We would like to continue composting our yard and kitchen waste during the winter. Do you have any suggestions to help speed up the process?

First, I would recommend starting a second compost pile that is partially or fully below ground. The heat from the earth will keep your compost warm enough to promote the composting process. One way to do this is to bury a plastic garbage can about halfway in the ground. Before you bury the can, the bottom should be cut off with a utility knife and holes should be drilled in the sides of the upper half of the can. This will allow heat to rise from the bottom and air to enter from the top.

Second, be sure to keep your compost pile moist through the winter. We sometimes assume that because it is cool out, it is also moist, but this is not always the case.

Finally, it always helps to shred or chop materials before you add them to the pile. They break down much more quickly.

A landscape company recently planted six trees in my yard; however, they did not plant them all the way in the ground. When the workers finished, the root balls were several inches out of the ground. I am concerned about their drying out. Did they plant the trees correctly?

Yes, they did. Planting trees above grade is standard practice in any location that has heavy clay soils. While this may increase the risk of the roots drying out, the greater risk is that plants will suffocate when they are fully planted in the ground.

The company should have built a small circular dam around the root ball of each tree and filled it with 2 to 3 inches of mulch. This will prevent the roots from drying out; however, the mulch will begin to decompose in the spring, so I would add another inch of mulch in late spring, and another in late summer. That should be all you need. Be sure to keep your trees watered for the next several years. Your trees should be watered deeply once a week during dry spells.

Dennis Bishop is an urban horticulture educator for the Baltimore office of the Maryland Cooperative Extension Services. If you have a gardening or pest problem, you can call the Home and Garden Information Center hot line (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at 800-342-2507. You can also e-mail questions, order publi-cations and diagnose plant problems by visiting the Web site www.hgic.umd.edu.

Checklist

1. Poinsettias do not like to dry out, nor do they tolerate overwatering. Keep plants evenly moist, but never allow them to sit in water that may collect in their trays or decorative wrappings.

2. Most clay and plastic pots will crack during the repeated freezes and thaws of the winter months. They should be brought into a shed, garage or basement for protection.