Naked Lady Lilies: Patience for Fall Blooms After Spring Foliage

Naked lady (Lycoris squamigera) grows spring foliage that dies in summer; pink flowers appear suddenly in fall. Fertilize in spring with bulb food to boost leaf growth and ensure future blooms.

Transplanting Gardenias from Pots: Variety Determines Hardiness

‘Veitchii’ (florist gardenia) needs winter protection indoors. ‘August Beauty’, ‘Mystery’, ‘Radicans’ survive outdoors in pots near north/east walls. The latter three also thrive in-ground. ‘Pinwheel’ and ‘Kleim’s Hardy’

Choosing Grass Seed for a New Sunny Lawn: Wait for Warm Season

For full sun, bermuda, zoysia, centipede, or St. Augustine are best, but it’s too late for seed this fall. Plant annual ryegrass now, till in May, then sow warm-season grass. Seed-planting tips at xrl.us/lawnseed.

Worm-Posting Kitchen Scraps Around Perennials and Bulbs

Burying fruit/vegetable waste in garden holes feeds worms and improves soil. Use a bulb planter to make holes around perennials. For bulbs, wait until spring foliage appears to avoid root damage.

The Weed Wrench: A Heavy-Duty Tool for Uprooting Invasive Shrubs

The Weed Wrench (weedwrench.com) clamps a bush at the base and converts a pull into powerful leverage, ideal for removing privet and other woody invaders.

Fall Perennial Cleanup: Leave Green Foliage Until Frost

Rule: if it’s green, it’s good. Leave green leaves until frost kills them; remove only brown flower stems. Ensure perennial beds drain well—soggy winter soil kills more plants than cold. If drainage is doubtful, lift pla

Buying Vidalia Onions Out of Season: Shippers with Cold Storage

Fresh Vidalia season ends early summer, but some growers have controlled-atmosphere storage for off-season sales. Vidalia onions are highly perishable (high water/sugar). Check www.vidaliaonion.org for shippers.

Reviving ‘Miss Huff’ Lantana with Annual Fertilization

‘Miss Huff’ lantana declined after spring pruning without fertilizer. Lantana blooms on new growth and needs yearly feeding. Apply slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote, Dynamite, cottonseed meal) in April for a strong comeb

Songbirds at Hummingbird Feeders: A Sweet Tooth for Nectar

Many Georgia songbirds—woodpeckers, flickers, chickadees, wrens, catbirds, goldfinches, orchard orioles, house finches—visit hummingbird feeders. They lack long bills but manage to sip. House finches are especially compe

Sassafras and Cancer Risk: Only a Concern If You Chew the Roots

Sassafras contains safrole, which causes liver cancer in mice. The tree is harmless in the landscape and supports wildlife. No need to remove unless you plan to consume the roots.

Growing Elderberries from Wild Seed: A Native Plant Project

Collect dark purple elderberry fruit, extract seeds, sow six per 6-inch pot, leave outdoors over winter. Transplant 6-inch sprouts. Native elderberries grow 12–15 ft tall, 20 ft wide, need full sun, tolerate various soil

Can You Grow Plants in Pure County Compost? Yes, with Extra Nitrogen

DeKalb County compost contains wood chips that tie up nitrogen for a year. Add a cup of 10-10-10 per cubic foot, mix, and plant. After a year, the wood breaks down and extra fertilizer isn’t needed.

Growing Lenten Rose in Outdoor Pots on a Covered Porch

Lenten rose thrives in 12-inch or larger pots with good drainage (elevate off floor). Fertilize lightly in spring. ‘Ivory Prince’ is a standout cultivar with ivory blooms aging to lime green. hellebore ‘Ivory Prince’ h

Finding a Landscape Designer and Contractor in Georgia

Attend Georgia Perennial Plant Association meetings (free) for designer referrals. Spring garden tours showcase local designers’ work. More tips at xrl.us/chooselandscaper.

Dividing a Multi-Plant Dwarf Palmetto

A potted dwarf palmetto with three plants can be separated: soak rootball in water, gently pull apart. Plant in full sun to part shade with fast-draining soil—heavy clay kills them.

Fertilizing Hemlocks: Slow-Release Organics in Early Spring

Hemlocks prefer slow-release fertilizers like cottonseed meal or composted chicken manure. Apply 8 lbs cottonseed meal (6-2-1) per 100 sq ft over root zone in early spring before new growth.

Best Time to Plant Pomegranate: Fall for Root Development

Fall planting allows fruit shrubs to establish roots before summer heat. Pomegranates need full sun, regular spring/summer feeding, and reward with orange early-summer flowers and tasty fruit.

Thin Bermuda Sod: Overwatering Is the Likely Culprit

Bermuda sod laid July 1, watered deeply twice weekly all summer, is thin. After two weeks, roots establish; then taper to 1 inch per week in one session. Constant moisture causes thinning. Stop watering, let dormancy occ

Cleaning Salt Deposits from Clay Pots with Vinegar

White crust on clay pots is fertilizer salt buildup. Soak pots in 1 cup vinegar to 3 cups water; acetic acid dissolves the salts.

When to Plant Gladiolus in Georgia: Spring Is Safer

Gladiolus is usually hardy, but last winter’s prolonged cold proved otherwise. Plant corms in spring. In fall, after foliage yellows, dig corms and store cool in crumpled newspaper.