As you build out your yard and develop your garden, you'll inevitably find the need to put down some mulch to cover the ground and create pleasing areas around your growing spots.

In this episode, Don and John go over a few key points on mulch, edging and maintenence, including things to consider when choosing rock or mulch and how to prevent weeds.

Topics:

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:33 Today's topic: Mulching
• 2:12 Listener question: What is this powdery substance on my lilacs?
• 4:36 How ground cover has changed
• 9:42 Maitaining rock mulch
• 11:34 Preventing weeds with a pre-emergent herbicide
• 19:46 A disadvantage to rock mulch
• 21:07 Wood mulch; chips vs. shredded
• 23:52 The advantages and disadvantages of wood mulch
• 25:02 What to put underneath wood mulch
• 26:51 Tips for using cardboard under mulch
• 30:00 Wood vs. rock mulch
• 31:17 Rubber pellets
• 35:02 Edging

You have questions, Growing Together has answers.

In this episode, Don and John open up the listener mailbag to hear what's vexing you in your garden. Plus, they share in a couple of listener successes.

If you have a question for Don Kinzler, send an email (with a photo, if possible) to donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu.

2:29 What's eating my tomatoes?
9:52 What's the best product for post-emergent weed control?
14:54 What's wrong with my baby oak trees?
20:51 White poinsettia success
23:38 How do I care for an apple tree still in the pot?
26:49 Why are leaves falling off my crabapple tree?
32:15 What is this horned caterpillar in my purslane?
37:07 Why is my plum tree bleeding sap?
38:57 Bergenia flower success
40:47 Should I order bare-root day lillies?
42:35 Can I prevent further harm to my storm-damaged tree?
46:01 When is the best time to prune maple trees?
49:23 Is this apple fungus?
52:38 How do I revive a neglected lawn?

If there's a favorite gardening activity of yours, chances are you'll be able to do it during the month of August.

In this episode, Don and John break down some of your main to-do items for the month of August, including fertilizing, weeding and dividing some perennials. You could likely start picking tomatoes or digging a few potatoes, too, and you might still be able to plant some radishes and greens.

Topics in this show:

0:00 Intro
2:03 Listener question: Slime molds
4:09 Grinding stumps for mulch
5:54 Introducing Samantha, NDSU Extension intern
7:56 Fertilizing annuals in late summer
9:11 Water soluable fertilizers on leaves
11:06 Deadheading
12:53 Digging and dividing perennials
18:08 Fertilizing your lawn
21:36 Aerating and seeding your lawn
26:34 Weeding your lawn
29:39 Fall tree and shrub care and planting
32:41 Tomatoes
36:14 Early potato harvest
38:45 Things you can still plant
39:38 What to look for with squash
41:15 When to harvest onions
43:32 Checking in on your apples