Q: The online retailer where I bought my butterfly bush recommends gardeners not amend their clay soil. Agree or disagree? Brenda Jefferson, DeKalb County
A: It is true that in most cases no amendments are needed when planting a tree or shrub. Amendments create a paradise for roots, which they are reluctant to leave when they need to explore the surrounding soil for new sources of water and nutrients. Not a good thing. An exception could be made if you are planting a big shrub bed and can amend the entire area. But keep in mind that amendments are useful when you’re planting annual or perennial flowers. I know this flies in the face of recommendations I have made over my career, but I am not too old to change my mind.
Q: Could you describe when and how to prune a Japanese maple? Scott E., email
A: My friend Norm Mittleider (art-of-pruning.com), who specializes in pruning Japanese maples, says there are two good times to prune. Winter pruning gives you a chance to see the structure of the tree to make it balanced or unbalanced according to what you prefer. In the summer, you can remove a few branches to make the structure more visible. My favorite “look” for a Japanese maple is pruning to separate the branches into overlapping layers that don’t touch each other.
Q: Can I grow vegetables in gallon cans? Rebecca Greenberg, email
A: I think you will run into problems with root growth in the small containers. A 1-gallon paint bucket doesn’t contain enough soil to ensure plants’ moisture needs during the day. If you want to experiment, small plants, like lettuce, radishes and spinach, might work. But larger plants, like pepper, squash, tomato and okra, will dry out quickly during the day. Plastic 5-gallon construction buckets are a better choice. In one such bucket, you could grow two peppers or a determinate tomato. Another bucket could support two okra plants or possibly one squash plant. Whatever container you choose, be sure to drill several holes in the bottom so excess water can drain out. Filling the container with bagged high-quality planting soil, not topsoil, is also key.
Q: My son’s friend has two goats that make a lot of manure. Are goat droppings good fertilizer for my flowers and plants? Lois Love, Snellville
A: Goat manure is an excellent fertilizer. You can collect the droppings and use a gloved hand to scatter them wherever you want.
Listen to Walter Reeves’ segments at 6:35 a.m. on “Green and Growing with Ashley Frasca” Saturday mornings on 95.5 WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, follow him on Twitter @walterreeves, on Pinterest, or join his Facebook Fan Page at bit.ly/georgiagardener for more garden tips.
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