You decide. The hosta is one of the faster growing varieties. Its water and nutrient wants/needs are compatible with Acer p. as well. The roots will become entangled quickly, but the acer is very forgiving of hard root prunes if done while dormant, and the hosta won't care about being chopped into quarters, either. ;o) Al

I would plant your evergreens now and the deciduous fruit trees when dormant. Any new deciduous fruit trees I would buy bareroot in January. Select your trees carefully noting their chilling requirement and favored pollinizers. Growing fruit trees for eventual use as firewood is not cost effective. Al

My asparagus is mostly dead, both the seeded and the roots. I suspect there was too much competition from the raspberries, but I have no explanation for the seeded plants since there wasn't anything nearby. I've been fortunate to be able to grow almost anything in our soil, but have never been able to keep asparagus roots alive in my 25 years working in this garden. When I first tried about 20 years ago, I dug up the mostly dead roots and did find that a number of worms were eating on them. So back then, before I switched to organic gardening, I used Seven, and that seemed to give them another year or two, but they eventually succumbed. Does anyone have any ideas?

That's a great idea !! Even big animals like deers HATE rosemary and stay away from them. The below forum suggested planting chives to deter spider-mites. I have chives right next to my Golden Celebration rose in partial shade, and it's freed of pests. Other suggestions from below link: http://www.420magazine.com/forums/problems-pests-disease-control/152777-ridiculously-simple-spider-mite-repellent.html * Garlic – aphids, cowpea curculio, flea beetles, Japanese beetles, Mexican been leaf beetles, root maggots, spider mites and squash vine borers * Onion – bean leaf beetle, cabbage loopers, carrot flies, flea beetles, harlequin bugs, Mexican bean leaf beetles, mice, rabbits, spider mites and squash vine borers * Dill – aphids, cabbage moths and spider mites * Fennel – aphids, slugs, snails and spider mites * Coriander/Cilantro – aphids, Colorado potato beetles and spider mites * Chives – aphids, Japanese beetles and spider mites * Cloves – cowpea curculio, spider mites and squash vine borers H