1.  Weed & Feed

2.  Gophers, Moles, Mice

3.  Lack of Water

4.  Too Much Water

5.  Deer, Elk, Moose

6.  Rocky, Sandy or Clay Soil

7.  Weed Whackers

8.  Lumber Mill  Yard Waste (Black in color) usually contains crankcase oil.  They usually give it
     away.   What a deal I have for you!!!!!

9.  Cedar Mulch  (Mills generally give it away and we noticed lately the chains are selling it by the
     bag.
10.  Family pets  (We all know what they do to kill some of our favorite things in the garden.)
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Gardening With Toni
 By Toni Hollingsworth
         Over the years I have read many books on gardening. The memorable ones are written by enthusiastic middle aged gardeners-folks who have spent a lifetime in their gardens. Many of the best books are available at the library or, at very reasonable prices, in used book stores. These books are all of timeless information that is helpful for beginning or advanced gardeners.
         The Time Life Encyclopedia of Gardening by James Underwood Crocket, a set of twelve books, is an accurate source of information on every aspect of gardening. It can be used by gardeners all over the country because, unlike many encyclopedias, the zone information is accurate.
       The Fragrant Year by Helen Van Pelt Wilson and Leonie Bell is a magical trip through the scented yards of two dedicated American gardeners.. This is a classic book on fragrant perennials, trees and shrubs-I have never read a better one.
      Annuals and Bedding Plants  by Nigel Colborn provides loads of ideas for using unusual annuals and ornamental vegetables in many garden situations.
     The Country Garden by Josephine Nuese is filled with practical ideas for gardening and garden design. This is another classic. Although it is written by a Connecticut gardener from a slightly warmer zone than ours, most of the information is useful here. Other books that help with garden design include: Color In My Garden by Louise Beebe Wilder and Colour Schemes for the Flower Garden by Gertrude Jekyll.
      Books for the flower arranger include: Flower Decoration by Constance Spry; Summer and Autumn Flowers by Constance Spry; Shrub Gardening for Flower Arrangement by Sybil Emberton; and Flower Decoration In The House by Gertrude Jekyll.
       When experiencing weed, insect or disease problems in the garden, when a picture is worth a thousand words-The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control by Barbara Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley; or Weeds of the West by Tom D. Whitson, will have the answer.
        A new book on roses for cold places Lois Hole's Rose Favorites, by Lois Hole has accurate information and superior color photos of the best roses for our area. Lois Hole and her husband own Hole's Nursery in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
       For vegetable gardeners, The Kitchen Garden Cookbook by Sylvia Thompson suggests fresh ideas on cooking with all kinds of things from the garden. Ms.Thompson, who says " I'm ravenous to taste everything there is to grow and taste-I want to explore all the possibilities of my garden.", has combined her gardening and culinary skills in a fascinating book.
       Look up plants that are new to you and pay particular attention to zone information. While we live in plant Zone 5 (five) -20 to -10 degrees, this is a cold dry Zone 5 (five)-more like a warm Zone 4 ( four)-30 to -20 degrees. Many broad leafed evergreens listed for Zone 5 ( like Japanese hollies and Rhododendrons) struggle in Boundary County. Generally speaking, plants requiring "deep, rich, moist soil, and or warm temperatures" should be avoided; while plants requiring "well drained, lean soils and cool temperatures" will do well here.
  Happy Gardening!
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