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...
Rose – Fungicides for Black Spot Control
It’s important to switch fungicides each month to keep rose black spot disease at bay. Swap between chlorothalonil (Daconil), myclobutanil (Spectracide Immunox), triforine (Ortho Orthenex Rose Spray, and propiconazole (Bonide Infuse) every four weeks. Read the label to know the...
Rose – Buying and Planting
THE RIGHT SITE Roses require a minimum of six hours of sunlight each day. Where some shade cannot be avoided, find a location with morning sun at least. Morning sun will help dry dew from the foliage and reduce leaf...
Planting Winter Annuals in Drought
It’s daunting to consider planting winter annuals like pansies and cabbage when we have severe watering restrictions. But these plant have to be planted by November 1 so they have enough time to grow roots before winter sets in. Here’s...
Pansy – UGA Publication
Pansies are the most popular winter annual grown in Georgia. Professional landscapers plant them by the millions in office parks and apartment complexes. Their flower beds look great… and yours can too! Read the publication below to discover their secrets....
Oxblood Lily (Schoolhouse Lily)
I’ve learned a new plant! My friend Arty Schronce, who writes for the Ga. Department of Agriculture shares his knowledge of oxblood...
Naked Ladies (Surprise Lily, Lycoris squamigera)
My driving companion in Cincinatti was quite discomfitted when I suddenly shouted “There are naked ladies by the sidewalk! Pull over so I can take a picture!” Dutifully, she turned around and returned to the place we’d just passed. Peeking...
Milkweed – Toxic Sap
Here’s a cautionary story for gardeners who enjoy growing milkweed: My sister lives in the tidewater area of Virginia. She had a very scary experience this weekend and she thinks other gardeners should be warned so they won’t have to...
Lantana – Winter Hardiness
Most varieties of lantana, including ‘New Gold’, ‘Festival’ and ‘Tutti Fruiti’ are not winter-hardy in Atlanta. Rick Berry, the proprietor of Goodness Grows Nursery in Lexington, introduced ‘Miss Huff’ lantana several years ago because it can usually survive cold winters...
Lantana – Pruning
Winter lantana care simultaneously exemplifies the mystical pleasure and the aching frustration of gardening. Most lantana varieties are a bit too tender to survive a winter north of Atlanta. ‘New Gold’, in particular, seems to have a death wish every...
Lantana – Cultivars
Lantana has become a ubiquitous part of the colorful summer landscape. And with good reason! Here is an article describing its habit. Texas A&M:...
Hosta – Identifying
Identifying plants is always a challenge. Some, like hosta, have hundreds of varieties. Judy Burns, from the Georgia Hosta Society, sends this note: “At the hosta show last weekend I had a number of folks tell me that they would...
Hosta – Diseases and Pests
Hosta are one of the most common landscape plants. Yet they are affected their fair share of diseases and pests. If you have hostas, this publication from The University of Georgia and The University of Iowa will help diagnose any...
Holland – A Great Vacation for Gardeners!
I recently was invited by the Netherlands Board of Tourism and the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center to travel to Holland to see the glory of their flowers in spring. I was not disappointed! Mile after mile of tulip fields!...
History of Knock Out Rose
William Radler Develops Hybrids That Are Knockouts By STEWART DEMPSEY From the July 9, 2006 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel It is hard to imagine a garden without roses. Their captivating beauty and lore are entwined in the hearts...
Geranium – Overwintering
Recently I was asked how to store dahlias and caladiums for the winter. Let’s continue the discussion and focus on another plant that is not reliably winter-hardy but which can be kept with a bit of effort. The bright red...
Flowery Branch – Origin of Name
When I wondered how Flowery Branch GA got its name, Bob C. was quick to respond: Chartered in 1874, this little town is one of the oldest in Hall County. It was first called Anaguluskee, a Cherokee Indian word meaning...
Earth Kind Roses – List
In January 2002, at the conclusion of the first 5-year research study, Texas A&M had identified 11 cultivars which not only survived but also produced outstanding results in southern gardens. Those 11 cultivars are: Sea Foam – a creamy white...
David Austin Roses for The South
Cyndi Lauderdale, executive director of the Wilson Botanical Gardens, and a North Carolina Extension Service agent, has found that several English rose cultivars grow well in the hot and humid Southeast. Writing in The American Nurseryman, she presents these notes:...
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...
