organic or time-release fertilizer balanced in all three elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). We use Nature's Turf 15-1-6, Turf Saver 4-3-4 and Tree Saver 3-0-20 from John Deere's natural line.

Although lawns benefit greatly from a late fall fertilizer, trees and shrubs do not. The fertilizer, which is mainly nitrogen, encourages new shoot growth in woody plants. Encouraging new growth at the end of the growing season may allow a greater chance of winter damage. Late fall pruning is also not recommended, unless the branches are damaged or my break to a heavy snow load. Grass clippings do not make good mulch for roses.

We are fortunate to have a strong relationship with a number of excellent nurseries and greenhouses. We are continually searching for the best plant materials for our customers and often buy directly from the grower or from a well-established nursery. Some of the materials we offer our customers is grown by us directly at our own licensed nursery in Maine.

We recommend using Jirdon’s Tree and Shrub fertilizer. It is formulated specifically for trees and shrubs in the Rocky Mountain region. You should apply a light application around May 15, June 15, and July 31. If you are fertilizing less often shoot for May 15 and July 15. You don’t want to fertilize after the first part of August. You don’t want to push too much new growth late in the season.

Summer time is not a good time to spray your plants and lawns with chemicals. Due to the warm temperature, it is easy to burn them. If you have to spray your plants with either insecticides or fungicides spray them on a cool summer night.

Answer: Possibly. Cicadas don't kill flowers and shouldn't dammage shrubs, but they can do damage to young, whimpy trees like ornimentals. If you have whimpy little trees, you can net them to keep the cicadas off. Tree species that aren't native to North America won't fare as well as native species. Trees that lose a lot of branches typically revive after a year or two, but they will be ugly in the mean time. Cicadas actually are a benefit to trees, as they destroy the weaker branches.

Sod needs to be kept wet and watered continually for about two weeks when new. After that, a daily or every other day watering schedule should be followed, depending on the weather. Seed needs to be kept wet until it germinates. Again, after germination a rigorous watering schedule should be followed. Trees can be watered every other day BY HAND with a hose. You can let the hose trickle for about 15 minutes near the base of the tree.

BOB: While there are a few trees (Oaks and "fleshy rooted" trees) that should only be dug in the spring, most plants today are containerized or balled-and-burlapped (B+B) and can be planted anytime of the year. [More about shrub planting and tree planting]

When doing a new planting, use one part Spring Earth mixed with three parts of soil as a backfill. For plants already in the ground, add a 1" topdressing each spring and fall under the plant leaves in the area defined as the drip line.

Phosphorus from fertilizers runs off lawns and ends up in area wetlands, ponds, and lakes where it promotes algae growth. Algae can damage or kill the water body's eco-system. The make-up of all fertilizers is indicated by a series of three numbers on the package. The middle number indicates the amount of phosphorus the fertilizer contains. Look for a middle number of "0" to be sure you are buying a phosphorus-free fertilizer.

This is a tough one to answer, because fertilization is so tremendously tied to water quality, potting medium, temperature, light and a variety of other factors. However, if you just have a few plants, and don't want to fuss around a lot learning about the intricacies of water and fertilizer, I'd simply suggest you get any reasonably balanced 'orchid' fertilizer, that is low in urea, and use it at approximately 1/4 to1/2 the label strength every other watering.

It is a good idea to fertilize your lawn at least 4 times a year. The first application should be in early spring and your schedule should end in late fall. Shrubs only need to be fertilized twice a year to keep them healthy. Applications should be in early spring and late fall.

Yes. However, we recommend that plants be no closer than 18 inches (45 cm) to the unit. This allows for plenty of room for air circulation in and out of the unit. Without this room for air circulation, the unit could overheat, resulting in a premature need for service, excessive wear, excessive electrical consumption and possible compressor failure.

My White Pine trees have lots of inner needles that have just recently turned yellow. Are the trees dying? (September question)

BOB: If there is less than one-inch of rainfall per week, thoroughly water new trees and shrubs once a week during the growing season (spring and summer).

Many local nurseries carry plants that make good wildlife habitat. In addition, the state operates a nursery in Ames. Orders are taken every year during the winter for spring delivery. The phone number for the state forest nursery is (800) 865-2477. The local NRCS District also sometimes orders plants for wildlife and windbreak plantings. Their number is (712) 943-6727.

Yes, many trees and shrubs can be pruned during spring. However, spring blooming plants (azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, lilac) should be pruned after they flower. During early spring, some plants may bleed, but this causes no permanent damage.

Most major pruning on deciduous plants (plants that loose their leaves in fall) should be done when the plant is dormant. During the growing season, a plant's leaves contain food, in the form of sugars. Removing these leaves, before they are able to send this food back down to the plants roots in fall, will rob the plant of essential food and stunt it's growth.