Gardening Q and A
Crapemyrtle – Moving
Q: I have four big crapemyrtles, about ten foot tall. Due to construction activity, they need to be moved. When should I transplant them and should they be pruned before or after the move? All four of them are going...
Kiwi – Growing
Q: I have had a kiwi vine for five years. Last summer, it had its first bloom. Is there anything I can do to make it bloom and bear fruit? A: Growing a kiwi is surely a task for a...
Compost – DeKalb County
Q: I recently visited the free compost pile on Memorial Dr. provided by the county Sanitation Department. A fellow who was shoveling compost there said that the compost had recycled human waste in it. What is the story? I want...
Tree – Watering
Q: I was under the impression that the best way to water large, older trees was with a watering spike, stuck one or two feet into the ground. I bought one and have been trying to save all my precious...
Trees – Fertilizing
Q: When is the best time to fertilize huge white oaks, red oaks, and hickory trees. We read an article that said fall was best time. With the drought going on we aren’t sure if we should or not. What...
Fig – Pruning
Q: I have heard several descriptions of how to prune a fig but some seem to conflict. What is the timing and severity of pruning the trees? A: Figs try to bear two crops per year. After a mild winter,...
Soil Sterilization
Q: For his science fair project, my son is researching how soil with and without microorganisms affects the growth of plants. How long and at what oven temperature does soil need to “cook” to be sure the microorganisms are destroyed?...
Grapefruit – Growing
Q: Early this summer I planted some grapefruit seed in a pot. Much to my surprise, one of them sprouted! Now what should I do with it for the winter? A: A little bit of Florida right here in Atlanta!...
Coffee Grounds – Using
Q: As you may know some coffee shops give away free coffee grounds. They say they are good for your garden. My question is how should they be applied? Should I mix them straight into the soil? If so how...
Tools – For Aging Gardeners
Q: I am looking for ergonomic garden tools for my mother, who has arthritis. None of the local garden centers seem to have them. Can you help? A: I think it won’t be long until all garden centers have tools...
Ant – Boric Acid/Peanut Butter Bait
Q: What is the recipe for the ant bait which contains boric acid and peanut butter? A: You can make your own ant bait by mixing 4 tablespoons of peanut butter, 6 tablespoons honey and three-fourths teaspoon boric acid. Place...
Wasp – Digger
Q: July, 1999 – I have seen dozens of yellow insects hovering over my lawn in a big swarm. Are they yellow jackets? A: The insects are probably golden digger wasps. These are solitary wasps; they don’t build the hanging...
Muscadine – Transplanting Wild One
Q: July 27, 1996 – When is the best time to transplant a wild muscadine vine out of the woods? A: In my opinion, it is never a good time to transplant a wild muscadine vine. Why? Because they simply...
Blackberry – ‘Kiowa’
Q: A few weeks ago on your radio show you mentioned a new blackberry with large fruit. Can you tell me where I can get plants? A: I heard about the blackberry from Dr. Gerard Krewer, Extension Service fruit specialist....
Blueberry – Watering
Q: I planted three blueberry bushes last year. The written instructions I received said to give them 1 inch of water per week. How much is an inch of water if I’m using a garden hose? A: The ultimate goal...
Blueberry – No Fruit
Q: I bought four varieties of blueberry last year. They all had fruit then but they had none this year. What could have been the problem? A: If you had a late freeze this spring, the cold weather could have...
Blueberry – Transplanting
Q: Last summer I had several small sprouts near my blueberry plants. You advised me to cut the root connection between them and the mother plant and wait a while to transplant them. Is it time to transplant in February?...
Fireplace ashes – for roses
Q: Can I use fireplace ashes as a source of potassium for my roses? A: Ashes do provide a slight amount of potassium for plants. They also counteract the natural acidity of soil, so they are a substitute for garden...
