Q: Help! I have moved into a new home with a swimming pool and NO shade. I live in hot, dry, windy west Texas (Midland). I have 2 pots about 3 feet tall and the opening at the top about 2 foot. I put elephant ears but have since learned they get too much sun. They get just about all day sun. These pots sit on the pool deck. I thought about a Crepe Myrtle but don't want to fight the flowers dropping in the pool. I can't do any sage because I am allergic to them. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you, Trina Abney

Q: I have a grass patch lined with edging, then rocks in the rest of the yard. How can I keep the grass from growing in the rocks? Keeping in mind I'm cheap and lazy. Josh Ragsdale

Back in the good old days (approximately 6 months ago), you had to take out a $350,000 loan at 12% interest with no money down to totally wreck your life financially. But now there’s a much easier, quicker way to go bankrupt. It’s called “gardening.”

Q: I am not sure what I need to do for my plumbago. I got it last year and it was still in a large pot over the winter. I brought it in and let it winter over. It died back and I cut back all the dead wood...it was basically just a stump left. Now I have planted it in the ground, and its put out some new growth, but not much. Is it just too early to expect it to be further along? Do they need plant food? I love the blue flowers, last year it got to be about 3 feet tall and around and bloomed continuously until November. It was one of my favorite plants, but its not looking very promising this year!
Thanks in advance, Pat

OK, I watched the finals show last night and as much as I hate it, I gotta fess up -- David Archuleta sang better and deserves to win. But am I the only one who thinks this was the most annoying finals show ever?

Q: I have a rose bush, I don't know what kind, but I think it's an old rose. This rose gets morning sun. Last year and currently, the bush is covered with buds but the buds die (or rot) before they open. The bush itself looks healthy. Can you tell me what's wrong with my bush and how I can fix it?
Thanks, Georgia Lynch

Q:I live in Winston Salem, N. C. Can I trim my Natchez crepe myrtles now? Thank you. Connie

Q: have just lost two month-old plants due to roly-polies eating up the roots. What should I use to get rid of them. I don't want them to get the other plants, but I don't want to poison the plants so they will hurt the bees,butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Miffy Woods

Any gardener who has lived in the South for long knows that we’re not really so concerned about how cold-hardy a plant is. We want to know how many seconds a plant will survive once the temperature reaches 103 and a nice, hot breeze is blowing.

Q: Hi, Sometime in the early to mid 90's Southern Living featured a garden where the home owner built a large metal form that he placed pots of flowers on. It looked like a tree of flowers. The plans were included in the article. In my several moves in the last few years I have lost the plans, and I was wondering if you could help me locate a copy of them? Thanks for any help you can provide. Patricia McGuire

Fellow Grumpians, I have to confess a weakness, shocking as it may be.

Q:Do I need two or more blueberry trees to produce healthy fruit? In the magazine this month it said to plant a blueberry plant in a container beside your back door. Do have to plant more than one? Thank you, Katie Skelton

Q: Dear Steve,
I rec'd from a friend of mine what she called "pencil plant" a few years ago. I put it in a bed where it is now taking over at rampant speed. I am trying to get rid of it, to no avail. My latest attempt was to break it off appo 2" from the ground and spray it with a season-long ground and weed killer, and it just moves over and sprouts elsewhere.
I looked up "Pencil Plant" on the internet, and this is not like what I found there. This plant is just a cluster of straight green shoots with dark bands along it. It is a medium green, and actually attractive. It just need boundaries, which I have found out the hard way.
Please let me know if you have any tricks I haven't tried.
Thanks, Maybeth Gilbert

Q:Hi. I live in a townhome community and I am trying container gardening this summer. I have started lettuce seedlings this spring that will be ready to transplant soon. I know lettuce can be tricky so I started more seeds than I needed and I think all of my seeds grew! I need to thin and transplant the lettuce. Do you have any recommendations for container gardening for head lettuce types ( I have iceberg), spacing, and how to prevent it from going to seed in the summer heat etc? Thanks, Mrs. Ashton

Those of you who faithfully read my stuff throughout the years will be surprised – NAY, SHOCKED!! – to discover that some people don’t appreciate my delightful sense of humor.

Q: Grasshoppers have invaded my garden and are munching on all the tender young tomato plants. They have decimated one entire bed of veggie transplants. How can I get rid of these pests?

Thanks for any advice.
Mary

Q: We have subscribe to Southern Living for many years and seen many beautiful photos of homes and garden. I would like to submit these photos of our Rhodendrum bush, or should I say tree. This bush was planted in 1989 and stands approximately 15ft tall. It has never been fertilized and watered very little. Each year it produces a beautiful show of blooms. If I have selected the wrong department to submit photos to please forward it to the proper department.
Regards,
Johnny Drew

Q: Hi, I would love to know if there is anything I can do to completely get reid of Ivy? The previous homeowners, had planted ivy all around trees and shurbs. Please, I need help! Thanks, Gloria