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...
Dominion – Use for Azalea Lacebug
Q: Can I use Dominion insecticide to control azalea lace bug? It has the same ingredient as the “tree & shrub systemics” I see for sale at garden stores but Dominion is more concentrated. A: Dominion 2L insecticide is labeled for use...
Notes on Fire Blight Control from a Plant Pathologist
Notes on Fire Blight from Elizabeth L. Little, Assistant Professor – Homeowner IPM/Sustainable Agriculture, UGA The time to think about fireblight management using sprays is just before and during bloom, so late March may be too late for most trees....
Blueberry – ‘Pink Lemonade’
Q: What’s the scoop on Pink Lemonade blueberry? Will they grow here? A: My blueberry expert Scott Nesmith says ‘Pink Lemonade’ is one of the latest garden novelties due to the pink color of the fruit. It would be cool...
Celeriac (Celery Root) – Growing
Q: I am from Germany and use celery root in my soups but those roots are hard to find and are expensive.Can I grow celery root in my own garden? A: I think summer heat will be your enemy. Like...
Lawn – Weed Control Basics
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...
Pussy Willow – Growing in Georgia
Q: I was raised in Massachusetts and always had access to pussy willows. Which of them can be cultivated here in Georgia? A: Pussy willow is not the easiest shrub to grow. In the words of one source, willows get...
Azalea – Sport of Different Color
Q: Do azaleas change color from when they are young to when they mature? I think some of mine have done this. Lou J. A: Azaleas do occasionally sprout a “sport”: a branch having different flower color from the parent...
Canada Green Grass Seed
Q: Recently I saw an ad for a new type of grass seed called Canada Green. It is supposed to be green year round and withstand temperatures below zero. Do you have an opinion on this one? A: From what...
Mushrooms, Lichens, Fungi – Identification
Q: I have an interest in learning to identify mushrooms, lichens and fungi that I spot in the woods when I hike. What references do you use? A: I am definitely not a mycologist (fungus fancier) and I don’t claim...
Zoysia Species and Variety Names
I often become confused when trying to remember all of the different zoysiagrass species and varieties. Fortunately, my friend Tim Bowyer from Patten Seed Co. did some research and sent it to me. Now you too can have the benefit...
Frost Tolerance – Vegetables and Flowers
When frost is forecast, whether in spring or fall, some vegetables and flowers are more or less likely to be damaged. Here is a list of plants and their tolerance of light frost: Vegetables Hardy Slightly Tolerant Tender Asparagus Beet...
Tomato – Rescuing Very Old Seed
Q: In cleaning out my mothers property after her death, I found a container of seeds that were my father’s favorite tomato plant. He died in 1996; the container is dated June of 1993. It would be a nice connection to be...
Home Orchard Spray – Substitute
Q: I would like to know why Scotts stopped making Ortho Home Orchard Spray. I’ve been using it for years but it is no longer available. I use the Home Orchard Spray on plum trees. A: Ashton Ritchie from The...
Silverfish – Control
Q: How can I get rid of the silverfish inside my home? I see more upstairs than downstairs. Do they cause damage? A: Silverfish don’t survive very well without high humidity indoors. They do some damage to paper but they...
Pyracantha – No Berries
Q: Why doesn’t my pyracantha have ONE berry on it this year, when it was loaded last year? It is about three years old. I’ve tried to make it circle around my light pole outside and so have trimmed it...
Gardenia – Varieties
Q: I would appreciate it if you would advise me about varieties of gardenias. I have looked at nurseries but there seemed to be several varieties, such as everblooming and ‘August Beauty’.What would you suggest I purchase for different sizes,...
Tree Leaves – Calculating the Number
Q: My house is surrounded by very large, beautiful trees. I feel like I have raked a million leaves – and they aren’t even all down yet! Is there a way to calculate the approximate number of leaves on a...
Arum – Propagation
I just can’t figure out why a certain plant I have in my garden is not used more frequently. It is commonly called by its scientific name Arum italicum ‘Pictum’, but the Home and Garden Encyclopedia says another common name...
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...
