Here are few questions sent into me via fax:

What is a good all purpose insecticide besides Sevin?

Sevin is great on turf because it kills above ground (ants, ticks, chinch bugs, sod webworms, mosquitoes, fleas and many more) and below ground (grubs and mole crickets) insects. For above ground insects in turf areas consider a product containing bifenthrin (Tirade, Bug Blaster), and for below ground insects use Grubz Out for long term control.

Sevin has been a go to product for a long time in gardens (as a dust and as a liquid). There are many general insecticides that you could replace it with in the garden. Neem Py is a natural product that is broad spectrum and works on insects as well as certain diseases (fungi). Insecticidal Soaps are also good for the garden. Vegetables Plus also has a very extensive label.

Viper dust is a good replacement for Sevin dust. Always read, understand, and follow product labels.

What is a good soil to compost ratio in a large raised garden?

The ratio of compost to soil depends on the native soil and the compost you are working with in your garden. If you have a tight, heavy clay soil, you would start with one part cotton burr compost to four parts clay. If you have basic loamy soil, you would use one part cotton burr compost to two parts soil. If your soil is real sandy, use one part cotton burr compost to one part sand. On athletic fields we mix four parts sand with one part cotton burr compost (often called 80:20 mix).

What is a good all purpose organic fertilizer?

You know I have to recommend a soil test. You could use the best fertilizer in the world; however, if you are missing one part of the plant nutrient puzzle, your crop will not reach its potential.

We have a lot of customers at Possum's use Flower Bed Amendment as a top dress fertilizer. With its blend of composted cotton burrs, composted cattle manure, feather meal, cottonseed meal, and alfalfa meal it would certainly have something in it to get your plants growing happily. The cotton burrs will also condition your soil and last for up to two years!

Something a little more conventional would be Bradfield Organics 5-5-5 or 3-1-5. These products are alfalfa based with other natural ingredients including humates (condition soil, make nutrients available), molasses (feeds microorganisms), and sulfate of potash. They are proven performers in the Lowcountry. Sustane and Espoma make other good organic products, so take a soil test and see which one will work best for you. I like using a mix of different organic products on my yard, so I get the different benefits each one has to offer.

Using Neptune's Harvest fish, seaweed, and fish and seaweed blend as a spray or a drench will also help increase your yield. Messenger has also proven itself in Lowcountry gardens and landscapes.

What is a good remedy for tiny black bugs in my compost?

You would need to identify them to see if they are good guys or bad guys. I'm surprised the heat of the composting process did not kill them. If they are bad guys, I'm sure we can help you rid your life of them.

Thank you for your questions and keep them coming!

Bill Lamson-Scribner can be reached during the week at Possum's Landscape and Pest Control Supply. Possum's has three locations 481 Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant (971-9601), 3325 Business Circle in North Charleston (760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd, in Charleston (766-1511). Bring your questions to a Possum's, fax your questions to 406-2700 or e-mail them to your newspaper's editors. You can also call in your questions to " The Garden Clinic", Saturdays from 12-1 p.m. on 1250 WTMA (The Big Talker).

Addressing your burning gardening questions