Landscaping
Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis Among the showiest and most beautiful of ornamental grasses, a clump of maiden grass grows to 7 feet by late summer. The top of a clump is wider than the bottom. The top may be 8 feet wide,...
Moss – Growing
More than a few gardeners have decided to switch rather than fight. They’re purposely growing moss rather than trying to eliminate it from their landscape. There are hundreds of lawn lovers who can demonstrate how easy it is to grow...
Liriope
Cold weather can leave liriope (commonly called monkey grass) in tatters. Flower bed edging and driveway borders can be come overgrown and unkempt if the liriope is not kept compact. The best time to trim monkey grass is January –...
Jackman clematis
Clematis jackmanii Big, bold, beautiful and deep purple, this summer clematis is hard to miss, especially when you see it adorning its usual spot -a mailbox. This is without a doubt one of the most popular clematis species on the...
Wisteria – No Blooms
Q: I have a 3-5 year old wisteria that has never bloomed. What is wrong with it and what should I do? I thought that there was nothing you could do to make wisterias not bloom! It has flourished as...
Allamanda
Q. I bought a vine with big, glossy leaves and yellow flowers last summer. The vine looks dead now. Is this normal? A. I think you purchased an allamanda vine. These are quite decorative in the summer, but they are...
Gourds
Lagenaria, Curcurbita, or Luffa spp. Gourds are perhaps the first crop to be grown on both sides of the Atlantic ocean; originating in Africa, they most likely floated to South America and beyond, and were quickly pressed into gardener service...
UGA Weed Control Publications
Dr. Mark Czarnota is the Weed Wizard for weeds in ornamentals. These publications may help in situations you are faced with: Weed Control in Greenhouses Weed Control: Control Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) in Ornamentals Weed Control: Controlling Florida Betony in the Landscape Weed...
Weather – Effect on Plants
Shannon Pable had a look of concern on her face when she described what happened to her Carolina jessamine vine. “It looked like the base of the vine exploded!” she confided. “Now all the leaves above that point are dead....
UGA Plant Disease Publications
The following publications about diseases of plants are available online from the University of Georgia. Blossom-End Rot of Pepper and Tomato Common Landscape Diseases in Georgia Diseases of the Home Orchard Diseases of Leyland Cypress in...
UGA Flower, Tree and Shrub Publications
The following publications about ornamentals are available online from the University of Georgia Beyond Butterflies: Gardening for Native Pollinators Plant Trees Right Growing Ferns Pampas Grass Junipers Landscape Plants for Georgia Liriope Culture in Georgia Selecting and Growing Azaleas Shade...
Trees – Transplanting
A couple of weeks ago I detailed Dr. Tim Smalley’s techniques for moving shrubbery. His horticulture students also get plenty of practice transplanting trees when they tire of moving shrubs. With the soil as moist as it is, this is...
Taming Landscape Erosion
For the first two weeks in June I felt like Sisyphus, the Greek legend who was condemned to push a boulder up a hill whereupon it fell back down the hill and he started rolling once again. I believe I...
Rain Gardens
It seems impossible to “garden” rain but the practice is not so far-fetched. Rain gardening actually means planning your landscape so rain stays on your property to benefit your plants. If excess water occurs, rain is directed to an area...
Pollination – Further Explorations
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the “Pollinator-Friendly” Plant Sale at the Dunwoody Nature Center (770-394 3322). A recent radio caller wanted even more information on pollination. He queried, “I understand perfect flowered plants (both sexes in one...
Plants – Failure to Bloom
Few things are as frustrating as having a plant that is known for its beautiful flowers fail to bloom. Worse yet is when your neighbors’ plants are in full flower while identical ones in your landscape sullenly produce only foliage....
Plant Societies – Locating
Lois M., who describes herself as “a seventy year old gardener who has been enjoying tomatoes, squash, beans and peppers from my garden since early June” directed a string of questions to me recently. “In your calendar, you said to...
Non-Blooming Plants
Figuring out why a plant doesn’t bloom, or why one thrives and another doesn’t, is often a hopeless task. Sure, SOMETHING isn’t making the plant happy…. but you’ll have a dickens of a time deciding what it is specifically. The...
