QUESTION: What is the white material on my 'Golden Delicious' apple tree? It is on the young twigs. Also why are the buds swelling?

ANSWER: The white fuzzy material on the twigs are hairs that are naturally occurring. As the twigs mature the fuzz falls off Bud swell on your tree is a response to warm temperature. With the warm winter that we have experienced, fruit buds that have accumulated adequate chill hours, will begin to push toward flowering after enough growing degree hours have been accumulated. In general, fruit trees need from 800 to 1,600 growing degree hours of temperatures above 45 degrees. The only practical way to cause the flower buds to delay their bloom is PRAY FOR COLD WEATHER! If flowering occurs to early spring freezes will kill the flowers. No flowers, no fruit.

QUESTION: How can I get rid of gophers?

ANSWER: There are several ways but they involve killing the creatures. If you are not up to it then they will continue to expand their territory. One way is trapping which takes some skill and patience. I have had the best luck with poison baits. The best bait that I have used is "Walk Gopher Getter," which is available at Home Depot and several other nurseries. If not, ask for it by name. This gopher bait is milo or grain sorghum and has been treated with the poison and an anise type attractant. Gophers just love it. By placing it underground in their runs it is out of sight and not attractive to other non-target animals, i.e. birds, rodents or mammals. If gophers are allowed to breed in late winter or early spring their populations explode. With bait placed in runs, when one gopher succumbs to the bait other gopher who will occupy vacant runs will also be attracted to the bait and die. I know that for some this sounds harsh, but if you have better solutions there are a lot of people who would like to know about them.