Vegetables – Important First Steps
Q: I would like to start a vegetable garden in my back yard this spring. What will be the most important first step to this? A: The most important first step is to make sure your plants will grow in soft, organic
Q: For years I have had wonderful crops of figs. Some years in August they have turned sour and fuzzy on the tree, a total loss.. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? A: Souring usually happens when there
Spinosad – Not for Caterpillars on Collards
Q: A local nursery suggested spinosad to control caterpillars on collards. When I read the label, it said "In the state of Georgia, do not apply this product to Collards, Kale, Mustard Greens, Spinach, etc&
Pansies – Nitrate Fertilizer Use?
Q: I’ve heard that nitrate fertilizer is good for pansies in winter. I used Miracle Gro at planting but am hunting nitrate fertilizer. A: The only product I’m aware of is Osmocote 19-6-12 slow release fertilizer.
Fescue – Chicken Litter Compost?
Q: I have a fescue lawn. I want to use composted chicken litter as a supplement to fertilizer to drive root growth. What is the best time to apply the litter? How often? A: This is a situation where you'll
Q: In the last few years, mahonia has taken over our woods. What is the best way to get rid of it, and is there any way of keeping it from spreading so quickly? A: You need long-handled loppers, leather gloves an
Q: Squirrels are eating the leaf clusters out of my tree, dropping them to the ground, grabbing another cluster to eat, and on and on. The tree is beginning to have stripped branches from this, not to mention tha
Amaryllis – How To Move Bulbs?
Q: I have a dozen beautiful red amaryllis bulbs planted outdoors. They die back in the winter, sprout up in the late spring, and bloom during the summer. How should we move the bulbs? A: I assume you have hardy a
Christmas Ferns – Where To Buy Them?
Q: I saw a TV show about Christmas ferns. Where can a person buy them? A: My friends at the Georgia Perimeter College Native Plant Garden (gpcnativegarden.org) in south DeKalb county regularly conduct fern sales.
Q: I have a butterfly bush that is overgrown. When is it safe to prune it back and how far? A: You can cut back the butterfly bush anytime after the first killing frost. It will undoubtedly still have leaves on i
Rocks – Decorative Uses And Concerns
Q: My wife and son suggested we use decorative rocks in our flower beds instead of mulch. I had always heard that we should not use decorative rocks. What do you think? A: Stones are good for decor but not for mu
Q: This summer a neighbor and I planted tomatoes and peppers in a very sunny spot. The plants did well, but due to our inattention the plot became overwhelmed with weeds. Is there any way to eliminate weed seeds
Q: Do squirrels return to the nest they have built year after year? Do ‘new' squirrels ever move in to take over the nest? Should we remove the nests? A: Yes, gray squirrels do reuse their nests. Howe
Straw Mulch – Convenient Benefits
Q: Have you ever tried grinding straw for mulch? This year I dragged my ancient leaf chopper out of the basement and ran two bales of straw through it. I got the most beautiful golden mulch. It really creates a w
Acidity – Oak Leaves and Pine Needles
Q: I’ve heard that pine needles and oak leaves cause soil to be acid. Is this true? A: This is a gardening myth that should be put to rest. While needles and leaves from all trees may be acidic initially, they do
Q: Every spring I plant radishes and always have the same problem. The plants look beautiful and lush but only about one in ten turn into radishes. The rest just have a red stem going into the ground. A: This is
Creasy Greens – Basic Information
Q: My grandmother mentioned eating creasy greens in spring. She said they were a favorite mountain tonic. What can you tell me about them? A: Creasy greens, also called winter cress, are in the mustard family. Th
Collards – Controlling Whiteflys
Q: What are the small white flies on the back of my collard leaves? A: I wasn't previously familiar with whitefly damage to collards bit it turns out that this is an important pest. They suck sap from the l
Q: I need to fertilize my fescue lawn. I used starter fertilizer in September when overseeding. Should this month's fertilizer include a weed killer or pre-emergent? A: The general rule is that you can ap
Ash Trees – Spreading Diseases
Q: We were in Northern Ireland recently and noticed sick ash trees. Looks like their government is stepping in to control this disease. A: At least they don't seem to have emerald ash borer (EAB) insects in
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