Gypsum as a Soil Amendment: Myth vs. Reality for Clay Soil

Gardeners want maximum results with minimum effort. In north Georgia, turning hard red clay into plant-friendly soil is a major job. Many hear that gypsum magically softens soil, reducing digging. Gypsum does help somewh

Best Garden Books for Southern Gardeners: Reference & Pleasure Reading

Looking for a gift for a gardener who has everything? Most dirt-diggers enjoy reading about others trials and triumphs. Serious gardeners also need reference books for the latest plant information. Here are my favorites:

Ordering Plants from Catalogs: Risks, Rewards, and Trusted Sources

Few couples recall their first serious argument. I do—it happened on I-285 near Buford Highway on a Saturday afternoon. I mentioned ordering plants from an online catalog. My partner looked at me like Id suggested Vienna

Poisonous Plants: Separating Myth from Reality in Your Garden

Growing up, Mrs. Mabel Prayors warnings carried as much weight as my parents commands. Shed shout from the back door, Walter, stop feeding those berries to your brother! Theyre poison! How she knew I was hiding behind th

Understanding Soil Drainage: Why Slopes Don't Guarantee Healthy Roots

I recently explained to a homeowner that flowering cherry trees demand well-drained soil to thrive. Thats not a problem, they replied, Im planting on a slope, so water drains right past it. Actually, sloping soil is ofte

Planting Zones Explained: Hardiness, Heat, and Microclimates

Just as a driver needs a map, a gardener needs planting zones to know which plants will thrive. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides the U.S. into zones based on average annual minimum winter temperatures, each zone spann

Protecting Plants from Cold: Selection and Emergency Covers

Winter cold tests every plants hardiness. While some gardeners dig up tender plants like bananas each fall, others seek cold-hardy varieties. Nurseries such as Plant Delights offer hardy bananas and oleanders reported to

Watering Shrubs During Drought: Efficient Techniques

Water is the lifeblood of plants, transporting nutrients, sugars, and hormones. During drought or watering restrictions, prioritize the most valuable landscape plants. Hand-watering at the base of shrubs is more efficien

Gypsum vs. Lime: Soil Chemistry for Gardeners

Gardeners often wonder if leftover drywall (gypsum, calcium sulfate) can substitute for garden lime (calcium carbonate) to raise soil pH. Although both contain calcium, their chemical behavior differs. Limes carbonate re

Understanding Soil Percolation: Testing and Improving Drainage

The rhythmic gurgle of a percolating coffee pot is a familiar morning sound. That same principle—water moving through a medium—applies to soil, where percolation rate determines whether plant roots thrive or rot. Well-dr

Plants Called Grasses That Aren't True Grasses

When we talk about mowing the lawn, we say were cutting grass. But many plants bear the name grass without belonging to the true grass family, Poaceae. In everyday language, grass simply means a short, green ground cover

John Travolta's Secret Gardening Lesson: Decoding Fertilizer Numbers

John Travoltas iconic Saturday Night Fever pose—finger up, hand down, legs around—mirrors the three fertilizer numbers: Nitrogen (up = foliage growth), Phosphorus (down = root growth), Potassium (all around = stress resi

When Gardening Experiments Go Wild: Invasive Plants and Surprise Ecosystems

Invasive Groundcover Three Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) plants became three dozen in months, engulfing ferns and azaleas. Years later, still fighting it under hydrangeas. Container Water Garden Surprise A h

Identifying and Repairing Sinkholes Caused by Buried Construction Debris

Causes Sinkholes often appear 5–10 years after construction when buried debris (tree branches, stumps, materials) decays, leaving a cavity that eventually collapses. Inspection Enlarge the opening, use a flashlight. If

Understanding Pollination in Your Vegetable Garden: Squash, Tomatoes, and Hand Pollination

Squash Pollination Squash, cucumber, gourd, pumpkin, and watermelon have separate male and female flowers. Males appear first (no fruit). Females have a tiny fruit at the base. A bee must visit a female flower at least t

Debunking the Myth: Water Droplets Do Not Burn Plant Leaves

Water droplets can act as lenses, but they are flattened, not perfect spheres. Their focal point is above or below the leaf surface, never on it. Even if focused, the heat would evaporate the droplet before damaging cell

How Late Can You Plant in Fall? Soil Temperature Guide

Fall planting benefits: warm soil stimulates root growth while cool air reduces water demand. Cornell research shows root growth virtually stops when soil at 6 inches drops below 40°F. Check your local soil temperature v

Safety of Pressure-Treated Wood in Gardens: Arsenic Leaching Concerns

Pre-2004 pressure-treated wood (CCA) contains arsenic, chromium, and copper. Most stays in the wood, but some leaches, especially in acidic soil. Dont build compost bins with CCA wood. 10 inches from treated wood or repl

Starting Plants from Seed Indoors: A Cost-Effective Approach

Starting seeds indoors saves money when you need many plants. With a sunny window, sunroom, or artificial lights, you can raise hundreds of dollars worth of plants for a few dollars. Timing is tricky—germination and grow

DeKalb County Free Compost Sites

DeKalb County composts yard waste and offers it free at four sites. Check the county website for hours and instructions; call ahead on weekends.