Damaged Trees Require Certified Arborist Evaluation

Q: Two damaged trees—one lightning-struck, one with basal cavity. Save or remove? Im not qualified to assess structural risk. Hire a certified arborist to examine damage and advise. Find one via Georgia Forestry Commissi

Princess Tree (Paulownia): Invasive Identification and Stump Treatment

Q: This huge-leaved plant appeared and keeps growing. What is it? Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa)—huge heart-shaped leaves, especially on young/resprouted plants. Purple spring flowers like upside-down wisteria, but

Hydrangea Leaf Spot (Cercospora): Causes and Fungicide Treatment

Q: My year-old hydrangeas have round brown leaf spots and no blooms. Cercospora leaf spot—common when leaves stay wet from rain/irrigation or dense growth prevents drying. Spray landscape fungicide (click for sources) at

Applying Ammonium Nitrate Safely to Fescue Lawns

Q: Soil test says only ammonium nitrate needed for my 5-year fescue. How to apply without burning? Rate ~3 lbs/1000 sq ft. Tips: Apply to dry grass (prevents sticking to blades). Irrigate after to wash off. Set spreader

Pond Fertilizer: Specialized Products for Fish Production

Q: Is there fertilizer made specifically for lakes? Bet riding on this! Yes! Lake fertilizers boost phytoplankton (green water), feeding minnows that feed game fish. Most lakes lack phosphorus, so pond fertilizers are hi

Nutsedge Control in Landscape Beds: Herbicides Safe for Azaleas

Q: How to kill nutgrass in azalea beds without harming the shrubs? Yellow nutsedge only: Bentazon (click for sources)—spot-spray emerged sedge, not over-the-top. Both yellow & purple: Imazaquin (click for sources)—check

Velvet Ant (Cow Killer): Wingless Wasp, Not an Ant

Q: Big red ant with black stripe—neighbor calls them cow ants. Its a female velvet ant (Dasymutilla spp.), a wingless wasp. Cow killer refers to its painful sting. Females lay eggs in bumblebee/cicada killer nests; larva

Spider Control: Exclusion, Vacuuming, and Micro-Encapsulated Insecticides

Q: Tiny spiders spin webs inside windows. Sprays dont work. You mentioned a paint-on liquid? Spiders are there because insects gather at windows. First, weatherproof windows/doors to exclude insects. Vacuum webs and spid

Lantana Allelopathy: Temporary Effect on Nearby Plants

Q: Gladioli failed where lantana grew last year. How long does allelopathy persist? Allelopathy (chemical plant interference) is poorly understood even for black walnut. Lantana is a noxious weed in Australia/India partl

Possum in the Yard: Harmless Scavenger or Nuisance?

Q: Large possum climbing my tree. Dangerous? How to remove humanely? Possums arent dangerous, rarely carry rabies, and eat varied scraps—natures garbagemen. They may steal outdoor pet food. Live trap: Tie a tall (24+) sm

Raising Ladybugs: Why Buying Them Rarely Works

Q: How to raise ladybugs in quantity? I saw huge masses in a water tower. I dont know how to raise them, but buying is ineffective. Most sold are harvested from California mountains. Summer releases stay local but dont e

Zoysiagrass Brown After Freeze: Patience, Not Fertilizer

Q: My zoysia greened up in March, froze, and is still brown 3 weeks later. What now? Early warm spells trigger green-up using stored carbs. Subsequent frost burns blades and depletes reserves. Established lawns will re-g

Using Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier Condensate for Plants

Q: Can I use AC/dehumidifier drip water on flowers? Yes! Its essentially distilled water—perfectly safe. Georgia EPD rules exempt cooling system condensate from watering restrictions. Catch and use all you can!

First-Time Gardener Resources: Books and Websites for Georgia

Q: Im buying my first home in LaGrange and want gardening fundamentals. Book and website recommendations? Books: The Southern Living Garden Book and Southern Living Garden Problem Solver. Websites: UGA Extension Service

Growing Pineapple from Top: Rooting Method and Pups

Q: My 6-year-old pineapple fruited, but the stalk remains and leaves are yellowing. Can it rebloom? Pineapples (like all bromeliads) die slowly after fruiting. Outdoors in frost-free areas, they produce pups at the base

Lucky Bamboo Is Actually Dracaena: Care and Feng Shui

Q: Can I use local bamboo for Lucky Bamboo water displays? Lucky Bamboo isnt bamboo—its Dracaena sanderiana. Feng Shui practitioners believe it brings calm. Stems are often trained into intricate shapes over years. Buy a

Mystery Squash from Compost: Hybrid Cucurbit Surprises

Q: Compost volunteers produced round, ridged, light-green fruit—not yellow squash or zucchini. What are they? Cucurbits (squash, cucumbers, gourds) cross-pollinate freely via insects. Your compost seeds had mixed parenta

Blueberry Yellow Leaves: Iron Chlorosis from High Soil pH

Q: My 6-year-old blueberries have yellow leaves with green veins. Water or mineral issue? This is iron chlorosis6.0) makes it unavailable. Blueberries need pH 4.8–5.5. Fixes: Soil test via Extension (404-897-6261). Quic

Raised Bed Materials: Treated Lumber, Plastic, or Untreated Wood?

Q: Should I avoid landscape timbers for vegetable beds? Are non-treated timbers available? No need to use treated lumber if you prefer not to. Old CCA treatment phased out 2003–2006; current ACQ (alkaline copper quaterna

Buying Tree Seedlings Cheaply from the Georgia Forestry Commission

Q: Where to find chestnut oak seedlings? I cant locate them for sale or in woods. The Georgia Forestry Commission Reforestation Department sells chestnut oak and many other species to landowners in quantities of 50 to te