Gardening Q and A
Rabbit – Relocating
Q: Being a nice guy I’m only wanting to catch the bunny that has been eating all the morsels in my garden and take him about four miles away and release him in a wooded area. I purchased a cage...
Branch Drop – Crapemyrtle
Q: I am puzzled by twigs dropping from the three-year old crepe myrtles in our yard. Three weeks ago I noticed several small branches had fallen around the tree. We did have more wind than usual the night before. A:...
Liquid Aeration Product
Q: I have a client that wants information about liquid aerating. I am not familiar with this. I looked online and the companies claim that it breaks the bonds that hold the clay particles together, releasing the water and leaving...
Peach – Scab disease
Q: Every year my peaches are covered by little black spots. I have golf ball sized fruit now and it is beginning again. What should I do? A: The better question might be “What should I have done?” Peach scab...
Maple Eyespot Gall
Q: Can you tell me what this is on my maple tree? It seems to be on much of the lower foliage. Your advice on this strange phenomenon will be appreciated. A: You have maple eyespot gall. Although it looks...
Squash Bugs – Control
Q: Do you have any suggestions for controlling squash bugs, not squash vine borers, on yellow squash? A: Adult squash bugs are a bit more than a half-inch long and a quarter-inch wide. They are dark brown, sometimes mottled with...
GG Gerbing azalea – Sport
Q: I have three large-leaved azaleas in my garden. The other day, I noticed two perfect lavender-colored (Formosa)blossoms on an otherwise all-white (G.G. Gerbing) plant. How unusual is this? A: It’s not unusual if you understand the origin of ‘Mrs....
Epsom Salts – Using on Hydrangea
Q: I’ve been thinking about the notion of applying Epsom salts to hydrangeas to enhance the blue color. Since I have an old box of Epsom salts, I would like to try this, but the word “salt” sent up a...
Oak Sower Gall
Q: We found a fuzzy, gall-like thing on an oak at Cochran Mill Nature Center. It was white with brownish-red spots. Upon breaking it open, it has seeds inside and appears to have pierced the bark of the tree branch...
Bridge – Building at Home
Q: I am making a small wood bridge to go over a creek. Is there a book that you know of that tells how to build a bridge? A: Here are some ideas off the Web: Petes Bridge Garden Bridge...
Gall Insect – on Turfgrass
Q: I’ve found what looks like little cotton balls in my turf. The mass is the same size as spittlebugs but the material is like cotton. Does not appear to be damaging the turf. Any ideas? A: Extension agent Todd...
Willow Leaf Beetle – Identification
Q: Little black bugs are eating the leaves off my corkscrew willow. What can I use to get rid of them? A: Willow leaf beetles are having a feast at your expense! They do great damage to the leaves but...
Confederate Rose – Rooting
Q: I have a six-foot high Confederate Rose. What is the best way to propagate this plant? Can it be rooted ? A: Propagating a Confederate rose is easy. You can do it by seeds or cuttings. After the flowers...
Hollyhock
Q: I bought a hollyhock plant last spring in Tennessee. It did nothing last year but profusely put out leaves. This spring it has grown enormously and has this weird looking thing on the end of the stalk. Is this...
Chicken Manure – Spreading too Much
Q: I spread chicken manure on my vegatable garden area in the spring. I think I got too large a concentration in a few areas because plants are dying. Is there anything I can do to neutralize the effect of...
Native Plants – Neighborhood Covenants
Q: This may seem like a ridiculous question, but the covenants for my subdivision require plant material “native to the southeastern U.S.”. What qualifies as “native”? The contract also refers to “natural” landscape material. Would you consider “pea gravel” a...
Windmill Palm – Flower
Q: I have a ten-year old windmill palm that has gotten a bloom on it for the first time. In fact it has three separate pods. Are these seeds or what? A: The yellow sprays are not seed – they...
Wire Cage – Remove When Planting a Tree
Q: Is it necessary to remove the wire cage from the root ball of a tree? I’ve discovered that the pin oak planted in my yard a year ago still has its cage. There seem to be varying opinions about...
