Posts Tagged ‘ornamental’
Deer invasion – Spring leaves
Q: We love the mountains and woods but we are having a constant problem with deer. They have severely eaten my ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ holly and ligustrums, both of which we were told “Deer do not eat!”. How do I...
Dryer lint – Birds
Q: When do we start putting out dryer lint for our birds? I have been collecting it for months. Back in Texas I put it on the shrubbery and in one half hour it was gone. A: Dryer lint is...
Milorganite – Deer
Q: I have heard that Milorganite is good for keeping deer away from gardens. We have two acres which are “salad bars” for deer. Any advice? A: Many things are reputed to repel deer: hair, coyote urine, soap, etc. In...
2-4-D – Flowers
Q: I know that 2-4-D is a selective chemical that will kill broadleaf weeds and not harm your grass. Is it safe to spray on annuals and perennial flowers? My vinca major is overrun with vetch. A: The chemical we...
Ornamental grass – Dig and divide
Q: I usually cut back my large ornamental grasses that grow with the big plumes in January. Can you dig them up and divide them at this time? A: All of the ornamental grasses (maidengrass, pampas grass, muhley grass, etc)...
School garden – Rain barrels
Q: My daughter’s school is trying to establish a community garden. Are rain barrels an option for a school building? A: Rain barrels are perfectly suited for a school once you get permission to cut into the gutters or drain...
Purple Vetch – Identification
Q: Can you identify this hideous weed that has invaded my garden? Any help that you can provide to identify it and eliminate this evil scourge would be very helpful. A: It’s purple vetch, Vicia americana. This legume has been...
Ornamental Grass – When to Plant
Q: I know the best time to plant trees and shrubs is mid-fall. But when is the best time to plant ornamental grasses? A: In contrast to woody plants and perennial flowers, ornamental grasses do best when planted in spring...
Fountain Grass – Making Sure it Comes Back
Q: I bought some fountain grass even though it was labeled as a tender perennial. What is the best way to make sure it comes back? A: Common purple fountain grass will come back in South Georgia and Florida but...
Information – Building a Garden
Q: A coworker and I have received a grant to build a wheelchair-accessible garden at our school. We are unsure what to plant for our limited growing season but we’d like to have vegetables and some flowers. Is there a...
Field Bindweed – Identification
Q: This vine seems to grow like kudzu. It showed up this past summer, twirling around anything in its path. What is it and how can I get rid of it? A: Garden designer Shannon Pable says it is field...
Water Lettuce – In Creek
Q: I found these water plants in a creek close to my house. I have never seen these plants there before. What are they and where would they come from? The stream winds thru the backyards of houses in a...
Blue Grass – Varieties
Q: I saw you planting a bright blue ornamental grass on your Turner South television show. I am in love with blue plants and have a berm that I am trying to do entirely in grasses. I’ll have large pampas...
Ornamental Sweet Potatoes – Big
Q: How big does an ornamental sweet potato grow? I have a Blackie sweet potato planted in a large pot and it must cover 30 square feet of my deck! A: Any gardener who has grown sweet potatoes knows that...
Suckers – Controlling with Chemicals
Q: I received a gingko tree for a gift but it has lots of suckers (small twigs) at the base. When is the best time to remove them? A: Many trees produce suckers copiously. Crapemyrtle, crabapple, ornamental cherry and maple...
Porcelain Berry Vine
Q: We have a vine (not kudzu) that has killed a dogwood tree in our yard and is about to do the same to several magnolias. The leaves look like grape leaves (but smaller) and it has small blue-black berries....
Potting Soil – Reusing
Q: I have a big pot from which I’ve pulled all of the petunias and other summer annuals. I want to plant it with pansies but I don’t know what to do with the old soil. Do I have to...
Doublefile Viburnum
Q: I love this tree! I know of three in LaFayette, and I have seen one near the carousel at the Grant Park Zoo. The flowers bloom about the same time as dogwoods, and they are strung out all along...
