Posts Tagged ‘fertilizing’
Radishes – Not Growing Bulbs
Q: A friend of mine has radishes that are not forming bulbs, only straight roots. He is planting them like he’s always done. Any ideas? A: The most likely reasons are too much fertilizer or too much shade. My bet...
Soil- Purifying
Q: What is the best way to purify soil to remove any diseases from it. Would adding bleach work? A: Sterilizing soil is impossible in a practical sense. Even if you removed disease organisms from the soil it would quickly...
Lawn Fungus – How to Prevent
Q: What is an appropriate product and application schedule for preventing fungus in my lawn for the coming year? Last year brown patch was a particular problem. A: Lawn fungus problems are best addressed by correcting your lawn management practices,...
Aquaponics Training – Where to Find
Q: We are looking for aquaponics training or somebody who uses the system in Georgia. We have a 16′ x16′ fenced area. A: Aquaponics is the system of growing fish alongside edible plants, using water from the fish tank to...
Foxtail Ferns – Repotting
Q: I am repotting two large foxtail ferns. There are hundreds of potatoes in the soil. Do they reproduce from these, and can I pot them to make new plants? A: Foxtail fern is actually an inedible asparagus, Protoasparagus densiflorus...
Tobacco – Legal to Grow in Georgia
Q: Is it legal to grow tobacco in my garden? A: It is perfectly legal to grow tobacco. But once you’ve tried it, you may not want to do it again! The process starts when you plant the tiny seed...
Climbing Fig – Sudden Growth Spurt
Q: Four years ago I bought two small containers of climbing fig to cover my brick chimney. In a few years it grew only a few inches. In the past summer however it took off and has runners five feet...
Black Walnut Tree – Fertilizing
Q: We have a black walnut tree about 50 feet tall in the back yard. We got walnuts but they were small. Can I fertilize a tree that large? A: Black walnut is a fun tree to own, if a...
Lawn – Potash Helping Roots
Q: My lawn is in fair to good condition but I recently heard about pot ash and how it helps lawns to have deeper roots and better drought resistance. Is this true? A: Pot ash is more correctly spelled potash,...
Yellow Onions – Growing Green Shoots
Q: I have two store bought yellow onions that have began to grow green shoots. Can they be planted? A: Onions grow readily in Atlanta area gardens but the ones you buy from a grocery won’t get any bigger, so...
Hellebore Plants – Thinning Them
Q: I have a thick carpet of seedlings under my hellebore plants. Should I thin them out or just let nature take its course? A: Perhaps they compete in a small way with the mother plant but I usually let...
Iris – Trimming Leaves
Q: I have some old iris in my pine bed. Most of the leaves stay green all winter but have some brown edges. Should I trim the leaves or is it too late? A: I don’t think you should ever...
Zoysia Grass – Why Wait to Fertilize
Q: I have been impatiently waiting to fertilize until my zoysia grass has greened 75-100 percent. Why must I do this, other than because you say so? A: You’re a smart person to always be asking “Why?” in the garden....
Spring Bulbs – When to fertilize
Q: When is the time to fertilize spring bulbs like daffodils and hyacinths? A: One of the adages of garden fertilizing is to feed plants when the leaves are growing. When the leaves of spring bulbs poke out of the...
Avocado Seed – How to Move From Water to Soil
Q: I have an avocado seed in water with several roots on it. I’d like to plant it in a pot. Should I bury the seed completely? A: Lift the plant from the water and get a helper to hold...
Soil Preparation – 10-10-10
Q: In preparing the soil for a garden, my yard worker put 40 pounds of 10-10-10 on my little patch of 100 square feet. The recommended rate is1 pound per 100 sq. ft. What do you suggest I do? A:...
Composting Fruit and Vegetables – OK to Add Paper?
Q: I’ve been composting my fruit and vegetable trimmings and coffee grounds. Can shredded office paper be added to the pile? A: Office paper is fine to compost as long as you can deal with the practical matter of its...
Young Trees – Roots Growing in Mulch
Q: To make the base of our young trees look pretty we decided to add fresh mulch, cutting a circle six feet in diameter and two inches deep around the mulch bed to make it look professional. To our surprise...
