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Charles Giedeman

About Charles

Charles Giedeman has a Ph.D. in plant biology. He is retired from the position of horticulture coordinator at Southwestern Illinois College in St. Libory. His Gardening column appears every Saturday in the News-Democrat's Lifestyle section.

MOST RECENT COLUMN

How to cut lawn costs

Q. With the price of gasoline so high, what can I do to make my grass grow slower so that I do not have to mow it so often? Also, what other ideas can be used to keep the cost of lawn areas down?

ARCHIVE OF RECENT COLUMNS

Garlic-pepper spray will keep squirrels off of buds

Q. I have had my pink dogwood tree for three years. The first two years, it bloomed beautifully. This year it had only five blossoms on it. It is leafing out very nicely. I don't think it froze and other blooming trees in the area did well. What would cause the lack of blossoms?
Wood ear jelly indicates your tree is in trouble

Q. I have a few photos for you for three different questions. The first is a photo of a brownish jelly-like ear-shaped fungus. This growth is on our maple tree. Will it kill the tree? Can it be treated? This tree is over 60 feet tall and I have also found morel mushrooms growing under this tree this spring. I have always heard that the growth of morels is a sign that the tree is dying.
Spring rains give way to slimy, stinky growths

Q. I have unusual growths appearing in my mulch, on my lawn, in my compost areas. What are they? Some look like fingers, only bright red with a gray sticky goop. Others look like someone vomitted. And, finally, there is bright yellow stringy stuff that actually moves very slowly across my lawn. What is going on?