Gardening Q and A
Rose – Roots Damaged by Fertilizer
Q: This rose died so quickly! Any idea what I did? It was beautiful, then started to make buds and then the leaves began to shrivel and turn brown. I did put a couple of handfuls of 13-13-13 fertilizer on...
Barred Owl – Identification
Q: This owl is living by our office in Carrollton. It knocked a squirrel out of a tree yesterday then swooped down and gathered it up, took it back up in the tree and had lunch. My wife and the...
Fragrant Crabapple – Identification
Q: I found this small tree growing in Floyd County not too far from Barnsley Gardens. It was growing in an area close to a creek. The tree was small 8+- feet with rough gray bark. The flowers were very...
Lady Banks Rose – Stem Splitting
Q: Is this rusty, splitting trunk on a Lady Banks rose normal? I do not want to lose this beautiful plant! It is about 12 years old and covers our swing arbor. A: Rose expert Ryan Tilley (http://www.rosegardensbyryan.com) says older,...
Sowbugs – Eating Seedlings
Q: These woodlouses, pill bugs, sow bugs, are eating every new seedling I have planted. I have already lost a jalapeno, squash, three cucumbers, and an okra plant. I would like to stay organic, but diatomaceous soil doesn’t work. A:...
Hibiscus – Granular Deposits on Leaves
Q: There are irregular shaped, granular deposits on front and back and upper stems of my miniature hibiscus leaves, grown in a sun room. They feel like fine sand. What is it and how to control? A: UGA’s tropical plant...
Rose Rosette – Oil Spray to Control Mites
Q: I just read about rose rosette disease. Can we spray our Knockout roses with Volck oil spray in trying to keep the mites that spread this disease at bay? A: Rose rosette affects all roses. The most common symptoms...
Bermuda Lawn – Thinning Due to Standing Water
Q: We are in year 2 of our new house. The first year the bermuda grass grew really good. The next year we had a lot of spots where water would sit and the grass would not grow. We have...
Tomato – Sun Scald on New Plants
Q: I’ve been starting my tomato seeds indoors in preparation for spring planting. Since the weather here in Marietta has been steadily warming, I decided to plant the tomato plants outside in mid-April. Ever since, I’ve noticed that the leaves...
Straw Bale Garden – One Gardener’s Project
Q: I called you in early April about whether to go ahead and plant my straw bale garden. You seemed a bit skeptical about planting that early, but since I had the plastic sheeting in place and was able to...
Chipmunk Control – Georgia Laws
Q: Is it true that chipmunks are protected by Georgia law? A: Yes, it is true. Here is the appropriate part of the Georgia State Code: TITLE 27. GAME AND FISH CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS O.C.G.A. § 27-1-28 (2012) § 27-1-28. Taking of...
Wisteria – Remove Due to Kudzu Bug?
Q: Am I going to have to cut down the wisteria on my pergola to get rid of the massive amount of kudzu bugs hanging out on it? The wisteria is just starting to bloom. A: I hate to destroy...
Dogwood – Few Flowers in 2013
Q: This year (2013) there were not very many white blossoms on any of my dogwoods. They are leafing out as normal. Should I worry about this lack of blossoms? A: You are not the first (or second or third)...
Pine Cones – Why So Few
Q: I have several pine trees on our property. Some have pine cones… but others do not! The trees here are side by side. Can you explain the difference? A: Pine cones don’t all drop in the fall. In fact,...
Cumberland False Rosemary – Growing
Q: I inherited a Cumberland false rosemary planted in a large outdoor pot. Can this plant survive planted in the ground here? A: Native plant expert Shannon Pable (shannonpable.com) says Cumberland false rosemary, Conradina verticillata, naturally grows in sandy soil...
Dung Beetles – For Cleaning Up Dog Droppings
Q: Recently I saw a show on TV that described dung beetles. Since gardeners buy ladybugs to eat aphids, I wondered if it would be possible to buy dung beetles to clean up my dog run. A: Your question might...
Nandina – Poisonous to Cedar Waxwings
Q: Did you know that nandina berries are poisonous to cedar waxwings? A: A recent observation of mass death among cedar waxwings was followed by a veterinary necropsy. The doctors found huge amounts of nandina berries in the cedar waxwing...
Banana – Trimming in Winter
Q: With the mild winter we had, I never felt the need to cut my banana trees back. I have 4 stalks about 6′ tall that are now sprouting leaves. I did trim off the dead leaves to clean them...
