Q: I am moving up from south Florida. I love Japanese maple, white birch, and poplar trees that I've seen in New England. Will I be able to grow any of these in north Georgia? A: Japanese maple, in all its
Soapy Substance – Identify the Plant
Q: When I was a boy during the 1930s in Savannah, I found a wild plant which, if the leaves were rubbed, yielded a soapy substance. What was that plant? A: Wild plant expert Shannon Pable (shannonpable.com) says
Virginia Creeper – Killing the Vine
Q: Virginia creeper has invaded my azalea beds. What can I do to save my azaleas and kill the vine? A: Mix a small container of diluted glyphosate (Roundup, etc). Put a rubber glove on one hand and use it to pul
Plasticulture – Garden Improvements
Q: I read an article about gardeners using plasticulture to triple the yield of their vegetables. How can I use plastic to improve my backyard garden? A: As the word implies, plasticulture is the process of usin
Q: My front yard was sodded with bermuda ten years ago. Pine trees now shade most of the yard. What can I do to make the lawn more lush and pretty? A: Bermudagrass is not very shade tolerant but I'll give
Zoysia – Mowing and Fertlization
Q: I bought a reel mower for our zoysia lawn. At the 1.5″ setting the grass looks brown for several days after cutting. I fertilized once in the spring. A: Getting a good appearance after mowing is a balan
Q: I cut down a monster wisteria and treated with stump killer. Now sprouts are popping up all over my yard. Is there a way to get rid of them without digging up my lawn? A: The best thing you can apply now is p
Q: Last fall I transplanted a number of mature azaleas. This past spring I fertilized them with cottonseed meal. How often and when should I use this? A: Cottonseed meal makes an excellent fertilizer for azale
Q: Is it possible to have a root cellar in Georgia? A: I doubt it. In order to keep vegetables from rotting, the temperature needs to be 50 degrees or less with great air circulation. Deep soil temperatures are b
Q: I planted loropetalums seven years ago. I have never pruned them and they are fifteen feet tall. Can they be pruned or are they too high for pruning? A: I've pruned loropetalums every which way and they
Rose Buds – Protecting and Treating
Q: Many of my rose flowers look like the buds are being eaten before they completely open. Just pink petals around a gooey brown center. A: I think you have an infestation of tobacco budworm. Despite its name, th
Q: My husband and I are having a minor disagreement. He has become obsessed with weeds. He has learned their names and spends hours picking them. However, he pulls them and simply throws them back down. What is t
Q: How can I rid my yard of earwigs? They are at my house by the thousands. A: Earwigs mostly feed on plant debris but if numbers build large enough they will consume living plants. The damage isn't consi
St Augustine Lawns – Waiting to Mow
Q: I have a St Augustine grass lawn. There are tall spikes with seeds on them appearing now. Should I mow it after the seeds fall off to help thicken my lawn? A: St Augustine grass produces very few viable se
Fruit Trees With Fruit Big Enough to Eat
Q: I love to eat green crabapples but the trees aren't around anymore. What type of tree grows the fruit that is big enough to eat? A: Technically, crabapples are apple trees that bear fruit less than two
‘Lady in Red' Hydrangea – Producing Blue Flowers
Q: Why is my ‘Lady in Red' hydrangea blue? The flowers were red when I bought it but now they are blue. A: The flowers of ‘Lady in Red' are normally pinkish-white but they turn more lave
Okra Seeds – Soaking In Bleach
Q: Your vegetable book says that some gardeners soak okra seeds in pure bleach for five minutes to speed up sprouting time. Won't that hurt the seed? A: Like you, I was doubtful so I did a test recently. I
Q: The soil in the huge pots on my patio has dried out completely. The soil doesn't seem to retain water. What can I do? A: Empty the soil from the pots into a big plastic bag. For every cubic foot of soi
Q: Do you have a seed exchange to recommend for annuals and perennials (not including vegetables) that will do well here in metro Atlanta? A: I recently talked to a lady in Armuchee who has sold flower seed thr
Water Wells – Impact on Neighboring Water Supplies
Q: I have noticed in my neighborhood that folks are drilling water wells to irrigate their yards thereby skirting state-mandated watering bans. Will this have a negative impact on the ground water supply that we
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