Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs Tommy Irvin, Commissioner. Call Consumer Q's hotline at 1-800282-5852.

Q: I think I have bees in my wall. What can I do?

A: Squirt wasp and hornet spray into the bees' entry hole in your home's outside wall at dusk to kill the bees. After several days you should retreat. You will then have to remove the hive by cutting the wallboard inside the house, or cockroaches, mice and ants will make a home there.

Q: Are there any laws against keeping bees? My neighbor says he is afraid of them.

A: No government may enact any laws or ordinances to prohibit beekeeping with the exception of specific zoning ordinances. Your neighbor may have had a bad experience with wasps or hornets. Educating your neighbor about the gentleness of domestic bees, giving him some honey and explaining their value in pollination will go a long way toward eliminating his fears.

Q: I have clay soil and am having a really tough time with my garden. Can you provide me with any suggestions on how to overcome this?

A: If your garden has heavy clay soil, it really is a challenge. Heavy clay drains slowly, meaning it stays saturated longer after rain or irrigation. Then, when the sun finally comes out and the soil dries, it forms a hard, cracked surface. On the bright side, clay soils are usually richer in nutrients than sandy soils are. And clay's tendency to hold water tightly can be an advantage. Here are some tips for making clay soil more manageable and easier to work.

Tools and materials. Soil test kit or commercial test, organic mulches: compost and aged manure, straw, wheelbarrow or cart, shovel, rake, cover crop (clover or oats).

Test soil pH and adjust as necessary. Clay soils are rich in nutrients, but if the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, those nutrients won't be available to the plants. Contact your county extension agent for a test kit or send a sample to a soil testing lab, then follow the recommendations for adjusting pH. For most garden plants, a pH of 6.3 is ideal. Find a lab near you by checking in your telephone directory, or by calling your local cooperative extension office.

Add organic matter. This helps improve drainage and lighten heavy soil. It also provides nutrients for beneficial soil microorganisms which will, in turn, also help improve the soil. Before planting in spring, add compost and aged manure. A 2to 3-inch layer worked with the soil to shovel depth is a good amount. Throughout the growing season, mulch with organic materials like grass clippings, shredded leaves, or additional compost. Since soil microorganisms literally "eat" organic matter, make a habit of continually adding it to your soil.

Build raised beds. Because clay soils hold water, creating raised beds can help improve drainage by encouraging water to run off. Raised beds can be a simple mound of soil, or can be constructed out of wood, brick or stone. To lessen compaction, size the beds so you can reach the middle without stepping in the bed.

Plant a cover crop. A cover crop is live a living mulch. In the southern warmer regions, crimson clover and oats are commonly used. Sowing should take place after the last crops have been harvested. In spring, simply till the plants into the soil, adding yet more precious organic matter.

Tips. Improving soil takes time, so don't expect overnight results. On the other hand, if you follow the above steps you should notice some improvement each year. Within a few years, you'll have rich, plantfriendly soil. Add compost any time. However, if you are tilling in fresh or uncomposted organic matter, such as a cover crop, leaves, or straw, wait at least a few weeks before planting to allow the material to break down.

If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may write the Office of Public Affairs, Room 224, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta 30334 or call 1-800-282-5852.