Landscaping
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...
Native Plants – Good or Bad?
Precious few opportunities for controversy arise in the gardening world but I seem to have struck a nerve with my answer to a question regarding a requirement for native plants in a community. The respondents raised such good points, I...
Locating Buried Utility Lines
Whenever you dig in your yard you should be aware of the attendant hazards of buried utility lines. There is a free service for homeowners available. The Utilities Protection Center, funded by all the utilities such as gas, cable, telephone,...
Landscaping Maintenance – Summer
FEED FLOWERS Summer annual flowers are go-for-broke types of plants. They have only a few months in which to grow, flower, form seed and die. Gardeners are usually more interested in the flowering part of their life cycle but not...
Landscaping – Textbooks
If you are considering a career in Landscaping or Landscape Architecture, it might be well to read one of the introductory college textbooks. Dr. Richard Ludwig, Program Director of Environmental Horticulture at Gwinnett Tech, recommends Residential Landscape Architecture by Norman...
Landscaping – Late Summer Jobs
One of the advantages of doing a vocation and avocation for a long time is that you get a feel for what needs to be done and when to do it. Gardening is no different. I gardened (under duress) as...
Landscapes – Evaluating Scientific Claims
One of the most ill-informed decisions of my life was to major in chemistry in college. Sure, I had excelled in the subject in high school. I could make my own gunpowder from ingredients bought at the pharmacy in town....
Landscape Design Software – List
Here are a few of the software packages I’m aware of: 3D Home Architect Landscape Design DesignWare 3.3 DynaScape 3.0 Professional EarthScapes Landscape Design Software Instant Landscape Design LandCADD Landscape Design Landscape Vision Master Landscape Pro PRO Landscape 11.0 Total...
Landscape Design Software – Choosing
I recently appealed to gardeners for their experiences using landscape design software. Landscape Software – List As could be expected, some liked it and some did not. Here are their comments: Marjorie: “I work on computer software for a living,...
Landscape – Resources for Planning Your Own
Recently I listed several great landscape planning tips contributed by Master Gardeners who are also garden designers. We learned the importance of making a sketch of the existing yard, planning different areas according to use and identifying “borrowed” views. We...
Landscape – Planning Your Own
A few weeks ago I received a question common to many at this time of year. “We are very interested in landscaping our yard and have consulted with a few companies to do the preparation and planting. The cost is...
Landscape – Photographing
Severe thunderstorms and lightning in the summer can do major damage to your landscape trees and shrubs. Your homeowner’s insurance may cover losses due to storms. The Internal Revenue Service may even allow a tax deduction for the damage. But...
Landscape – Fall Planting
A couple of weeks ago I described how to plant a balled & burlapped tree correctly. Some of the points I made in passing deserve more explanation because they are so basic to your success in planting anything this fall....
Landscape – Effects of Wet Weather
In my line of work, few things give me more opportunity than bad weather. I spent most of last fall blaming the preceding drought for plant problems. Earlier this spring I diagnosed a number of plant troubles based on their...
Landscape – Drainage Problems
There are a number of indicators which may help you identify current or potential drainage and water problems around your yard or home. The Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association (MALTA) used some tips I compiled and added the expertise...
Landscape – Choosing Healthy Plants
I’ve mentioned before all the advantages of planting in fall: cooler temperatures, better establishment, bargains at the garden center. Even so, it makes no sense to waste your money on a sick or inappropriate plant. As you shop, be sure...
Invasive Plants – Cautions About Mimosa
Several plants that were once considered ornamental have escaped and caused great problems in Georgia landscapes. Kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, bamboo, privet and English ivy are all so aggressive that they crowd out everything in their path. When Theresa Schrum mentioned...
Invasive Plants
When I was a kid, I loved melting plastic toy soldiers. I’d climb into the loft of our garage and position myself by an open window. Setting a match flame to the head of a defenseless infantryman, I would thrill...
