RSS Feed
|
|
|||||
|
Tips for the landscape and garden Some trees that are messy and weak-wooded include silver maple, hybrid poplar, mimosa, weeping willow, black cherry, and Eastern cottonwood. Better choices are Chinese elm, Japanese zelkova, pin oak, red maple, river birch, tulip poplar, and willow oak. Prune out winter-killed wood on trees and shrubs by cutting back to green wood after new growth begins.If you love to garden, but don't have a lot of time, choose plants that are easy to maintain. Plants that do not need deadheading, include begonia, Impatiens, coleus, alyssum, ageratum, lobelia, Vinca and salvia. Caladiums need generous amounts of water and fertilizer to encourage continuous productions of new leaves during the summer. Apply a light, side dressing of 5-10-5 fertilizer every two weeks, and water thoroughly to encourage brightcolored foliage. Pinch back annuals when 4 to 6 inches high to promote brushy growth. Some that require pinching are zinnias, petunias, and salvia. Impatiens are the most satisfactory annual for use in shady areas. Begonias, coleus, ageratum, salvia, and Vinca prefer light shade (5 to 6 hours of sunlight). To grow annuals in pots on the patio, use a light-weight soil mixture. Keep the plants well watered, as container-grown plants dry out fast. Apply water soluble fertilizer according to package directions every two weeks. The "Peacerose" cultivar is the flower-of-choice for special Peace Gardens being built around the world. Introduced in the United States 50 years ago after being smuggled out of France in a brief case, this rose stood as a symbol of hope and has become one of the world's most favorite roses. Watch for and control black spot and powdery mildew on rose foliage. Lacebugs feed on azaleas, pyracantha and other woody plants, causing a gray, blanched or stippled appearance on the upper surface of the leaves. Take steps to control them as soon as you notice the damage. Mid- to late-June is an excellent time to take softwood cuttings of shrubs to start new plants. Some shrubs propagated in this manner are spirea, boxwood and azalea.The use of milky spore disease (Bacillus popilliae) for Japanese beetle control is most effective in neighborhoods where most residents use it. Otherwise, Japanese beetle larvae hatching in other yards will reinfest your property. The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences |
for larger version       |
||||
