General Garden Info
Holly flowers black in fall
Q: Can you identify this black muck on the stems of my hollies? It is loose and falls off when touched. A: Great pix and sharp eyes! I think you’re seeing the decomposing holly flowers. You can wash them off...
Blue mold identification
Q: I’ve never seen blue mold before. Have you? A: I think it’s cobalt crust, Terana caerulea. It is a type of white rot fungus, because it can break down all components of the plant cell wall, including brown lignins,...
Slime mold on sweet potato stems
Q: What are these spongy growths on my sweet potato plant? They’re shaped kind of like eggs. A: This is a harmless slime mold growing on the plant stems. It is not really a mold or a fungus. Slime molds...
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,...
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...
Tall Broccoli With Small Heads
Q: My broccoli grew tall but produced only small broccoli heads. It’s almost like it bolted although the weather has been nice and cool. A: Storage temperatures before you purchase the plants can cause this. Just a few days of...
Seedlings Around Lenten Roses
Q: I have dozens of small seedlings around my Lenten roses. What do I do now? A: Transplant the seedlings into a semi-shaded “nurse” bed, just a few inches apart. Fertilize in late May with a controlled release fertilizer (Osmocote,...
If Pine Tree Is Cut Down Do The Roots Keep Growing?
Q: When a pine tree is cut down do the roots keep growing? A: They do not. Without the sugar energy coming down from needles or leaves, tree roots don’t have any way to elongate. In addition, plant hormones that...
Black Streaks Under Zoysia
Q: My lawn guy said that my grass needs to be scalped to keep it “healthy”. Underneath the dead grass there’s a lot of black. My zoysia grass has been around for decades and it’s very, very thick. A: The...
Bluebird And Nuthatch Fighting Over House
Q: We setup a bluebird house in our rain garden. White-breasted nuthatchs went in and out for a few days. Then the bluebirds showed up. Today the nuthatch is going in and out. Did the bluebirds just give up? Is...
Vines To Cover Wood Pile
Q: I have a pile of fresh logs in an inaccessible ravine on my property. However, it can be seen from the street. What vines do you recommend to cover this so it’s not an eyesore? A: Four vines immediately...
