what does Jim say about this" before I plant anything. Now I have inspired my whole neighborhood to start planting gardens instead of that terrible green grass with 4 green bushes situation, lol. Thanks Jim & family!

[@cynthiaborden4209]

I call him Professor Jim. My biggest takeaway from Jim is I don't need to fertilize every week and that makes me happy😁

[@HoosierDaddy_]

@@cynthiaborden4209 * right, lol. I used to over fertilize, over water, and watched all my efforts wilt and die!

[@sheilamoore4680]

Never doubt your abilities as a teacher, I've learned so much practical, effective knowledge from your videos in the past few years. You've even inspired me to start a career in gardening and I'm so happy I did. I'm also glad to have joined a company that treats gardens as ecosystems as you do. You're making a big difference!

[@dwohio8283]

I may have shared this before but, the first time my young grandson saw a watermelon in my garden he wanted to know what it was. I told him and he replied, but it's in dirt. Yes, that's how they grow. He says, are they the good kind? What are the good kind, I asked? The kind at Kroger. Hahaha... these are much better! He was amazed when we ate it. 😊

[@marybeth4002]

That's hilarious. How wonderful that you are teaching him where our food comes from and he sees it first hand in your garden. I too share my love of gardening with my grandson - he loves to dig but more than anything... he's heavy on WATERING!!

[@verawallace9055]

So sweet ❤ am late with planting my melon some of them are just starting to grow, but luckily I have some self seeding ones , I think they are sugar baby that emerge from a construction bag I tried to compost in

[@sherriianiro747]

What I like about Jim is that he's not a control freak and his videos are informative and relaxing. I do believe some garden KZbinrs will have a nervous breakdown when they run out of land to plant!

[@cynthiaborden4209]

Or if they run out of fertilizer 😆

[@cardunig1]

I love your humility Jim. You are a great teacher! Why would we watch you, otherwise!

[@jenniferblevins5023]

Jim and Steph, a HUGE thank you for the open garden experience! My husband (not a gardner😊) and I enjoyed it tremendously! My husband wanted to tell you, he says most Sundays, "Tim Russert said if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press, at our house, if it's Sunday, it's JIM!" Thank you again!

[@jennifermcduffie6889]

I think you’re a fabulous teacher and would love to see you apply your knowledge and expertise on others’ garden challenges. In other words. would you ever be interested in going to various landscapes to help the homeowner correct their mistakes or problems. BTW, I love how you’ve shared the transformation of your own landscape!!

[@bsb3060]

I love this idea. My garden could definitely use his touch 😂

[@kristieellis261]

You have taught me more about gardening than all of the other channels combined! I enjoy the other channels, but yours hands down is the most educational and has directly affected my gardening successes, thank you thank you, thank you!

[@kaychaney6102]

Best teacher on KZbin! Thank you!

[@kaychaney6102]

Best teacher on KZbin! Thank you!

[@freedomofreligion3248]

THANK YOU for having an Open Garden. Your garden has both your & Stef's individual aesthetics, but, there's a clear message: We love plants, we celebrate life, it's cycles, it's seasons, and, we love to share with other living things. The lovely, fulfilling thing about gardening is that, somewhat like raising kiddos; we're gently coaxing (with some hard work from us!) nature to show us the beauty, complexity, and, paradoxically, the simplicity, of botany and wildlife, geology and humans. Somehow, tapping into the joy released from those relationships between these things is fulfilling. It's an exciting and peaceful way to live. Being outside is a big deal 💚🩵🪴. Possibly the (repetitive) questions about OFTEN-discussed things, like landscape fabric, are from "You Tube cruisers" vs loyal channel followers. Thx for sharing what you love, and know about, with us.

[@stephanycoakley7352]

Thank you for your kind words 😊

[@parsley7894]

Hey Jim, come up to Longwood Gardens in PA for a meet and greet! I know you’ve said you’ve been there before. Always so much to see. Your northern viewers would love to see you and Steph.

[@daymoonfarm2903]

Jim and Steph, thank you so much for opening your garden to everyone. Because it was free, it was accessible to all, unlike those who charge $1,000 to participate in their event.

[@sunsickokra218]

Oh Jim, you are one of the best teachers I've ever had. You've taught me everything I know about gardening, and over the past 2 years you've given me the confidence to create an idyll of my own. Sometimes I ask questions that I already know the answer to because I want the answer to be different! I'm looking for your permission to do what I know I shouldn't 🤣

[@chriscarpenter6883]

Jim. Believe me bro. You are doing a great job teaching and showing folks what to do to have a great garden. Keep up the great work!

[@gracefulgrowing144]

I think you are very successful at educating people on horticulture. There are just some people that are unteachable. You have made a definite difference in the way I garden, and in what I have learned.❤❤

[@CindyKeane]

Hi Jim! I have two questions: 1. What is your watering routine (how do you water and how often)? 2. How do you deal with rabbits? Thank you!!

[@annebroyles]

Jim, you have successfully taught me many things!

[@kaychaney6102]

Best teacher on KZbin! Thank you!

[@danaconn6870]

When you go to Ram’s garden, she often sends you home with something new. Do you take interesting new plants to her?

[@buckWildest]

You are very much teaching the audience. At the very least you are giving people confidence to start getting into the hobby more and more. No way was i ever going out and spending more the 20 bucks on a plant that had a 50 50 chance of dieing before i found this channel. And its one of the best channels thats not one big commercial for some giant company.

[@OlysZoo]

I think the people who are wondering about fertilizing once a week are talking about annual hanging baskets and planters with liquid fertilizer. I have never been able tho grow a huge petunia basket and people at the store were looking for replacement plants. Two people I know use the gradual release fertilizer when first planted and they had good luck.

[@BloomCatBloom]

I feel much better hearing you talk about Sudden Death Season. I have a couple that took a quick nosedive. I am already contemplating their replacements 😂.

[@tuesboomer1623]

You are a tremendous educator! I think the amusing questions you are receiving are just a matter of the viewer not really having any issues at that time with whatever the specific topic is (landscape fabric for example) and taking little notice as they watch. Later, when it drops into their lives they know exactly who to ask for advice, which is actually a great measurement of your educational impact. I discovered your very thorough channel just as we were on the verge of becoming empty nesters and our existing landscaping was reaching its sad looking, overgrown end. These happy coincidences gave us time and funds to have some fun and move beyond basic maintenance of the house and property. Without you I wouldn't have known where to start. Your gardening style is so uncomplicated and produces stunning results and you have a marvelous way of passing that on to all of us in a way that I, for one, easily remember as we tackle our garden projects.

[@mikes5643]

If I buy discount plants now or go on vacation for a week, I put a couple of inches of water in a kiddie pool (and a mosquito dunk) put the plants in it. Works well for me.

[@marybeth4002]

Jim and Stephany, I've learned so much from this channel in the last 3-4 years that I've been watching. This year everything seemed to make sense to me and come together with the garden I intended it to be. I sometimes need to hear "it" - whatever "it" is at the moment in my garden plans - I need to hear it a couple times before it makes sense in my garden and I then apply the knowledge or plan. I mentioned earlier that I was never interested in science (no, not ever) but as I enter my 7th decade this year, I realize you're never too old to learn and be passionate about something new. 💚🌞

[@cece_marie]

I ran into 2 different people who attended your open house and both we're so impressed and complimentary. Also saw the new Holly shirt this week as well. ❤The weekly planner is ✨so good ✨- when I feel overwhelmed by the garden or had to shift my time elsewhere, I just go to that week and focus on the most important tasks. It gives me a great roadmap that I know will eventually lead to getting things where I want them to be. Would love a video on how on how your composting/processing the organic material on your small lot. After 3-4 years of woodchips and planting, I have an abundance of clippings and branches (which I learned from you! so yes you are successfully teaching your audience)

[@samaradixon4376]

I have a question. I watch gardening videos in US and Europe. How come most of the Europe videos say Ivy is good to grow on houses and doesn’t cause any damage and protects it and keeps homes cooler but here in US we say the complete opposite. I love the look of it but also have fears of it.

[@rainraven1]

Hi Jim. First I wanted to weigh in on whether or not u have been successful with teaching people as someone asked. I can say with complete confidence that you have been the biggest influence on our garden and the sole reason why we went from spending most of our money on plants to spending most of our money to improve our soil over the past 4 years )we have 3 acres so it’s been a process lol). My husband and I would like to thank you and express our immense gratitude for your wisdom and wit and providing information in such a non judgmental way that makes us want to try new things. We appreciate you soo much that our friend who has a drumming KZbin channel made us a sticker that says “I ❤️ Putnam” because he has a bunch of different swag for his own channel. It is on one of our planters in the garden. So thank you for giving us the tools to engage in this enriching and soul feeding hobby in a successful way! Now on to my question lol. We planted oak leaf hudrangea along a tree line last year. I would say they get a few hours of sun each day. We are in Powhatan VA zone 7a. I know in the landscaping video you did, you planted the oak leafs in a fair amount of shade but I’m wondering why mine are not blooming. They are the Alice variety. Did we plant them in too much shade or how many hours of sun do they need? It’s also dry in that area so could that be impacting the blooming?

[@margiehendrix6097]

I have learned so much from you and changed the way I treat my soil because of your lessons. Don't question whether you are teaching us. You most definitely are.

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

Absolutely! I've learned so much from this channel and it has made me a successful gardener for sure

[@verawallace9055]

I have a dahlia that's not doing well, I think it is the soil, always have problems at that spot,have to figure out something

[@brookssebright8934]

Thanks for the feedback on fertilizing at the nursery. I've been observing and learning a lot about it this year and your comments are helpful as always.

[@margaretkuzminsky7876]

Yes, you are a good teacher and I am a much happier gardener for it. My garden is the most successful I have ever had. There are so many pollinators and they are happy too. Thank you!

[@heathervelloff5385]

Could you show how to do a dry riverbed? I have three spots in my yard that need them and I’ve been searching all over to find good advice on doing your own dry bed. I know it’s going to be really hard work.

[@rosemarybushea3447]

I have learned so much from you sharing from your years of experience and I so appreciate the soil improvement focus. It has been so helpful since you are in a similar zone and same state. Thank you!

[@MourningDove-bn4dk]

Your channel keeps growing. You are going to be repeating yourself to all the new people.

[@atlantagardener1]

Thank you for your comments about sudden death season. It’s so discouraging when you’ve worked so hard. It’s helpful to know that it’s not just me!

[@kso808]

Regarding this week's question of your successfully teaching people about gardening, please know that you have definitely imparted some cardinal gardening tenets to me that I was previously unaware of. Things like improving the soil, correct plant placement, fertilizing, and plant shading have definitely made their mark on me. I never used to know the exact purposes of compost and wood chips, but now it's uppermost in my mind. I follow both this YT channel and another one based in the US desert southwest, which maintains that watering practices are paramount when it comes to plant survival.

[@burntorangehorn]

Meet-and-greet idea: U.S. Botanic Garden (National Mall, DC) one day, National Arboretum the next! Bet some local nursery, such as Patuxent Nursery in Bowie, would sponsor.

[@L4sleeko]

Great questions, the plants look great in that opening shot. The beard looks good too!

[@kathleenmccarthy8418]

I feel that you are successfully teaching your audience FOR SURE.👏🏻👍🏻🙌🏻

[@samaradixon4376]

I have definitely learned a lot from you. If I want to buy a plant or have bought a plant I see if you have a video on it before I plant it. I would love to see more in depth videos on trees for some shade for a regular size yard that doesn’t get 100 foot tall and wide. But I love your videos.

[@lizmiller8084]

Most KZbinr channels I watch have drip irrigation. Sounds like the drip goes off one/two times daily. I can’t help but see their gardens looking lush and thriving. It gives the perception that it’s the best way of watering. How do you feel about the daily watering and how the plants do long term. Is that preventing root establishment and babying them too much?

[@scottvallandingham2136]

Garden Question: I have heard individuals suggest using alfalfa pellets as a organic fertilizer. Have you used this product and what comments do you have about it? Scott from Matthews NC

[@waltobringer2928]

Thank you, Jim.

[@sterlgirlceline]

❓Would you please make a Gardening Q and A playlist so they can be listened to back-to-back? This would be so helpful 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@nedda2000]

Although I am far from being a youth, I have learned so much, especially about taking care of the soil. chop and drop is just one example. I hope to instill the benefits of gardening to future generations too. Happy gardening!

[@celianewman4809]

So true about getting kids involved. My daughter is very picky and won’t touch store bought blueberries. But she goes crazy for the blueberries on our plants! Funny story, yesterday she was pretending she was making a KZbin video and was talking about hydrangeas and snapdragons. 😂 She was introducing herself and even brought up your name, Jim. I may a future KZbin star in my hands. She’ll be 6 in August.

[@stephanycoakley7352]

so awesome!

[@haleykelly9179]

I remember thinking all this gardening was overwhelming but Jim taught me a better and less stressful way. Now I enjoy the garden instead if stress over all the jobs to do

[@Zil_Senczy]

Would you be able to do a video on how to rescue a plant that has been invaded by Bermuda?

[@trishferrer8209]

You talked abt fertilizing plants during summer. I do a lot of container gardening, so I feel the need to fertilize (watered down) every Friday. They all seem fine. 8a, W. TN. 90° and up. I water first, then add plant food, for basic nutrition. But... 😅 I am still a fairly new gardener, and I am listening! You are my favorite teacher. 🌱

[@donnajoy6951]

Thanks Jim😊

[@MickF04]

We planted 7 SpinTop Gaillardia back in mid-April as a grouping. They were doing fine until one of them suffered some sort of "sudden death" like you described in mid-June. The plant just wilted up to the point that many of the leaves were rotting. We now have a 2nd one about to be pulled that's doing the same thing. Two others seem to be heading in that same direction. For a plant described as being mainly pest- and disease free, this was a surprise. Nothing else in the garden is suffering here in Central Texas (8b).

[@sallymoore-zz9rb]

Have you considered voles ?

[@MickF04]

@@sallymoore-zz9rb No signs of anything burrowing in the ground, and no root damage on the 1st Gallardia I pulled. The soil was lightly moist. No clue, but we're losing them at a rate of about one a week.

[@sherriianiro747]

​@@MickF04May be anthracnose.

[@mavisjones4750]

Congrats on your Open Garden. I hate that I wasn't able to attend as I had planned to. Hopefully, next time!

[@idaknowsit6146]

Thanks!!

[@bsb3060]

Second Question: cary nc zone 8a I planted a popcorn double file viburnum in 2022 and each summer its leaves droop and by late summer it loses most of its leaves. I always think it’s dead but then in the spring it blooms like mad and looks gorgeous again. I supplemental water it but don’t want to kill it with love as you say. Does it just need more time to become fully established? It does have some root competition with trees.

[@timpratt6422]

Thank you for the continued fantastic education. I do have a few questions. For Jim the nurseryman, Why cant we find plants in smaller sizes. Example things like Hydrangeas use to be common in 1G containers, now 2G seems to be the new one gallon but why don't they sell them in quart? I'd rather bye twice the plants for the same price and watch them grow. Just wonder about the grower trade side of this. Along that same cost saving vein, I'm hopping for a HortTube collection to in the ground propagation video. I seem to be able to get roots and even some growth at first only to have them die before they can go in the ground. Do I need a greenhouse or some special equipment? Should I do my propagation under my seed starting set up (a copy of your setup) Love what you guys are creating and look forward to every video release.

[@beatriceanderson9745]

That’s in my area.😊

[@Flower_hoarder]

🪴🌳YOU ARE SUCCESSFULLY TEACHING YOUR AUDIENCE ‼️🪴🌳

[@dia9491]

I’m also using the wood chips, I have for three years. However last year I expanded my flowerbed. I had to till that area first because it was baked clay in the full sun. It helped a lot. If you don’t have a tiller you can break it up with a shovel depending on the size. I’ve done it many times, just to get that mixed into the hard soils.

[@debrawingo8060]

Happy Sunday Jim, I have 3 Stoke's Aster in my perennial bed. They were growing beautifully...good foliage, and then they started to bud-up bloom. One.of them was a real star and the other 2 seemed to be from another planet~I thought the 2 may have been some funky version of the same plant until I went in for a closer look. They appeared to be misshapen, angry and just butt-ugly! Then it dawned on me that they could. have some strange disease, so I did an internet search and after some perseverance, I stumbled upon Aster's Yellow. I have never heard of this before, and I dug those uglies out last evening! Do you have experience with this?

[@bsb3060]

I think you do a great job at teaching and if someone is asking you about fertilizer (every single week) they are not actually watching your videos Question: I have a Russian sage that is a huge hit with the pollinators which I love but it grows so fast in the spring that all the rains we get then (cary nc zone 8a) make it flop by early June. Would it help to keep it trimmed back in the spring and let it go to flower once the majority of spring rains have stopped or is it just going to flop here no matter what I do?

[@nadia_rem8511]

Do you prefer the chinese snowball Virburnum to the Eastern one? I chucked a what i assumed dead eastern V into my compost pile and after winter noticed it was growing leaves and still alive. I planted it into unamended clay and threw some hardwood mulch on top. Its in full sun. Love the new diy patio and house redesign. The soft blue is nice. Also dig the chandelier art piece with what looked like succulents on it. Can you recommend any grass lawn alternatives. During this summer drought z8 MD, my lawn grass has turned brown and yellow and deadish. My clover mixed in the lawn is still green though!!!! Gotta love that honestly cause the bees been loving the clover flowers. Lindas def more formal. Love her designs. I also like your chaotic woodland style. Your plants look HEALTHY. How long have you been gardening in this space?

[@whatsup848]

I am rooting a Crape Myrtle cutting from a family memorial tree. The cutting has taken well with good rooting but a single 3 foot trunk in a decent size pot. How can I encourage multiple trunks? Thank you. Congratulations on a very successful show of your garden!

[@HoustonKeith72]

Congratulations on your open garden! Your garden looks like a dream. It's perfect. Question for Q and A: I notice you don't have roses in your garden. Firstly, I think your garden is perfect. I don't ask because I think you should. You've clearly made a choice not to, so I'm curious? I've started roses and am wondering if I'm crazy to try? ha! Our Houston weather is not totally dissimilar. And it's been a journey already.

[@karencrane6325]

I would have loved to visit your garden, but I’m not even remotely close! I’ve learned so much watching your channel!

[@jenniferblevins5023]

Do you have any updates on Jeremy and Meghan? Was Bristol Briar sold?

[@jennifergreene8891]

Following

[@najwaseiya]

nice one💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@jennifergreene8891]

Good morning Jim. Thank you for another informative Q and A! Your knowledge is INCREDIBLE!! I have learned so much from you 😊 You are a wonderful and successful teacher! Thank you 🙏

[@saphire82]

Anyone talking about fertilizing once a week are likely talking about pots and hanging baskets with high performing annuals like petunias that need a lot of nutrients to maintain their growth.

[@JimPutnam]

I know, but it's still too much fertilizer that is mined and or taken from the air, put in plastic containers, then transported here and there, and then ultimately leaches out of the pots and ends up in our waterways. I have petunias doing just fine on just two organic fertilizer applications. And I haven't had to cut them back.

[@KIMMYKIM88]

Thanks for doing this. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to answer questions. Here’s mine: I live in zone 8b/9a in San Antonio and I planted 3 little limelight hydrangeas (the flowers go from green to white). They get full sun until about 2 pm. Two of them are growing fine but one has spots and yellow and brown leaves. It has also started losing leaves at the bottom despite producing a flower. I have tried watering the soil more and an insecticidal spray. It looks sick and leggy. What else can I do to save this plant? The others are fine.

[@mirandasimmons9435]

Redbud question: Your redbuds have such large leaves on them! I have some fairly young redbuds (Golden Falls, Eastern, Forest Pansy, and Flamethrower) and they all have very small leaves. I live in Illinois, zone 6. My yard has very fertile black dirt and we do get quite a bit of wind. When we aren't receiving weekly rain, I will supplement for my younger trees. Any ideas of what would be causing them to all have really small leaves? Is it a sign of poor health?

[@stephaniesharkey3538]

Love your presentations! We r in the same zone and growing conditions, except no real shady areas! Even I have read questions that you have answered before!

[@aquielle-we7rn]

Thanks so much for all the knowledge you share, Jim and Steph! One of my dwarf nandinas is getting choked out by Virginia Creeper. I have repeatedly tried to dig it out, but it keeps coming back. I figure if I use an herbicide, it will also kill the nandina. Any Suggestions?

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thanks Jim. 💐💚🙃

[@theresaodwyer2026]

My husband bought me a Ruth Ellen Dogwood for my birthday in late June. We have a spot in our backyard that gets dappled morning sun until noon. The area is unprotected by the shadow of the house until then. My question is the tree has limbs that are longer on one side and shorter on the other, possibly because it didn’t get adequate on that side while it was growing in the nursery, I’m guessing. Should I plant it with the shorter limb side facing, the sun which would be west to encourage growth? Not sure if this question makes any sense.

[@bonniejackson7476]

Good morning Jim, I have a question regarding agapanthus. Zone 8a NC. I have several that I purchased already blooming. Since then none have bloomed. I have 5 that come back each year but no blooms. They came for several different sources. Help!

[@stephaniestewart9396]

My caryoptris seems to be dying off as well. Interested to know what you find.

[@sheryllafferty2255]

Love your videos! Question: Did any come to your open garden that were not aware of your KZbin presence, like just from the local community: did you advise locally about the open garden? Thank you and Steph for the informative and beautiful videos (and Holly too!)

[@sheryllafferty2255]

Question 2: How does one get started in making a compost area? Sunny location or shade, dry or wet? What should or should NOT be put in the compost pile? What do you do with your "weeds" that you don't want returning?

[@sheryllafferty2255]

Do you have videos about how to get started composting? Thanks!

[@miamianz]

i ussually feed or fertilize my tropicals at night so they dont get leaf burn during the day. if its to hot i fertilize only if they are potted and i move them to the shade in extreme heat just to give them a growth spurt before throwing them back out into the heat. but im losing alot of plants with to much water right now here in florida.

[@HunnyBeeFly]

I am in Florida, Zone 9A Q: How do you prepare the garden for hurricanes? Q: Are there plants known to deter snakes in the garden?

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

That I would like to know! Saw my 1st snake last week in this garden and it startled me so much I've not been back out there lol

[@HunnyBeeFly]

@@HandcraftedintheFoothillsI see them often and they startle me each time. I tried various plants per Google but none seem effective - garlic, marigolds, lavender, rosemary.

[@michelledagostino9276]

I think you do a great job teaching

[@katiekane5247]

Jim, I've got a mealy bug situation that's being a real problem here in north Georgia. The dwarf Burford Holly were planted to close to the foundation and each other. We've cut them way back and tried to improve air flow but every branch we cut was covered on the bottom of the leaves. We destroyed those but still have a plethora of them. Hoping the birds eat them, I blasted them off the Hibiscus but won't use a chemical because of the birds and pollinators. Suggestions?

[@jenniferblevins5023]

What are your thoughts on using a selective herbicide like 2,4-d in a planted area (no ornamental grasses in this area) to battle bermuda grass?

[@freedomofreligion3248]

I seem to recall that you rotate plant rows?? True? Do you, or, have you ever planted cover crops? What is your experience on that, and thoughts about it? Is that only in the veg garden, or do you do things like that in the rest of your garden(s)? I can STILL recall the taste of fresh-picked garden produce, even as a small child!

[@Anirras-got-a-bergenia]

Q&A Or community members: 3b/4a clay. I planted a tree a few years ago in a large, heavily amended hole before I came to understand I just created a nice pot that the roots are likely just staying within. Aside from the issue that ground pressure just forces water into the hole with less resistance. This tree is pretty shrubby with a great deal of heavy biomass up top a few years into its life now. The wind is vicious around here, and it appears the tree just rocks around in the hole, maybe due to the loose nature of the amended soil or perhaps there are insufficient roots growing out into surrounding soil to anchor it better. I'm clearly going to have to get creative here. Staking probably can help reduce the amount the top can pull on roots that are trying to grow into the clay? I don't think there will be a "right" way to fix this learning lesson so I'm going to have to experiment

[@karenschwartz5209]

Thank you😊

[@terrivance8750]

Jim, Steph, Do sterile plants still produce nectar? Thank you. 😊

[@michelefreemyers4752]

Love your channel! I have a question about landscape fabric. We bought home last August and large garden beds had been covered in landscape fabric, then mulch - there were no plants in the bed. I made mistake of bringing in great dirt and putting it on top of the existing beds, then covering dirt with mulch. It's about 8-12 inches thick on top of the landscape fabric. I put in various foundation plants/shrubs etc last fall and dug out the landscape material for the shrubs I was planting, making sure to make holes big and removing a lot of landscape fabric. I found your channel last Fall and now realize I should have just taken out all the fabric... so now there are large swaths where the fabric is underground. now what do I do? Should I just continue to pull out fabric as I put in new plants? Or somehow try to just get it all out of there? I'm in Fredericksburg VA zone 7B.

[@marythomson3229]

QUESTION: What is the name of the beautiful green and white (I think Caladium) in front of you?

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

He noted it at beginning of video

[@sunxtran2261]

My abelia radiance is just woody on the inside, will these grow leaves or do I need to cut the plant way back for it to grow? And would now be the time?

[@prateekp100]

Zone 8a. There’s one spot in a garden bed in my front yard subjected to full afternoon sun where nothing survives. So far, I’ve tried a globosa nana, soft touch holly and touch of gold holly and everything got fried. The bed has micro sprinkler irrigation running every morning during summer. Any advice would be great!

[@nadaferris5928]

Donate to community gardens?

[@Zil_Senczy]

Do you have any insight when the Autumn moonstruck will be available? Is there any news of upcoming new encore azaleas or are they just focusing on catching up on production right now?

[@jacobbartoo9301]

Hello from Athens GA! What shrubs would you reccomend to plant under a large oak tree?

[@artistandhisdogs1351]

What are your recommendations for self multiplying full sun perennials? Im trying to fill in between a row of tea olive shrubs along my fence with self multiplying perennials so I can be more budget friendly. So far I’m having good results with crystal peak obedient plants and yellow cannas. Thank you in advance! (Full sun yard in Georgia zone 8a)

[@angelapolly1]

Will older children need tickets for the next open garden (age 9?) thank you

[@susankennedy89]

Charleston,SC- Zone 8b-I just had to remove an 40year old water oak due to an lightning strike..I would like to replant another tree in its place. Do I need to wait a length of time and do you recommend another type of tree that would grow fairly fast?

[@Zil_Senczy]

What plant do you think hasn't been given the attention it deserves by breeders and producers? Seems like roses and hydrangeas get all the attention!

[@mikeymopar1171]

On the question do you think you're getting through to people on your Garden videos have you ever been offered a job at a college teaching horticulture would you like to do something like that

[@cynthiaborden4209]

Good morning, Professor Jim. I planted 3 red-headed pennisetum ornamental grass 3 years ago. I tried to remove it earlier this spring with no luck because that root was tough as hell, and I thought I was going to break my shovel. Any suggestions on how to remove it? I want to divide and transplant to another location. Thanks

[@waynem.7226]

Jim may have a better solution, but I use a Sawz-all with a large-toothed, coarse blade to dig and divide ornamental grasses.

[@cynthiaborden4209]

@@waynem.7226 I thought about that myself. Thanks so much. That rootball is a beast.