Janet, Do not cut down the plants now, leave them up as seed heads for the birds and the plants add as an erosion blanket to prevent soil being depleted.
Have a wonderful holiday season. Maureen

Cheryl, cut the lavender down to six inches from the ground next April. Maureen

Joyce, we had a bit of trouble with the website – the October tips will be up in the next few days. Lilac does lose its leaves at this time of year. If it is in full sun and not in standing water – like a boggy area it should be fine. Hopefully you did not plant it when transplanted any deeper than it was originally in the ground – lilacs also experience shock when moved so it may take a couple of years for you to experience bloom. In the meantime put some composted manure and sprinkle some granular lime around the trunk and do likewise next April. Maureen

thank you, Cheryl

Cheryl, butterfly bushes grow 8 to 10 feet in one season and then in late March, you need to cut it down to about one foot from the ground and put some manure around it.

If the roots are now exposed and the bush looks to be not in good shape I suggest it may be lost.
If so, in late April next year, purchase another, do not plant it any deeper in the ground than it comes in the pot, put some manure in the planting hole and plant it in full sun and enjoy. Maureen

I heard on your radio program to control the tomato blight to cover the area in the garden where you plan to put your plants with clear plastic. I do not remember when this should be done? I usually put manure on the garden early in the spring. Should I put the manure under the plastic?

Charlie, in late April when the sun comes out again lay 4 mil black plastic securely over the area where you plant the tomatoes and keep it attached to the earth but piling soil heavily on the edges of the plastic. Leave this down for 2 months, the plastic will smother the blight in the soil then plant your tomatoes and put lots of manure in the soil and during he season you can, if you like, order The English Lady manure tea from the website to feed the tomatoes. If not add some more manure at least once in the season and you know to keep tomatoes well watered. Good luck Maureen

I’m ready to plant daffidol bulbs, again. In the past the squirels have dug up and eaten them. We’re overrun with them. What can I use, when planting them, the will stop them?
Thank you.
Deborah, buy an organic deer repellent from the garden center or order ‘Deer Off’ from http://www.GardensAlive.com and soak the bulbs the night before you plant and then let them dry in the sun before planting. The Deer repellent will emit an odor and have a nasty taste for critters – humans cannot detect any odor.

Its a bit early to plant the daff bulbs – wait a couple of weeks until the weather consistently cools down, unless you live in the Northwest hills in that case you can plant sooner. Make sure the daff bulbs are at least nine inches down in the earth so they will bloom well for you each season – if they are planted too shallow they will not bloom well. Of course put manure in the planting holes. Maureen