Pond – Plants for Ponds

There are three kinds of plants for ponds and most ponds need all three. Underwater plants, like anacharis, elodea and fanwort provide oxygen directly into the water. They soak up excess nutrients from fish waste

Pond – Winter care

Q: I have two small fish ponds that are connected. One is three feet deep and the other is about a foot deep. I have a pump that circulates the water between them. In cold weather, should I run the pump or leave

Shannon Pable's Comments on Hardiness Zones

Shannon Pable's Comments on Hardiness Zones I typically refer to the 11 zone, 1960 map since that's what is still being used on most plant labels and in reference material. I usually err on the side o

Drought – Watering Trees

Plants must have water to survive. Water in a plant is like blood in an animal. Water carries dissolved nutrients, sugars and hormones throughout the plant's system. Some plants can go for long periods rece

Wood Chips – Myths & Facts

I believe my third grade friend Thomas Robinson told me my first urban legend. With all the solemn believability a nine-year old could muster, he recounted the story of the Doberman found choking on two severed f

Tara Dillard's Comments on Hardiness Zones

Tara Dillard's Comments on Hardiness Zones I've always thought the map zones were bogus for our area. Designing heavily from south Dekalb to north Fulton, I know plants that will do well in my part of

Rain Barrels – Commercial Rain Harvesting Systems

The money- and water-saving potential for rainwater harvesting has caught the eye of companies in Atlanta. Water Reclamation Systems of Georgia will install an underground tank and pump to store and then distrib

Drought – Graywater Legal Issues

Gray Water – It's a Gray Areaby Ben EmanuelThe FlagpoleAthens, GA originally published October 17, 2007http://flagpole.com/News/CityPages/GrayWater/2007-10-17 It's in a time of severe drought th

Graywater – Using

The use of graywater is a gray subject. Graywater is water from your bathtub, laundry or bathroom sink. Plants are not harmed by normal amounts of detergent in graywater if you apply it immediately. Storing gray

Freeze Damage – Observations from Gardeners

Gardener notes on April 2007 freeze damageWhat Does Freeze Damage Look Like High and Low Temperatures for Mar. 8 – Apr 7 Daryl Pulis: 27 degrees Figs and Perennial Salvias black. Phlox, Sedum, Baptisia not

What to Expect After a Freeze

An extremely warm March in 2007 was followed by a two-day dip to 27 degrees on April 6 & 7.Chart of High and Low Temperatures Many plants had made substantial new growth before the cold snap. After the cold,

Freeze Damage – Identifying

The damage from cold weather sometimes doesn't show up for several days or even weeks. Diagnosing the problem is part memory and part detective work. Suspect cold damage when branch tips do not leaf out but

Protecting Plants from a Spring Cold Snap

Georgia is famous for spells of warm weather in early spring that are followed by a couple of days below freezing. The average last freeze is March 27 but a frost can occur as late as April 23. (Brrrr!!) If the

Rain Barrels – Downspout Diverter

One of the puzzles of connecting a rain barrel to your gutter system is how to divert water from the barrel when it is full. Some barrels have overflow pipes that take water to the ground in a safe manner. Anothe

Daryl Pulis' Comments on Hardiness Zones

Daryl Pulis' Comments on Hardiness Zones If I remember correctly, the proposed 2003 AHS Zone map was such a mess that it was recalled before the USDA would put its stamp on it. Tony Avent is on the committe

Rain Barrel – Homemade #3

Grant P. went all out with his design: I thought I'd send you a refined rain barrel design I worked out. I looked at your web site, and a few more, and then I made some changes and came up with the attache

Mary Kay Woodworth's Comments on Hardiness Zones

Mary Kay Woodworth's Comments on Hardiness Zones For the cautious and new gardener, I stick with 7b, but also suggest to try what you will. At some point gardeners will have that "come to Jesus"

Rain Barrel – Homemade #2

Bob R. got inventive! "When I moved into my home four years ago I had the roof drains piped to the downsloped edge of the woods. I have attached catch basins to two of them and connected them to each oth

IPM – Discussed and Defined

I value the opinion of Dr. Paul Guillebeau, entomologist and pesticide specialist at the University of Georgia. He tries his best to see both sides of the pesticide question without preaching too loudly. Below ar

Drought – Watering Rules – Current June, 2016

Starting on June 1, 2010, the following watering rules became law: Persons may irrigate outdoors daily for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants only