I have a lot of irises. They have something that looks like a seed pod on top. Do I wait for them to drop off or what do I do with it?

John Marra:
"Seed pods should be removed from the irises. Go down as close to the plant with that stalk and clip it off. Leaving the seed heads on will reduce the floral display next year."
---
Wilma from Louisa says...
Last summer, we had either voles or moles in our yard for the first time ever. Primarily they were under an older pin oak. This year, we had the cicadas come up from under the tree. We were just wondering if we had the moles/voles because the cicadas coming up through the ground. This year we didn’t have them.

John Marra:
"The voles eat plant material. Moles eat grubs and cicadas in the ground as they come up. As for your lack of these, I'm not certain, but I am certain the voles didn't eat the cicadas."
---
Sarah in Scott Depot asks...
We built a pergola this summer. Carpenter bees have been boring into it. Should I fill the holes with something? What? How do you get rid of the bees?

John Marra:
"Control of carpenter bees is prevented by constructing with pressure treated wood or wood with oil based paint. However, in your case, an application of liquid Sevin in the early spring will prevent bees from boring. You need not fill the holes because the female will not use the same hole."
---
I have a climatis that the leaves die after they bloom every year. What causes this?

John Marra:
"You have a disease called Botrytis. It can be controlled by use of a general garden fungicide every two weeks during the summer."
---
Ed from Lavalette asks...
What makes some of my corn turn brown?

John Marra:
"Corn leaves that turn brown basically happen because lack of water. This year should not be that case. It could be burning from over fertilization which I feel is the case."
---
Larry from River, KY asks...
When should I quit planting sweet corn?

John Marra:
"Sweet corn can be bought with maturity at 65 days. That means you can plant corn as late as the end of July and still get a good harvest."
---
Jane asks...
We just put a garden in a new place where there has never been a garden. How do the potato bugs know to go to the potatoes and the bean bugs to the beans? Where do they come from?

John Marra:
"Insects don't have much of a brain but they do get hungry. If one scout finds a delicious meal somewhere they send the message back to others. Once they're in that ground they'll be there until next year and the next year and the next year."