Posts Tagged ‘Winter’
Luna Moth Caterpillar – Identification
Q: My son found this in the wood chips. It latched onto him when he carried it, and had small little spines on its back. A: A: It’s a luna moth caterpillar. Note the white stripe down the side, which...
Flapjack Plant – Identification
Q: My wife and I have been trying for a year to identify this plant to no avail. It was a hand-me-down plant, given to us last fall. It was an outdoor plant, we took it inside when the weather...
New Garden – Not Thriving
Q: We want to know if you have insight as to why our garden failed this year so we can avoid issues next season. We planted our garden in August, with mushroom compost and landscape soil turned into it. You...
Crapemyrtle – Correct Pruning Tips
Q: Pardon my ignorance but I’m not from the US. I have a pair of these beauties in my back yard, and they’re everywhere in east Cobb County. In roadway medians they’re pruned back hard in winter, to just above...
Yaupon Holly – Identified
Q: I just bought a house and it has several tall bushes that I cannot identify. It has no thorns, but is similar to a pyracantha. Can you help me to identify it? A: It’s a weeping yaupon holly, Ilex...
Flowering Magnolia – Bloom Cold Tolerance
Q: I noticed last week that my flowering magnolia has huge buds on it. Will it have black blooms due to the cold? Jimmy W. Mize, email A: Flowering magnolias, including star magnolia and saucer magnolia, are extremely cold tolerant....
Japanese Maple – Grafting
Q: I would like to try to propagate cuttings from a Japanese maple. A: There are three ways to propagate a Japanese maple: seed, rooting cuttings and grafting. Seed are easy to grow…but the offspring will not be “exactly” like...
Spring Crocus – Identification
Q: I noticed this unexpected beauty last weekend. It’s roughly 5 inches tall, as thin as a pine needle, with a white stripe, and a purple bloom. The bloom opens during the day, even during freezing weather. Any idea of...
Baptisia – Identification
Q: I intended to write down the name of this plant but I didn’t do it. It has beautiful small dark blue/purple flowers when it blooms. Can you please tell me what this plant is and how I can propagate...
Sago Palm – Small Greenhouse for Winter Protection
Q: I have had a sago palm for seven years. We got tired of dragging it inside every winter so we planted it near our pool. I was worried about the cold weather, so I want to show you the...
Zoysia – Thin Due to Cold Spring
Q: My Zeon zoysia lawn sod was put down in August. I did it using the recommendations from your web site. The grass is not coming back this spring, even though I’m watering it. Do you have any recommendations? A:...
Mondo Grass – Making a Lawn
Q: I have heard you talk about how hard it is to grow grass in deep shade. On a recent garden tour, one gardener had a spectacular “lawn” of mondo grass. The gardener said that she sprigged the yard with...
Hairy Vetch – Sources
Q: I’m looking for some hairy vetch seed. I’ve called all over Atlanta but no one has any for sale. A: Hairy vetch is used for a ground cover on steep banks and as a winter cover on gardens. One...
Zoysia Lawn Care
Q: I have a large zoysia lawn. I’m looking for the best type of pre-emerge to put down now. Is 5-10-15 the way to go? A: I am totally against fertilizing zoysia, bermuda, centipede or St. Augustine lawns when they...
Citrus Trees – Geothermic Heating
Q: I am thinking of building a greenhouse. Can I do geothermic heating and use warmth from the soil to keep citrus trees alive? A: It’s theoretically possible to use geothermic heating or cooling but I don’t think you’ll find...
Magnolia Budding
Q: I noticed last week that my flowering magnolia has huge buds on it. Will it have black blooms due to the cold? A: Flowering magnolias, including star magnolia and saucer magnolia, are extremely cold tolerant. They grow in parts...
Clemtine Oranges – Seeds
Q: I am an 11 year old gardener. I was wondering if clementine oranges have no seeds how do they grow more? A: Clementines are a hybrid variety of mandarin orange that originated in China. A flower of this orange...
Fern – Needs Humidity
Q: I have a large fern-type plant in my living room on which the edges of the leaves turn brown. What could cause this problem? A: My bet is that the plant doesn’t have enough humidity around it. Indoor air...
