Q. I read about the root system on laurel hedges and my question is, how deep is the root system? I have 3 in my yard and I had the city come out to mark pipes, wires etc. There are power lines under the hedges. Would the roots go as deep as the lines? Beverly Hernandez
Puyallup, WA

A. Having removed a 15 foot wide 50 foot long row of Laurels from my first home in Lakewood (they were misplaced and growing into a fence and made my home look ridiculously small) I know how formidable these shrubs can be. Mine were probably planted 15-20 years earlier. I tried digging them by hand with a pick ax – but had to resort to getting a backhoe to dig them out. Usually utilities are at least two and a half to three feet down. In my case the root system was nearly that deep. If you have an old hedge there will likely be some roots approaching the lines but the majority of the root system will be in the top two feet of the soil. Of course they type of soil will also play a role in how deep the roots will go. Mine were in Sandy glacial till soil which allows for good root penetration. Heavier soil or hardpan can reduce the depth of a root system.

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Q. What is the best way to get rid of shot weed?  Marian Frost – Steilacoom

A.  This is the time of year when gardeners get very upset with shotweed.  It is a shortlived phenomenon and we soon forget how this weed sneaks up on us during the winter (it starts growing in January) because when the warmer weather comes it has faded into the background (lurking in your soil as seeds). For those not familiar with shotweed it is a prolific seeder that produces several elongated pods that eject their seed when the pods are ripe (shotweed image).  I even was “shot” in the eye when pulling out a plant with a mature pod.  They are related to watercress (one of the earliest salad crops) and are edible.  As  I mentioned they prefer cool weather and in my garden only show up in very cool shady spots during the summer.

I try to control this weed mechanically  by cultivating and pulling them as early as possible.  Mulching the soil after the seed season will bury the tiny seeds deep enough that they will not germinate unless brought back to the surface through tilling.  Herbicides would be my last choice for many reasons including the fact that most that will control shotweed will also impact your landscape plants as well.

I get a lot of shotweed in gravel pathways.  I am going to try a new method to control shotweed this year.  I just ordered a weed torch and I will try flaming the buggers.  The good thing about the weed torch is that it not only kills the plants but the dormant seeds as well.  I’ll let you all know how my weed torch does on these and other weeds.

To find out more about services see his website HorticultureGuy.com or find out his tried and tested garden supplies at Shop.HorticultureGuy.com

It is with great happiness that I begin my new garden column with The Suburban Times. I will be bringing you the latest and greatest information on keeping your yard and gardens beautiful and sustainable. As I did with my Tacoma News Tribune column I will be answering your garden questions. But with the new online flexibility I will also be bringing you ideas, local garden happenings (like plant sales and garden shows) and I hope to bring you short video segments via the Flip camcorder my mom bought to document all my son’s explorations (he is just hitting eight months old). For those of you who also watched my Comcast garden segments this is good news as Comcast shut down all the Local Origination facilities back in January in Washington state so Channel 76 is no longer. I have been told they still keep some of my segments available with On Demand.  Thanks to all of you who told me how much you missed my column.  Please spread the word of my new home with The Suburban Times.

In the Garden

Looking out my window this weekend almost makes me forget what a lion of a spring it has been so far. Where else can you get fours seasons in one day? We are now past the safe date for frost, which makes me very happy. If you are preparing garden beds for vegetables (or other reasons) test the soil to make sure it is not holding too much water. There are many locations in our area that have clay soil or a hardpan below keeping the soil quite moist. Working soil that is too moist ruins it’s structure. The way to test it is to take a handful of soil and mold it into a ball. Drop it back to the soil from a foot above. If it holds together in a ball then it is too wet to work. Raised beds are great in areas that stay wet late into the spring.

To ask me a gardening question go to the question form.

Upcoming Events:

This coming Saturday April 25th (9:30am–4pm) and Sunday April 26th (10am-3pm) the Pierce County Master Gardener’s Foundation will be having its annual plant sale. This is my favorite plant sale! Just leave some plants for me please. See their flyer for more information.

To find out more about services see his website HorticultureGuy.com or find out his tried and tested garden supplies at Shop.HorticultureGuy.com