Soaker Hose Length Limit: Pressure Drop at 200 Feet

Water pressure drops sharply with hose length. At 60 feet, my 65 PSI faucet dropped to 25 PSI. At 200 feet, flow would be negligible. Use multiple shorter runs from a manifold instead.

Georgia Native Plant Lists for Park Restoration

The best Georgia native plant lists are in three UGA publications. Links and a pictorial guide at xrl.us/georgianatives. Also use the Georgia Native Plant Society (gnps.org) for expertise and plant sales.

Weeds in New 'Blue Tag' Zoysia Sod: Not a Scam

Blue tag certifies varietal purity and absence of noxious weeds (like nutsedge), not freedom from all annual broadleaf weeds. Thats impossible to guarantee. Contact the sod dealer first, then the Georgia Crop Improvement

Rabbit Control: Fencing Beats Repellents

Repellents dont work well. Summer trapping fails. A low chicken wire fence (exclusion) works but isnt pretty. Long-term, coyotes naturally control rabbits. For gardens, a 2-foot chicken wire fence buried 6 inches is the

Pawpaw Ripeness: When to Pick

Pawpaws ripen in September. Watch for skin dulling, then softening (like a mango/avocado). Shake the tree—ripe fruit falls. Black splotches on skin signal peak ripeness.

Crape Myrtle with Two Flower Colors: Nursery Mix-Up

Multi-trunk crape myrtles are often made by rooting several cuttings in one pot. If one cutting was a different cultivar, you get two colors. Prune out the off-color trunk if you want uniformity.

Why Centipede Grass Loves Concrete Edges

Centipede thrives along driveways and patios because construction loosened the soil there, creating ideal rooting conditions. Concrete warmth also protects roots from winter cold. Replicate this by loosening soil deeply

'Bombshell' Hydrangea Not Blooming: Patience Needed

Bombshell is a panicle hydrangea—it blooms mid-to-late summer on new wood. Shade may have slowed establishment. Dont prune now; maximize leaf area for energy. Next summer should bring flowers.

Keeping Bradford Pears Small: Bonsai-Style Pruning

Bonsai artists keep 100-foot trees at 1 foot. With regular, judicious pruning after flowering each spring, you can maintain Bradford pears at 15 feet. It requires commitment but is possible.

1800s Farming: Labor, Not Chemicals

1800s success is relative. Yields were low; most Americans farmed. Weed/insect control was hand-picking, hoeing, plowing. Few pesticides: pyrethrum, arsenic, nicotine. Fungicides: copper, sulfur, lime. Salt for weeds (li

Overhanging Neighbor's Bradford Pear: Legal Rights

You may trim overhanging branches back to the property line if it doesnt kill the tree. Send a certified letter to the neighbor documenting the hazard and stating youll hold them responsible for damage from falling limbs

Lantana: Deer-Proof Color and Variety Guide

Lantana is nearly deer-proof and blooms non-stop. Sizes range from 5x5 Miss Huff to 8 New Gold groundcover. Most are annuals in Georgia; only Miss Huff reliably returns as a perennial (dies back, resprouts). Read labels

WeedPharm (20% Acetic Acid): Too Dangerous for Home Use

WeedPharm contains 20% acetic acid—corrosive, causes irreversible eye damage, harmful through skin. Applicators need face shield, goggles, long sleeves, pants, waterproof gloves, shoes, socks. Its not vinegar (5%). Order

Tree Watering: You're Both Right About the Drip Line

Feeder root extent varies by species. Dense evergreens (magnolia, hemlock) shed water outward, so roots extend far beyond the drip line. Deciduous trees (oak, maple) concentrate roots near the drip line. Best practice: w

Storm Drain Cleanout: Perfect Free Compost

Material from a storm drain cleanout is decomposed plant matter—exactly what compost is. Spread a 2-inch layer on new beds and till in 8 inches deep. Its free, local, and perfect.

Riesling Grapes Won't Grow in Georgia: Better Alternatives

Riesling fails in Georgias heat and fungal diseases. For white wine grapes, plant Seyval Blanc, Vignoles, Vidal Blanc, Villard Blanc, or Aurora. See xrl.us/bunchgrapes for growing details.

Replacing an Oak with a Maple: Stump Grinding Tips

Plant the maple in the same spot, but have the stump grinder remove ALL trunk and major roots. Be ready with a shovel to clear the woodchip/soil mix. Expose remaining roots for a second grind pass. Backfill with native s

Angel Trumpet Maintenance: To Cut or Not in Fall

Angel trumpet (Brugmansia) stems freeze to the ground in winter regardless of fall pruning. You can cut them back in fall or wait until spring—new growth emerges from the base either way. Bloom time varies by cultivar; s

Wine Bottles in the Garden: Just Decoration

Burying wine bottles neck-down around a vegetable bed is purely decorative. It doesnt benefit plants. For functional garden art, I use ceramic plates. See xrl.us/winebottle for 10 creative bottle ideas.

Fall Potato Planting in Georgia: Not Recommended

Fall potatoes in Georgia sprout fast in warm soil, attracting every pest. Winter wetness causes rot. Youll harvest only a week earlier than spring planting. Plant in February instead. See xrl.us/potatoes for Georgia-spec