Gardening Q and A
Bird’s Nest Fungi
Q:There are little white cones things that come up in my garden. Then four little dots seems to just appear in the cone. Any suggestions? A: These are called birds nest fungi. The cup-like structure contains “eggs” that have fungal...
Raccoon Damage – To Dead Sod
Q: We had fescue sod laid last year in a small garden area in our back yard but it died during the drought. In the past week or so some nocturnal animal has been ‘”unrolling” the sod looking for something....
Fescue – Killed by Overwatering
Q: The fescue at our subdivision entryway has suffered greatly, even though the sprinkler system waters every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, for 10 minutes and fertilize it. I see similar damage to fescue lawns throughout our area. Have you any thoughts...
Crabgrass – Dying in Fall
Q: Look at what happened to my crabgrass: couple of weeks ago it just died. Whataya think happened? A: This is a natural phenomenon. Crabgrass is sensitive to day length, so as days get shorter after June the plants set...
Bacterial Leaf Scorch – On Oak
Q: My oak is turning brown and dropping leaves earlier than normal (late September). What could cause this beside drought? A: Art Morrist, a certified Arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts, says: “It’s possible that late-season browning on oaks could be...
Hebe – Growing in Georgia
Q: I saw a plant in Germany which I would like to grow here. The label from the plant named it “Hebe buxifolia”. Is it locally available? A: Hebe is native to New Zealand, where it is grown as an...
Japanese Beetle – Plants Resistant to Them
Q: Are there any plants that Japanese beetles DON’T eat? A: Sure – I never see them on pine, lamb’s ear, lantana or holly! On the other hand, the list of plants they DO eat is quite long. Here’s a...
Sugarcane – In Georgia
Q: Can I grow sugarcane in Georgia? A: My Dad tried to grow it in Fayette county one year. It grew tall but wasn’t very sweet…..my guess is there were not enough sunshine or hot days. It needs a LONG...
Sumac Gall – Identification
Q: I noticed a “gall” on a sumac sapling today. As I looked closer, I saw that several branches (leaflet clusters) had a number of the things on them, and the leaves were turning yellow and then red. I pulled...
Puss Caterpillar – Identification
Q: These critters are on my Japanese maple and English laurel. They are not bagworms but what are they? A: Don’t touch them!! They are puss caterpillars, Megalopyge opercularis. What looks like soft hair actually covers a mass of poison-tipped...
Kudzu Bug – On Fig
Q: I found hundreds of these insects on my fig. Are they the kudzu bugs discovered in 2009? A: You are exactly correct – you have a great memory! The bug is the globular stinkbug (aka kudzu bug), Megacopta cribraria....
Caterpillar – Droppings Under Tree
Q: On the sidewalk under a pecan tree every morning I sweep away what looks like one-eightth inch diameter seeds. There is a seam in the middle. What could they be? A: They are likely the droppings from caterpillars who...
Sumac – Leaf Galls
Q: Please help me identify this tree/shrub/plant that we have allowed to grow on our property. This year it has produced a fruit or seed pod. A: Naturalist Shannon Pable says you have a sumac shrub with leaf galls. It’s...
Cypress Vine – Not Blooming
Q: In the past I have collected cypress vine seeds and re- planted each year to have beautiful vines and flowers. This year I wanted to planter boxes and plant so they would grow up a spot where I had...
Buffalobur Nightshade – Identification
Q: I have a plant growing beside my patio that looks like a watermelon plant but has briars. It is a plant not a vine, has small yellow blooms and has small briars on the stem. Has not borne fruit...
May Beetle – Wrong Identification (and Correct ID as Sugarcane Beetle)
I’m right about a lot of things but I’m sometimes equally thrilled to be wrong about something. In the September 2, 2010 Georgia Gardener newsletter, I incorrectly identified a beetle. Fortunately, I have entomologist friends who are smarter than me!...
Walnut Caterpillar – On Walnut Tree
Q: My husband and I found these worms/caterpillars eating the leaves of a black walnut tree at the edge of our pasture. Later we found the same type of critters devouring the leaves of a black cherry tree. Could these...
Leaf-footed Bugs – On Tomato
Q: Our tomato plants and garden are infested with stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs. Is there an organic pesticide, safe for the environment and pets, that we can use to eliminate these insects? They are ruining our garden. A: Both...
