This week, gardening columnist Don Kinzler fields questions about brown spots on a houseplant's foliage, how to control mealy bugs, and if an apple tree should be replanted elsewhere.

If you have an issue with ants climbing up the trunks of your fruit trees, for example, you may want to spread worm castings under the trees to keep the ants away.

Why worm castings may be the ideal insect control for your fruit trees A child’s hand holds dark, moist soil wiggling with worms.

Insects’ aversion to worm castings is demonstrated when they are spread over ant nests, causing the ants to remove themselves from the nests. If you have an issue with ants climbing up the trunks of ...