Q. We recently moved to Chesapeake from Connecticut. Our backyard is heavily wooded and borders on wetlands. The previous owners put hardware cloth and bark mulch down the side and back foundation beds. Every morning there are large areas of these beds that have been dug up by a nocturnal animal. Neighbors say raccoons do it. There are also deer and fox in the woods, but I don't think they are diggers.

Would it be advisable to replace the mulch with stone? There are no plants in these beds now but I would like to plant some shade-loving plants such as mums, astilbe, etc. My neighbor has stone in his foundation beds and there is no evidence of any digging. Should I spray the beds with Ropel? I have used it successfully to keep deer from eating tulips. We plan to clear out the undergrowth 20 feet back into the woods. Can you suggest a spray to control weeds, poison ivy and ticks?

- Mary Jane Bates, Chesapeake

A. I would not replace your mulch. Your digging problem is most likely caused by groundhogs moving in from the wetlands. Raccoons do very little digging except to get tulip bulbs. Some cities give you traps to trap groundhogs, which is the best way to eliminate them.

For your spraying you need a specific spray for weeds, poison ivy and ticks. Your best bet is to visit Mike Andruczyk, your Chesapeake extension horticultural officer. You can reach him at (757) 382-6348. He can advise you on what sprays you need. Ropel is primarily a deer and rabbit deterrent, and I don't believe you need it at present.

Astilbe is a good shade plant, along with hosta and others, but mums need sunshine.

Grow bananas for that lush look

Q. When I was growing up in Mobile, Ala., where the weather is almost exactly the same as Norfolk, we grew banana plants. We never had any bananas but grew them for their lush foliage. When winter came and the plants froze, we just cut them back to the ground. The next summer, they came back lush as ever. I also cut back my elephant ears and I will let you know how they do. My lavender overwintered for the most part without any problems other than not being as green and lush the next summer. Winter temperatures may be changing upward just enough that some of these plants may overwinter in the ground, especially if mulched. Hats off to Esty Vollrath, the banana plant expert. Few plants add as lush a feeling to a garden as bananas.

- Mary Zimlich, Norfolk

A. Thanks for the pro-banana letter; it ought to convert gardeners into banana growers. We have had several mild winters, but that could change, which would not be good for tropical plants. Norfolk is actually in zone 7 and Mobile is zone 8, which means Mobile is warmer.

Note: What's a gardener to do?

A couple of weeks ago, I received a mailing from Moss Acres, saying, "Moss is quickly becoming the environmentally responsible ground cover of choice as it requires no watering, fertilizing, mowing or pesticides of any kind. You can find Moss Acres on the Internet.

Later, a press kit arrived from Neudorff, based in Germany, saying there is now available a highly effective, fast-acting liquid formula called Moss Out for killing moss. Intended use is for roofs, walks and other hard surfaces. The product is said to be environmentally friendly.

Whether you love or hate moss, there is a product for you this year. "Environmentally friendly" are the key words on garden products for 2008.

Ask us No gardening questions are taken over the phone. For a faster reply, e-mail rstiffler@dejazzd.com [1] and include your city. Or, write to Robert Stiffler, The Virginian-Pilot, 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, VA 23510. Fax to (757) 446-2963. Limit letters to one or two questions. For an earlier reply, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope.