Posts Tagged ‘Winter’
Golf course – Green grass
Q: How does a golf course with bermuda or bentgrass greens keep them green in the winter? A: Bermudagrass is normally brown in winter so golf courses overseed with ryegrass in September. The ryegrass is green all winter, keeping the...
Lantana – Identification
Q: I have three lantana that I planted last year and they got to be a real nice size. They appear to be dead now. Are they gone? A: Not all lantana’s are reliably hardy in the Atlanta area. In...
Crossvine – Pods
Q: My crossvine is producing its annual pods. I wondered if these can be used to produce new vines and, if so, how? A: Crossvine can be easily propagated from seed. Just wait until the pods are brown and then...
Crabgrass – Seeds
Q: I want to grow crabgrass. Yes, crabgrass. A piece of my property has very poor, eroded soil and nothing grows there except crabgrass. Where can I get crabgrass seeds? I know it goes dormant in winter; I simply want...
Leyland cypress – Trimming
Q: When I bought my house, the Leyland cypress at the end of my driveway was a cute thing about seven feet tall. Now, eight years later, it is twenty-five feet tall. Can you trim them to keep them a...
Centipede grass – Overseeding
Q: Can you overseed centipede grass with rye grass for winter? A: No, it’s a terrible idea to plant ryegrass into centipedegrass to keep it green in winter. In the first place, the process of scarifying the soil to plant...
Indoor growth – Tomatoes
Q: I’m new to gardening and was wondering if it was possible to grow tomatoes indoors year round. Our rental house has a sunroom so plants can get a lot of light there most of the year. A: I admire...
Blueberry Bushes – Chandler
Q: I’m planning to plant two blueberry bushes and have seen several pieces about the Chandler variety. You recommend rabbiteye blueberries, but I can’t find whether Chandler is a rabbiteye or not. A: Chandler’ bears huge berries but it’s a...
Solarizing soil – Eliminate pupae
Q: I had a horrible time with squash vine borers this year. Will solarizing my soil this winter (clear plastic covering for 6-8 weeks) help eliminate the pupae for next year? A: Solarizing in winter won’t heat the soil enough...
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)...
Ceramic pot – Fountain
Q: I have a big ceramic pot that I have made into a fountain. What do I need to do for winter? Is it okay to just keep pumping? A: For most outdoor fountains, it’s best to turn it off...
Burlapped ‘Allee’ Elm – Recovery
Q: We bought a healthy looking balled and burlapped ‘Allee’ Elm from a tree farm. After about two days in the ground the leaves started to wrinkle and turn brown. Do you think it will recover by next spring? A:...
Neem trees – Growth areas
Q: I grew up in Gujarat, India, where I played among the surrounding neem trees. They had many uses: a leaf tea comforted rashes, twigs were used for cleaning teeth, smoke from the leaves kept mosquitoes and bugs away. I...
Clay pot seedling – Outdoor survival
Q: Last April we bought a seedling from the Angel Oak on St John’s Island, SC. It is planted in a clay pot and has tripled in size. If I plant it outdoors, will it survive? A: As soon as...
Gazebo – Greenhouse
Q: I am planning to enclose my portable, aluminum gazebo with 6 mil. plastic and convert it into a greenhouse for the winter. I’ll keep it on my deck, so heat from the house will help keep it warm. Will...
Pyracantha bush – No seedlings
Q: I observe a pyracantha bush that is loaded with fruit every year but I never see any seedlings. What gives? A: Pyracantha originated in Asia and is appreciated for the huge number of bright red berries it produces. Cedar...
Wood Ash – Fertilizer for Houseplant?
Q: Can I use a teaspoon of wood ash from the fireplace to fertilize my house plants? A: A teaspoon probably wouldn’t hurt anything but ashes don’t contain anything useful to a houseplant. All that ashes are good for is...
Macrophyla hortensia hydrangea – Outdoors
Q: I purchased a “macrophyla hortensia hydrangea” from the grocery store. It is in a pot with a spongy medium. Can this be planted outside now? A: Although florist hydrangea makes a great gift and is attractive for several days,...
