I was told to rotate vegetables from different plant "families" in my garden. What's a family? Does that mean don't plant tomatoes in the same place two years in a row?
Rotating crops mean growing vegetables of a specific family in different areas of the garden each year to avoid soil-borne diseases and nutrient depletion. Repeatedly planting the same plant family in one area can cause soil-borne diseases to build up, so removing that disease's host for a few years deprives it of its means of survival. A heavy-feeder crop — one that depletes a large amount of nutrients from the soil — is often followed by nitrogen-producing legumes or a light feeder. The main plant families are: solanaceous — tomato, eggplant, pepper and potato; cucurbit — cucumber, squash, melons, pumpkin and gourds; legumes — all beans; brassica (also called cole, crucifer, cabbage or mustard family) — broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, radish and turnips; and alliums (onion) — chive, garlic, leek and onion.
My neighbors built a beautiful wooden bench around their oak tree. Inside the bench, they added topsoil and planted annual flowers. Now the tree is dying. Did the bench kill it or was it the digging to plant the flowers?
Only a careful inspection can pinpoint the cause of rapid decline. However, raising the soil level is a prime suspect. Burying tree roots too deeply can injure and kill trees, as it deprives them of oxygen and roots suffocate. Some roots receive less water and cannot adjust. Soil microorganisms beneficial to trees also are killed. When a new soil level buries the trunk, the wood stays moist and can rot. Soil levels should never be raised more than a few inches. Some tree species and soil types are more sensitive than others.
Plant of the week
Aucuba
Aucuba japonica
Many a dark corner in the landscape is brightened by the yellow and gold markings of aucuba. Leathery leaves up to 8 inches long come in a wide choice of variegated forms — dusted, speckled or blotched. Heavily serrated and even plain green leaves round out the pool of possibilities. Hardy to Zone 7 on the plant hardiness map, aucuba suffers in unusually cold winters but springs back. Its ability to grow lushly in difficult, heavy shade — especially on the north side of homes — makes it a lifesaver in the landscape, though deer will eat it. Where happy, it will bloom and produce vivid red berries. Popular in holiday greenery, aucuba propagates easily from cuttings.
— Ellen Nibali