Readers Respond: What Ideas Do You Have for Good Topics of Discussion?

I've asked you, my readers many questions, and you have given many answers. We've enjoyed good discussions, ranging from how bad neighbors negatively impact your enjoyment of your yard to what your tastes are in edging. But there's one question I haven't asked until now, a question nobody can answer better than you: What topics would you like to share your knowledge on?

Keep in mind I'm asking for topics that you have knowledge about, not questions that you need answered. The latter can always be posed in the Landscaping Forum. Also note that I'm more likely to promote topics that appeal to a wide audience.

Get Rid of Fungus in Flower Beds

I just made a new flower bed in the back yard and went away for the holiday weekend and came back and there is now fungus or (mushrooms of some sort) growing in my new flower garden. How to get rid of this fungus without killing all my new plants would be a good topic. I have covered this in cypress mulch, also.

—cleeoo

Let's Discuss Grassy Lawns

Grass is lovely when green and lush, but it's so wasteful. Can we encourage people's changing to less grass and more "green" alternatives?

—Guest LaurelBLowder

Modern Landscaping

Modern landscaping for modern large villas ( please start from scratch, thanks).

—Guest rana

Seed Saving

I am the "local expert" about seed saving and have facilitated workshops for the local university, garden clubs and food bank. This topic is always of interest to the gardeners I speak with. Of interest year round, seed saving is especially interesting from August through October.

—thymeless1

Apartment Outdoor Flower Gardens

I live in a rented townhouse with a pleasant front porch and a pleasant back yard. The back porch is 12 feet by 14 feet. The front has a covered entry covering the front window and door. I would love to be able to have pleasing arrangements of shade loving flowers in the front and sun loving flowers in the back. Since our porches are small, I am stumped on how to arrange things. I do have a bird feeder and bird bath on the porch. I live in southwest Missouri. Will you give me some ideas? Appreciate any help you can provide.

—Guest Anna Wolfe

Topics to Discuss

How about xeriscaping a small portion of a yard at a time? (live in SoCal)

—Guest Anne Larkin

Drainage

My back yard has a base of clay so the drainage is not good. Also whoever built the house did not provide for run off, the yard is flat. Any solutions? In the spring it is very wet and in the hot part of summer it is dry. Is it practical to put down more black dirt and reseed or sod? If so, how do I get the drainage right.

—Guest Bob Edwards

Suggested Topic

I would love to see an article on wind-hardy plants. With changing weather patterns I find that a plant's being "hardy" is not enough. I am having hardy plants die because the south-east winds in this area (southern Vancouver Island) are becoming much more of a problem than formerly. Summer winds are not strong, but fall through spring can bring so much wind! Suppliers seldom mention the wind-hardiness. I planted a witch hazel in a south facing bed (to pick up all the sun we could get) only to find on later investigation that it is NOT wind-hardy. So I had to erect yet another wind break. In a small garden this would be no problem; but in a 2 acre garden with a multitude of other plants which I now find to be wind intolerant, it is yet another problem. The frustrating part is the not being able to discover the information about wind (in)tolerance without spending hours on the internet.

—Guest Dalriada Farm

North vs. South

Being from Canada we will be moving to Mexico and would like to be able to start a backyard vegetable garden and small flowering garden but don't know the soil type and what we can get from here to grow down in Mexico.

—Guest Linda Britt

Vines

Vines: for noise reduction, for making a private area, which vines are destructive to wood vs. stucco, which attract hummingbirds or butterflies, how to use them in landscaping to hide flaws or to magnify curb appeal. All about vines, from climbers to ground covers. I have been on a mission to resolve a backyard issue and find that there is no discussion or resource on the subject of vines (I just purchase Tangerine Beauty Crossvine for privacy and noise reduction by a pool area). Please inform your public of the subject of vines.

—Guest Ellie

Recycling

Since we are trying to go green and keep as much out of our landfills as possible, what are some of the ways our members recycle? Unusual containers, shredded newspaper as mulch in the garden, etc. Odd objects as trellises for vines. You could do a survey to see what everyone does on their part for recycling in their gardens.

—Shelby24019

Help With a Hill

I have a driveway on a hill. Rain runs across it. What can I do to slow the water down? A drain under it? A ditch above it? What to do??

—Guest helen gunter

Where to Start

How to get started with landscaping. How to draft it, pick out the right plants, where to look for the plants for your area not just the planting zones. How to tell if you are picking out good and healthy plants from the store? How to start your own plants in the house.

—Guest dorothy

Flowering Summer Desert Flowers

Would like some articles on this...everyone forgets us desert dwellers.

—Guest nikki darling

My Lawn is Dying

I have had my lawn for over ten years. The middle of my lawn is doing fine. The area closest to our patio door and about 10 feet out from it continuously dies out whether I plant seed or sod the area. I am at a loss of what to do.

—Guest Roger Dykema