Gardening Q and A
Papyrus – Living Conditions
Q: I bought a one gallon pot of papyrus back in the spring. Not knowing any better I simply planted it in the dirt. It’s six feet tall, but everything I read tells me it should be in water. A:...
Exposed Tree Roots – Cover
Q: What do you do about exposed tree roots? A: In most cases, the large exposed roots are near the tree trunk. The all-important slender feeder roots are buried near the drip line and beyond. If that’s your situation, cover...
Tree Stump – Wait Before Planting a New Tree
Q: How long can I wait before planting a new tree where we have had a stump ground? A: It all depends on how many wood chips are left mixed with the soil. If there are a lot, the soil...
Phosphorus – Soil Testing
Q: Our garden center is no longer carrying any basic fertilizer with phosphorus. They have 10-0-10 etc. Their explanation is that it’s more friendly to the environment. What is your take on this? A: I think the phosphorus pollution in...
Trees – Worm Removal
Q: Please tell me where I can get the material to go around pecan tree to keep worms off. A: Tanglefoot is a sticky product that is applied to pecan trees to prevent pecan weevil damage and to rhododendron to...
Norfolk Pine – Pruning
Q: My friend has had a Norfolk pine for 32 years that has grown just short of the ceiling. Should she raise the roof or can it be pruned in some way? A: She can remove the top now but...
Insecticidal Soap – Commercial vs Homemade
Q: I saw in your email garden newsletter that you recommend commercial insecticidal soap, not home-made. Why can’t I make my own stuff? A: I usually hear of people using dish detergent in their insecticide concoctions, which can burn plant...
Olives – Growing from Seed
Q: I brought back a few dried olives from Israel. I would like to plant them in our back yard. What is the best way to ensure they will grow and how do I care for them? A: Georgia once...
Potato Bugs – On Tomato
Q: I am finding these beetles on my tomato plants in Polk County. The leave behind an orange residue when handled. They appear to be eating the leaf edges. What are they? A: You have Colorado potato beetles, also known...
Measuring Light and Shade in the Landscape
Q: In my work as a landscape designer, I’m challenged by the different kinds of shade on a site. Shade under a maple tree is completely different from shade on the north side of a house. But both are considered...
Rose of Sharon – Bud Drop
Q: We have a Rose of Sharon bush. Both this year and last, there have been a considerable amount of blooms on the plant that never fully open. They turn yellow and drop. A: In my experience, two things cause...
Blackeyed Pea – Sheller
Q: Where can I find a tool to zip open blackeyed peas? My Dad took us to the Farmers Market when I was a kid and we bought all kinds of vegetables to blanche and freeze. Dad had a small...
Jatropha – Identification
Q: Seven years ago my stepmother purchased a hanging basket with a variety of plants. One plant she removed and planted into a pot. It has grown into a tree with some kind of seed pods and pretty pink flowers....
Twining Snoutbean – Identification
Q: Can you identify this weed? This is in a pasture near Chatsworth, Ga. A: Sharp-eyed native plant identification expert Shannon Pable says it is twining snoutbean, also known as hairy snoutbean, Rhynchosia tomentosa. (Save these names for the next...
Blackberry – Fruit Turning White
Q: We have a thornless blackberry vine. The fruit has been ripening well up until the last day or so. Several of the drupeletes on particular fruits have all of a sudden begun to turn white. A: It’s both sunscald...
Peach – Seedling with Broken Top
Q: I’ve heard about the difficulties growing peaches but decided to try it anyway. After a long wait over the winter months I got a peach seed to germinate. It started very strong and was doing great until my three-year-old...
Squirrel – Damaging Hose and Gas Can
Q: We have one of those plastic resin hose reels at our outside spigot. The hose stays rolled up on the reel most of the year. Recently we discovered a big hole near the nozzle end of the hose (the...
Tomato – Herbicide Damage
Q: I planted tomatoes in a raised garden. I have dried grass clippings on top of the black biodegradable weed guard that covers the soil. I am using a 5 gallon bucket attached to a soaker hose for irrigation and...
