Gardening Q&A: Sprinkler Heads, Tomato Suckers and More

Q: When installing an irrigation system, where do you put pop-ups and rotors?

A: The answer is very simple, says Paul. "Put pop-ups in your garden beds and rotors in the lawn."

Pop-ups offer a lot of flexibility, especially in irregularly shaped beds. You can get nozzles that spray a pattern from zero to 360 degrees, or you can choose from those that spray a square pattern or even a rectangular strip.

Rotors (figure B) are commonly used in the lawn, and they also pop up. Rotors typically deliver much more water and can be spaced 18 to 50 feet apart, depending on the model. They are also fully adjustable, allowing you to direct water precisely where you want it.

Of course, there's likely to be some overlap with any system. That is, chances are the pop-ups will water some portion of the lawn, and the rotors will hit the edges of garden beds. With minor adjustments, it's not hard to get thorough coverage to every square inch of your garden.

Q: How and why do you pinch the suckers on staked tomatoes?

A: The upside of growing tomatoes on stakes, rather than in cages, is that they take up less space and often fruit two weeks earlier. Moreover, although they produce fewer tomatoes, the fruits are generally higher in vitamin C and lycopene because they get more sunlight. However, to get the highest yields, you need to prune the suckers, the new sprouts that arise between the main stem and the leaf axils (figure C). Just get rid of the suckers by simply snapping them off with your finger. Remove the suckers every week or so, but leave a few in the middle and at the top of the plant to protect the fruit from sunscald. When the plant reaches the top of your stakes, pinch the tip as well to encourage more flowering and more fruit.

Q: Do you know the origin of the term "green thumb"?

A: The term "green thumb" is commonly used to refer to anyone who can grow plants. But there's another reference that dates back to the 1500s. Gardeners of old, especially those who spent a lot of time gardening, often developed a persistent green fungus under their nails and, as a result, were said to have a green thumb.

Q: Help! Why are ants swarming my yard?

A: Don't worry – relax, sit back and enjoy the event because it's a real wonder of nature. What you're witnessing is colony movement, which usually takes place in spring, and may occur as a result of nest disturbance, flooding, predation, dwindling food supplies or competition. Or, it may take place simply because the ants are in search of new real estate. Regardless, it's nothing to be too concerned about. The ants are just doing their thing, and in no time at all they'll find a suitable spot to call home.

Unfortunately, however, not all of them will make it to their new digs. That's because they're extremely vulnerable while on the move. Birds in particular wait all year for this annual event and stuff their beaks to the brim with the unsuspecting prey.

Bees are another swarming insect, and although the sight of their swarms causes some alarm, they too are simply looking for a new neighborhood. Incredibly, it takes only a few minutes for the dispersed mob to form a new nest. If you're still worried, look in the phone book under "bees." Chances are you'll find a beekeeper willing to come over and collect the colony at no charge.

Then there are the cicadas. Millions upon millions of cicadas emerge every 17 years from their subterranean resting places to molt, mate, eat, lay eggs and die. Their swarms can be a real nuisance, especially if you've got an outdoor wedding planned, but they too provide a ready source of food for animals.

Q: My neighbor's messy mulberry tree hangs over my fence, and the fruit falls on my deck. What can I do?

A: In every U.S. state, you have the right to self-help, meaning you can prune your neighboring tree's overhanging branches that spill over onto your property. However, you can't reach over the fence and onto your neighbor's property. That would constitute trespassing.

Q: My neighbor puts banana peels in every planting hole she digs, regardless of what she's planting. Is that a good practice?

A: Absolutely. Your neighbor is simply following a practice that's been around for centuries. Banana peels rot very quickly, and along the way they enrich the soil with calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorous, sodium and silica, all of which is good stuff for plants.