Landscaping
Should I Cut My Lenten Roses Back
Q: We have lots of very healthy Lenten roses and autumn ferns. My husband wants to cut off all the leaves and fronds from the plants. I think they look great just the way they are. Is there any reason...
Should I Shred My Leaf Pile
Q: I have a heavily wooded lot. I take the fallen leaves off my grass and move them into an area with mature oak trees. The piles are four feet high when I’m finished. Is it better to leave the...
Wood Chips As Mulch
Q: I am having some trees removed and would like to have them chipped up and spread around my plants and flower beds. Is this a good idea? A: Arborist wood chips are an excellent landscape mulch! Unlike other mulch...
Vines To Stop Erosion
Q: I have a vertical red clay bank that is several feet high and twenty feet long. Is there any vine I can plant at the top or bottom to stop erosion? A: I would compare English ivy, Confederate jasmine,...
Should I Get A Backyard Greenhouse?
Q: I am considering getting a small backyard greenhouse but I am concerned about it getting too hot. A: A greenhouse is fun to have but sometimes you have to learn by experience what it takes to cool and heat...
Why Are My Peace Lilies Dying?
Q: Many leaves on my 20-year-old peace lily are turning brown. I repotted it ten years ago. It stays in the window of a cool room and I water it once every other week. How do I make it healthier? ...
Should I Prune My Peach Tree Early?
Q: We have been waiting for the right time to prune our peach tree and I know you recommend March for that. However we just noticed that they seem like they will bloom very soon. Should we still wait until...
Do Organic Pesticides And Fertilizers Work?
Q: What are your thoughts on organic pesticides, and fertilizers? Do they work as well as non-organic? A: Organic pesticides can be as good as, or better than, conventional pesticides. It all depends on the pest being controlled. I have...
Should Cut Off The Tops Of My Pine Trees
Q: What would happen if I topped my twenty-foot-tall pine trees? A: If you cut off the top of any tree, eventually a small nearby limb will begin veering upward toward the sun to make a new trunk. This might...
Georgia Fruit Tree Recommendations
Q: I am new to Georgia and am interested in planting a few fruit trees in my back yard. I’d like rare but hardy ones. Any suggestions? A: “Rare” and “hardy” may not be possible. If a fruit tree is...
When Do Meyer Lemons Bloom?
Q: My Meyer lemon has about ten blooms starting to form. Is January the normal time? A: It is behaving normally. Mine has bloomed indoors in January as well as outdoors in May depending on the weather conditions. When a...
Passionvine tincture – Dermatitis (skin rash)
Q: I was given Passionvine medicine by a Naturopath for stress relief and took two doses yesterday. This morning I’ve worked up with the rash’s in the pictures below. I’ve had this rash from a ‘Robyn Gordon’ grevillea, I have...
Can Arborvitae Splitting Be Avoided?
Q: I’ve seen arborvitae in many beautiful landscapes. But it always seems to split as it grows. Can this be avoided? A: Arborvitae is an excellent needled evergreen but it can have a problem with splitting. When it occurs close...
Can I Transplant My Hydrangeas To Zone 9 (Florida)?
Q: Can I transplant my hydrangeas to Zone 9, Florida? They are about three feet tall and wide. A: Hydrangeas will grow in zone 9 if you give them light shade all day long and if they are watered properly...
What To Do With Old 4-5-4 Plant Food?
Q: I just discovered an unopened bag of 4-5-4 plant food I purchased for my azaleas. It contains “material recycled from the food processing industry, formulated specifically for all acid-loving plants…” What would you suggest I do with it? A:...
Correct Way To Plant White Oak Acorns
Q: I have recently collected some white oak acorns. What is the correct way to plant them? A: The best time to plant white oak acorns is in fall immediately after you collect them because they sprout so quickly. In...
Can I Trim My Medium-Sized Trees Myself?
Q: We have five medium-sized trees in our landscape. They need to be trimmed up at the bottom and thinned out to keep branches off the house. Is this something I can do or do I need a pro? A:...
Do Ginkgo Trees Stink?
Q: Do ginkgo trees stink? Does it depend on whether it is a male or female tree? If so, how do you know which you are getting? A: The tree itself does not stink but the fruit from female ginkgo...
