Managing Iris Rust Without Starting Over

Controlling Iris Rust Effectively If iris rust hasnt completely overtaken your plants, you can save them. Start by cutting off all affected leaves with scissors. Then fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer to encourag

Successful Straw Bale Gardening: The Key Is Pre-Conditioning

Why Your Straw Bale Tomatoes Failed Planting directly into fresh straw bales often leads to poor root hydration because water runs straight through the bale, bypassing the root ball. The bales must be partially decompose

Pollination Management for Commercial Canna Production

Do Canna Varieties Need Isolation? Cannas have perfect flowers, meaning each flower can self-pollinate or accept pollen from nearby plants. If different varieties grow together, cross-pollination can produce hybrid seeds

Why Aeration Shoes Fail on Zoysia and What Works Instead

The Limits of Aeration Sandals If your zoysia lawn is thick with thatch, you might consider aeration shoes. Unfortunately, their thin tines dont penetrate deeply enough to reduce thatch or meaningfully aerate the soil. E

The Truth About Using Grits to Control Fire Ants

Does the Grits Method Really Work? A common home remedy suggests pouring dry grits on fire ant mounds, claiming the grits expand in the ants digestive tracts and kill them. While many swear by this method, scientific evi

Why You Should Replace a Dogwood Instead of Keeping Stump Sprouts

Dogwood Stump Sprouts: A Weak Foundation When a dogwood tree is cut down, the stump often sends up new shoots. While it may be tempting to let one grow into a new tree, these sprouts are weakly attached to the old trunk.

Pruning Peony Seedpods for a Tidier Garden

Should You Remove Peony Seedpods After Blooming? After your peonies finish their spring bloom, the remaining cluster of seedpods can look untidy. While they dont affect future flowering—since peonies bloom only once per

Managing Persistent Sweetgum Saplings in Your Lawn

Dealing with Sweetgum Saplings After Tree Removal If you have a fescue lawn plagued by small sweetgum saplings sprouting from a tree that was cut down years ago, youre not alone. These persistent shoots emerge from livin

Bonsai Soil Care: Repotting Schedule for Indoor Trees

Q: Best soil mix for indoor bonsai? A: Jade, ficus, Norfolk Island pine adapt well to bonsai training and thrive in standard commercial potting mix. However, soil compacts over years. Repot with fresh mix every 2‑3 years

Preventing Yellowjacket Nests in Your Yard

Q: I get a yellowjacket nest every year. Can I repel them? A: Nothing reliably repels yellowjackets. Stay observant in potential nesting spots (shaded areas, ground cavities). Trap designs and habits info at bit.ly/GAyel

Armadillos & Yellowjacket Nests: A Natural Control?

Q: Neighbor says armadillos eat yellowjacket nests and he hasn’t been stung since they arrived. True? A: Armadillos do dig up yellowjacket nests—it’s a side benefit. They won’t provide 100% control, and their digging lea

Watering Fiddle Leaf Fig: Ditch the Schedule, Use the Finger Test

Q: I water my fiddle leaf fig 2 quarts twice a week. Too much or too little? A: Fixed schedules cause problems. Use your “digital water meter” (index finger): check soil every few days. If dry an inch down, water. Needs

Managing Overgrown Pole Beans: Prune or Redirect?

Q: Can I trim pole beans if I can’t reach the tops? Will it produce more lower beans? A: Cutting vines stimulates new growth within 12 inches of the cut. Better: gently untangle the top and lower the vine to picking

Fall Community Garden Crops: Beyond Cole Crops

Q: What can we plant in a fall community garden? A: Fall planting isn’t just for broccoli and cabbage—summer squash and cucumber can also succeed. See a comprehensive planting‑date chart at bit.ly/UGAplantingchart.

Crape Myrtle Sprouts After Severe Pruning: Restoration Steps

Q: My husband severely pruned our crape myrtles; now many shoots emerge near the trunks. What to do? A: Severe pruning triggers dormant buds to sprout. To restore tree form, select a couple of the most vertical sprouts a

Using Air Conditioner Condensate on Edible Plants

Q: Can I use AC condensate water on tomatoes and squash? A: Yes. AC condensate is simply distilled water from the air—perfectly safe for all garden plants, including vegetables.

Nutsedge Control in a Garlic Crop: Organic vs. Herbicide Dilemma

Q: I want to grow garlic for income but have heavy nutsedge. What to do? A: Nutsedge is nearly impossible to eradicate without herbicide, but herbicide use prevents organic certification. Try a water‑powered weeder (bit.

Controlled Roundup Spraying Between Corn Rows

Q: Can I use Roundup on weeds between 6‑ft‑tall corn rows? A: Spray drift is the danger. Make a nozzle guard from a bottomless milk jug: tape the jug neck to your sprayer nozzle. Walk slowly, keeping the guard bottom clo

Crape Myrtle Pruning: To Prune or Not?

Q: What happens if crape myrtles are never pruned? How tall do they get? A: Unpruned crape myrtles are fine as long as their mature size fits the site. Height varies by cultivar: ‘Natchez’ reaches 30 ft, ‘Pokomoke’

Planting Bermuda Sod in November: Feasibility & Care

Q: Builder will lay bermuda sod in November. Is that a problem? A: If the area is thoroughly tilled, limed, and fertilized per soil test, November sodding works. Keep sod moist (not soggy) through winter. Roots grow slow