Free Garden Catalogs

Are little black ants harmful to garden plants? I have several dierent plants in my yard and just discovered black ants crawling along many of them. In some cases there were small clusters of ants on some of the flowers. Is this something I can ignore or do I need to spray them with something? too difficult to tell what damage is from the sun and heat, we have had such a heat wave that many of the plants werent doing so well. Some are starting to come back bcs I have really been spedning the time on them. but its hard to tell if is from the pests or not.

what kinds of garden plants are harmful to dogs? I have a yard that is empty. I want to plant some drought tolerant plants/flowers, but I want to make sure that they are safe for my dogs. I live in los angeles. What kind of plants would you recommend or avoid?

Are small spiders on my garden plants harmful? They have a white back with black lines on them...they are very small

Are rocks in your garden harmful to your plants or are they just annoying?

Is a dish garden plant harmful to cats? I got a new plant called a dish garden and my cat keeps eating it. I was wondering if it will hurt him.

I have black beetles in my garden that look like water beetles,r they harmful 2 my garden or any plants? the black beetles r just plain black that look like water beetles.

Is safe- for- humans water from a swimming pool harmful to plants if emptied onto a garden (in Greece). ? I need to empty the swimming pool at my property in Greece for winter. The water has previously been chemically treated to be safe for swimming. To avoid just dumping down a drain I would like to use it to water the garden. Is it likely to harm the plants?

What are best plants to plant in your garden to keep away harmful pests? i meant warms,catapillars...fries..

Will rabbits avoid harmful plants naturally? I want to leave our rabbits to roam free in the garden during the day and am doing all the necessary to secure them in etc, however, I am concerned about the plants they might eat. I have no idea what half of the plants in my garden are, will rabbits avoid plants that are harmful by instinct? Surely they must do this in the wild? It would be a shame to have to keep them in a hutch to protect them, better to get the exercise and opportunity to explore?

Which UK garden plants are poisonous to chickens? I found this list http://wiki.omlet.co.uk/index.php/List_of_plants_that_are_poisonous_or_harmful_to_chickens but it doesn't say how dangerous they are to have in the garden, eg. if a chicken pecks a rhubarb leaf will it find it unpleasant and therefore not eat it? Anyone have any more advice?

I need some plants for my garden. which are the easiest to care for and arent harmful to animals?

I have these black beetle looking bugs in my garden that fly they have red eyes are they harmful? I have these wierd looking black beetles in my garden some of them are sheding there wings. they are fairly small but there is alot of them. I need to find out if they are harmful to plants or if they are good insects.

what kind of plants can be used to repel all kinds of garden pests? with out use of harmful chemicals?

Is composting kitchen scraps in my garden harmful? Okay, I cook a lot of vegetables and grains. I have scraps and cuts left over, which I compost and throw into my garden of growing vegetables. I grow weeds(edible ones) also and cook with those. I heard that nitrogen rich soils can make some plants also toxic to a point. The nitrogen is absorbed into the leafs and plant. Is this true? Also, I put used coffee grounds in my garden, is coffee grounds high in nitrogen? Thank you!

Are termites harmful or harmless to plants? There's are tolerable number of termites under the mulch in my garden. Are they harmful or harmless?

Are there any wood shavings as mulch that are harmful to plants? I'm a woodworker and often use my wood shavings to mulch my veggie garden. My main concern is for the Coast Redwood shavings because of the Tannic acid. I also use alot of white cedar and the plants I'm mulching are strawberries, onions, lettuce and beets. I live on the west coast and the soil is acidic. Are there any types of woods that shouldn't be used in the garden?

are grass clippings straight into the garden dangerous to plants? I understand why you would want to compost grass clippings before returning them to the garden, but I dont understand why some garden experts actually say it is harmful?

Are garden ponds and creeks influenced by some plants on the side? Because I want to keep my fish healthy, I wonder if some plants further in the garden could influence the quality of the water, come Spring and especially Autumn. Are there any trees or brush that I should avoid, can grass be harmful?

If a cat poops in a garden or plant, would that be harmful to the plant?

Are red ants harmful to my vegetable garden? I have a recently planted raised vegetable garden with beans, onions, radishes and lettuce. I notice a considerable number of red ants starting to appear. Will they hurt my veggies? If so, what can I use to get rid of them?

Will rocks in my garden bed be harmful to my vegetables ? I planted a few vegetables in a raised bed style, it basically looks like a long mound of dirt raised 4 inches off the ground. It has rained heavily in my area for the past week and i went outside to look at my garden and noticed all these newly exposed rocks everywhere. Dozens and dozens of little pebbles. Im presuming they were exposed by the rain, will this be harmful to my vegetables ? Any sugeestions?

since i started acquiring more plants,i now have frogs. is it harmful for my plants? they are shiny and their skin looks smooth. i once saw a huge one and now there are babies! they are multiplying in my garden! i personally do not like frogs but i heard that their presence is a sign that my garden is healthy. what are the dangers or advantages of having them?

Are grasshoppers harmful to raspberry plants? My raspberry bushes are slowly dying cane by cane and I have no fruit on them, or very little. I was out watering them today and I happened to notice some very huge grasshoppers on the plant. Are they the culprits that are killing the plant off slowly and if so how do I get rid of them without hurting the fruit or the rest of the plant. Please don't tell me to pick them off and squash them, they are huge. This is the first time I have ever seen them and they do not seem to be in the rest of my garden just there.

Is playsand harmful to a vegetable garden? We want to start tilling in the area of where the playsand is in our back yard. Will the sand be harmful to the vegetables we would like to plant?

Are ants harmful for garden soil? It doesn't appear that the ants are harming the plants. Even when there are no plants there, there are still ants crawling through and on top of the soil. I am worried that the ants will give the soil a negative effect and consume some nutrients. Also when I have potted plants out in my yard, the ants make homes inside the soil and that is probably not good. If the ants do give a negative effect, how can I get rid of them without using chemicals? Thank you!

Does anyone know about plants that are harmful to puppies? Is the puha weed that grown in some gardens and is often cooked as a veg toxic or harmful to puppies? i know that spinach is said to be and puha looks very similar

If you put granuled pesticide for red ants in a vegetable garden,is it harmful to eat the produce? I am getting ready to weed,rototill and add new soil,then plant,but red ants have taken over and I am allergic to their bites.Help! Thanks!

ARE GARDEN SNAKES HARMFUL TO OUR MINI WEENER DOGS? WE HAVE 3 WEENER DOGS AND WE'VE SEEN SOME GARDEN SNAKES AROUND OUR PLANT... WE'RE WORRIED THAT THE DOGS MIGHT GET BITTEN BY THEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW A.S.A.P. PLEASE AND THANK YOU!

what are white fly bugs in a out door garden? Are they harmful? How does one get rid of them with so muchrain? They are little small flying bugs. Many of them of every plant.From peas to chard,to beets. They just are on everything. No new dressing has been put on the garden. Got an ANSWER

What is a cat friendly plant/flower I can plant in my garden? I know that certain plants, flowers, and ferns are poisonous to cats. I am wanting to do some gardening this spring but part of the garden is in my back yard where my two cats occasionally play. I want to make sure that I am not planting anything that could be harmful to them if they eat it...they chew on the grass sometimes and puke that up once they come inside which is disgusting but I can deal with that. Please if you are knowledgeable in this area help! Thanks.

Shower greywater and organic soaps? ok for garden use? I'm interested in conserving water by reusing my shower water to water the garden. Are there any soaps and shampoos that are all natural and won't harm the garden (or the environment) if they are washed directly into the soil? Also, I read that shower water is considered greywater if it comes in contact with human skin, even if you don't use any soaps. But I can't imagine it would be very harmful to plants in the garden. Wouldn't it just be water and some dead skin cells and body oils? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

My puppy has recently been chewing on the sagebrush out in the garden. ? Anyone know if it's harmful to dogs? I think she's doing this just for the attention, cause she runs out to the garden,brings the plant in the house chewing on it, even running around with this plant hanging from her mouth. She's only 7 mths. old. For months it was the bark in the garden, now the plants!

Can I plant some plants that leaf-cutter bees like to cut, so I can reduce damage to my roses? I've heard leaf-cutter bees are very beneficial to the garden and aren't harmful, they just make roses look terrible. There must be tons in my garden because my roses don't have just a few holes, they are quite ragged. Are there other plants they would use instead if I planted them? Or will that just create an even bigger population and they'll still ruin half of my rose leaves? Thanks

Can old masonite be used as a garden mulch? I am concerned that masonite may contain chemicals that could be harmful to animals, humans or plants and is unsuitable to cut down and use as a garden mulch.

is pencil shavings good for throwing on the plants? like for compost? My mom was about to throw it in the garden for compost on her plants, shes the type to save egg shells, bananas, coffee grounds, etc. for her garden. But i don't think it be a great idea for pencil shavings considering it has lead.. would this be harmful or backfirE? or is it completely safe to use?

Harmful Chemicals in Soil create Vegetables that are not safe to eat? I just built an arbor (shading structure) for my vegetable garden in my backyard. For my columns I had to make place them firm intro the ground so I dug holes and filled them up with concrete so that it is structurally stable. Now this is a small garden and I am wondering if the chemicals from the concrete filled holes can be harmful to my plants… or if eating the vegetables from them is no longer safe? Concrete usually adheres to other particles and I don’t think that plants don’t shallow them whole lol. Thanks

Is Google AdSense a great idea or a harmful one? I just started out making my own website to sell gardening products/seeds/plants on and I was wondering if Google AdSense is a great idea to maybe earn a few dollars here and there or is it harmful to a website, especially to one starting out? Will it annoy my customers, like does it pop up on its own all the time? or how does it work?

Effect of rust (iron oxide, not the disease) on plants? The only decent sunny spot for me to plant a containerized veggie garden is underneath a rusting fire escape. There is obviously rust run-off when it rains. I can see rust stains built up on the walkway. Will the rust have any harmful effects on the plants or on the food they produce?

Is it harmful to have a fire where you want to plant? I'm from New England were we had a massive freeze this past December. I had a dug a space for a garden in the fall, now is covered in branches. I was wondering if I did it the legal way, with a permit and all, would it hurt the soil for planting my garden this year if I had a fire there? The branches aren't what any one would want or could use.

bugs and worms under my rocks that are used as a border in my garden? what can i do about the little ants, and larva worms that i found today as i moved the rocks in my gardwn. are they harmful to my plants.

What is a safe, preferably organic method of keeping insects off your plants? I have a large garden that I work very hard on, and I hate to see my plants half-eaten by bugs. I do not grow any vegetables or fruits, but I do have three dogs that spend a lot of time around the flowers. Does anyone know any pesticides that are not harmful to the environment or other animals?

Are june bug larvae bad for a vegetable garden? I have a small plot of land that I let go fallow for a season or two, and now, while tilling the soil, I've discovered a major infestation of june bug larvae. Will they hurt my plants? I removed all that I could see by hand, but I'm sure I missed some. If they are harmful, how can I keep them out of my organic garden? Thanks. And any other tips on organic vegetable gardening/pest control are appreciated. I'm a little rusty.

I have small greenish eggs in my garden soil.? They are about the size of a grain of salt. Some are larger, some are smaller. I would like to know if these are harmful to my plants or not. I live in colorado springs colorado, If that helps identify them better. If they are harmful what is a good Organic way of getting rid of them? They are in planters sitting on the railing of my back porch, if that helps at all.

what does grubex do to tomato plants? i applied grubex granules to my tomato plants and then realized it is not to be applied to vegetable gardens. Will it be harmful to eat the tomatoes

effect of rust (iron oxide, not the disease) on plants? The only decent sunny spot for me to plant a containerized veggie garden is underneath a rusting fire escape. There is obviously rust run-off when it rains. I can see rust stains built up on the walkway. Will the rust have any harmful effects on the plants or on the food they produce?

how do you keep your garden safe from pests (like your neighbor's dogs)? I would like to plant a garden in our backyard, as I will have some seedlings ready for planting soon, but I am afraid that our neighbor's dogs or other animals (birds/squirrels/cats/raccoons/etc) may kill them. what can I use/do that would protect my plants, but not be harmful/dangerous to animals?

Is it safe to plant a vegetable garden in soil that has had dog stools for two years? I'm concerned that the soil might have harmful bacteria not suitable for growing food in.

Can I use dyed black mulch in my vegetable garden? I'm trying to figure out if the same black triple-shredded mulch I use for the flower beds would have any effects on my vegetable plants. Anyone know if there are harmful chemicals in the dye they use or the process they use to make the mulch?

how can i get rid of catepillars on my plants? need to get rid of them without harmful pesticides Id like to keep my garden organic? any suggestions?

what is a homemade insect repellent for my plants? It is for my vegitable garden. Also it can't be harmful to my animals. Please help!

Ant colonies in my garden? I just recently tilled a section of my backyard for a garden. Two days ago I planted corn, bean, and tomato seeds in their appropriate rows. Yesterday, I found two holes in the ground with about a dozen small ants going in and out of each of them. I plugged the holes by smooshing them into the ground, but will there be more ants in my garden in the future? Are they harmful to my plants? How can I keep them out without resorting to chemicals? Help anyone?

What is the white stuff in my garden soil? I am not referring to the white beads for moisture control found in most soil mixes. I have a raised garden bed and we starting preparing it for planting. When turning the soil to remove any dead roots from last years harvest, we found white soil in clumps. I assume it is some kind of mold so is it a good bacteria or harmful and should I get a fungus killer?

Will plants absorb chemicals from roof top runoff? I am researching rainwater collections. Some ares I have read about not drinking or cooking with rainwater because it has not been treated, but I wondered about watering edible gardens. Will any toxins from roof run off absorb into the edible plants in a manner that could be harmful upon human consumption?

I'm looking for an open source pictorial catalog of (seedling to plant identification) and garden pests? If you know of any I would be happy to see them, I often times find myself struggleing to find out harmful from benificial insects, and distinguishing weeds from seed planted seedlings. I believe a pictorial identification guide would be very helpful. If one does not exist perhaps we should start one? :-) Zymo Thanks! So I take it you have been unable to find a complete source for this as well? If I could I would give you all the best answer. :-) Zymo thanks again, I like all of the suggestions.

I have a ton of ants in my garden. What do I do? There are tons of sugar ants in my garden. I wouldn't mind them, but they're everywhere and whenever I'm working in there, they get upset and bite me. Kind of annoying! Are they harmful to any of my plants? Is there any safe way to get rid of them? I have an organic garden and don't want to put anything toxic in it.

HELP! Potato Aphid on my tomato plants....? I noticed some leaves of my tomato plants are turning yellow and have black spots all over them. on the bottom part of the leaves I found potato Aphids. How can I get rid of them ? I grow an organic garden and don't want to use harmful pesticides. are there any home remedies to control this pest? PLEASE HELP.... i looked up some things online, but I wanted to hear from people what worked best for them. Thank you to everyone who answered. We got a lot of rain lately, maybe thats why the leaves turn yellow. I tried vcollecting them with some one sided tape, which got rid of a lot of them. Any further sugestions are most welcome. Thanks....

How do I fix too much pesticide used in vegetable garden? We had someone help us use pesticides in our small vegetable garden but the person accidentally put too much. The bottle said to use 1.5 oz but they put the whole 32 oz bottle mixed with 1 gallon of water. The plants look like they had acid sprayed on it. The bottle said the chemical used was called permethrin with a level II toxicity. Can we neutralize it? How long will it take to dissipate? Are the vegetables harmful to eat now? Its 50 ft away downhill from our well will it affect our drinking water?

i need to get ants out of my garden help please? ok i planted my seeds about three or for weeks ago and now my garden is being taken over with ants and i would like to know of something organic preferribly to mix into the dirt to get ride of them i thought possibly borax would work but i am planting more seeds and have heard that borax is harmful and wondered if it would get into the food being grow and that if it did that it could be to much to even eat the food but don't know for sure please help thank you .

brown worm things swimming in water ... any ideas what they could be? some water had built up in a wheel barrow and we found hundredsof little animals swimming in it. They are about half an inch long, a reddy brown colour and wriggle constantly unless taken out of the water when they then curl up. Does anyone have any idea what they are and if they are harmful to any plants in the garden? ok then mosquito larve ... how do i get rid? just tried bleach ... didnt work, any other suggestions?

Where's the best place to piss in the garden? Because of the drought we have water restrictions so I have decided to always piss outside to save toilet flush. However, I have heard that some plants like urine and some don't. And I believe urine makes great compost with dead leaves. And lawns are a no no. So you see my dilemma.Oh yes. And should I move around a lot because over-urinating can be harmful? Much obliged - FB

huh weeds weeds weeds how can I get rid of them without using harmful chemicals? I've been removing weeds from my garden and it consumes up my time especially during rainy season they grew faster than my flowers. When I am very busy with my other chores there the weeds are taller than my plants. I don't want to use those sold by farm supplies because it might harm my plants too

What is the difference between a beetle and a mite? I have tiny red "beetle or mite" looking bugs with a group of slightly larger than them black looking "Beetle or mite" bugs. They are all around a juniper type plant. Are they harmful to gardening or pets or are they like a ladybug? Please help. Thanks

What are these red bugs on my growing watermelons? I have watermelons growing in my garden, and there are small red bugs on them. They most closely resemble ants, but they are not fire ants... they are BRIGHT red, not the dull orange-red of fire ants, and they have slightly longer legs than an average ant. What are they, and are they harmful to the plants? Thanks!

Rid garden of fire ants? Hi there, We have a garden in our front yard, approximately 6x15 feet and it is infested with thourands of fire ants...the whole thing! There are holes everywhere. Does anyone know of a way to kill them that is not harmful to children and the flowers already planted in our garden? Thanks so much!

what pesticides and herbicides(for bugs&weeds)can I use on plants, that are not toxic 4 my dog? not in the US. I have a container garden on a balcony, prone to small bugs that needs regular spraying. Don't want to harm my 3 lb. french poodle. Fine before, but developed epilepsy, I'm afraid the pesticides will bring back the convulsions..... any toxic material is very harmful. please help? :o) No brand names please, since I don't live in the US. If it's all you got, it's o.k., I can search for the ingredients to find similar back home in Guatemala.

What's more eco-friendly, a garbage disposal or a compost bin? I just moved into a new townhouse and I am doing everything I can to live in a way that's less harmful to the environment, I have an unfinished basement that can possibly be used to store a compost bin, but no place to plant a garden, so I would'nt know what to do with the soil. A friend suggested I forego the compost bin and just get a garbage disposal to deal with kitchen scraps. Please help!

Why is stevia illegal for use as a sweetener in the USA? Chemicals such as aspartame, believed to cause brain damage, are legal sweeteners in the United States. But stevia, a plant you can grow in your garden, which has no known harmful effects on humans, which has been long used safely in Japan, is nonetheless banned as a sweetener in America. Why?

using coffee grounds in garden? Our local coffee shop re-bags there used coffee grounds and gives it away for use in gardens. Can someone tell me if it is OK to use as a mix with moss peat for planting or do i need to compost it first. I had mixed some in a bag a few days ago with moss peat as it helps with water retention but when I opened the bag today to plant up some hanging baskets there was a white mold growing on top of the soil. Also, will the mold be harmful to my plants if I remix the bag and use it as it is

Anyone tried water gardening in an old boat? Have been given a 16ft boat and would like to turn it in to a watergarden. What do I need to do to the fiber glass in the inside and will it be harmful to fish/plants? Any ideas will be much appreciated.

bugs in my garden? This is the first time I've tried growing things in the yard, and I'm having some trouble. I think bugs are eating the plants. The leaves all have big holes and bite marks and I don't know what type of bug is doing it. Also, some of the plants don't appear eaten, they just don't seem to be thriving. I wonder if something is eating the roots? Is there a product I can use to protect the plants from bugs and other harmful elements? I have mostly flowering plants, such as hibiscus, four o'clocks, and jasmine.

The safest way to get rid of garden pest!? I KNOW THIS IS THE BOTANY FORUM AND NOT GARDENING. HOWEVER, MAYBE SOME PLANT PERSON CAN ADVISE ME (^_^) I'm in the process of expanding my garden into a Total Garden. I have already grown: apple tree, papaya trees, pineapple tree, cornrows, and various herbs and teas. I'm looking to expand my garden and add more items, such as blueberries, watermelon, avocados, goji berries, etc.... random other stuff (it's a lot of land) However, while lightly researching the items, I discovered they attract a lot of pest, such as, worms, maggots, and beetles, etc... and I want to (try) and stay away from the pesticides. So far I haven’t used any pesticides. But since, I’m going to expand, I don’t want my garden over ran with plant killing gross pest. I'm not an expert gardener, I just learn as I go along. So are there any experts at gardening, or anyone skilled, know of anything less harmful than pesticides but still gets rid of the pest very well??

Will rat droppings affect my garden vegetables?? I have a few jalapeno pepper plants growing in my back yard, I've found rat poop under them. I want to know if it is safe to eat the peppers or if any watering of the plants can cause harmful seepageinto the growth of the plant.

Growing plants for my birds? I want to grow some grass and other plants for my budgies and cockatiels to eat and play in. My question is, what kind of dirt can I use to grow it in? I was thinking potting mix but I'm worried it would harm them because they would dig in it and possibly chew it a little. The warnings on potting mix for humans saying do not inhale make me think it would be the same problem for birds? I'm hesitant to dig dirt from my back yard because I'm only renting and I'm not sure what kind of chemicals etc were previously used on the garden. Would potting mix be harmful and is there anything else I could use? Thanks!

What is drawing salve? I asked people what I should do because I happened to be at a party and ended up tripping over a rock and sitting on a garden cactus plant and now the prickers are on my behind and some guy said put drawing salve on it and I didn't know what that was. And by the way, if you have a solution to my pricker problem, please do tell me. And will it be harmful to me?

what kinds of herbal sprays can I put on veggies to remove pests? Im starting a vegetable garden in huge pots.Im a bit weary about putting harmful pesticides on my veggies and wondered if there was a way I could use something safe to spray on my veggies--like warm vinegar. Something safe. FYI: I am growing Broccoli, Cucumbers,Romaine lettuce,Spinach and Spearmint. I just planted the seeds yesterday. OH!! And what is Sod? How is this different from top soil? Is it a fertilizer? Im not sure if I planted this stuff the right way, but I just got top soil, put the seeds in the dirt, watered it and gave it moderate sunlight. I brought my veggies in cause I figured it is too cool to leave out at night. Thanks!

Frogs in my garden, what to do? Today I was looking around my garden and noticed this frog in between two of my tomato plants: http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6964/dscn3571copyqz2.png What should I do? I wouldnt mind leaving it alone as long as it isnt harmful, but since I have strawberries growing close to the tomatoes, I dont want to be eating what this guy just crawled over. If they are a problem, how would I go about killing them in a relatively humane way, or atleast leading them to some other area?

Green stuff on surface of soil in indoor garden? I have a small, lighted indoor garden...I'm growing marigolds in these long planter things, and in a few of them I noticed some green stuff on the top of the soil...it looks almost like moss, but it's more slimy and doesn't stick up like moss fibers do (it's not thick or anything). The stuff looks slimy almost, but it's very green like moss. It kind of looks like algae? The plants are in temperatures ranging from 85-105 degrees F (obviously) with light constantly on. I mist them heavily a few times a day to get temps down. Does anyone have ANY idea what the green stuff might be? And why it's only in a few of the planters? Is it harmful or should I not worry about it? I might upload pictures later if you're not sure what I'm trying to describe so let me know if you need pics and please check back later. Thanks. Here's da pics: http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7702/img2598ey7.jpg http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2614/img2595gl7.jpg Are you sure it's mold?

Indoor Container Garden Advice? I'm about to start my container garden. I'm going to keep the garden indoors until its large enough to be transferred outdoors. Also, I have one of those greenhouse plastic coverings that I'm going to keep on until germination. I'm going to be planting cilantro, basil, beans, little finger carrots, bok choy, red cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers! What I need is some last-minute advice or gardening information. I have Jiffy's soilless seed starting mixture. What else do i need to add? Is it harmful to keep the fertilized soil indoors? I don't know just any information or techniques that can help me :) OHOH! and among the veggies I'm going to plant, which ones need special requirements or which ones require extra sunlight, water, or nutrients. If its cloudy... can I use any light as an "artificial sun" or do i need a special fluorescent one? While waiting for germination, should i keep the garden near a sunny window or in a warm spot with no sunlight.. Any advice will help

Indoor Container Garden? I'm about to start my container garden. I'm going to keep the garden indoors until its large enough to be transferred outdoors. Also, I have one of those greenhouse plastic coverings that I'm going to keep on until germination. I'm going to be planting cilantro, basil, beans, little finger carrots, bok choy, red cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers! What I need is some last-minute advice or gardening information. I have Jiffy's soilless seed starting mixture. What else do i need to add? Is it harmful to keep the fertilized soil indoors? I don't know just any information or techniques that can help me :) OHOH! and among the veggies I'm going to plant, which ones need special requirements or which ones require extra sunlight, water, or nutrients. If its cloudy... can I use any light as an "artificial sun" or do i need a special fluorescent one? While waiting for germination, should i keep the garden near a sunny window or in a warm spot with no sunlight.. Any advice will help

Black Pats? What is the name of these creepy crawlies that scurry around my garden and are commonly called black pats,"Why" and are they harmful to plants? Thx Martin I should have known that us Welsh would never have said a word that started with c**k

Is dry animal feces harmful? Sometimes, I come across dry animal poop in my flower garden. After removing the poop, I always wash my hands. Should I also get rid of any plants or soil that happened to be touching the poop? Also, when someone cleans up his/her dog's droppings at someplace like the beach or a park, is that spot harmfully dirty? Should I, for instance, be worried about sitting on the ground, and then sitting in my car (shortly after with those same pants on) and touching the steering wheel (if I touched the ground with my hands)? Basically, how careful does one have to be? I don't want to be paranoid about cleanliness, but I also don't want to get sick (or get anyone else sick).

Bugs in the Garden - Holes? I have a rose bush or vine (it's a young one at the moment and there isn't a tag on it). I've noticed that in the past couple of weeks the plant has started to show perfectly cut circles through the leaves, and every morning when I check on the plant, there are a few more of these holes. It is Summer and I live in Perth WA as a reference to the temperature and area. Does anybody know what is causing this, if it is harmful and is there a solution (apart from cutting it back)?

Whats in my water? Im not sure if Im asking in the right section but here it goes.I moved to a small town in Texas in July 2006.2 months after being here I recieved a letter from the water company saying that there is high levels of chlorine in the water and they have been trying to corrrect this problem for a few years.It said that if you have cancer or any organ problems then you should talk to your doctor about drinking the water other wise it is safe to drink.I now have dry skin(never had it before).The release vaulve on the hot water tank had white build up on it causing the vaulve to stick open(was just brought in July)The garden hose has white build up stuff on it(bought it a few months ago).I planted all my garden seeds in pots and have then sitting on the porch(planted them 8 days ago).The pots now have white build up stuff on them and so does the porch from where I water the pots.What is this? Is it harmful? I have 6 children and alot of pets I am now concern about. There is alot of days where the water is so cloudy that it looks like half milk and water mixed together.Letting the water sit in a cup will not clear it up.For some reason almost every Monday and Tuesday the water gets like this.

are these flowers poisonous to cats? i wanted to plant some roses and lavender in my garden... will these be harmful to my kitten??? thanks! yea he does go out in the garden occasionally...