Gardening Q and A
Canna Liliy – Aggressive?
Q: Last year I bought a small canna lily plant for 50 cents. I planted it near the edge of our lake. Now it’s spread to six feet by ten feet. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I am...
Pine Trees – Premature Needle Shedding
Q: All of a sudden pine straw falling from my trees is as green as if it were still on the tree. Why is this? A: Premature needle shedding is most likely caused by big temperature swings coupled with summer...
Fruit-Bearing Cherry Trees – Viability in Atlanta area
Q: I am looking for fruit-bearing cherry trees. What is your advice? A: I don’t know of anyone who has successfully grown sweet cherry fruit in the Atlanta area. Temperature swings in winter cause freeze damage to the trunk and...
Pyracantha – Pruning
Q: How should I prune the pyracantha that’s climbing the wall of my garage? A: Pyracantha blooms in April or May on twigs that grew the previous year. If you prune severely now, you won’t have flowers or the bright...
Winter King Hawthorn – Propagation from Seeds/Berries
Q: There is a stand of ‘Winter King’ hawthorn on Ronald Regan Parkway near the Webb Gin House exit. They are beautiful now. Can I use the seeds/berries to make new trees? A: It will be tough to get the...
Bedding Plants – Relocating
Q: We’re going to have major construction at our home. I need advice on relocating some bedding plants to keep them out of harm’s way until the work is completed next fall The plants include bearded iris, daylily, cone flower,...
Blueberries – Cross Pollination
Q: I’m very confused about which varieties of blueberries I must plant together to achieve cross-pollination. I bought ‘O’Neal’ and ‘Chippewa’ from big box stores. Will they cross-pollinate? A: My smartphone is my best resource when I see a plant...
Carolina Allspice – Fragrance
Q: We purchased five Carolina allspice bushes and they have thrived, loaded with blooms. But none of them has the aroma I bought them for. Is there anything I can do to get them to smell like they do in...
Mulching Leaves with Mower
Q: I am tired of raking! Is there any reason I can’t shred lawn leaves with my mower and not rake them into piles for removal? A: There are two good reasons to let your mower do the work. One...
Seed Cane – Viability in South Georgia
Q: My husband gave me a stalk of something called seed cane from south Georgia. Can I plant it in my garden? A: Seed cane is a mature stalk of sugar cane that has buds from which more plants can...
Long Stemmed Pansies
Q: The pansies I bought the last week of September for a pot on the deck have extra-long stems. Are these a new variety? A: Average temperatures since September have been in the mid-70′s, which caused the pansies to stretch...
Fruit Trees – Pruning
Q: I have two apple, two peach, and three cherry trees. I have never pruned any of them. I didn’t realize I had to cut them down so much. Now that they’ve grown big, what should I do? A: While...
Birch Trees – Aphids
Q: We have two birch trees on the side of our house. My neighbor’s driveway is under them. They are dripping something on their cars. Does this mean they are diseased? A: Birch trees sometimes become infested with a big...
Seed Suppliers – Reliability
Q: Is it a good idea to purchase non-hybrid vegetable seeds from an Internet supplier? How do you know if it is reliable? A: Local nurseries have many heirloom seed varieties. Look for displays from Seeds of Change, Johnnies Selected...
Ryegrass – Use as Garden Cover Crop
Q: I sowed annual ryegrass in my vegetable garden in early October. The grass is thick and plush. How do I manage it in winter? A: The purpose of a garden cover crop such as ryegrass, clover, or winter pea...
Growing Dawrf Citrus in Containers
Q: I am interested in growing a dwarf citrus in a container. Do you have any suggestions? I really would like an orange. A: Meyer lemon is the most popular citrus plant grown in containers but I don’t know anyone...
Squirrel Licking Mortar
Q: Yesterday I saw a fat little squirrel licking the brick and mortar on my front steps over a two square foot area. It was quite moist with saliva. If he had kept going I wouldn’t have to pressure wash...
Bradford Pears – Winter Pruning
Q: Can Bradford pears be safely trimmed in November? These are 20-year-old trees which were trimmed three years ago. A: Pruning Bradford pear trees is a great winter job. You can see the limb structure of the tree after leaves...
