Within the last week, my perfectly healthy looking tomatoes (not just the ones sitting on the ground) have developed dark sunken patches on the bottom of the fruit. What can I do?

When we have rains followed by drought or near drought conditions—which seems rather common in this region—tomatoes can get a condition called “blossom end rot.” This condition is a disorder caused by a calcium deficiency. It can be caused by soil moisture fluctuations, as well as by excessive plant growth due to too much nitrogen given as fertilizer. There is nothing you can do about the tomatoes that are already affected. However, this condition can be prevented by avoiding over fertilization, applying regular irrigation to simulate an inch of rainfall per week, and mulching to maintain the soil moisture levels. For information about blossom end rot on tomatoes, see: http://www.ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3117.html

I use the "kid and a flashlight" technique: Send your child, or someone else’s, out after dark with a flashlight and a container with a little water in it. Then, either wearing vinyl gloves or not, they pick the slugs off the plants and put them in the container. By the next day, the slugs will drown and you can put them in the compost heap! You can do all of this yourself if you don’t mind being the neighborhood curiosity. For more information than you probably want to know about slugs, try the following Web site: http://wwwagcomm.ads.orst.edu/AgComWebFile/EdMat/FS277.pdf

Something seems to be killing my oak tree. It is summer time and the leaves are falling and discolored. My neighbors are concerned that it will affect their trees. Can you advise?

Should I not grow holly in my yard because I have children? I’ve heard the berries are poisonous.

Yes, holly berries are poisonous. Generally speaking, children will not tend to eat plants that are poisonous simply because they do not taste good. However, sometimes bright or interesting berries, such as those on a holly or yew shrub, are interesting to children and they may be inclined to try them out. To be on the safe side, you could remove any berries that would be within reach of children. Also talk to them about poisonous plants and how important it is not to put any plant material in their mouths unless they have checked it with an adult. Have repeated conversations with your children whenever there is an opportunity, such as while playing in the yard or going to a park. If children know they shouldn’t eat plants arbitrarily because they may make them sick, then they probably will not eat them. It is wise, nonetheless, not to plant potentially poisonous plants if you have small children or live in a day care setting. Cornell University has a comprehensive list of poisonous plants at http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/comlist.html

I’ve heard that I can prune my chrysanthemums in the summer so that they are fuller. When is it appropriate to do this?

Yes, for a fuller plant with more blossoms you can prune your chrysanthemums two or three times before mid July. You should pinch the tips out of the tops of the stems so that about four inches of growth remains. This will encourage side branching and more blooms. If you are interested in reading more about mums, go to http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1219.html