154 Why Lawns? Puncturevine Control. Liquidambar Tree

One gardening trend that is beginning to take hold throughout the country is reducing the size of your lawn. What is our attraction to lawns in the first place? We talk with author Thomas Mickey. He wrote the book, "America’s Romance with the English Garden".

Retired college horticulture professor Debbie Flower discusses a nasty weed, especially disliked by barefoot children and mountain bikers, puncture vine.

And, the UC Davis Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus, Warren Roberts, tells us about an outstanding, widely planted tree for fall color, the Sweet Gum, also known as the Liquidambar tree. But it certainly has its drawbacks. It’s our Plant of the Week!

Podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory, it’s episode 154 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery.

And we will do it all in just a little over 30 minutes. Let’s go!

November through January, the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast slows its production schedule. Look for new episodes each Friday. In February, we will return to twice a week podcasts, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Pictured: A (Too) Big Lawn

Links: The New Garden Basics with Farmer Fred Newsletter Smart Pots Dave Wilson Nursery Book: America’s Romance with the English Garden, by Thomas Mickey AmericanGardening.net (Thomas Mickey website) UCANR Soil Solarization Tips (reducing a lawn, for example) FF Rant: Lawn, Begone! UCANR Puncturevine Control Information Rincon-Vitova Insectaries (for weevils to control puncturevine) Farmer Fred Rant: How to Stop Those Nasty Liquidambar Balls

More episodes and info (including transcripts) available at Garden Basics with Farmer Fred

Got a garden question? • Leave an audio question without making a phone call via Speakpipe, at https://www.speakpipe.com/gardenbasics • Call or text us the question: 916-292-8964. • E-mail: fred@farmerfred.com

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