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...
Pampas Grass – Cutting Plumes
Q: For only the second time in 15 years, my pampas grass has had beautiful plumes this year. I am tempted to cut them for decorations, but am afraid Imight interfere with their blooming next year. Is it O.K. to...
Zoysia – Fertilizing in Winter
Q: I heard you say on your radio program in October not to fertilize zoysiagrass again this year. On Nov. 1 my lawn maintenance company called to ask permission (this is not a scheduled round) to treat our zoysiagrass lawn with...
Mosquito – Males vs. Females
Q: I’ve heard that only the female mosquito bites you. If so, what does the male eat? A: Male mosquitoes feed on plant nectar. Their mouthparts are not capable of piercing skin. Males may live a few days to more...
Acorn Weevil
Q: My little granddaughter recently picked up a few acorns and I tossed them on the dining room table. A week later, I was about to remove them when I noticed a fine acorn dust all over the table cloth...
Bahiagrass – Control in Fescue
Q: Is there anyway to get rid of bahia grass out of a fescue lawn. I’m here in Charlotte North Carolina. Is it a weed or is it a grass. It just grows so doggone high in the 6-8 hot...
Moss Lawn – Care
Q: I have, quite by accident, created a very beautiful moss lawn in my very shady front yard. My question is how can I kill the weeds that crop up on top of the moss? Is there a spray that...
Rafus Palm – Proper Indoor Growing
Q: I have a rafus palm houseplant that is not doing well. I am not sure if I am over-watering or under-watering. Would you please tell me how the soil should be kept and give some fertilizing recommendations? The plant...
Curry Leaf Plant – Propagation
Q: I wanted to find out how best to propagate the Curry Leaf plant? I have several of them and I get requests for them often enough that I have only my big older ones left. If I can propagate...
Bougainvillea Goldenraintree – I.D.
Q: I saw two gorgeous trees in downtown Canton this week. The leaves were similar to pecan tree leaves and black walnut tree leaves. The tree was covered with hundred’s of beautiful clusters of watermelon-pink colored “hangy downy” triangular seed...
Hyacinth – When to plant
Q: I have some questions about hyacinths and I would appreciate your help. I ordered 30 plants last spring, to be sent for fall planting. I received the plants a week ago. I immediately put the whole package in the...
Hibiscus – Winter care
Q: I want to know what to do with Hibiscus plants this winter. I lost one last year and we planted some new ones and I want to know how to save them for next spring. A: If it is...
Osage Orange – Growing from Seed
Q: I have tried, unsuccessfully, for the past two years, to germinate and grow an osage orange tree. Can you shed any light on what I should be doing? We once had such a tree growing on the banks of...
Amur Maple – Seed information
Q: I purchased and planted in Fall 03 a good sized Red Rhapsody Amur Maple. It was about 7 ft tall and 5 ft round and in 20 gal? I think can. My question is regarding the small seed wings(fruit?)...
Rabbit’s Foot Fern – Repotting
Q: Could you tell me how to repot a Rabbit’s Foot fern? The fuzzy extensions have grown around and under the hanging plant. They seems flexible but I am concerned about breakage when I repot. Can I cut the fuzzy...
Sweet Pea – Growing
Q: Can we grow sweet peas in Atlanta? I live in Roswell. If so, when do we start the seed? A: Do you mean the flower or the edible pea? In either case, the answer is the same…yes. Plant the...
European Beech – Survival in Georgia
Q: Can a tri-colored beech tree survive and thrive in Atlanta? If yes, do they need any special considerations in planting? A: According to the experts, European beech (Fagus sylvatica) can’t handle our summer heat. I have never seen one...
Citrus Trees – Winter Care
Q: I have several citrus trees in the back yard-orange, grapefruit and lemon. They all bear fruit, but I am sure that there is something I should do over the winter months. I haven’t been able to find any literature...
Swimming Pool – Converting to Pond
Q: I have a swimming pool that is partially restored and have decided to fill it in and create a garden spot with possibly a small pond for wildlife to enjoy. It is a Gunite pool and it is currently...
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...
