I have several peach trees growing from pits I planted this past spring. What do I need to do to protect them from this winter’s cold temperatures?

If you have growth now (as we have with one peach pit), make sure to cover the growing tree with a fine-wired fence like a high chicken wire, and fill it with leaves. If these trees are a little further along, say in the second year if growth, put a snow fence around the tree and fill with leaves to the top of the snow fence. This too, will protect the trunks from rabbit, voles and field mice.

Peach trees grow here in southern and central Minnesota, but they do need to be protected every season for at least four years of growth.

This past summer my cats and the neighborhood cats used my garden for their litterbox. What can I do to prevent this next season?

Lay some chicken wire in the garden where you have seen the cats doing their business. It is just like the dogs marking a tree, stump, or a flower along the boulevard, and then come back to the same spot again and again. Do any other gardeners have any remedies for this problem?

Slugs and snails chewed my hosta leaves this late summer. Will the chewing of the leaves kill the plants?

No, the plants will be fine next season. Just like when a hail storm hits the hosta, rhubarb plants and other perennials, the plants come back the following spring. Hosta plants do not need to be covered with any mulch this fall.

Now, I’ve got a few questions for you gardeners who grow black raspberries in your garden. When is the best time to prune these raspberries? Is it necessary to fertilize these raspberries? Do you need to add mulch this fall before the snow falls?

Hank Wessels is a Master Gardener in Watonwan County. He welcomes questions and comments from readers. He may be reached at 601 1st St. SW, Madelia, MN 56062, hwdw@madtelco.net or (507) 642-8479.