All you need to know about plants

THE GARDEN FANATIC

“Voters don’t decide issues, they decide who will decide issues.”

-- GEORGE F. WILL

“The fact that a man is to vote forces him to think.”

-- JOHN JAY CHAPMAN

When you cast your vote on Nov. 5, will you be a voter or just a

partial voter?

All too often, many of us it seems, enter the voting booth with

knowledge of only half the candidates and issues ... or less. No

matter who or what you vote for, you ought to vote with the whole of

yourself -- after all, you are deciding who will decide the important

issues for Laguna Beach and beyond.

Everyone’s favorite election prognosticator, the Plant Man,

believes that all of the races in Laguna will be close ones. Best of

luck to all of the candidates this coming Tuesday.

Along with elections, November is the month for both cleanup and

planting, in preparation for the holidays. Let’s get back to the

garden with the Plant Man and don’t forget to vote.

Q: Plant Man. What can I do in my garden to minimize the danger of

fire?

A: I would recommend that trees adjacent to your home be pruned

away from the roof and eaves. Thin all plantings within 100 feet of

your house and clear away dead vegetation. Finally, clean up dead

leaves and litter that accumulated during the summer. When in doubt,

contact the Laguna Beach Fire Department.

Q: Hi, Plant Man. Whom do you like in the City Council campaign?

A: I personally like all of the candidates -- Steve Dicterow, Toni

Iseman, Melissa O’Neal and Elizabeth Pearson.

Q: Would it be OK to store dahlia bulbs in an airtight Rubbermaid

container with peat moss?

A: The Rubbermaid container is not a good idea. The dahlias would

eventually rot because of the absence of air circulation (and the

moisture inherent in the bulbs and peat moss). I would recommend

sprinkling the bulbs with a bulb dust, placing them in a plain brown

bag and storing them in a dark, dry location.

Q: Just discovered small white “thingees” on one of my smaller

houseplants. Can I spray it with soapy water? How often? Can I just

spray my other plants with soapy water on a regular basis for

prevention?

A: The white “thingees” are probably mealybugs or oyster shell

scale. Soapy water will often dislodge insect pests, but will not

kill them. You may apply the “suds” on a weekly basis. Inspect your

other plants weekly as well and make applications as needed.

Q: Hey Tree Fanatic, where do you stand on the hedge issue?

A: Why don’t we just get along and make this a non-issue for the

City Council!

Q: Can I grow catnip outside in the winter?

A: Catnip is a perennial that can be grown throughout Laguna;

however, it will die back at the first sign of frost in the canyon.

It will be among the first plants to “return” in the spring.

Catharine likes to have a constant fresh supply for our cats. During

the winter she grows it indoors near a sunny window.

Q: Plant Man! As a result of watering on my neighbor’s side of the

wall, my planter is always very wet. I battle against moss and

mushrooms there all the time. I was wondering if there was anything I

could do?

A: Water may be seeping into your planter from your neighbor’s

garden. I suggest that you and your neighbor verify that the soil on

his side is graded away from your property, and that his garden is

not being over watered. A water cutoff system might be in order for

both properties, with an underground-perforated pipe (French drain)

surrounded by gravel to cutoff the water before it reaches your side.

You should contact a soils engineer for more information.

Voting is serious stuff, as important as protecting trees and

hedges (and preserving views) or selecting one’s mate. You need to

vote not only with your head but also with your gut. How does your

stomach feel about a particular candidate or issue? While you are at

it, don’t forget to use your heart for those real tough calls. The

question then, in Election 2002, is not what percentage of the

electorate votes, but how much of the voter votes. See you next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1540 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. He is married to local artist

Catharine Cooper and has three cats. He can be reached at 949 497

2438, or e-mail to landscapes@ln.coxatwork.com.