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Q I have tried several times to buy a product you recommend all the time. You refer to it as rock dust, however when I try to buy it they always tell me they've never heard of it. We live on the coast, so I think our soil would really benefit from this product. Is rock dust known by any other nmae? Love listening to you on ABC and find the information in Habitat so helpful » Dianne Gouldsmith, Kallaroo
A The product is called Rock Dust Plus and it is made by No Frills Fertilisers. It's a blend of 17 ingredients that provides both nutritional and physical benefits and will add to the flavour and mineral density of home-grown produce by imparting the nutrients, minerals and trace elements from rock dusts and its other ingredients. I know it is available from Waldecks nurseries, Zanthorrea Nursery in Maida Vale, Environment House in Bayswater, Guildford Town Garden Centre in Guildford and Everbloom Garden Centre, Sawyers Valley. Visit the website (nofrills.net.au) for a full list of stockists.

Q I am building a new house in a coastal region and want to plant a dry garden out front. I would like three trees to create a grove-like effect with shade anf a vertical element.I'd like a tree that's about 6m-83 tall with a thin, straight trunk, a reasonably sparse canopy and that isn't too bad at dropping limbs. Am I dreaming?» Libbi Nicholson, Floreat
A There are some beautiful mallees and small eucalyptus taht would fit te bill:E. synandra, E. victrix. E. woodwardii and E. kingsmillii.

Q I have started to grow giant pumpkins and our soil has quite a lot of clay in it. I want to know what the best fertiliser is for making them bigger becuase my biggest last year was about 30kg and I am aiming for about 50kg. this is one of my first gardening projects because I am only 12. » Eamon Pascoe, Narrogin
A Well done Eamon. Pumpkins need to be allowed to run along the ground. At some points where the stem touches the ground, build up the soil with potting mix and compost, as this will keep feeding the whole plant. Only leave a few pumpkins on so all the energy goes into them. Get some No Frills Fertiliser rock dust and apply a fortnightly dose of liquid fish fertiliser and seaweed solution.

Q Last June I found rust on my four Seduction standard roses. I sprayed with Trifoeinw, pruned, then sprayed with lime sulphur, picking off all the leaves. After the first blooming, the rust returned with a vengeance. I have sprayed alternate weeks with Triforine anf Mancozeb Plus. » Chris Dodd, Waikiki
A Rust is one of the most difficult funguses to control. The best thing is copper oxychloride, which you can mix in water and spray on the backs of the leaves. A week later, apply a seaweed solution to the leaves. You may need to do another spray in six weeks time. Always pick up any leaves off the ground to stop re-infection.

Q Earlier this year you answered a question about lemons dropping off. You suggested getting some trace elements to solve the problem. My husband went to Bunnings and was sold a product, made in China, called Mnutec Trace Elements. What a find - we now have a tree loaded with lemons, much to his delight. He had tried many other fertilisers without success» Margaret and Philip Bunney, Craigie
A As our soils are so depleted in many minerals we have to add them. You will be pleased to know there are quite a few WA fertilisers with all the micronutrients needed for fruiting trees. GrowSafe, Eco-prime and No Frills Fertilisers Rock Dust have all been developed for our soils. You will find them in nurseries.

QThis plant popped up in our garden. Minute white flowers are forming along the stems What is it? Michael Johns,Willetton
AIt looks like Breynia disticha,commonly known as the snow bush because the leaves turn pink and white when they are young. They are very hardy and belong to the spurge family. They prefer a shady spot, where the leaf color is more pronounced. They were seen in many of older gardens because they are such hardy, dry shade plants.

Q I have been losing 7-8 golf balls each summer. They develop a brown spotting, which then covers the leaf, spreading over the plant which eventually dies. The plants appear to be getting sufficient water and i lightly fertilise with dynamic lifter once a year. I have talked to a few people who think it is heat related (stress). I have given them seasol and hand watered and yet they continue to decline. Brian Morrison, Perth
AThey are definitely heat stressed and showing signs of nutrient deficiencies. Although you are feeding them, the plants cannot access the fertiliser because the pH of the soil is too high and water may not be penetrating to the entire root mass. This causes stress to the plant and they become susceptible to fungal attack and sunburn. Apply a wetting agent (you may need to do this twice) and thoroughly water the entire area. Apply a liquid feed of seaweed solution mixed with No Frills Hydro Fish every fortnight until you see improvement in the leaves.