Q: I'm growing daphnes. While educating myself, I ran across this statement: "One can layer branches of daphne in the spring." Would you explain what they mean by "layer branches"?

DAN HOWLE, e-mail

Walter Reeves / Special (ENLARGE)

Daphne flowers can be propagated by soil layering.

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A: "Layering" a branch means to help it form roots while touching the soil. Find a flexible daphne branch and gently bend it until it touches the ground. Scrape the bark away where it touches and dust rooting hormone onto the wound. Cover the injury with a fist-full of dirt and put a brick on top to hold the branch tightly to the soil. Roots will form by fall; you can transplant it next spring.

Q: You recently wrote that even with our drought, supplemental watering isn't generally needed in the winter. What are some guidelines as to when I should re-start watering my camellias and azaleas?

CARL JOHNSTON, e-mail

A:Water loss from the soil is caused by three things: evaporation, gravity and transpiration (plants sucking it out). In winter, spring and early summer, evaporation is low. Gravity pulls surplus water from the soil but it stays moist. Transpiration is low because the plants aren't growing very fast, at least in winter and spring. But as things heat up in June and July, water moves out of the soil faster than rainfall can replenish it. Around the first of July, your soil begins losing approximately 7/8 inch of water per week. Your shrubs don't need watering before that point, but as the soil drys, in the absence of rain, you need to add water to make up for what's lost. For established shrubs, I wouldn't restart watering until late June, and then, only to supplement normal rainfall.

Q: I have heard that Milorganite is good for keeping deer away from gardens. We have two acres which are "salad bars" for deer. Any advice?

CLIFFORD PITTS, Dacula

A: Many things are reputed to repel deer: hair, coyote urine, soap, etc. In research, products that contain sulfur (rotten eggs, blood meal, etc.) seem to repel deer better than others. Inspired by anecdotal reports from gardeners, researchers from the University of Georgia and Berry College studied the repellent effect of activated sewage sludge (Milorganite) on deer. They concluded that Milorganite has potential as a deer repellent for ornamental plants. Though the repellent did not eliminate deer damage, it reduced the overall impact. Since Milorganite is also a good slow-release fertilizer, it could help your landscape in two important ways.

Q: I have some willows that have rooted in water and are beginning to sprout. When may I plant them outdoors?

ANNE ALLEN, Stockbridge

A: Wait until the roots are 4 inches long. At that time, gently transplant the sprouted cuttings into gallon pots and put them in a sunny window. When night temperatures are above 45 degrees, put the pots outdoors in a lightly shaded spot. They can be put in the ground in late May. Be sure to keep the plants from drying out in summer.

Q: I have boxwoods that have gotten out of hand. If I cut them back drastically will they sprout back from the stubs that are left?

GLENN MCLEAN, e-mail

A: Unlike holly, boxwood is slow to respond when pruned severely. For a big boxwood, remove large limbs to reduce its size by 1/4 this year. You can remove another 1/4 next spring. Your limb removal will make "craters" in the foliage. Nearby limbs will quickly make sprouts to fill the empty space.

Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on NewsTalk 750 WSB-AM from 6 to 10. Call 404-872-0750 to ask questions. His website, www.walterreeves.com, contains thousands of answers to lawn and landscape questions. You can buy his autographed gardening books at www.walterreeves.com/books.