Recovering Fatsia Bushes After Deer Damage

Patience and Light Pruning Are Key Deer relish tender new growth on fatsia (and even Lenten roses, as one gardener discovered). Heavy browsing looks alarming, but fatsia is resilient. Immediate Action Trim only ragged, t

Why Caterpillars Crawl Up Tree Trunks

The Journey from Egg to Leaf Seeing convoys of caterpillars ascending tree trunks is common in spring. Theyre not lost—theyre following their life cycle. Egg Placement Matters Adult moths and butterflies lay eggs on leav

Is Your Lantana Dead or Just Dormant?

Assessing Winter Survival in the Southeast Many lantana varieties succumb to Atlanta-area winters. Only Miss Huff, a selection from Goodness Grows Nursery in Lexington, GA, reliably returns each spring. Spring Triage Cut

Replanting Tulip and Daffodil Bulbs After Bloom

What to Do with Spring Bulbs in Containers After a lovely spring display, potted tulips and daffodils can be transplanted into the garden—but their long-term performance differs. Daffodils: Reliable Returners Wait until

Repairing Lawn Ruts from Heavy Equipment

Quick Fixes for Deep Tire Tracks Tree removal trucks often leave 4-inch ruts that ruin a lawns appearance and drainage. The repair method depends on whether grass survives in the rut bottoms. If Grass Remains Use a spade

New Garden in Builder's Clay: Amend, Don't Replace

Clay Has Hidden Value Builder-scraped subsoil is mostly clay—but clay holds nutrients and moisture exceptionally well. The problem: tight particle packing blocks roots. The Fix: Soil Conditioner Mix a 2-inch layer of so

Best Fruit Trees and Berries for Georgia Gardens

Low-Maintenance Fruits That Thrive in the South Despite Georgias Peach State nickname, peaches and plums demand intense spray schedules and still suffer from pests and diseases. Apples fare slightly better but still requ

Propagating Lenten Roses from Seed

Growing Hellebores from Seed to Bloom Lenten roses (hellebores) reward patient gardeners with elegant late-winter flowers. While they self-sow readily, deliberate propagation ensures better placement and variety selectio

Choosing the Best Sun Protection Hat for Gardeners

Why a Tilley Hat Is a Gardeners Best Defense For gardeners with a history of skin cancer, reliable sun protection isnt optional—its essential. Renowned horticulturist Dr. Allen Armitage, a frequent TV personality, trusts

Propagating Aloe and Snake Plant Successfully

Simple Steps to Multiply Your Succulents Aloe vera and snake plant (Mother-in-laws Tongue) are among the easiest houseplants to propagate. Both root readily from leaf cuttings with minimal equipment, making them perfect

How to Eliminate Fescue from a Bermuda Lawn

Reclaiming Your Bermuda Grass from Fescue Invasion Accidentally overseeding a Bermuda lawn with fescue is a common headache for homeowners. The cool-season fescue quickly outcompetes the warm-season Bermuda, leaving a pa

Earthworms in the Garden: Don't Buy—Build Habitat Instead

Worms Come Free With Good Soil You dont need to purchase earthworms. Prepare soil correctly and they will appear. The Formula Add soil conditioner (composted organic matter). Maintain consistent moisture. Avoid synthet

Stressed Japanese Maple: Selective Pruning and Sunscald Protection

Wait Until Early May Dont prune yet. By early May, living wood will leaf out. Then: Remove dead wood back to healthy tissue. Protect trunk from sunscald: Build stake frame, drape old bedsheet or shade cloth over canopy

Compost Pile Temperature and Weed Seed Survival

Heat Is the Only Reliable Killer Weed seeds die at 140°F sustained for 3 days. Use a long-stem compost thermometer to check center temperature. Pile Size Matters Piles smaller than 4 × 4 × 4 rarely reach lethal temperat

Evergreen Screening for Wet Sites: Plants That Tolerate Standing Water

Leyland Cypress Failed—Try These Instead For areas with periodic standing water, these shrubs handle wet feet while providing 6+ ft screening: Florida Leucothoe (Agarista populifolia) – Evergreen, arching form Inkberry

Snake Deterrents That Don't Work: Lime, Mothballs, and Real Solutions

Myths Busted Lime and mothballs do not repel snakes. Period. Why You Have Snakes Your property offers the perfect snake habitat: Food: Creek = frogs, fish, rodents. Shelter: Dense ivy groundcover = cool, humid hiding s

Willow Oak Planted Too Deep: Diagnosis and Correction

Classic Buried Root Flare Symptoms One tree thrives, the other struggles—classic sign of planting depth disparity. The sickly tree likely has its root flare buried. Diagnosis Dig beside trunk with trowel. Find the first

Plugging Zoysia into Weedy Areas: Mid-Spring Is Prime Time

Best Window: Mid-May to Mid-June Rain chances are still decent, and heat hasnt peaked. Follow this sequence: Kill weeds: Spray glyphosate (Roundup) on non-zoysia areas. Prep holes: Use long-handled bulb planter to remo

Planting a Fruiting Peach Tree: Remove Fruit for Root Establishment

Counterintuitive But Critical Your potted peach already has fruit—but plant it now and strip all fruit off. Why? Fruit production demands enormous energy. A newly planted tree must direct all resources to root system de

Memorial Tree Planting: Permanent Marker Ideas for a Beloved Pet

Two Lasting Tribute Options Option 1: DIY Concrete Stepping Stone Cast in a mold, engrave pets name before concrete sets. Add paw prints, dates, or a short message. Place at tree base. Option 2: Professional Stone Mar