Posts Tagged ‘Spring’
Pine Pollen – Predicting
Q: We are preparing to paint the outside trim of our house, and would like to avoid the peak time for pine pollen. Can you approximate when we can expect the “yellow curse” to appear? A: Yikes! Considering that a single...
Protecting Plants from a Spring Cold Snap
Georgia is famous for spells of warm weather in early spring that are followed by a couple of days below freezing. The average last freeze is March 27 but a frost can occur as late as April 23. (Brrrr!!) See...
Weeping Willow – Planting in spring
Q: I planted a weeping willow back in the spring. At this point it has some yellow leaves, more than I think is normal. What causes this? A: Your willows are informing you that, like all trees, they would have...
Dogwood – Spots on Leaves
Q: My dogwood tree has dozens of tiny purple spots on each leaf. The leaves are twisted and disfigured. Other dogwoods in the neighborhood look fine. How will this affect the tree? A: Ah, sweet mysteries of nature! Why a...
‘Foster’ Holly – Spittlebug control
Q: My ‘Foster’ holly is covered with black bugs. They are about a half-inch long, with orange stripes running across the body. I hope they don’t kill the holly! A: Your holly is hosting adult spittlebugs. ‘Foster’ and ‘Nellie Stevens’...
Celosia – Growing
Q: Have you seen or tried to grow cockscomb celosia? The flower looks like a fuzzy brain and is red or yellow. I have some seeds from a bouquet given to me and I’d like to cultivate them. What are...
Groundcovers – alternatives to grass
Q: I am curious about using plants other than grasses for an open area in my backyard. I have heard you describe on your radio show the idea of using dwarf mondo grass but the relatively high cost makes me...
Summer vegetable gardening – information
Q: I’m new to gardening in Georgia so I’m curious. Many gardens are planted so early in the spring, compared to my New York State home, that sweet corn and tomato plants are already harvested and being cut down by...
Elephant Ear – Blooms
Q: This is an elephant ear blooming in the front of my house. It also bloomed last year. Can you tell me how often to expect this? I have others that haven’t bloomed at all in 9 years!! A: Elephant...
Pinecone Ginger
Q: I was recently in Bainbridge. A lady was making a flower arrangement with “flowers” I have not seen before. The flower looked like a six-inch tall pine cone on a very thick stem. She called this a pine cone...
Buttonbush
Q: Along a creek bed near Yatesville, Georgia, I came upon a low growing plant with a pretty white flower that I cannot identify. The bloom was a little smaller than a golf ball. It looked like tiny honeysuckle blooms...
Daylily – Planting Seed
Q: Last week, while removing some of the flower stems that had dried up on my daylilies, I noticed that in the globe-shaped thing at the top of the stem, where the flower had been, were a number of small,...
Bulbs – Planted Upside-down
Q: Back in November I planted 300 spring bulbs in my garden. Now I am concerned that I planted them upside-down. Will they grow correctly or must I dig them up and replant them? A: You can lay to rest...
Osage Orange – Growing from Seed
Q: I have tried, unsuccessfully, for the past two years, to germinate and grow an osage orange tree. Can you shed any light on what I should be doing? We once had such a tree growing on the banks of...
Dwarf Mondo Grass – Planting
Q: What can you tell me about dwarf mondo grass? Can you split the containers of plants or do they have to be planted as a unit? Doe it spread and can you dig up and transplant the grass? When...
Woolly Hackberry Aphid – Control
Q: In early September in Cartersville there were huge numbers of white fluffy bugs floating around. Do you know what they are? A: I think you’re seeing woolly hackberry aphids. The insects suck sap from hackberry (sugarberry) trees and exude...
Composting – In Plastic Bags
Q: If I leave my shredded leaves in a plastic bag outdoors and punch small holes in the bag so rain water will wet them, will they compost by spring? A: The leaves will eventually decompose into compost but I...
Curcuma (Siam Tulip) – Identification
Q: I love the flowers of a plant labeled “curcuma” I bought at a home improvement store. What should I do with it this fall and winter? A: You have a Siam tulip: Curcuma alismatifolia. It is not hardy outdoors...
