So what's 'core aerate' sounds painful? Well, I wouldn't do it to my worst enemy, but the lawn likes it. ;-) Basically, a core aerator punches holes 2-4" deep (depending on the setting and your soil) and around 5/8" across in the lawn, pulls up the cores it yanked, and drops them atop the lawn surface. It sounds like it'd do a huge amount of damage to it, but it doesn't. Core aeration will loosen a packed soil, allow water and nutrients to penetrate to the roots, and give you a good base for reseeding the lawn if that's what you want to do (if not, you don't have to). The grass survives the damage with no problems and actually grows better and thicker because of it. You only have to core aerate a lawn once a year or every other year if you're not using organic methods. Organic folks--like me--do it every now and again. I'm coming up on my first aeration this year, and only because I'm reseeding some elite grass.

Oh Cheryl! Sorry to hear Buddy's ailing. Small consolation: you've anticipated. If she doesn't pull through, you had time to say good-by. Did she follow you in the garden as my 18 y.o. kitty Michelle used to when she was able? A favorite patch of sun or catnip? Consider a special site dedicated to Buddy when the time comes. You & hubs can continue to cherish her memory together as you tend it. That's what I'm doing in memory of my Mom who died at 92 this spring, instilled my love of gardens. It really helps. My heart with you, Best, Ana

Ed, thanks for the vote of confidence. My knowledge of raising tomatoes is limited because in the past I used to have 24+ plants so losing one was not an issue. However, at my new house I am down to 12 plants due to space constraints so every plant counts. The fact that this plant is very young (I started it indoors from seed in mid-April) had me a little concerned. How does losing a branch affect the health of a plant? How does a plant recover? Is there anything that I should do to prevent the possiblity of disease? Should anything be applied to the wounded stem?

Hey Nik, yes root pruning is just what you described. A sharp shooter shovel works best since the blade is so long and sharp. I even sharpen mine on the grinder before I do any root pruning. The general rule with root pruning and removing top growth is that you need to remove nearly as much top growth as you do roots since the diminished roots will have to support supplying water and nutrients to all of that foliage left above. It's really a judgement call as to whether or not you root prune now. You will need to coddle those plants a bit for a while if you do and of course, there's the loss of the top growth... The longer they stay in the ground root pruned, the more new roots they'll grow but *for me* I would be disappointed to lose the top growth if it turned out to be for nothing :). If you choose to root prune now and it turns out to be unnecessary, you can always still give them the root stimulator to speed the recovery. Nik, the Demo Garden is something I think you would enjoy seeing. It is behind the annex where the extension office is. I can never remember if that is annex I or II. Also kind of behind and to the left of the criminal courts building. If the apartments that are in some of the pics I've seen of your place are where I think they are (across from City Park), then you are very close to the garden. The garden was constructed solely through donations and master gardener labor. We just did a children's gardening school there yesterday where the kids were supposed to make their own stepping stones and also some to leave in the garden with their names and hand prints on them....Mostly what we really made was a mess, LOL! Anyway, you're welcome to take a looksee anytime you'd like. Rose, I just removed a WELL established Texas Star Hibiscus a few weeks ago (temps were in the mid to high 90s). A friend of mine wanted it so I root pruned it. Some of those roots were about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter..... LOL, I was hopping up and down on that silly shovel! Just one of the VERY good advantages of living in the sticks is that no one can see me doing any of those great circus tricks. Anyhow, the hibiscus sulked for a day or two, but I continued to water it and a little over a week later when I took it out (cutting through a few more roots that were growing straight down), there were great new roots all over the root ball and it didn't bat an eye when my friend planted it out. I just put it in in an empty mulch bag since the root ball was pretty good size and she was going to plant it when she got home with it. I think this method really gives the plants a helping hand in recovering from the stresses of being relocated. Hope it helps you in the future too :). Kristi