Question: Dear Anne, I recently got an 8 month old Puppy and, we noticed that he gets more and more flees ever time I take him outside. My question to you is, is there something that I can use on my lawn to get rid of all the flees on the grass and not worry about it hurting the animals? Sincerely, Mike S.

Anne Clapp: Fleas do get in lawns when other animals come through and drop live fleas or eggs on their trip. Any chemical you apply to the lawn will mean there is a period of hours or days when the dog should not be allowed to get on the treated area. Malathion, the pyrethrins and growth inhibitors for fleas are less harmful than others. Your veterinarian should be able to advise you about what is safest for your animal.

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Question: Dear Anne: Many years ago my neighbour planted a rubber plant in her garden. This has now grown into a 30-40 foot tree. Unfortunately this tree looms over our roof and is continually causing havoc with our drainage system. We have ring-barked limbs to little avail. We need to remove this tree. Could you please tell us how to do this. We have tried cutting limbs, which is a very messy job. Is there a poison we could use? Please let us know. Yours faithfully, Robyn R.

Anne Clapp: Legally all you can do is remove those limbs from a neighbor's tree that come over your property line. Cutting is less messy when the plant is not actively growing.

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Question: HI ANNE I'M FROM ASHEVILLE N.C. AND HAVE PURCHASED 18 LEYLAND CYRUS TREES TO PLANT FOR BORDER, I HAVE SYPTIC TANK LINES IN THE BACK HOW FAR SHOULD I PLANT FROM THEM? THE TREES ARE ABOUT 2 FT HIGH> THANK JUDY B.

Anne Clapp: You may want to check with county/city officials to see what their regulations are about planting in septic fields. Some local governments do have such regulations. In most cases planting 20 feet from the line is adequate for small trees.

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Question: Dear Anne, Can you transplant cuttings from a holly bush? Thank you, Kathy C.

Anne Clapp: You can make cuttings from a holly bush in July and August when the new growth starts to harden off to the point you can break the stems.

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Question: My leaves disappear on my sweet red pepper plants. I assume something is eating them. The leaves are removed totally back to the main stem of the plant. They appear to be eaten from the bottom of the plant first. I never see any bugs or any critters around the plants. I have basil and tomato plants nearby and they seem to be doing just fine. I have tried to grow this type of pepper in previous years, had the same problem and decided not to plant them again, but my son requested the peppers and I gave in this year. The plants are in a garden with a lot of morning sun and they are mulched with double shredded hardwood mulch. I have used sevens dust on the plants, it doesn't seem to curb the loss of foliage. Can you help me please??? Rod M.

Anne Clapp: Bugs Bunny and his family are probably the culprits. The only way to protect the plants is to grow them inside a wire cage with a small enough opening that bunnies can't get through.

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Question: Anne, Which is the better product, to kill Bermuda Grass without hurting the Tall Fescue, Acclaim Extra or Fusilade II/Ornamec? Thanks, Bret T.

Anne Clapp: I don't think either product will help as those products are usually labeled to kill grass in broadleaf evergreens etc. The product on the market that is labeled to kill Bermuda in fescue turf is Turflon Ester, a product produced by Monterey Chemical Co.

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Question: I have white spots and lines on the leaves of my zucchini plants. I live in Northern Canada (Ontario) next to Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. The plants are in a large cedar container. I call it one of my "coffins". We face directly south and are on the north shore of Lake Huron. Should I be concerned or is this normal? Thank you, Barry

Anne Clapp: The lines could be from slugs or snails. The spots could be from water on the leaves. Mottled white leaves are usually a sign of a plant virus. The most dangerous problems of squash are wilt diseases in which the leaves of the plants collapse. I would watch the plants carefully and if the condition becomes more serious talk with someone at a local garden center.

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Question: Anne, Another Leyland Cypress question; you might have answered already somewhere on your pages. I live in Surry County, North Carolina. I don't think the trees have bagworm, but they are full of tiny 1/4 inch size silky watery cocoons, feel wet on touch, and open easily. Inside, there appears to be a kind of yellow and black "insect", shape of caterpillar. Any idea what that might be, how it affects the trees, and how to combat it? Thanks, Bert

Anne Clapp: I have no idea what insect might be in the Leyland Cypress. You have an excellent cooperative extension office in Surry County that can probably answer your question quickly. Leyland Cypress are under stress in several counties in the Carolinas and your local agents will know what should be done for your trees.

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Question: I have five Jane Magnolia's, one is doing very well. The other four are losing leaves heavily, but are still hanging on. I water and use basic Miracle Grow Fertlizer. I am afraid they are dieing. Can you tell me if they may have a disease, or am I not using the right kind of fertilizer?

Anne Clapp: I think you may be using too much fertilizer. They may have been overwatered or the drainage on the plants is different from the one that is thriving. Jane magnolias do not need much fertilizer and they are more drought tolerant than some other plants. They need one inch of water a week the first years they are in the ground but after that they are usually able to make it on what Mother Nature provides.

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Question: I need some advice, I would like to know how to root camelia from cuttings. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, D.G.

Anne Clapp: Camellia cuttings may be made on new growth as it hardens off in July and August. I have done several News 14 segments on it during the past 4 years. You take a 4 inch cutting from the end of a stem. Remove all but the top two leaves. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone and then put the cutting into a medium of half sand and half peat moss. The soil should be moist. If you have only one or two cuttings you can use a 6 inch flower pot. You will need to cover the scions with a plastic cover - often a 2 liter soda bottle with the bottom cut out will work. Leave the cuttings in an area that has light, but no sun. Under the shrubs on the north side of the house works for most people. It will take at least 8 weeks for the cuttings to root. Some will not do anything until winter so you may have to find a protected spot to overwinter them.

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Question: Anne, About 15 to 20 years ago I placed some land scaping timbers around our veg. garden. In two places they make a retaining wall and single timbers around the outside of the garden. Is there any way of finding out what the timbers were treated with and whether this substance is in the soil. They are really detraining and will be removed shortly. What if any is the danger of this?

Anne Clapp: There are private testing labs that can test treated lumber to determine what chemicals were used but they do get expensive. In most cases the chemicals in the timbers should have leached out into the soil in 15 years. With rain and natural decomposition during that time there should not be a very large concentration of anything left in the area. If you haven't noticed any problem with the vegetables growing in the garden over the years I would not think there is anything to worry about now. The time to have gotten worried was 20 years ago before you ate the first crops.

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Question: I have a very large variegated peace lily which has done well for six months now. The only problem is the blooms (loaded with them) are covered with a sticky substance and stay very short. Only a few have ever opened. Sometimes there is liquid under the plant where it has dripped from the leaves. I've inspected for aphids or any other visible pest and have found no indication of such. Please advise.

Anne Clapp: It does sound like an aphid problem. Sometimes just washing the leaves with water will wash them off. Insecticidal soap applied and left on the plant for no more than 30 minutes and then washed off also works.

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Question: Hi, I have some insects on my hydrangea brush and that is making the leave curl. The hydrangea are all next to large beautiful ferns. What insecticide can I use on them without hurting the ferns? Many thanks, Diane

Anne Clapp: Are you sure it is an insect and not mildew that is deforming the leaves? If it is an insect you can spray the hydrangea with an all-purpose insecticide from Ortho or Bayer. Read the label carefully but I think both sprays can be used on most ferns. If you are still concerned, cover the ferns with a plastic to protect them while you spray. As soon as you finish spraying remove the plastic.

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Question: Hi. I am planning to put in a deck along the back of my house, but the previous owners had Nandina along the foundation. I need to pull it out because it's right where the deck will be. If I cut it back I'm afraid it will grow even stronger. But if it doesn't get any light (because the deck will be over it), will it die off on it's own? Any suggestions? I'd prefer not to kill it without chemicals. Thanks, Valerie

Anne Clapp: One way of getting rid of plants without using chemicals is to cut the plants off at ground level then cover the stumps with black plastic. You dig a small trench around the stump, put the plastic over the stumps and then fill the trench. I usually put a few bricks or rocks on the top of the trench to hold everything in place. It takes about a year to kill everything out.

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Question: We recently purchased a home that has one bed that flies love. There is a dogwood that they are constantly at (the next door neighbor has the same type of tree 50 yds away with no flies). We have a Japanese holly, two barberry and one azalea. Also recently discovered (and attempting to remove) is a lot of horse tail weed. What can be causing these flies to love my dogwood and what can I do to get rid of them? My husband wants to get rid of the tree but it is eight years old and a good tree…just disgusting with flies right now (over 100 of them!). Should I call an exterminator? Thanks, Linda

Anne Clapp: The flies must be attracted to something that has been deposited on the tree. Could it be a dead animal? Usually a hard rain will take care of the problem. Green houseflies are usually attracted to animal waste, not plant material. There are some flowers that have a “carrion odor” that attracts flies but they are usually things like amorphophalus and Venus Fly Trap. Flies do not harm plant material

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Question: Dear Anne, I recently took a trip to Blowing Rock, NC. There I noticed a shrub looking tree that the locals called a Honeysuckle tree. Would you happen to know the correct name and could this tree survive in Johnston County?Thank you, Robbie C.

Anne Clapp: Winter honeysuckle, Lonicera fragrantissima, is a very fragrant shrub that blooms in late winter. It grows almost everywhere but the coast of North Carolina. It is hard to find in nurseries and you are more likely to find it in January and February at some of the independent nurseries in the area. There are several plant nurseries in Johnston County that have been distributing it.

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Question: Anne, I have a short row of “Miss Kim” dwarf lilacs parallel to and a bout 6 feet back from my driveway. There are 3 plants. The first is very robust, about 5 feet tall and has bloomed beautifully for 4 years. The second is a cutting off the first and is doing well. The third seems to have “stalled” this year around mid-march. By this I mean that the leaves have come out and that the small purple bud clusters appeared, but the leaves have never fully opened, the bud clusters did not actually bloom last month, as the other plants did, but instead have dried. The leaves are not burnt or dried, but they're stuck at about ½ the size and there is no new wood to speak of this season. The buds at the end of the branches have formed and, overall, it looks just the same as it did around St Pat's day. Any ideas? Best Regards, James

Anne Clapp: Lilacs seem to prefer soil close to neutral pH or slightly alkaline. Often an application of lime will help the symptoms you describe. Lack of even moisture and slow root development can be problems as well. Could some chemical have been spilled on the driveway that might have stunted the growth of the one plant? The drift from sprayed herbicides will caused stunted and contorted growth.