The Garden Plot: Wellies, Composters, Deer and Poisonous Plants and more

Got a chronic case of green thumb? Like getting your hands dirty? Adrian Higgins, garden editor for The Post's Home section, is here to help. Higgins is a firm believer in "tough plants for tough times" -- the varieties that combine good looks with stiff resistance to disease and pests. He currently rules over a garden filled with spring bulbs, daffodils, ornamental onions, perennials, asters, yarrows, hostas and day lilies. Higgins, an avid organic gardener who believes chemicals are a last resort, also tends his own herb and vegetable gardens where he grows peas, garlic, onions, lettuce, rhubarbs, radishes, carrots and more.

He was online Tuesday, September 30 to offer advice on lawns, flower beds, vegetable patches and window boxes.

A transcript follows.

Catch up on previous transcripts of The Garden Plot.

Higgins is the author of two books, "The Secret Gardens of Georgetown: Behind the Walls of Washington's Most Historic Neighborhood" and "The Washington Post Garden Book: The Ultimate Guide to Gardening in Greater Washington and the Mid-Atlantic Region."

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Looking for true wellies in Old Town: Dear Adrian

I envy your wellies. Do you know of any place in the DC area (US?) I can see them and try them on, to get a proper fit?

Also, congrats on being deemed by Liz as the only man capable of successfully wearing pleated pants.

Adrian Higgins: I used to buy Hunter wellies and then came across the most beautifully made welly, called Le Chameau (The Camel). They have zippers and neoprene lining and are warm in cool weather and cool in warm weather and exceedingly comfortable. I bought mine in England, I don't know if you can get them here. They are expensive, but why not treat yourself once in your life? There is a really trendy Irish leather welly now called Dubarrys. I saw a salesman at the Philadelphia Flower Show wearing them while standing in a tub of water. I'll stick to my camels, I think. Locally, the only place you migth find an English style welly is Smith & Hawken.

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Composting: What do you think of the tumbler composters, the ones that are enclosed and have a crank or some other device that lets you rotate them? They advertise as producing compost very quickly, in two weeks or so they say. Even if the timing claims are exaggerated, I find it very difficult to turn my backyard pile and am also concerned about attracting hungry rodents, so I really like the idea of the tumblers.

What are the upside and downside? I know there's always a tradeoff. Is there a type of composter that you'd suggest?

Adrian Higgins: I think they are effective and speedy. The downside is that they are small and expensive.

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Alexandria, Va: Adrian,

I've had a huge patch of Datura moon flowers this summer in the garden. You've previously stated that they are poisonous. The deer have recently torn into them and devoured most of the leaves.

Are they immune to the toxins? If not, will this finally rid our yard of the deer?

Adrian Higgins: It's interesting that in England, the yew trees used to make longbows were always placed in graveyards, which were enclosed, because yew foliage is fatal to horses and cattle. What is the favorite evergreen of deer? Yew. Go figure. Perhaps they can devour datura with similar immunity.

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washingtonpost.com: ShopLeChameau.com

Adrian Higgins: Here we go, thanks to my brilliant producer, Elizabeth Terry.

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Fairfax: The video shows a plot of sweet potatoes doing well. Can we still put down some sweet potatoes for a crop this season?

thanks from a novice gardener!

Adrian Higgins: Only if you take them to New Zealand. They are tender and should be planted in May for a September crop.

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State College, PA: I have a potted Norfolk pine which my grandfather gave me almost twenty years ago. The tree is now about four feet tall and has always been hardy, but it has had a hard year. We moved across country and it remained with plant-loving friends until we could collect it. It has lost many of its lower limbs and looks altogether like the Christmas tree in the Charlie Brown Christmas special. (My friends felt so bad about the tree that they gave me a new Norfolk pine.)

It has new soil in the pot and I'm watering it regularly. What else can I do to help my tree recover from this abandonment? Thank you very much.

Adrian Higgins: It would like a bright, cool conservatory for the winter, and placement outdoors in the shade next May for the summer. If it is stressed it may be afflicted with pests, so have a good look for scale or mealy bugs etc. and make sure you treat those before bringing it inside. It may recover.

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Rockville, MD: I'm looking for an evergreen with a tall but somewhat narrow shape to screen an ugly fence. I know that arborvitae are a common choice for this but they are rather uninspiring and seem to become too large. Any suggestions?

Adrian Higgins: I would shoot for a Serbian spruce. Or perhaps a Chindo viburnum.

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Alexandria, VA: Good morning.

How do you feel about the Kwanzan Cherry tree vs. the Kousa Dogwood as patio trees in sunny spot? Any downsides, pests or disease risk? Thanks, Adrian.

Adrian Higgins: I like both trees, in time they become quite large. The cherry has a broader habit and its foliage is a bit more dense with age, which is a bit of a drawback. Both will drop their fruit, which seems to drive some people nuts, but that's what trees are designed to do. After 15 years or so, the dogwood will develop pretty patterned bark, which extends the ornament through the winter. You pick, both are winners.

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Anonymous: I had the worst garden I have ever had this year. No melons, no cucumbers, no grapes, only one tomato plant out of 10 yielded tomatoes and my entire garden was done by mid August. Now that things are cooling off a little though, I have noticed that my pear tree is blooming again. I am concerned. I have not pruned it yet. I usually do in early fall. should I be concerned or should I just prune like I usually do?

Adrian Higgins: Sporadic fall blooming of spring flowering plants is not that unusual and should not cause alarm. You should not be pruning a pear in late summer, early fall. It should be pruned in February, in winter dormancy, if it needs pruning at all. I'm sorry your veggie garden was a bust. It was a difficult year, with a cool wet spring and a volatile summer. Evaluate your site to see if it is getting at least, at least, six hours of full sunlight per day. Start building the soil now for a successful 2009.

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Potomac, MD: What I learned from these chats: I learned what "partial shade" is, why I should aerate my lawn and why I shouldn't top-dress with topsoil afterwards, how to maintain a compost pile, how to get the English ivy off my trees, what to plant around the waterfall pond that came with the new house, and why the crape myrtle that also came with it was never going to do well in the shade of another tree, why my mums didn't flower (too shady a spot), when to prune my azaleas and what could replace them because the yard was nothing but azaleas, how to cut back the overgrown holly tree without fear of killing it, and what to plant under my dogwood when I get rid of the grass. I learned about blushing bride hydrangeas, hellebores, ninebarks, nandinas, oak leaf hydrangeas, and clethra - all of which now have a place in my yard. The new house and yard and your chats both came to me in 2006. The house dropped in value, the chats didn't. Thank you, Professor, I'll miss you on Tuesdays.

Adrian Higgins: Thank you for your very kind words. It really makes my work seem worthwhile in a world dominated by weightier affairs. As I announced last week, this chat is coming to an end after several years, but my presence on the website and our gardening content will still be there in various forms.

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Pomfret Maryland: I have 3 Japanese Hollies that have suddenly turned brown on me (with some green remaining)... what happened? I recently aerated, seeded and fertilized, but am also trying to get rid of moles at the same time.

Adrian Higgins: The most common reason for failure of Japanese hollies is their placement in wet clay soil. They need watering during droughts, but won't survive long if they are in heavy soil that doesn't dry out after a deluge. I doubt your lawn work affected the hollies.

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Anonymous: May I just say, the "Community Plot Lines" image accompanying your chat today is really quite suggestive.

Adrian Higgins: Oh I know, but I think I've got to sex it up a bit to compete with other bits of the paper. :)

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Tumbler composter: Isn't another drawback that you have to start with a full load (I imagine)? I can't see how they would be effective if you add material a little bit at a time, like you would if you were adding kitchen scraps?

Adrian Higgins: At this time of year, it doesn't take long to find enough material for composting, between pulling tomato vines, mowing the grass and raking leaves.

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happy to see you !!!: Can we chat butternut squash? I planted one vine this spring that has produced nothing except one little butternut squash. From its inch long days it has looked the same. When should I harvest it? Is it just going to get bigger and remain equally ripe or is there some signal I'm looking for? Or should I just wait till I'm craving butternut soup?

Adrian Higgins: At the risk of more double entendres, if it hasn't grown all summer, it's time to move your winter squash bed to a sunnier, more open spot.

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Wokingham UK: I grew some courgettes this year, which were quite productive, though not up to the bumper harvest of my wife's French beans. But in time the courgettes started to languish and the leaves, one after the other, went an unpleasant greyish colour. Was I doing anything wrong?

Adrian Higgins: We know courgettes as zucchini squash, it probably succumbed to botrytis or powdery mildew. Pick a location with better air circulation next time.

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Arlington, Va: Hi, Adrian:

Speaking of tough plants for tough times, I have a Confederate jasmine that has thrived for the last 10 years. It's on the eastern corner of my house. My question: can I prune it back now--or will it send out a lot of tender new growth? It's starting to climb into my gutters.

And one more, when can I cut down a bottle gourd? It's made 5 beautiful gourds, but the vine itself looks awfully scraggly. I've read that the hard gourds should stay on the vine as long as possible. True?

Thanks so much!

Adrian Higgins: As for the gourd, scratch the rind with your thumbnail, if it doesn't yield it should be ready for picking, but do sun cure them for a day or two. The jasmine should not be pruned now, this will promote fresh growth and reduce winter hardiness. Prune it in March.

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Washington DC: Hi Adrian, I'm really going to miss your advice. To take advantage one last time: I inherited a grape "stump." (Not a vine -- a freestanding grape plant.) I It produced this spring and has grown really big. But now the leaves are turning brown, and whole branches are dying. assume I need to cut it way back. Is now the right time to do so? How? And might it have some other problem too? Thanks for all your help...

Adrian Higgins: The leaves might be browning and falling but if the stems are dying, it's in trouble. You can cut out dead wood, but leave a pruning until winter dormancy. It may be succumbing to root rot, in which case, you'll have to say goodbye to it. But wait until next spring to see if it leafs out.

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Boxwood: Hi Adrian,

I recently bought an old house in Silver Spring. It has a large backyard, with, smack in the middle of it, a clump of overgrown boxwoods. There are about 10 of them, 9 very nice and one with yellow leaves.

I don't want to leave them there. They take up too much space. I've heard that some nurseries would take them out and buy them from me, since they're so nice, but I've yet to find one who would.

Can I take them out myself? I suppose the root systems are probably quite large. How to avoid damaging them? Also, can they be re-planted somewhere else in the yard, or even maybe in planters (once trimmed properly)?

Thanks novice gardener

Adrian Higgins: Large, healthy English boxwood are desired by landcape architects and designers, but other types, or small or damaged boxwood are not going to get any takers. If it's English box, (Buxus sempervirens var. Suffruticosa) and at least four to five feet tall, you may want to seek out some takers. They can be moved, but with skill and muscles.

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Pittsburgh: Although gardening books all state that tomato foliage is poisonous, our local deer chomp down ravenously on tomato leaves with no apparent ill effect to the deer (although it's pretty hard on the tomato plants, especially when newly-transplanted). I can only conclude that, as with datura and yew foliage, the deer simply haven't read the gardening books warning of the toxicity of such browse.

Adrian Higgins: They're so dumb aren't they? Tomato and datura are both in the deadly nightshade family, by the way.

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Alexandria, VA: Any ideas for a ground cover that will do well in a dry shady spot? I have a raised bed under a silver maple tree. I pulled all the ivy, but am now stumped for something that will fill in there (and compete with the ivy that keeps creeping in from my neighbors' yard). Thanks!

Adrian Higgins: Silver maples are the worst. Liriope or mondo grass might work. Boring, but effective.

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Olney, MD: I'm afraid I let my lavender become terribly overgrown. I pruned it quite heavily on Sunday and can now see bare branches. It looks dreadful, which is a shame as it has been very healthy and a big bee favorite. Will it recover or should I give up and pull it out?

Adrian Higgins: You should never cut back lavender hard, and not at this time of year. You should wait until the plant is pushing new growth in spring before trimming it.

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Salt Lake City, UT: Just wanted you to know that in a world of international turmoil, economic upheaval and political insanity, you have been a beacon of light to those of us who find solace and beauty in the garden. We love you, Adrian.

Adrian Higgins: Thank you so much.

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Richmond, VA: Have some asiatic lilies I want to move. They are still tall and green - do I cut them down and move the bulb only, or transplant the whole thing with tall stems?

Also, have gladioli that I want to move - same process as the lilies? thanks!

Adrian Higgins: I think the glads might come through a Richmond winter with a good temporary winter mulch. You can cut back the lily stems now, but put some glue in the cut stalk to prevent water sitting in it and rotting the bulb. Then lift the bulbs and replant within a day or two, preferably right away.

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Jefferson City, TN: Struggling to accept the reality that our time together (in this format, anyway) has come to a close. I'm still working my way through the stages of grief, and thought you and my fellow "Garden Plotters" might be able to relate to my "righteous indignation" phase, which I've translated into verse:

Do away with our beloved gardening chat? Surely it can't be as bad as all that.

And as for dropping Adrian Higgins, Why, you people must have flipped your wig-gins!

Rise up, gardeners, and tell the Post not to do it. Discontinue this chat, and you'll live to rue it.

A Tuesday without "The Garden Plot?" Ladies and gentlemen, I think not!

Of course, I'll see you in the "Home and Garden" section, but I can't help but be nostalgic about the special magic that has been "The Garden Plot." Thanks for everything, Adrian. Tuesdays at 11:00 won't seem the same without you.

Adrian Higgins: Sweet sentiment, thank you.

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Grosse Pointe Park, MI: Dear Mr. Higgins, Sorry to read that you're going. One last question. What is a good replacement for straggly cedars that frame a doorway? The doorway is in shade.

Adrian Higgins: I think Hicks yew would be great for that spot. Likes the shade, the cold, and would be about the right size.

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Foggy Bottom: Dear Professor, Never have posted but always read your columns and discussions with great interest.

Planted fall mums. What can I do to ensure they also bloom in the spring? Thanks.

Adrian Higgins: They don't bloom in the spring. Florist's mums have to be tricked into blooming in greenhouses. I would suggest that after they flower this fall, you not cut back the dead growth, this gives the mum a measure of winter protection. You can then lift and divide the clump in March or April.

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Reston, Va: I purchased a red leaf maple and planted it a few days ago. When planting it, I noticed a small "crook" in the trunk. The plant is about 6 ft tall.

As the plant grows, will this bend in the trunk move up with the plant; or will it stay right where it is?

Adrian Higgins: This may be a graft union, and while it may (or will) get thicker, it won't ascend the tree.

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Arlington, VA: Thanks for taking my question, Adrian. We have a 15-year-old Dogwood in our backyard that was growing beautifully until this year. I'm guessing it was a victim of the drought that occurred in 2007. The leaves are rather sparse in the lower branches and it didn't flower nearly as much as in the past. There are enough leaves on the tree that, at least to this amateur, the tree doesn't appear to be dying. Is there something I should be doing this fall to help it recover?

Adrian Higgins: Do check for borer holes. The best thing is to give a two inch top dressing of screened rotted compost over the entire root system and keep feet and machinery away from this area. Keep it watered in periods of drought.

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Wellies: Orvis in Clarendon and Tysons has both high end versions of wellies. One pair like Adrian's and a lower price version.

See Orvis.com for info, you'd have to have them shipped to the store or buy online.

The $10 ones from Wal-Mart work in a pinch. Also try Tractor Supply Co. in Leesburg.

Wellies are a must for walking the pup in the rain, etc.

Adrian Higgins: Thanks.

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Fairfax VA: Hi Professor, I feel sad that this will be the last garden plot chat. I have learned a lot by reading the chat, so thank you for all your great advice. I have a pretty basic question that may or may not be easy to answer. I live in wooded areas so our yard received quite a bit more sun in the summer when the sun is the highest in the sky. We have areas where it receives dappled shade from tall trees from mid August on but it receives full sun from 9am to 2pm in May, June and July. I have quite a dilemma trying to figure out whether plants requiring full sun would work there. Can you help?

Adrian Higgins: I would try things like azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, hollies, kerria and skimmia. Also pieris and perhaps kalmias. As for perennials, perhaps some gingers, epimediums and ferns.

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Trenton, NJ: No question, just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed these chats. I will certainly miss them, and your advice!

Adrian Higgins: Thank you from New Jersey, one of my favorite places on earth.

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basement dweller: My basement apartment has a 4'x6' space outside the front door. The whole thing is technically underneath the porch upstairs, but it still gets a bit of light from the front yard. Is there a good wintertime plant I can hang in a basket to add a splash of green or color? It will get medium light and be protected from all the elements except wind and temperature.

Adrian Higgins: A hanging basket in winter is about the most difficult planting environment, air temperatures will cause the soil to freeze and thaw constantly, and the shelter will deny plant the moisture they need. If you can, I would go instead for a large container, freeze proof, and plant some winter fare such as heathers, pansies, hardy sedums and, eek, ornamental kale.

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Nashville, Tennessee: A friend from Hattiesburg, MS has shared clumps of papyrus with me. It grows beautifully in her back yard.

Do I have a chance with it? I plan to plant it a protected place.

We will surely miss you!!

thanks

Adrian Higgins: It's not hardy, it's a zone 9 plant, you'd have to bring it indoors for the winter.

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Weightier matters: It's the weightier matters dominating this world that makes your work so essential to us. I will be desolate without your specific advice to individual problems. Let's see, it's not that far to Alexandria...

Adrian Higgins: I share you view about the importance of gardening to our lives. I think the prime purpose of gardening is not to make our yards pretty, although that's the goal, it's a process of connecting to nature and reconnecting to our souls.

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Newbie: Adrian, thanks for all the great advice. This is my first full year with a community plot, and I discovered your chat this spring. You've taught me so much about what was befalling my cukes, eggplants, tomatoes, and chard. I've slayed the slugs and my new crop of chard is rallying. When I was at my lowest, watching my tomato plants curl up, out you came with "We're all killers, that's how we learn!" Thank you. You're a rockstah, Adrian. Dino too--love the video series. Don't be a stranger!

Adrian Higgins: I won't be. Dino is terrific, he's such a generous and funny guy. We have one more episode to go, next month, but I suspect you will be hearing from Dino again in some fashion.

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Foggy Bottom again: Sorry to disagree, but in my old garden, mums planted in the fall did shoot up green and bloom again in the spring. I had just basically left them alone (so, maybe we do agree).

Anyway, was not sure if there was anyway to encourage this behavior. Will miss your chats a lot.

Adrian Higgins: That's odd because mum buds form as a result of shortening day lengths, not lengthening ones, but I'll check that with people who know more about mums than I do.

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Severna Park, MD : Geez, Adrian, I am really going to miss these chats. Who is going to take over the campaign to eradicate the use of "mulch volcanoes" if you aren't here? And I can't believe that we won't have that first chat of the year to look forward to. This was always my "harbinger of spring" - I knew that it was going to warm up when Adrian was back. Sigh. Frown.

Adrian Higgins: I'm not going away. Just this forum.

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Arlington, VA: Thanks for having these chats over the past several years. You've kindly answered several of my questions, and I have two last ones for this chat.

One, I would like to plant a blackberry bush in my yard. What do I need to enrich the soil with (it's clay now)? The spot I would put it gets plenty of morning sun, but it's shady in the afternoon.

Second, what species of Camellia are hardy here? (I recall they like some sun and some shade.)

thanks!

Adrian Higgins: Blackberries will fruit in partial shade, but will be less rampant and more fruitful is full sun. I would encourage you to find a sunnier location. There are some terrific improved varieties out there, Kiowa is one I've grown with huge fruits. Blackberries do well in clay soil as long as it isn't waterlogged. You could enrich the soil with compost before planting, and that would really give them the conditions they like. Dr. Ackerman of the National Arboretum has bred many hybrids that are mostly fall and winter blooming and perfectly hardy. A web search will give you some of these cultivar names. Given our warmer winters, even the March blooming japonicas seem happy these days.

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Falls Church, VA: Thanks for taking my question. We just lost one of two oak trees in our front yard. We hate to leave one half of the yard treeless but are stumped (sorry) about what would make an attractive counterpoint for the 60-year-old oak tree on the other side of the yard. A clump of birches? Cherry tree? Two cherry trees?

Adrian Higgins: What about another oak, and make a statement about continuity and investing in the future? Try another species, perhaps a black oak or a chestnut oak.

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Indy, IN: My squash were felled this year by powdery mildew. Is this fungus something that will recur in the same garden spot, and should I therefore avoid planting susceptible plants in the same place next year?

Adrian Higgins: Powdery mildew is worse in some years than others, and is often seen in late season after a dry spell, which is what we had here in the mid Atlantic this year. However, you may want to grow your squash next year in a bed that has better air circulation. You can also spray preventatively with organic fungicides. Well, my friends, time to go. Thanks for the ride.

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