Posts Tagged ‘pine’
Cypress mulch – Roses
Q: Is cypress mulch good for roses? Would it have any bad effects? A: Cypress mulch won’t hurt your roses but I hope you won’t buy any more of it. One of the causes of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina...
Drought – Pine trees
Q: I’ve noticed since the drought that when it rains more trees seem to be falling over. Pine trees seem to break at weak points, but the broad leaf trees seem to be pulled out of the ground by their...
Vandalism – Flood light
Q: We have had a problem with punks vandalizing our front yard. They drive through every nine months or so. We want to mount a motion detecting floodlight in one of the pine trees. What is the best way to...
TifGrand – Shade-tolerant Bermuda
Q: I’ve heard there is a new bermuda that is shade tolerant. Is it available now? A: The University of Georgia developed TifGrand bermudagrass, which produces healthy turf in areas with less than half the light this grass normally requires....
Mulch – Types for Garden Plantings
Q: What type of mulch do you prefer for garden plantings? A: I alternate between pine straw for shrubs and trees and mini-sized bark chips for perennials and annuals. I use wheat straw around vegetables to promote beneficial insects. I...
Making Potting Soil
Q: I enjoyed your recent TV program on making potting soil. I found it disheartening that the ingredients came from far away: peat from Canada, perlite from Greece, etc. Are there other ways to make potting soil with materials close...
Hydrangea – Not Blooming
Q: My purple hydrangea has not bloomed for two years now. It used to be beautiful. Do I need to prune it to the ground or what? A: Bigleaf hydrangeas were hit with a 1-2-3 flurry of punches during the...
Roots – How to Kill
Q: I recently had two trees cut down because their roots passed beneath my sidewalk. The stumps and roots remain. I’m concerned that the roots will continue to grow. How can I kill them? A: Some trees, like oak and...
Fruit Trees – Planting Near Pine Trees
Q: I’ve heard not to plant fruit trees near pine trees. Is that true? A: Unlike black walnut trees, which attack any competitor with chemicals exuded from their roots, pines are not known to deter nearby plants. Of course, any...
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...
Spanish Moss – Control
Q: Is there a registered chemical for controlling Spanish moss in crapemyrtles? A: Why do you want to control it in the first place? Spanish moss doesn’t hurt the crapemyrtles, it simply uses the branches as support. Spanish moss is...
Pine Needles – Excessive Acidity
Q: After reading your answer to the question about leaving pine needles on the lawn last week, I’m still confused. I understand about not letting them make a mat on the grass but what about the acidity they produce? A:...
Sunlight – Full Sun vs. Partial Shade
Q: When a plant tag says full sun or partial shade, how many hours of sun or shade are appropriate when determining if a spot is suitable for the plant? A: Sunshine intensity differs across every landscape and garden. Compare...
Pine Sawfly
Q: I just noticed that one of my deodar cedars is suddenly and rapidly becoming a skeleton. Upon closer inspection, I found it is being eaten alive by clusters of spotted yellow caterpillars with bright red lips! I would say...
White Pine – Yellowing
Q: I have a white pine turning yellow. It is located 20 feet from my pond. Is there any thing I can do or is this normal? A: Although I see plenty of white pines planted in metro Atlanta, I...
Polyphemous Moth
Q: I found this giant moth in the yard. What is it? A: You found a beautiful polyphemus moth! This flying creature is found in wooded areas. Its equally distinctive caterpillar is bright green and up to three inches long....
