Posts Tagged ‘Winter’
Macho Ferns – Proper Care
Q: I bought some Macho patio ferns at a grocery store. It seems that they may be kin to Boston fern? How do I care for them? A: ‘Macho’ fern, Nephrolepis biserrata is also called Giant Sword Fern. It is...
Asparagus – Protecting
Q: I have a large plot of asparagus. It has been attacked by asparagus beetles for two years. Is there any way I can rid my garden of them? A: You have a couple of control strategies. In winter remove...
Hibiscus Plants – Pruning
Q: I have several large hibiscus plants that I keep in my sunroom during the winter. They lose most of their leaves during this time. Can I cut them back before I put them outside this spring? A: You can...
Root Cellar – Plans
Q: Is it possible to have a root cellar in Georgia? A: I doubt it. In order to keep vegetables from rotting, the temperature needs to be 50 degrees or less with great air circulation. Deep soil temperatures are between...
Growing English Walnuts
Q: Is it possible to grow English walnuts here? A: I think winter cold will be your enemy. English walnut can tolerate temperatures much below freezing but it will come out of winter dormancy following just a few warm days...
Agapanthus
Q: We saw a distinct blue flower blooming all over Savannah. The stalk is about two feet tall and the blooms are a six-inch diameter ball. What is it? A: You saw agapanthus, a great summer bulb for the lower...
Bermuda Grass – Green Again Soon After Killing Caterpillars
Q: Two days after realizing my bermuda lawn had army worms it was brown. We killed the caterpillars but the grass is still not green. Will the grass recover this year? A: If the bermudagrass was reasonably healthy, it will...
Bog Garden – How to Make
Q: I have a small, two-foot deep plastic-lined pond that I want to convert into a bog garden. Any suggestions on how I should proceed? A: Bog gardens are fascinating to observe. Your first job is to fill the pool...
Climbing and Shrub Roses – Pruning
Q: I have climbing and shrub roses. Do I need to cut them back to short canes and mound mulch for the winter? A: Unlike in the northern US, roses here don’t need much more than “neatening up” for winter....
Soil Solarization
Q: Can I use black plastic rather than clear for soil solarization? I want to remove weeds from part of a pasture for a garden next spring. A: Unfortunately, black plastic will not work. The process of solarization is supposed...
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...
Mona Lavender – Keeping it Alive
Q: I bought a beautiful Mona Lavender at the beginning of the summer and have managed not to kill it. I would love to keep it alive until next spring. A: ‘Mona Lavender’ plectranthus is a beautiful plant! It was...
Dragon Wing Begonias – Protecting In the Winter
Q: How can I over winter Dragon Wing begonias? I hate seeing them in the compost pile after the first big freeze. A: Dragon Wing begonia, Begonia x hybrida, and angel wing begonia, Begonia coccinea are very attractive, cane-forming begonia...
Pine Tree – Burning in a Fireplace
Q: My tree surgeon said pine was OK to burn in a fireplace. He said if it dries for a year in hot sun it will be fine. A: He’s right. It is a misconception that pine wood forms more...
Composting Kitchen Scraps
Q: We are interested in composting kitchen scraps. Do the tumble composters that claim to make compost in 14 days really work? A: In my opinion they are not very useful. In winter, the tumbler cools off too much to...
Bluegrass – How to Slow it Down
Q: I know I should have put out my winter pre emergent by September 15 but I didn’t get around to it. Is there anything I can do to slow down the annual bluegrass that shows up in spring? A:...
Gladiolus – Store or Replant
Q: If I dig up my gladiolus now should I store them until spring or re-plant immediately. A: Gladiolus corms (bulbs) are usually winter-hardy if left in the ground but it’s a good idea to dig them up every couple...
Poet’s Laurel – Growing Successfully in Georgia
Q: I recently read about Poet’s Laurel. Can you grow it in Atlanta successfully? The area of our yard I was thinking of gets full sun about 90% of the day. A: Poet’s laurel, Danae racemosa, is a slow-growing evergreen...
