Transplanted Dogwood Fails to Leaf Out

Six-foot pink dogwood moved in November with no leaves now = dead. Too many roots lost. Green cambium doesnt guarantee survival. Replace this fall from a local nursery.

Paperwhite Narcissus Bulbs at Surface: Dig and Store

Bulbs pushed to surface need summer shade (soil or mulch) to avoid heat damage. Dig now, store cool and dry, replant in October. Paperwhites rarely return—youre doing well!

Why Apple Trees Drop Fruit Overnight

Early fruit drop usually means poor pollination—seeds dont form, so no hormones to retain fruit. Check dropped apples for seeds. Causes: cold/wet bloom weather, extreme heat, frost, or natural thinning. Ensure pollinator

Wisteria on Oak: Move It to an Arbor

Wisteria climbing an oak adds weight and shade, weakening limbs. Move vine to a sturdy arbor this fall. Ivy similarly harms trees.

'Titan' Blueberry: The Quarter-Sized Variety for Georgia Gardens

Georgias Blueberry Boom and the Giant Titan Blueberries are now Georgias #1 fruit crop, worth over $250 million annually. UGA breeder Scott Nesmith developed Titan, a variety producing berries up to the size of a quarter

The Champion Ginkgo at the High Museum: A Golden Atlanta Landmark

Georgias Largest Ginkgo Tree The massive ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) in front of the High Museum of Art is the state champion—largest of its species in Georgia. Its fan-shaped leaves turn brilliant gold in fall, creating a st

What Is a Tree's Dripline? The Key Zone for Watering and Mulching

Dripline Defined The dripline is the imaginary circle on the ground directly beneath a trees outermost branch tips. Rainwater drips off leaves here, so the tree concentrates its feeder roots in this zone and just beyond.

Moving Dormant Zoysia Sod for Pool Construction: A Risky but Possible Project

Can You Store Zoysia Sod for a Month in January? Its risky but possible. Dormant zoysias roots and crowns are alive but vulnerable to drying and freezing. If you must move it: Rent a sod cutter; cut sod at least 1 inch

Asian Ambrosia Beetles in Crape Myrtles: Signs, Damage, and Spring Prevention

Those Sawdust Tubes Mean Asian Ambrosia Beetles The worm-like protrusions (frass tubes) on your crape myrtle trunks are the calling card of Asian ambrosia beetles. Females bore in during spring, introduce a symbiotic fun

Moon Plant = Datura: Beautiful but Aggressive Weed

The moon plant with white trumpet flowers, bushy growth, and aggressive self-seeding is Datura (devils trumpet). Spiny pods scatter dozens of seeds. While flowers are striking, seedlings pop up everywhere. Treat it as a

Japanese Maple Seedlings: Nature's Stratification in Your Yard

Hundreds of Maple Seedlings? Thats Natural Stratification at Work You stratified seeds in the fridge, but nature did the same outdoors over winter. The hundreds of seedlings in your yard are the result of natural cold-mo

Turning Blue Hydrangeas Mauve: Adjust Soil pH

Your greenhouse-grown hydrangea was forced into mauve by precise pH control. In Georgias naturally acidic soil, it reverted to blue. To shift toward purple/mauve, apply a cup of garden lime around the plant now and again

Volunteer Shamrocks: Enjoy Them, Watch for Rust

Shamrocks (Oxalis) spread naturally via seeds and tubers moved by animals. Their lavender flowers that close at night are charming, but plants fade in summer heat. Watch for orange pustules on leaves—rust disease, which

African Violets Thrive Under LED Lights If Brightness Matches

If your new LED kitchen lights let you read and cook comfortably, theyll support African violets just as well as fluorescents did. The key is comparable light intensity and duration. Violets need bright, indirect light—1

Kudzu Bug Invasion: Repeated Sprays Needed

Kudzu bugs (Megacopta cribraria) swarm homes in fall. Any pyrethroid insecticide (permethrin, bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin) kills them, but reinvasion continues for weeks. Weekly sprays may be needed. Follow label rate

Red and Blue LED Lighting for Indoor Plant Growth

Plants use primarily red and blue wavelengths for photosynthesis; green light is reflected (hence green leaves). LEDs can be tuned to emit only these spectra, giving plants efficient energy without wasted light. Fluoresc

Many Common Garden Plants Are Toxic—But Rarely a Danger

Azalea, Carolina jessamine, boxwood, lily of the valley, euphorbia, daffodil, oleander, tomato, potato, rhubarb—all have toxic parts. Yet we dont warn about each because people dont eat them. Moon plant (Datura) is no ex

Starting a Landscape Business in Georgia: Required Licenses

Installing flowers professionally requires more than a truck and trowel. Youll need: a municipal business license, a Level 1A Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Certificate, a Live Plant Dealer License, and if applying any pes

Spider Webs on Shrubs: Just Hunting Grounds

Spiders build webs where they catch prey. Leafless branches on Japanese maples and dense hollies/azaleas offer great anchor points and trap flying insects. The webs indicate a healthy predator population—no control neede

Protect Squash from Vine Borers with Floating Row Cover

Squash vine borer moths lay eggs on young stems; larvae bore in, causing sudden wilting. Cheesecloth gets heavy when wet and tears. Instead, use lightweight floating row cover (spunbonded polyester) immediately after see