Question: Something is burrowing throughout my entire yard front and back. I have seen small rodents like shrews or voles in my cat's mouth but he doesn't seem to be able to control the problem. Would you please give me some advice on how to exterminate these critters? I can't have more cats!

Answer: I suspect you have voles. Because of your cat, I don't recommend poisons. Instead try to locate some of the voles' exit holes - about as big around as a half dollar. Set up a mouse trap, baited with peanut butter, next to each hole. Cover the trap and hole with a large inverted flower pot held down with a brick. Check daily.

Question: Alan, I have a potted gardenia that's been on my deck all summer. It has grown to about two feet in height and width. I know that it needs to be exposed to cool temperatures to produce flowers but when should I bring it inside? Should the buds be visible when I do? When can I prune this monster and not affect flower production?

Answer: On the gardenia, bring it inside now. Frost should be coming soon. If you wait until it gets much cooler, the shock of moving indoors will cause the buds to drop. Make sure the site you choose indoors is cool and sunny. Otherwise the buds will drop. Ideal time to prune a gardenia is after a flower cycle in the spring - either just before or just after you move it outdoors. Another good time is in early to mid summer after a flower cycle.

Question:  I am planning on planting a ground cover of English ivy. Is it too late?

Answer: It is about a month too late to plant English ivy from flats of cuttings. You are about at the cut off date for planting English ivy from pots. If you can find some ivy in one gallon pots, if the site is not too windy, if you mulch well for winter and if we have a mild winter or lots of snow cover, you can probably get away with planting English ivy until the end of October. But that is a lot of "ifs" and I would advise waiting until spring to plant your English ivy. Late planted ground covers should be watered in with Super Bio and SeaMate to encourage quick rooting. Baltic ivy looks quite similar to English ivy, but it is a little more winter hardy.

Incidentally, Vinca minor and Pachysandra can still be planted.

Question:  Next summer we are going to have to move large amounts of shrubbery in our yard. With my luck, I am sure it will be hot and dry just about the time we need to do this. Is there anything I can do to prepare for what I am sure will be a stressful move?

Answer: You can root prune the plants this fall. Determine the size of the ball you are going to make with each plant and drive a shovel straight down (full shovel blade depth) all the way around at the extremity of the ball.

Next summer two to three weeks before you plan on digging, spray the foliage with Messenger. A week before you dig, soak the root mass thoroughly with SeaMate and Super Bio. Keep the root mass soaked with SeaMate until you dig.

Use Myke on all plants except those in the Azalea and Rhododendron family during transplanting. Be sure the Myke makes contact with the roots.

Immediately after transplanting, drench the soil surrounding the ball with Super Bio and SeaMate and mist the foliage with Messenger.

For deciduous plants, if stress becomes apparent, repeat the SeaMate soil drenches (on both the ball and the immediate surrounding soil) on a weekly basis until improvement is noted. Be sure to keep all of the transplants thoroughly watered.

Where practical and when planting in sunny areas, cover the foliage with a single layer of burlap for the first 2-3 weeks. Keep the burlap moist as best you can.