Water Features
Opinion On Hydroponic Gardening?
Q: What is your opinion on hydroponic gardening? A: Hydroponic gardening is lots of fun as a hobby but it’s lots of work as a business. There are several methods of suspending plant roots in nutrient-filled water. You’ll be astonished...
My Lawn Is Suffering From Drought
Q: Some areas of my lawn look really stressed from drought. I try to water it once a week for twenty minutes each zone. A: You need to know how much water is being applied in twenty minutes. Set six...
Starting A Dunstan Chestnut Orchard
Q: I’m in the planning phase of starting a large Dunstan chestnut orchard. Is there anyone to help me in the process? One issue I need to address is irrigation. A: Few people alive remember the billions of American chestnut...
Chipmunks Chewed Through Drip Irrigation System
Q: Chipmunks have chewed their way through my drip irrigation system. Is there anything that can be done? A: This is a common problem. In my case, chipmunks or squirrels have three times chewed through a plastic water supply line...
Options for Water-Holding Lawns
Q: Can you give me ways to decrease water holding in my back lawn? Water comes from a small hill on the side of my house. Might a rain garden help soak up some of the water? A: If your...
Algae – How To Get Rid Of It From Our Pond
Q: Our small pond in front of our house has been very low. It developed red algae a month ago. My husband dipped his finger in the water and there was green algae underneath the red algae. Can we kill...
Drip Irrigation Parts
Q: My 86-year-old father lives in rural Georgia and he asked me to look for information on ordering drip irrigation parts. He says he needs an emitter. A: Drip irrigation is a terrific way to water a garden. You run...
Chattahoochee River Water-Safe for Irrigation?
Q: Is it safe to use water from the Chattahoochee River to irrigate a vegetable garden? A: Many years ago, the Chattahoochee was not the cleanest river in the region. Folks were warned about eating fish caught there. Now the...
Drip Irrigation for Vegetable Garden
Q: I have a vegetable garden consisting of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. The soil is mostly clay. I use a drip irrigation system and was wondering what rate of water you would recommend? A: This is hard to answer because...
Iguana – Droppings in Pool
Q: For the past six months poop like this has been in our South Florida pool. It’s very skinny, probably 1/4″ wide. Everyone said it was raccoon but it just doesn’t look like any raccoon feces pictures I have seen....
Pond Bank – Weed Control
Q: We recently had stones placed on the bank of our detention pond to prevent erosion. Many animals and birds live there. Weeds are growing between the stones. We need an environmentally safe herbicide to kill the unwanted plants. A:...
Shallow Pond – Mosquito Control
Q: I have a shallow pond (100′ x 100′) that occasionally goes dry in summer. I get lots of mosquitoes from it when it dries and leaves small puddles. Is there a way to control mosquitoes in this situation? A:...
Centipede Sod – Irrigation Techniques
Q: I am going to put down centipede sod in my GA yard. I am on well water that only generates 5 GPM. I have had different people tell me different things regarding the feasibility of having irrigation installed due...
Well Water – Testing
Q: I have well water and would like to test it for contaminants. There are no factories or industrial facilities near by. Iron and sulfur amounts would be good to know. A: The University of Georgia has a good guide...
Irrigation – Using Pool Water
Q: Can we water the sugar maples and bermudagrass around our condos with swimming pool water? A: Relatively speaking, pool water doesn’t have much chlorine in it, typically 1 – 3 parts per million. This is approximately the same amount...
Tomatoes – Drip Irrigation Method
Q: I’ve decided to use drip irrigation for my tomatoes this spring. Any advice on how many gallons per hour, how often, where to locate the drip hose , etc? A: Water specifications depend a lot on your personal observation....
Stream – Water is Orange (Rusty)
Q: I live in Cumming and have a small stream in the woods behind my house. The water looks like rust. Can you tell me why? A: It’s because iron has dissolved in the water and a certain bacteria is...
Bloodworms – In Pond
Q: I have a small pond. The pump stopped running and when I checked, the filter was completely full of disgusting leeches. They look similar to earthworms with flattened “heads”. When I opened up the filter, several “grabbed” my fingers...
