GardenWeb (and most other forums for that matter) has never realized how important location is when trying to help someone solve a problem. The problem with zones is they only take into consideration the expected winter time low temperature. So much of gardening success depends on soil type and summer heat conditions. Go to your profile and change the zone. In your zone, enter "7 Kansas City". You can leave off the state since all the Kansas Cities there are are in the same geographical space. If there is another Kansas City, then those people should add the state designation. Take a picture of the holes, too. It could be worm holes where the hole is tiny and then filled up with some of the soil.

A. - My cats do not eat my plants - and I have too many plants (and 2 cats) - so some reduction wouldn't hurt. We have a Show in 2 weeks - I am dreaming on selling everything that blooms and leaving myself only starters and leaves and most of the trailers - because it takes long time to get them to the size. The cat damage is mechanichal - fly in the window - all bets are out - everything is flying. Or they decide to walk through the lower light shelf. Regarding names and unnamed - and to show or not to show - you probably have green fingers, you can grow plants so they are looking great and blooming great - at some point you will want to try more elaborate varieties, something different - so going to the Shows, seeing what other people grow and may be bringing a starter or 2 is part of developing your hobby. Association with people with the same interests is enjoyable and useful - so joining the club can be attractive at some point. And how did it start - you got a NOID violet or 2 - and they did great for you. Regarding the lamp - you can get a skinny fluorescent fixture to fit your growing place - and you can hang it from the ceiling above your violets - and turn it on in the evenings. Depends how handy you are - you can figure out some inconspicuous support for T8 or T5 fixture - like they sell for above the kitchen counters - light stick or some similar name. Good Luck Irina

It appears as if it may be leaf miners (the larvae of various small flies which burrow in between the leaf layers) at work. Usually the plants will tolerate them with few problems unless the infestation becomes severe. Recommended organic control sprays are Neem, Pyola, Spinosad. Dave

Dear Kay from Ca, Thanks for the inquiry. Your problem is not with the grass so much as with the soil. It is either lacking nutrients, or compacted, or both. This is very typical with reconstruction. Your description is shows all the classic signs. The simple solution is to fertilize the new area more. Simply go out there now and fertilize only this area. The next time you fertilize after this, give this area more (0.5 Â 1 times more). Do this and see if this part of the lawn begins to Âcatch upÂ. My guess is it will within 3-6 months. If you see no response, you may need the area core cultivated or simply consider adding some compost to add nutrients. Without seeing the area, this is not an easy call to make. Again, thanks for the question and let me know if you have more. Respectfully Trey Rogers, The Briggs & Stratton Yard Doctor, YardDoctor.com