Rose – Black Spot Control
I have never found a rose that was one hundred percent resistant to black spot, the most common rose disease. The tell-tale yellow leaves adorn roses throughout Atlanta to one extent or another. The best way to avoid black spot is to plant disease-resistant roses. Earth-kind(tm) roses, promoted by...
Azalea and Camellia – Leaf Gall
Q: The leaves on the ends of some of my camellia branches are swollen and thicker than the rest of the leaves. They are also lighter green. I’ve seen this on azaleas but not on camellias. Is it the same thing? A: It is indeed the same disease: camellia (or...
Diagnosing (Identifying) Holes in the Yard
Sometimes many heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem. Wade Hutcheson, my Extension colleague in Spalding county, gets plenty of calls from the citizens of his area asking his help in identifying various holes in their landscapes. Wade is certainly familiar with several of the...
Weeds – Identification with Pictures
Weed control in the landscape is a tough business. You have to know a lot about the weed in question just to get started! As in most situations, a picture is worth a thousand words. Go through the sites below, identify your weed, then choose your method of weed control....
I’m retiring from radio (mostly)
January 4, 2020 Three months ago somebody lightheartedly asked me “When are you ever going to retire from radio” I have been asked this many times before. You know that I already retired once from the University of GA after 30 years there. And I’ve always said “Why would I...
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Peach has lots of black spots on skin
Q: We have a lot of peaches this year but noticed they are getting black spots on the skin. Is it too late in the game to treat with a pesticide? A: A fine description of peach scab disease. The...
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Corn seedlings come up white
Q: A couple of my popcorn seedlings came up completely white! I’ve never seen that before. Albino corn? Can it survive without any green leaves? A: It is not terribly unusual, particularly with older varieties or heirloom varieties of corn,...
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Hydrangea limbs suddenly wilt and die
Q: Why would my well established oakleaf hydrangea that has been in the same spot for eight years and has always bloomed for me suddenly be dead? Last year many of the stalks seemed to be dying. This spring it...
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Hydrangea wilts after planting
Q: I planted hydrangeas to spruce up my yard before putting my house on the market. They were getting along just fine for over a month and then they began to fade and wilt. A: The wilted flowers on your...
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Hydrangeas not blooming
Q: I have six different big leaf hydrangeas all in a row. Only one is blooming. Any idea what’s going on? 2 of them are the Endless Summer variety. Should they all be pruned prior to August? A: When healthy...
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Where to get help identifying a rose
Q: I need help identifying a rose that my grandmother had. The climbing rose blooms once a year in April. The color of the petals ranges from pink to purple. A: The Greater Atlanta Rose Society (atlantarose.org) has several volunteer...
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What To Do With Unused Diatomaceous Earth?
Q: I have some unused diatomaceous earth that I had for my pool but no longer need. Does it have any useful purpose for either the garden, lawn or flower bed? A: Diatomaceous earth used for a pool filter is...
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Difference Between Annual Bluegrass And Rough Bluegrass?
Q: What is the difference between annual bluegrass and rough bluegrass? A: Annual bluegrass, Poa annua, is a very common grassy weed in local lawns. It is a lighter green than fescue and really stands out against the brown of...
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Bouquet With Clump Of Moss On Long Stem
Q: In floral arrangements I often see a cut flower that looks like a clump of moss on a long stem. Do you have any idea what it could be? A: Cool looking isn’t it!? I have no doubt you...
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Donating Mahonia Bushes
Q: I have thousands of naturally growing mahonia bushes in front of my house in the woods. If you’d like I will donate them to you to dig all you want. A: Thank you, but I have plenty for now....
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Pea And Bean Plants
Q: I want a couple of pea and bean plants in my yard for a quick hobby garden. Can I sow a few seeds from dried grocery store beans? A: Possibly. Some beans and peas have been treated with heat...
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Fungus Patch Killed My Centipede Lawn
Q: Large patch fungus killed my centipede lawn. I’m going to replant in May, but is it possible that the fungus is still in my soil? How can I kill it? A: If large patch fungus was originally present, it...
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Diagnosing (Identifying) Holes in the Yard
Sometimes many heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem. Wade Hutcheson, my Extension colleague in Spalding county, gets plenty of calls from the citizens of his area asking his help in identifying various holes in...
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Weeds – Identification with Pictures
Weed control in the landscape is a tough business. You have to know a lot about the weed in question just to get started! As in most situations, a picture is worth a thousand words. Go through the sites below,...
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Bermuda – Weed Control
BASIC INFORMATION: Weed Identification Pictures General Turf and Weed Info Lawn Care Calendars THREE METHODS There are three primary methods of controlling weeds. Any one method, when used alone, will not usually control all of your weeds. To consistently control...
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Timing Spring Pre-emergent Herbicide Application on Lawn
One of the sourest phrases that can be directed at a child or adult is “I told you so!” Whether you touch a hot match, leave tools out in the rain, or lift cinder blocks all afternoon, someone is usually...
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Bermuda Grass – Disease – Brown Patch
Brown patch is most prevalent on bermudagrass which has been heavily fertilized when night temperatures are above 68 degrees and day temperature are above 80 degrees. Dead patches of grass may start small but can grow and join together to...
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Lawn – Growing in Shade
OK. I admit it. I have given up. I came to the conclusion that grass just would not grow in the corner of my lawn near the ornamental cherry trees. The shade there is so dense that my grass, no...
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Brown Patch – Diagnosing
You have brown patches of dead grass in your lawn. Is it the common lawn disease ‘brown patch’ or is it something else? The answer is important: if it is brown patch you probably need to spray with a fungicide....
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Lawn – Leveling
A new home in my neighborhood had bermudagrass sod planted in March. By May, one area was a perfect checkerboard of straight lines, composed of weedy plants, surrounding the individual squares of sod. Evidently the sod installers were in such...
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Lawn – Choosing the Best Grass
The first and most important question to ask is how much sun will be available to the grass. It is much better to use a grass that will grow in the conditions available rather than fighting the environment year after...
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Fescue Planting – 1-2-3
September – October is the BEST time to plant a fescue lawn but March -April is also a possibility. I have tips on planting a new lawn or an existing lawn, whether with seed or sod. I also cover what...
Peach has lots of black spots on skin
Q: We have a lot of peaches this year but noticed they are getting black spots on the skin. Is it too late in the game to treat with a pesticide? A: A fine description of peach scab disease. The...
Corn seedlings come up white
Q: A couple of my popcorn seedlings came up completely white! I’ve never seen that before. Albino corn? Can it survive without any green leaves? A: It is not terribly unusual, particularly with older varieties or heirloom varieties of corn,...
Hydrangea limbs suddenly wilt and die
Q: Why would my well established oakleaf hydrangea that has been in the same spot for eight years and has always bloomed for me suddenly be dead? Last year many of the stalks seemed to be dying. This spring it...
Hydrangea wilts after planting
Q: I planted hydrangeas to spruce up my yard before putting my house on the market. They were getting along just fine for over a month and then they began to fade and wilt. A: The wilted flowers on your...
Hydrangeas not blooming
Q: I have six different big leaf hydrangeas all in a row. Only one is blooming. Any idea what’s going on? 2 of them are the Endless Summer variety. Should they all be pruned prior to August? A: When healthy...
Where to get help identifying a rose
Q: I need help identifying a rose that my grandmother had. The climbing rose blooms once a year in April. The color of the petals ranges from pink to purple. A: The Greater Atlanta Rose Society (atlantarose.org) has several volunteer...
What To Do With Unused Diatomaceous Earth?
Q: I have some unused diatomaceous earth that I had for my pool but no longer need. Does it have any useful purpose for either the garden, lawn or flower bed? A: Diatomaceous earth used for a pool filter is...
Difference Between Annual Bluegrass And Rough Bluegrass?
Q: What is the difference between annual bluegrass and rough bluegrass? A: Annual bluegrass, Poa annua, is a very common grassy weed in local lawns. It is a lighter green than fescue and really stands out against the brown of...
Bouquet With Clump Of Moss On Long Stem
Q: In floral arrangements I often see a cut flower that looks like a clump of moss on a long stem. Do you have any idea what it could be? A: Cool looking isn’t it!? I have no doubt you...
Donating Mahonia Bushes
Q: I have thousands of naturally growing mahonia bushes in front of my house in the woods. If you’d like I will donate them to you to dig all you want. A: Thank you, but I have plenty for now....
Pea And Bean Plants
Q: I want a couple of pea and bean plants in my yard for a quick hobby garden. Can I sow a few seeds from dried grocery store beans? A: Possibly. Some beans and peas have been treated with heat...
Fungus Patch Killed My Centipede Lawn
Q: Large patch fungus killed my centipede lawn. I’m going to replant in May, but is it possible that the fungus is still in my soil? How can I kill it? A: If large patch fungus was originally present, it...
Diagnosing (Identifying) Holes in the Yard
Sometimes many heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem. Wade Hutcheson, my Extension colleague in Spalding county, gets plenty of calls from the citizens of his area asking his help in identifying various holes in...
Weeds – Identification with Pictures
Weed control in the landscape is a tough business. You have to know a lot about the weed in question just to get started! As in most situations, a picture is worth a thousand words. Go through the sites below,...
Bermuda – Weed Control
BASIC INFORMATION: Weed Identification Pictures General Turf and Weed Info Lawn Care Calendars THREE METHODS There are three primary methods of controlling weeds. Any one method, when used alone, will not usually control all of your weeds. To consistently control...
Timing Spring Pre-emergent Herbicide Application on Lawn
One of the sourest phrases that can be directed at a child or adult is “I told you so!” Whether you touch a hot match, leave tools out in the rain, or lift cinder blocks all afternoon, someone is usually...
Bermuda Grass – Disease – Brown Patch
Brown patch is most prevalent on bermudagrass which has been heavily fertilized when night temperatures are above 68 degrees and day temperature are above 80 degrees. Dead patches of grass may start small but can grow and join together to...
Lawn – Growing in Shade
OK. I admit it. I have given up. I came to the conclusion that grass just would not grow in the corner of my lawn near the ornamental cherry trees. The shade there is so dense that my grass, no...
Brown Patch – Diagnosing
You have brown patches of dead grass in your lawn. Is it the common lawn disease ‘brown patch’ or is it something else? The answer is important: if it is brown patch you probably need to spray with a fungicide....
Lawn – Leveling
A new home in my neighborhood had bermudagrass sod planted in March. By May, one area was a perfect checkerboard of straight lines, composed of weedy plants, surrounding the individual squares of sod. Evidently the sod installers were in such...
Lawn – Choosing the Best Grass
The first and most important question to ask is how much sun will be available to the grass. It is much better to use a grass that will grow in the conditions available rather than fighting the environment year after...
Fescue Planting – 1-2-3
September – October is the BEST time to plant a fescue lawn but March -April is also a possibility. I have tips on planting a new lawn or an existing lawn, whether with seed or sod. I also cover what...
