Q: How can I keep opossums out of my garden? I have fruit trees, and I’m pretty sure they are eating the fruit right off the trees.
A: Opossums are good climbers, so any fence you put up will not keep them out. Look for spaces that might provide shelter, since they are more likely to forage close to home. Garden sheds, crawl spaces, and areas under decks or patios are attractive to opossums (and other critters). Secure access to these areas with chicken wire or hardware cloth. Clear away brush or stored wood, and trim up shrubs that may provide cover. Do not leave pet food outside since this attracts raccoons, skunks, and rodents in addition to opossums. Remove fallen fruit promptly for the same reason. A motion-activated sprinkler will repel any unwanted nighttime visitors without harming them.
Q: My trees and perennial shrubs were damaged by the latest heatwave. Many of the outermost leaves are shriveled and brown. Now that the heat has subsided, there is a lot of new growth at the branch tips. Should I just prune these branches now, or wait until they go dormant? They look strange!
A: Now that it is late in the growing season, I would leave the branches and new growth alone. Plants expend a considerable amount of energy to produce new leaves, and those leaves are producing energy for the rest of the plant (whereas the dead leaves are not). Even though it looks weird, leave the new growth alone. Once the leaves have fallen, you can prune as usual.
Q: My garden soil forms a crusty top layer that looks dry, but when I dig a little I find that the solid is either moist or even muddy underneath. Is there an easy way to tell whether I need to water or not?
A: You can purchase a soil core sampler probe, which will enable you to see a cross-section of your soil with less effort. As you’ve learned, just because the soil looks parched (even cracked) it might not be dry even half an inch below the surface. Bending down and digging around with a hand trowel can be tiresome and rough on the back. This tool will enable you to test in several different spots, so it is also useful for finding irrigation leaks.
Adding organic matter (compost, manure, or even kitchen scraps) will improve the texture so that eventually the soil will stop forming a crust.