Gardening Q and A
Meyer Lemon – Pruning
Q: How do I prune my Meyer lemon? A: This articles from a Meyer Lemon Tree website explains it all. Pruning a Meyer...
Red Hot Poker – Care
Q: A few years ago my dad gave me some plants he called Red Hot Poker. I planted them around my mailbox and they have done well. I think it is time to dig, split, and spread them to other...
Tulip – Reblooming
Q: I am a novice gardener and am quite pleased with the tulips I planted last fall, which bloomed beautifully three weeks ago. However, your April Garden Calendar advised digging up and discarding the bulbs after blooming. Do tulips not...
Tent Caterpillar
Q: I recently noticed in the crook of a few of my trees white webs with lots of tiny worms squirming inside. Do you have any idea what this is and what to do about it? A: You undoubtedly have...
Crabgrass – Control after Sprouting
Q: I have had an eruption of crabgrass in my lawn this spring. I fertilize regularly and I put down a pre-emergent early this year. Can you suggest any products and treatments to eradicate this stuff? A: I’m doubtful that...
Four O’Clock – Japanese Wonderflower
Q: I purchased some Japanese Wonderflowers, Mirabilis jalapa, at a garden show. How do I plant them? They have several “fingers” and for some reason I think they go in the ground like a carrot. A: A root of the...
Giant Bark Aphid – Identification
Q: The other day I was laying pine straw in one of my flower beds and I noticed tons of yellow jackets hanging around one side of my loropetalum. I looked up to the 20ft Nuttall oak that hangs over...
Plants of the Bible – Growing in the South
Q: We are landscaping an area around the old Lithia Spring and Sweetwater Park Hotel and would like to feature Biblical plants. Do you know how I could find a list of appropriate plants? A: It turns out that Professor...
Greenhouse – Home-made
Q: We are looking at converting an outbuilding into a greenhouse. Do you know of any Web sites that provide information on managing a greenhouse? A: I have one mental picture of greenhouse owners enjoying tropical warmth in the wintertime,...
Animals in Attic- Control
Q: I hear heavy thumps and thuds in my attic in the middle of the night. Also, something seems to be chewing the wood up there. Would raccoons do this? A: It is possible that raccoons have taken up residence...
Birds – Feeding
Q: Do you have any information on attracting birds to backyards? Types of feeders, food, plants and watering containers are all part of the information I am seeking. A: Birds have the same needs as humans: food, shelter and water....
Birds – Roosting in Trees
Q: What a mess! For some reason, a flock some kind of black bird has chosen one of my Bradford pear trees to roost in. There is a huge mass of droppings under the tree. What can I do? A:...
Bird – Banging into Window
Q: We have a cardinal that has been flying against our picture window for a week. He’s banging his head and making it bloody. What can be done to stop this? A: Ah, that sweet springtime surge of hormones! Makes...
Indian Meal Moth – Control
Q: My family has always enjoyed our bird feeders. We keep the bird seed in the garage in some large Rubbermaid containers. We have a major moth problem in our kitchen. How can I get rid of all the moths...
Greenhouse – for Homeowners
Q: I am considering building my own hobby greenhouse and don’t know where to begin. I want to start out with simple flowers and vegetables but I would like to be able to expand the greenhouse in case I decide...
Garden Books – for Children
Q: I need a list of ten books on gardening for children in elementary school. I’m trying to obtain a grant from the Master Gardeners Association to purchase gardening books for our Mountain Regional Library. A: I polled my team...
Cane Begonia – Overwintering
Q: How can I over winter Dragon Wing begonias? I hate seeing them in the compost pile after the first big freeze. A: Dragon Wing begonia, Begonia x hybrida, and angel wing begonia, Begonia coccinea are very attractive, cane-forming begonia...
Gardening – Shouldn’t be Intimidating
Q: I am a little intimidated by gardening. I have a couple of holly bushes that I’ve had in pots near my entryway for months and they look like they need planting. How do I know where to plant them?...
