Trees – Planting Correctly

It is said that when you plant a tree you give a gift to future generations. Fall is an excellent time to plant trees in your landscape. The soil is warm, so roots are encouraged to rapidly elongate. Days are a b

Trees – Recovering from Storm Damage

Trees are well adapted to survive for long periods of time in spite of numerous and severe injuries. The great majority of damaged trees will survive, recover, and continue to provide the shade and screen we ask

Trees – Straightening When Bent

Younger and smaller trees in landscape settings that are bent or leaning can be gently straightened by staking with a guy rope. Do not wrap wire padded by a water hose around the trunk. Nylon strap or cotton clot

UGA Tree Publications

The following publications are available online from the University of Georgia: Fast Growing Shade Trees Trees for Georgia Watering Trees Pruning Shade Trees Wetland Trees and Shrubs Treehouse Construction Nature

Azalea – Growing, Pests and Propagating

Few plants are as beautiful and as varied as the azalea. These shrubs are emblematic of spring in Georgia. A recent University of Georgia publication provides all you need to know to have success with this great

Azalea and Rhododendron – Difference

According to David C. Zlesak at the University of Minnesota: "Rhododendrons and azaleas are spectacular flowering shrubs that add splashes of bright color to the landscape. What are commonly known as rhodod

Azalea Pruning and Lace Bugs

Azalea blooms are only a memory in June but there are still things to do for their care. If the shrubs are threatening to grow too tall, now is the perfect time to remove some of the taller branches. Use a hand p

Azalea – Planting Properly

In high dudgeon, Dave Hudak wrote me recently: “Last year I planted twenty one azaleas. They were inexpensive one gallon plants. Eight died within seven months. I’ve noticed that the others are struggling but sti

Azaleas – Late Spring/Early Summer Pruning

If your azalea has been growing in a spot for a few years, it has likely reached the size you want. But the size an azalea would like to achieve might not agree with the size you'd like. If your azalea has

Bamboo – Clumping

A reader recently asked me "Is there a recommended clumping bamboo for Atlanta? I need one that grows to sixteen feet or more." Though it grows tall like a tree, bamboo is actually a giant grass. It s

Boxwood – Varieties

In the nursery trade there are basically two species of Boxwood available, English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and Japanese Boxwood (Buxus microphylla). English Boxwood is native to southern Europe, northern Afr

Boxwood – Warts on Stem

Not long ago I discussed the symptoms of boxwood leaf miners. If your boxwood leaves do not have the characteristic reddish-yellow mottling caused by the miner, what else could cause a thinning, unhealthy shrub?

Crapemyrtle – Pruned Correctly – Pictures

In my view, a well-pruned crapemyrtle has architectural form and a graceful appearance.

Crapemyrtle – Pruned Poorly – Pictures

A poorly-pruned crapemyrtle is one where the top has been thoughtlessly hacked back to a knob.

Crapemyrtle Cultivars

Crape myrtles are one of the most beautiful and carefree flowering plants of the Southern landscape. There are many different cultivars, with different flower colors and growing heights. This publication from the

Crapemyrtle Pruning – Shannon Pable's Comments

"Here’s how I look at it: "For pollarding, you cut above the last pollarded cut; i.e. cut the newer wood and avoid cutting into the older wood…leaving some existing lateral branching. By cutting

Crapemyrtle Pruning – Art Morris' Comments

I think we all agree that the preferable treatment for a crape is to plant in the right place and let it go. Pollarding is intended to remove only the annual sprouts from a pollard head, and is done correctly wit

Crapemyrtle Pruning – Steve Pettis' Comments

I like the description here. Dr. Ed Gillman describes pollarding at his site linked here that "Pollarding is an old technique for maintaining trees at a small size. It has proven itself as a reliable, durab

Crapemyrtle, Crape Myrtle, Crepe Myrtle – Which is Correct?

When I exhorted my radio listeners to check out my web pages on how to prune crapemyrtles, several sent plaintive notes that they simply could not find the correct pages on my website. The reason is that I spell

Daphne – Special Soil

The smell from the daphne shrubs growing near my front door has been intoxicating this year. I have two there, in front of three small gardenias, assuring my family of a perfumed entry each day for months. I have