I want to lay pavers to create a back patio and need to know if I have to put down crushed rock as a base?
It would be a good idea to put 4 inches of crushed rock down as a base once you’ve finished digging. Then you’ll want to compact the crushed rock using a manual compactor and rake until level. Bedding sand should be placed on top to ensure a smooth base for the pavers. This procedure provides the foundation on which the pavers are laid and will help with any heavy rains and provide a good surface for installing them. If you don’t own a compactor, it’s easy and inexpensive to rent one from The Home Depot’s Tool Rental Center.  

My yard is small and has hard soil. What can I do to loosen it?
A good way to start improving your soil would be to aerate it, which loosens the soil and opens it up to oxygen and moisture. You can rent a core aerator from The Home Depot Tool Rental Center to get started. It will pull little plugs of soil and sod right out of the ground, leaving holes. Then apply a 1/2-inch layer of compost over the entire area. Clay soil is often harder and can be loosened by working in amendments like sand or mulch.  

What are the main differences between the mulches available in-store?
Probably the biggest difference is that natural materials, like bark mulch and pine straw, slowly break down and as they decompose they add nutrients to the soil. Stone and rubber mulch don’t break down––meaning they last longer (you don’t have to replenish them as often) but they don’t improve the soil quality.  

How can I get rid of poison ivy?
These weeds warrant strong measures. Your best bet may be to spot-treat with an herbicide from Roundup, available at The Home Depot. Be very careful when applying to prevent harm to desirable plants.  

I am looking for a beautiful ornamental tree for my front yard, preferably one that will flower in spring or fall. Do you have any suggestions?
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) is a popular choice in the South because they have a long bloom period, from mid-summer to fall. Apple, cherry, flowering pear and other fruit trees are fragrant spring bloomers in both the North and the South. Magnolias have a shorter bloom-time that varies from spring to fall depending on the climate, but are still a favorite because of their large, showy blossoms. You’ll also find spring-blooming varieties of dogwood (Cornus) to suit most regions.  

I have a raised garden bed and want to know how I can create a “hot house” effect for a cool-season garden?
You can build a framework over the raised bed and drape it with clear poly from Trimaco, available in-store, or special row covers to help hold in the heat. During extreme cold spells you can add an additional layer of protection, such as a blanket. You’ll also need to monitor the heat inside with a thermometer. Even on a cold day, a covered raised bed can heat up in the sun. You can also try the EuroStyle Cold Frame by Palram, available in-store, which will help you shield seedlings and plants from the cold, assembles easily and is virtually unbreakable.  

My backyard slopes and over time the erosion has created a canal. Any suggestions on what I can do to use the space effectively, while concealing the obvious dip?
You could create terraced gardens, which are flat-topped sections running across the slope. You could also build a rain garden by digging a shallow bowl for the water to collect in. Then plant water-loving plants, such as lady fern (Athyrium) winterberry (Ilex) blue lobelia, bee balm (Monarda) and arrowwood (Viburnum). Since these plants are native to wetland areas, they will thrive with wet feet. A soggy site also welcomes beneficial wildlife such as butterflies, dragonflies and frogs.  

I want to build a tree ring, however was told that building up soil around the tree trunk will cause tree rot. How can I avoid this?
If you’re building a tree ring around an existing tree, it’s best not to build up soil or mulch higher than 2 inches near the trunk since tree roots growing near the soil surface require oxygen and are easily smothered. Instead of filling in the space within the ring with soil, you can fill it in with a dense groundcover, Scott’s Nature Scapes mulch, available in-store, or plants such as hostas that thrive in the shade.  

I have some little grubs that live in the soil, and they’re eating my plants and tomatoes. What can I do?
They could be slugs. Check plants in the cool of early morning and look for them on the plants and tomatoes; they leave a silvery trail as they move. The easiest ways to control slugs or grubs on your edibles is to hand-pick them (wear gloves because they’re slimy) or trap them. Since they’re on your edibles, be careful when using any pest-control products.  

How do you properly stake new trees?
You’ll need 3 stakes that are 10–12 inches long, wire and some rubber tubing to string the wire through to protect the bark of your tree. Pound the stakes into the ground, 4–6 feet from the trunk, in a triangle around the tree. Link each stake to the trunk with the tube-wrapped wire, 3–4 feet from the ground. Then run wire from stake to stake to keep them upright. Make sure there’s equal tension among all the stakes, not so tight as to pull the tree in any single direction. There should be a little play in the wires, so the tree can move a bit. Be sure to check the wires every month or so and loosen when necessary so they won’t make marks in the bark. Stakes can be left in the ground for a year or 2, until trees are established.