The herb garden is in full swing. Some plants, like cilantro, won't last much longer and others, like basil, need to be pinched back to keep them branching and flush with leaves. Either way, make good use of them. There's no better way to use herbs than fresh, but if you're blessed with a surplus, making herbal vinegars is a quick way to extend their useful life. They make great gifts, too.

• Making Herbal Vinegars
• Start a Kitchen Garden with Herbs

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

My lavender plants are just about to bloom. They don't get very large in my area, but I look forward to them just the same. I know I'm not alone there. Last year I wrote about how many uses there were for lavender and you responded with even more. So I've left the suggestions in the comment section and I welcome even more.  How do you use lavender?

Learn more: Growing Lavender | Lavender Aroma Therapy | Lavender Moth Repellent

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Mothballs have been around so long that we tend to view them as innocuous. That and the recent claims that mothballs or flakes can be used to deter everything from deer to snakes to bad neighbors has made them seem like a cheap and easy solution to many pest problems. While the odor may keep your neighbors at bay, they are fascinating objects to children, pets and wildlife, any of whom could accidentally ingest them and suffer severe health problems and possibly death.

I'm sharing this again because am still getting tips from readers about using mothballs to discourage animals in the garden. I hesitate reprinting the tips, because I don't think most people realize how toxic the naphthalene traditionally used in mothballs is. Adults exposed to the fumes of naphthalene can suffer headache, nausea, difficulty breathing and even seizures. Young children mistake mothballs for candy and curious pets who accidentally ingest mothballs can suffer kidney failure. Paradichlorobenzene, which is replacing naphthalene, hasn't been as extensively studied, but is also considered toxic.

There are still garden articles, many from respected sources, that suggest mothballs as deterrents, but mothballs are a registered pesticide and should only be used according to label instructions. If you are still determined to give them a try, at least place them out in an enclosed container, like a coffee can with holes punched in the lid.

Read more:

Mothballs - Regulation, Proper Uses and Alternatives
National Pesticide Information Center

There are alternatives to the dangers of mothballs
Oregon State University Extension

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A lot of us have been having damp or humid summers and while a little water is great, too much prolonged dampness can cause all kinds of problems. Even the seemingly carefree plants, like clematis, can start acting up. Problems that take hold in June may not start showing symptoms until July, so keep a close eye on your plants.

If your clematis was blooming fine and now the stems and leaves are starting to look brown, it may not be because they need more water. It could very easily be a case of clematis wilt, a fungus disease that loves damp foliage and humid weather. The good news is that it doesn't attack the clematis roots. The bad news is that all affected portions will need to be cut back. Here are some tips for avoiding and dealing with clematis wilt.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti