Summer Planting of Perennials and Shrubs: OK If You Water

Buying sale plants now is fine if you plant them. Container watering is more work than in-ground. Keep soil moist, not soggy. No vacation plans? Plant now.

Replacing Bermuda with Shade-Tolerant Grass: Zoysia or TifGrand?

12-month guarantee and maintain properly.

'Endless Summer' Hydrangea No Blooms: Cold Winter Aftermath

If foliage is healthy, blooms may still appear. Cold winter likely delayed flowering. Dont prune tips now—buds forming. In spring, dont cut dead stems until leaves fully expand (often early June).

Beetles in Magnolia Flowers: Ancient Pollinators

Magnolias evolved before bees; theyre pollinated by beetles eating pollen. Dozens of beetles in flowers are normal and beneficial—theyre doing the job nature designed.

Pruning Weeping Atlas Cedar: Tips for Natural Look

Prune tips to ~12 inches above ground. Cut just beyond a side branch or needle tuft. Vary cut heights for a natural, not manicured, appearance.

Best Tree-Form Serviceberry: 'Princess Diana' or 'Autumn Brilliance'

Serviceberry is a favorite: spring flowers, edible fruit, fall color. For a tree form, choose Princess Diana or Autumn Brilliance.

Ants in Outdoor Potted Plants: Usually Harmless

Ants in pots rarely harm plants. Some species farm aphids, but its uncommon. If bothersome, drench soil with diluted garden insecticide.

Colorful Flowering Shrubs for Sun: Abelia Varieties

Abelia x grandiflora cultivars offer glossy leaves, May–Oct bloom, and colorful foliage. Edward Goucher is compact. Variegated types: Canyon Creek, Mardi Gras, Kaleidoscope. Smaller stature but long blooming.

Reviving Pampas Grass with a Dead Center

The dead center wont regenerate—its a dense root mat. Soak the clump heavily for 2 days. Dig out living edge clumps, remove dead center, refill with good soil, and replant the healthy divisions in the middle.

Tree Growth Regulators for Maples: Not Recommended

Arborists and UGA experts discourage growth regulators. They divert energy to roots, which later releases as excessive canopy growth. Better: hire an arborist every few years for thinning. Bonsai-style root and crown pru

Filling a Tree Stump Hole: Thinset Mortar is Fine Deep Down

6 inches below grade. Grass roots only go 6 inches deep. Compacted clay also works.

Ants in Mulch Pile: Turn It to Evict Them

Turn the mulch pile a couple times. Ants hate disturbance and will relocate. Work quickly to avoid them climbing your tool. Try this before insecticides.

English Ivy on Pines: Patience After Cutting Vines

Cut ivy vines at the tree base. Leaves stay green for weeks—ivy isnt parasitic and conserves moisture in waxy foliage. Theyll brown after hot weather. Photos show ivy dead after 2 summer months. ivy finally dead after 2

Blueberry Cross-Pollination: Pair 'Powderblue' with 'Ochlockonee'

Powderblue yields better with a pollinator. Plant two Powderblue and two Ochlockonee (later ripening) for extended harvest and heavy crops on both.

Copperheads in the Yard: Habitat Reduction is Key

Copperheads bear live young—no nests. Reduce habitat: stack firewood 12 inches off ground, remove rock/lumber piles. Control prey (mice, insects). Mow regularly to eliminate cover. Snakes leave when food and shelter disa

Getting Roma Tomatoes to Ripen Together: Choose Determinate Varieties

Roma is determinate—should ripen at once. If yours dont, try other determinate paste types: Belstar, Viva Italia, Plum Dandy. San Marzano is indeterminate (ripens over time). Find seeds online.

Finding Quality Bagged Topsoil

Big-box dollar-a-bag topsoil is often poor. Make your own by mixing native soil with ground pine bark. Many gardeners recommend Mr. Natural bagged topsoil (greenstripe-products.com), sold at independent garden centers.

Identifying Snake Eggs in Mulch: Likely Rat Snake

Slender, chicken-egg-sized eggs in mulch are likely black rat snake eggs—common and harmless. Rattlesnakes give live birth, so eggs arent theirs. No danger.

Urban Farming Rules in Fulton County, Georgia

Atlantas Urban Ag Zoning Ordinance (June 2024) applies only to the city, not all Fulton County. Home vegetable gardens are unaffected. Undeveloped residential land for community gardens/urban farms may need a special per

Oregon Grape Holly: Beautiful but Potentially Weedy

Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape holly) offers evergreen foliage, yellow winter flowers, and blue bird-loved berries. But birds spread seeds widely, making it a landscape pest. Better alternatives: blueberries or Emerald