My yard is of a sandy nature. Is there a grass seed for such soil and can it be planted in the early fall?

YOU CAN PLANT GRASS SEED ANY TIME OF THE YEAR UNLESS IT’S FROZEN OUT, OBVIOUSLY. THE SAME GOES FOR SOD. I LIVE IN A SIMILAR AREA. I WOULD PERSONALLY USE REGULAR GRASS SEED RATHER THAN RYE. USE WHAT WILL DO BEST IN SHADE OR SUN DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU HAVE. MOST ALL GRASS SEED WILL GROW IN ABOUT ANYTHING, THERE IS NO NEED FOR ALL THAT FANCY SOIL STUFF. THAT’S USUALLY A LOT OF RHETORIC FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE AND HAVE ONLY READ THAT. YOU’LL JUST WANT TO WATER IT WELL AND IT WILL BE FINE. NEXT YEAR YOU WILL WANT TO START A REGULAR FERTILIZING SCHEDULE, I DO THAT ABOUT 4 TIMES A YEAR WITH WEED AND FEED AND WATER WELL. HAVE FUN!

I want to ensure that the privet hedge I grow is thick all the way down to the ground. I have seen some good privet hedges which are entirely thick and square, but also many that have gaps and exposed trunk at the bottom… I do not want this. Also, i have heard that privet grows well from cuttings… is this true, and how should I do about this? Or should I buy plants from a nursery? If I bought plants, how could I ensure that there would be no gaps at the bottom?

The BBC Has a very good gardening website with a question and answers message board. I feel sure you will get the answers your looking for without fail
All this providing your in the UK of course although perhaps this shouldnt make a differance

it’s one of those pre-molded black plastic fish ponds that you can buy at Home Depot and it’s developed a leak somewhere. So I need to empty it, clean it it, dry it, repair the crack or leak, and then let that set and dry, then refill it and put the fish back in. I don’t want to use something that would be toxic to the fish.

BONDO

I live in Massachusetts. I’m also interested in vines or small bushes with bright leaves. Also when should I plant them?

I love these ‘what are your favorite’ type questions, because you’ll get so many answers. You were also good enough to give us your location… so you should get some good responses. As I always include, however, take the list to your local independent garden center for a final going over. Some of your plants might not be hardy where you are, or otherwise difficult if not impossible to get locally.

Many people read the shade part, but not the SMALL in small shrubs… just FYI, becareful of some of the choices.

As for shady perennials, what can I say, Hosta, Astilbe, Lamium, lungwart (Pulmonaria), Ligularia, Bruneria (there are some dazzling variegated forms!), ferns of all kind, foxglove (Digitalis), monkshood (Aconitum), columbine (Aquilegia) and Japanese toad lily (Tricyrtis). I’m sure there are more perennials, but this will get you started.

As for shrubs… how small? But boxwood (Buxus), Japanese rose (Kerria) (There are some nice variegated forms), Dwarf Rhododendrons (Like Rampo or Purple Gem), Deutzia.
These may get you going in the right direction.

I’m in USDA hardiness zone 5, which is similar to where you live, so I’m thinking that everything here should be hardy there.

Good luck-
I hope that this helps

The bedding plants that I have planted in containers (large ones) have started turning yellow…I have not had this problem in years before. They are regularly watered and fertilized and are planted in adequate sun or shade. I live in Manitoba Canada. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Too much water? Too much fertilizer?

Hard to say without knowing what they are.

Some of my privet hedging is a bit sparse around the bottom, which leaves huge unsightly gaps. Is there any way of encouraging it to sprout some new shoots, e.g. making nicks in the main stalk?

I have a great privet hedge that many neighbors comment on.
Make sure that you avoid the tendency to trim the top wider than the base. Your verticle lines should be 90 degrees to the ground. I do my main trimming after the blossoms have mostly disappeared. In the winter, cut out about 1/3 of the oldest main branches at the ground. Fertilize your hedge with a balanced fertilizer. I prefer 12-12-12. Water in times of drought or if your hedge is young.

I wouldn’t do the 1/3 winter trimming thing untill the hedge has been in place 10-15 years.

I have a 6X3 fish pond and I also have a waterfall and 1 fish.

this link should help you figure it out. I think the "balance" of animal and plant life is most beneficial.
Plants suck up the excess nutrients that the algae are drawn to, so in a way just adding plants could help a lot.

I know because of trees we breath but how were they formed and why do they pair so much with our body’s…..Trees are here for a reason to allow us humans to live on this earth how did this all happen?

While it would be easiest to say that some one placed them here for our benefit, that may not be the case.

Life is relative to each other, and many animals form symbiotic relations on their own. Trees are not here for our benefit, nor are plants ‘made’ to be eaten. This can be seen in only 1% of their energy level being passed on to their consumer.

It is true, without the recycling of CO2 into O2, life that breathes O2 on our planet would not have lasted long, however this is just a fortunate side effect. If you really want true perspective of how important trees are, consider the Taiga. A frozen land where animal life does not exist, but plants still stand strong. This single area of our world is large enough, and the trees there produce so much Oxygen that they actually change the entire composition of our atmosphere.

Plant life in an area that won’t support animal life. Plants are merely here to grow and reproduce their genes. Nothing more, Nothing less.

I really dont want to just put random flowers in the front, I want it to look good.

You didn’t mention your light requirements so I can’t help you with species. But as for color, I’d go with pale yellow, sky blue and pastel peach.
Depending on your light requirements, this may include achillea (yarrow), hardy geranium, helianthemum, pulmonaria (lungwort), oenethra, coreopsis and many many others. You may want to include a few annuals with your perennials for summer-long bloom. Try browsing a plant and seed catalogue for ideas.
Always plant in clumps rather than many different individual plants. At home, I like to use what I call "anchor" plants; repeat these plantings at the ends and in the center, and fill in with different varieties. It will give your garden a pulled-together appearance. You may want to "anchor" with some lovely flowering shrubs, like viburnum, itea, hydrangea, spirea and weigela. All come in a varity of colors; again what you plant will depend on your light requirements.

Need a pond plant to put in a pottery fountain. Only thing is the opening is only about 18 inches, so the plant will be right next to the fountain. I need a pond plant that does well in turbulent waters. Will papyrus work? Any other suggestions?

I have a pickerel rush and a horsetail right next to my waterfall. I also have actually grown parrot’s feather right in the waterfall. For potted plants, you’ll need to cover the soil with about an inch of gravel to keep the dirt from washing out. Use a solid pot, not one of those screen types.

Papyrus would probably do OK, as would graceful cattails or one of the cypruses.