UGA Vegetable Gardening Publications
With food prices high, folks have been thinking about growing some of their own food. Food gardening is not hard and it doesn’t have to take much room in your landscape. You can even do it in containers! These gardening publications are available on the Internet or ask for a...
Shrub – Transplanting 1-2-3
Most shrubs and trees should be transplanted when the demand for water is least, in late fall or winter. Since many roots will inevitably be lost, they need many weeks to regenerate themselves before the hot, dry blasts of summer arrive. If you are contemplating moving a plant that would...
Shrub – Pruning Calendar
The Home & Garden section of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution published a very nice pruning calendar several years ago. When viewed on a sheet of newsprint, it was gorgeous. When reduced to fit onto a sheet of typing paper it was impossible to read. I imagine you didn’t keep...
South Africa Adventure – 2014
As many of you know, I led a group of gardeners and spouses to South Africa in 2010. The memories of that vibrant, beautiful, surprising country still linger in my brain! We had such a good time I’ve decided to lead another group trip there in January, 2014. Want to...
New Gardening Books
I regularly receive interesting-looking gardening books from publishers. I don’t have time to read them all or give an intelligent review but I know they would appeal to many gardeners. These are some of the books I’ve gotten recently. You can click the link under the book cover images to...
Co-dominant Trunks – Pruning
Q: I have heard you speak about “co-dominant” trunks, emphasizing that multiple trunks are not conducive to a tree’s health. My Bloodgood Japanese maples have co-dominant trunks. Do I prune them? A: Having two parallel trunks can be a problem...
Lily of the Valley – Invasive?
Q: I got some Lily of the Valley plants from a coworker to fill in around my hosta. I’m reading online that they can be invasive. Any advice? A: Growing in perfect conditions lily of the valley could be “pushy”...
Glyphosate (Roundup) – Claimed Not to Work
Glyphosate (Roundup, etc) is a common herbicide. By most accounts it is effective at killing plants as stated on the label. However, some gardeners swear that “Roundup won’t touch my ivy (liriope, wisteria, etc)!! Why doesn’t it work?” I think...
Crapemyrtle – Floppy in Summer
Q: I have two floppy crepe myrtles, one more floppy than the other. I’ve never seen a floppy myrtle before. Is there something I need to do to make them stay upright and not flop over? In winter I cut...
Houseplants – Care While on Vacation
House plants can be kept in good condition for several days while you’re on vacation by using clear, plastic bags as miniature greenhouses. Soak the soil thoroughly, allow to drain, then insert 2 – 3 wooden skewers around the edge...
Honey – Doesn’t Prevent Allergies
Q: I’m having terrible allergies this year and I’m being forced to stay indoors. I’ve been told to find locally grown raw honey to eat daily. Where could I get some? A: Although this is widespread homespun advice, the allergy...
Woody Adelgid Attack – Prevention
Q: My wife and I recently purchased seven acres in Union County. We’ve planted several hemlocks. How do I prevent wooly adelgid attack? A: Wooly adelgid, a sap-sucking insect, has killed thousands of hemlocks in north Georgia so I can...
Woodchip Steam – Caused by Fungi and Bacteria
Q: My coworkers and I were wondering why a huge pile of wood chips makes steam afterwards. A: The condensed water vapor (steam) is caused by the heat of billions of fungi and bacteria digesting fresh wood and sap. Digestion...
Lilac Growth – Proper pH ensures annual flowers
Q: My mother has two lilacs They are growing and doing well but only one of them flowers every year. Why is that? A: In order to bloom, some lilacs need more winter chill hours than others. This is why...
Rhododendron – Pruning
Q: My rhododendrons are three free tall and full of pink blooms. I noticed that after last season’s flowers were gone, there didn’t seem to be much foliage. Should I trim the rhododendrons back after flowering? A: If they are...
Cultivating soybeans – Growth for soy milk
Q: Where can I buy soybeans to cultivate? I’d like to make my own soy milk. A: In my opinion, the economics are against you but the adventure will be very educational! Assuming optimum conditions, your garden yield should be...
Quinault strawberry plants – Not for Georgia
Q: Early last summer I planted three Quinault strawberry plants. I got lush plants but minuscule berries. What do I need to do to get decent fruit? A: The ‘Quinault’ strawberry doesn’t grow very well in Georgia. It is an...
Polyester Row Covers – When to cover plants
Q: On a recent radio show, you mentioned using polyester row cover to overcome squash vine borer. I purchased some but when do I cover the plants? A: The lightweight cover prevents squash vine borer moths from laying eggs on...
Roundup Tips – Bermudagrass
Q: As a northern transplant, I didn’t know about the sheer destructive nature of bermuda grass in my flower bed. I tried spraying Roundup but it’s nearly impossible not to get it on the growth of my daylilies. Any tips?...
Heirloom alongside hybrids – Not a problem
Q: Is it okay to grow heirloom vegetables alongside hybrids? I want to try corn, beans and squash. A: Cross-pollination among corn varieties can affect flavor but planting heirloom beans and squash near each other is no problem. The only...
Air Layering – Camellia
Q: Is it possible to air layer a large camellia branch so I get a bigger plant when it is rooted? A: No. Air-layering requires a certain ratio between the size of the treated limb and the number of leaves...
Compost Bugs – If you build it, they will come
Q: I have three big compost piles but the only thing I see in there are pill bugs. Where do I get insects for my piles? A: My rule for getting bugs into compost is “Build It and They Will...
Wisteria Removal
Q: Our pergola is covered with wisteria and has gotten so rotten we are cutting it down. How do we kill the large wisteria vine? A: The big wisteria will be a problem for years. Roots near and far from...
Weeds – Identification with Pictures
Weed control in the landscape is a tough business. You have to know a lot about the weed in question just to get started! As in most situations, a picture is worth a thousand words. Websites Preen has terrific weed...
Diagnosing Holes in the Yard
Sometimes many heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem. Wade Hutcheson, my Extension colleague in Spalding county, gets plenty of calls from the citizens of his area asking his help in identifying various holes in...
Brown Patch – Diagnosing
You have brown patches of dead grass in your lawn. Is it the common lawn disease ‘brown patch’ or is it something else? The answer is important: if it is brown patch you probably need to spray with a fungicide....
Bermuda – Weed Control
BASIC INFORMATION: Weed Identification Pictures General Turf and Weed Info Lawn Care Calendars THREE METHODS There are three primary methods of controlling weeds. Any one method, when used alone, will not usually control all of your weeds. To consistently control...
Lawn – Timing Pre-emergent Herbicide
One of the sourest phrases that can be directed at a child or adult is “I told you so!” Whether you touch a hot match, leave tools out in the rain or lift cinder blocks all afternoon, someone is usually...
Crapemyrtle – Pruning
One of the most confounding arguments I face is whether and how to prune crapemyrtles. They are mercilessly “murdered” by unaware landscapers and homeowners each winter… yet they still bloom in summer. Some people even believe a crapemyrtle won’t bloom...
Lawn – Growing in Shade
OK. I admit it. I have given up. I came to the conclusion that grass just would not grow in the corner of my lawn near the ornamental cherry trees. The shade there is so dense that my grass, no...
Lawn – Leveling
A new home in my neighborhood had bermudagrass sod planted in March. By May, one area was a perfect checkerboard of straight lines, composed of weedy plants, surrounding the individual squares of sod. Evidently the sod installers were in such...
Bermuda Grass – Disease – Brown Patch
Brown patch is most prevalent on bermudagrass which has been heavily fertilized when night temperatures are above 68 degrees and day temperature are above 80 degrees. Dead patches of grass may start small but can grow and join together to...
St. Augustine Grass Seed – Where to Buy
Q: Please tell me where I can buy St. Augustine grass seeds. Our lawn has some now and we like it a lot, but we’re having trouble finding seeds. A: You can’t buy St. Augustinegrass seed. The plant is very...
