December Questions and Answers

Q. I have been struggling to maintain my back lawn. The major problem is my dog. He is causing dead spots in the lawn. I know we have clay type soil that does not drain well. I would like to avoid digging up the entire lawn and trucking in tons of material to replant (not even sure if drainage is the answer). Is there some way to prevent these dead spots?

Improving the drainage may help a little, but not as much as a fence! Seriously, a fence or a dog run may be your only answer. There's not a whole lot you can do otherwise, short of following your dog around after he does his thing and soaking the spot with water. Of course, no one can be that vigilant. I would hate to see you tear up your entire lawn, replace it with good soil and then have the spots appear on your new lawn. There really isn't a grass seed that is more resistant to this problem, short of Bermuda grass. And no one plants Bermuda grass on purpose here as it turns completely brown in the winter and is very evasive. There is a company in Maine called Predator that sells scented darts that contain different elements, including some with coyote and wolf urine that deters other animals. Apparently, you place them about 10 feet apart in the area you don't want your dogs to go. Their web site has another product for $10.95 that contains 24 repellent stakes. You can check out their site at: www.critterridders.com

Q. I have wisteria that has never bloomed since planting it three years ago. The foliage is lush during spring and summer. The plant sites in the southwest corner of the yard and a neighbor's tree keeps it shaded most of the day. My Sunset Western Garden Book says this should not be a problem. Can you help?

A. Well, I hate to disagree with Sunset, but your wisteria probably is never going to bloom well since it is shaded by your neighbor's tree. Wisteria tolerate very little shade and need the hottest part of the garden to thrive. You might try neglecting it a bit. Too much water and fertilizer (especially nitrogen) prompts wisteria to have lush foliage with no flowers. You might try feeding with superphosphate. Finally, if your nursery sold you a seedling wisteria, it may take 20 years to bloom! Wisteria is a beautiful, but stubborn vine.

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