Eric Larson, correspondent

I got a call a few years ago from one of my readers. His Paper Bark Birch was in severe decline. From what I could see, this two-foot-diameter tree was dying. I explained the dire situation of the tree to the homeowner. He decided to take down the tree. The way the trees die from […]

Now is the time to really get started with several bulbs that need vernalization, or in other words, experience some of the cold temperatures that winter brings. The main reason you start now is that the bulbs need to set roots. The roots set best with soil temperatures at 55 degrees F and above. October […]

“Should everything be composted?” was the question discussed and addressed during a Master Gardener meeting. There is a long list of items that you can compost. Here is a list of items that will decompose when placed on soil: rotten fruit and vegetables, spent coffee grounds, eggshells, paper coffee liners, loose-leaf tea, tea bags, soiled […]

A few years ago, I spoke at the Richland County Fair about soils and composting. While at the fair, I received several questions about how to incorporate chicken manure into compost. If you have a chicken coop where chickens spend most of their time, you should not have any problem gathering the manure. One of […]

Peaches can be successfully grown here in Ohio, but they do face challenges. My friend from Jeromesville has told me that he has successfully grown his peach so that it would produce fruit only two out of 10 years. These orange pieces of sunshine are worth the trouble and effort if you can raise them. […]

A few years ago, a friend of mine from Mansfield asked me,” Well, now that I have been harvesting my garden this season, and lots of my stuff has come out of my garden, what can I plant now in the spaces that I have?” My answer to her was straightforward. I said, “I’ll check […]

I got an email from one of my readers this past week, and to quote her, “I have a couple of zucchini plants. I noticed a couple of wilted leaves on the first plant one day, but the plant had naturally received the rain the last few days, so I don’t think it was under-watered.” […]

Many people have asked me why their lawns are brown. Today’s answer may blow you away. Storms coming from the south hit Ohio in 2021. These storm’s paths wereunusual. Moths took this flight from Oklahoma in the storms. These storms caused theinvasion of Fall Armyworms and their devastation. The caterpillars or larvae of theArmyworm or […]

A few weeks ago, a friend from church asked me, “What is this brown patch in my friend’s yard?” I said, “That sounds like the same question I had two weeks ago.”  As we discovered last week, there are many reasons for having a brown yard. Mechanical reasons are addressed by changing our methods. Patiently […]