Australian Tree Ferns in Atlanta? Choose Hardy Alternatives

Australian tree ferns are only hardy to just below freezing—fine for South Florida, not Atlanta. For a similar tropical look, plant autumn fern or lady fern, both reliably perennial in Georgias climate.

Lowering Hybrid Bermudagrass Height: Step-Down Mowing Strategy

Riding mowers cant cut low enough for hybrid bermudagrass, leaving tough 2-inch stems. Switch to a rotary mower and lower the deck one notch weekly until you reach the reel mowers highest setting. Target 1.5 inches—the i

Seashell Mulch for Tulips: Decorative, Not pH-Altering

Seashells are calcium carbonate—same as garden lime—but their coarse size prevents rapid dissolution. Used as mulch, they wont significantly alter soil pH or calcium levels. Theyre fine for a white-garden aesthetic, but

Year-Round Bee Forage: Georgia Perennial Garden Plan

Support honeybees every month with a succession of blooms: spring—Red Giant mustard, Carolina jessamine, holly; summer—annual salvia, cosmos, phlox, fennel; fall—abelia, Joe-pye weed, perennial salvia. Connect with local

Pruning Shrubs During Drought: Wait Until December

Pruning English laurel, gardenias, and other shrubs now stresses drought-stricken plants by forcing new growth that needs water and may freeze in January. Delay pruning until December when plants are dormant and stress i

Growing Magnolias from Seed: Harvest, Clean, and Plant Now

Collect magnolia seeds before squirrels do. Soak overnight to remove the fleshy red coat, then rub seeds on a rough surface to reveal the true seed. Plant ½ inch deep in a sunny spot. Expect only 10–20% germination next

Removing Bermudagrass from Zoysiagrass: Glyphosate Spot Treatment

Fenoxaprop (Bayer Advanced Bermudagrass Control) cannot be used on zoysiagrass. Your only option: spot-spray glyphosate (Roundup) on the bermudagrass three times at 30-day intervals starting in May. After eradication, re

Crapemyrtle Aphids: Beneficial Insects' Buffet, Not a Crisis

Those oily leaves and sticky car hood? Crapemyrtle aphids and their honeydew feed over 20 beneficial insect species, including lady beetles. Spraying insecticides disrupts this natural control. Simply hose down the tree

Loropetalum as a Tree: Choose 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia' and Prune Up

Theres no distinct loropetalum tree, but Zhuzhou Fuchsia grows large enough to be trained into tree form. If only shrubs are available, buy this variety and progressively remove lower limbs over a few years to create a s

Declining Crabapple Covered in Lichen: Time for Replacement

A 25-year-old crabapple losing leaves and coated in lichen isnt suffering from the lichen—its reaching the end of its typical 25–30 year lifespan. Reviving such a tree is nearly impossible. Replace it with a disease-resi

Liming Fescue: Soil Test, Not Pine Needles, Determines Need

Fescue only needs lime if soil pH drops below 5.5. Pine needles dont acidify soil more than other tree litter. pH depends on soil type, fertilizer history, and rainfall. Dont guess—test your soil through a local extensio

Pruning Phalaenopsis Orchids After Bloom: To Cut or Not?

After your moth orchid finishes flowering, check the stem: scrape gently with a fingernail. If green underneath, cut just above the highest plump node—a new spike may emerge. If brown, remove the stem at the base. This s

Transplanting Fernspray False Cypress: October Is Ideal

October is the perfect time to move a fernspray false cypress. Cooling air reduces stress while warm soil encourages root growth before winter. Dig with a generous root ball, replant immediately, water deeply, and contin

Styrofoam vs. Perlite: Why Packing Peanuts Don't Belong in Garden Soil

Those white balls in potting mix are perlite—a porous, volcanic glass that holds moisture and nutrients—not Styrofoam. Styrofoam doesnt absorb water, floats to the surface, and blows away. While you can experiment, it wo

Why Paint Tree Trunks White? Sunscald Protection, Not Traffic Safety

White paint on tree trunks isnt for road visibility—its a traditional practice to prevent sunscald. On sunny winter days, dark bark heats up, then cracks when temperatures plummet at night. White paint reflects sunlight,

Watering Nursery Plants: Who's Really 'Training' Them?

A customer claims daily watering at the garden center trains plants to need constant moisture. In reality, greenhouse media is ultra-fast-draining to prevent root rot, so frequent watering is necessary there. Once plante

Controlling Rampant Wisteria: Removal and Better Alternatives

After 12 years of weekly pruning, your wisteria will rebound vigorously if cut back to one foot. For a lasting solution, cut it at ground level and immediately treat the stump with glyphosate. Expect root sprouts for two

Best Evergreen Vines for a Chain-Link Privacy Fence

For a living privacy screen on a chain-link fence, consider these vigorous, evergreen vines: crossvine, evergreen clematis, and Confederate jasmine. All offer attractive blooms and dense coverage. However, their sun tole

Exposed Maple Roots: Mulch, Don't Bury

Surface roots on a young maple are common and shouldnt be covered with soil, which can suffocate them. Instead, apply a layer of pine bark mini-nuggets out to the drip line. This mulch keeps soil cooler, suppresses weeds

Managing Zoysiagrass Height: Mowing Frequency Over Aggressive Cutting

Struggling to lower your El Toro zoysiagrass from 2.5 inches to the recommended 1.5 inches? The problem likely isnt the height—its mowing frequency. Zoysiagrass forms a dense, stiff turf that looks great even at three in