Q: I have four 15-year-old peony plants. Nearby trees are creating too much shade for good blooms. When is the best time to transplant them to a sunnier location?

PEGGY SANT, e-mail

A: Although they are blooming now, peonies are best divided in October. Lift the clump with a spading fork and gently wash soil away from the roots.

If the plant looks vigorous, you can use a sharp knife to separate off a couple of sections that have a strong root system. Plant the peonies into a well-prepared sunny bed. Fertilize lightly in spring.

They may not bloom strongly for a couple of years.

Q: Should we stop feeding the birds for the summer? Shouldn't they be looking out for themselves now?

NAOMI STANLEY, Winston

A: We feed birds for two reasons: to keep them healthy when natural food sources aren't present and to bring them closer so we can enjoy watching them. In summer, it won't hurt them to stop feeding wild birds. But if you enjoy bird-watching, keep the feeders up year-round.

Q: Does "Meyer" zoysia get "old" and eventually die? My 20-year-old lawn has always been lush and green. This year we have more brown patches than we have lawn. Our lawn service fertilizes six times a year.

BILL ROUSE, e-mail

A: Though they look similar, bermudagrass and zoysiagrass lawns are not managed the same. Zoysiagrass is best fertilized three times per year, not six as you'd do with bermudagrass. Further, over-fertilizing zoysiagrass is a great way to cause problems with thatch and overall decline. Aerate your lawn this month after a rain and check out http://xrl.us/LAWNCALENDAR for lawn care tips.

Q: I heard that the very expensive saffron spice is just the stamen of a crocus bulb. Can I collect them from my garden each spring and use them in my cooking or will I poison myself?

CHARLOTTE SLOAN, e-mail

A: It's correct that saffron comes from crocus, but only from fall crocus, Crocus sativus, not spring crocus, Crocus vernus. The female part of the flower (the stigma) is what you'll harvest each year.

You can plant fall crocus bulbs now and wait for them to bloom in September. Crocus bulbs like a bit of shade in the afternoon and fast-draining soil. A 1:1 mix of pea gravel and soil conditioner should work well.

Be sure to buy Crocus sativus, not Colchicum autumnale, which is called "Autumn Crocus." Colchicum is very toxic!

Q:What's become of the Japanese beetles? (Not that I miss them, mind you!) So far I've not seen any on our roses, magnolia blossoms, plum and cherry trees. Did I do something last year which interrupted their life cycle?

GARY DONALDSON, Braselton

A: You didn't do it, nature did. Finally we see a benefit from the drought. Japanese beetle adults lay their eggs in lawns in July and August.

If the environment is conducive, larvae hatch out and slowly burrow into the soil. They become the white grubs you dig up when tilling the earth in spring.

The extremely dry soil of last fall killed many eggs and larvae, leading to a much lower incidence of Japanese beetles this summer. Be thankful for small blessings!

Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on NewsTalk 750 WSB-AM from 6 to 10. Call 404-872-0750 to ask questions. His Web site, www.walterreeves.com, contains thousands of answers to lawn and landscape questions. Watch "Gardening in Georgia" each week on GPB. Details at www.gardeningingeorgia.com.