Don Kinzler

3 weeks ago | inforum.com | Don Kinzler

Q: Every spring, the little plants in the photo are in our grass, mostly just in our front yard. They seem to go away in the summer, or maybe I get blind to them. I’ve done numerous searches with apps and Google, and I get a lot of different answers. Can you help me identify? — Staci F. A: The little plant is a seedling linden tree. There are many linden types, including American Linden, also known as basswood.

3 weeks ago | inforum.com | Don Kinzler

Why did the gardener bury a $100 bill beneath each new perennial? The tag said they needed rich soil. Dollar bills might add a little organic matter as they decompose, but it’s not necessary to bury money to promote early summer color in flowerbeds and landscapes. We can simply plant perennials that bloom profusely in June. Annual flowers in pots and planters on decks and patios will soon be loaded with color as they grow larger, cascade with blossoms, and reach peak perfection by mid-summer.

4 weeks ago | postbulletin.com | Don Kinzler

Q: Three shrubs in front of our electric box haven’t fully leafed out, and large sections are bare. This happened last year, and we waited until fall to trim it back, but couldn’t get as close to the ground as we hoped. This year, even more branches are bare. Should we do more trimming? Is there hope that it will all come back? — Christine N. A: The shrubs appear to be dwarf viburnums. The winter was rough on many shrubs, and homeowners have been busy pruning back those that were injured.

4 weeks ago | inforum.com | Don Kinzler

Did you hear about the guy who tried to convince his wife she might be dressed too fancy to be in the garden? She wouldn’t hear of it, and she dug in her heels. My wife, Mary, and I planted our vegetable garden over the Memorial Day weekend, and both of us were too dirt-covered to look very fancy, but it was a thrill to get the job done and we had a great time.

1 month ago | inforum.com | Don Kinzler

Q: I’m hoping you can help us figure out what to do about these tree roots. We don’t know what kind of tree it is, but our neighbor’s tree is the same and the roots are showing above ground just like ours. We’re concerned that the roots are running right up to the sidewalk and driveway. Thanks for any help you can give. – Heidi T. A: Although I can’t tell for certain from the photos, the tree appears to be hackberry.