May 16, 2015 - Debbie Cook, Master Gardener and Certified Arborist, asked her listeners this week to call in and share some growing tips for new or first time gardeners. Here are a couple she received:

• Add a half of a handful of Quaker oats (not the instant kind) in the hole when planting your tomatoes - the oats are full of nutrients and the tomatoes thrive.
• Purchase old baby gates at thrift or second-hand stores and use them for your climbing plants.

Debbie took a couple questions about fertilizing flowers. She suggests looking for a “bloom-booster” in your fertilizer. This is where your second number (phosphorus) is higher: such as 5-10-5.

Have you had powdery mildew on your flowers? Do you know what causes this? Find out what you can do to get rid of that fungus for good.