Termite Inspection Timing: Winter Is Acceptable, Mud Tubes Visible

Inspections can be done year-round. Winter is fine—mud tubes remain visible. If you have a Repair and Retreat contract, the company bears responsibility; let them inspect when convenient.

Reputable Online Nurseries: Garden Watchdog Ratings

Online plants start smaller but catch up fast. Best source for gardener-rated catalogs: Garden Watchdog (gardenwatchdog.com).

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Near Creek: Pointer Capsules vs. Soil Drench

Imidacloprid (Pointer, Bayer) controls adelgids. Bayer soil drench prohibited within 20 ft of water. Pointer trunk capsules are the homeowner option for streamside trees, but capsules often fail if tree vascular system i

Dividing Hydrangea: Look for Root Sprouts, Not Offsets

Woody hydrangeas dont form offsets like perennials. Check for root sprouts near base or stem sprouts if mulch is deep. Dig, wash soil off base, separate and transplant in early spring.

Lenten Rose Pruning: Remove Tattered Leaves in Mid-March

Prune ugly foliage now or wait until mid-March for major cleanup. Leave flowers until May for seed production. This tough, drought-proof groundcover is underused.

Deep Pruning Shrubs in Winter Drought: Proper Cuts Minimize Stress

Pruning at branch collars (not stubs) reduces resprouting. Shrubs will look smaller but normal in spring. Acceptable if done correctly.

Growing Ginger and Turmeric: Plant Grocery Roots in May

Both need sun, loamy soil, summer moisture. Plant fresh grocery roots in early May; harvest flavorful roots in fall when flowers appear. They survive mild winters from roots.

Termite Inspection Timing: Winter Is Acceptable, Mud Tubes Visible

Inspections can be done year-round. Winter is fine—mud tubes remain visible. If you have a Repair and Retreat contract, the company bears responsibility; let them inspect when convenient.

Rain Barrel Freeze Protection: Drain Before Hard Freeze, No Safe Antifreeze

No plant-safe antifreeze exists. Drain barrel if a week of sub-25°F temps forecast. Otherwise, daytime thaws prevent freezing. Spring rains will refill it. I currently have a full rain barrel and a full 275 gallon water

Oak Leaf Blister: Rake Leaves, Tree Will Recover

Cool, wet springs cause oak leaf blister. Leaf drop looks bad but trees rarely suffer long-term. Rake and dispose of leaves. see OAK LEAF BLISTER Taphrina caerulescens

Nemacide Unavailable: Organic Matter Boosts Natural Nematode Control

Nemacide banned for toxicity. No homeowner nematode products exist. Add organic matter to enhance soil organisms that prey on nematodes.

Deer Eating 'Deer-Resistant' Plants: Prune Damaged Tips in Spring

Deer eat anything when hungry. Drought reduced wild browse. Prune gnawed branch tips back to a bud or larger branch in spring. Use electric fence for best protection. See deer-tolerant plant lists.

Woodpecker Drumming on Stucco: Staple Plastic Sheeting to Deter

Woodpeckers drum on stucco for territory/mates, not insects. Staple clear plastic on chimney sides to prevent grip. Remove in April after mating season.

Backyard Badminton Court Grass: TifSport Bermudagrass with Soil Prep

Six hours sun is marginal for bermudagrass, but TifSport hybrid is used on sports fields. Thorough soil prep before sodding is critical. See UGA sports field guides.

Pruning 'Snow Fountain' Weeping Cherry: Staggered Cuts Prevent Mushroom Shape

Cut individual branches back to 6–18 inches above ground each winter. Vary heights to avoid a uniform mushroom shape. Plant near walls or water for natural cascade room.

Professional Pine Straw Edging: The 'Post Roll' Technique

Landscapers hand-tuck pine straw edges under to create mounded, rounded look. Called The Post Roll—lift and tuck edges with gloved hands for clean, stable borders.

'SunLite' Low-Carb Potatoes: Marketing, Not Magic—Grow Standard Georgia Varieties

SunLite is a lower-solids Florida potato marketed as low-carb. All potatoes vary in solids. Red LaSoda, Kennebec, Sebago perform well in Georgia.

Mulching Leaves on Dormant Bermudagrass: Vary Mowing Pattern

Mulching leaves on dormant bermudagrass is fine, but vary pattern (straight, perpendicular, diagonal) to avoid visible paths from broken stems.

Vinegar vs. Roundup: Non-Selective, Non-Translocated, Weak on Mature Weeds

Vinegar (5% acetic acid) kills only young weeds, isnt selective (harms grass), and doesnt reach roots. 20% acetic acid works but is corrosive. Weed Pharm (20%) is now registered. Follow label exactly.

Rainwater Collection for Lawn: Impractical Volume Needed

Lawn needs 1 inch/week = 600 gal/1000 sq ft. For 4300 sq ft, thats 2580 gal/week in July. Even fall needs 860 gal/week. Collection is unrealistic—let lawn go dormant.