Q: In May we installed 9,000 square feet of "blue tag certified" Meyer zoysia sod. My understanding was this would guarantee it to be weed-free. It now has a lot of broad leaf weeds. Did we get ripped off? — Diane Evans, Gwinnett County
A: Terry Hollifield, executive director of the Georgia Crop Improvement Association, says "blue tag" sod is inspected by them to insure it is exactly the variety you think it is. This is good consumer protection because different grass varieties, particularly Bermuda grass, look similar but perform differently. In addition, a GCIA inspector regularly visits certified fields to insure no noxious weeds, primarily nutsedge, are present. It's almost impossible to guarantee that sod is free of annual broadleaf weeds. If you are dissatisfied with your sod quality, contact your dealer first and then the GCIA at www.certifiedseed.org.
Q: How can we relocate rabbits that are in our neighborhood? They have eaten all our pretty flowers and many of our vegetables. — Jan Kirsch, east Cobb
A: You have some choices to make. I have little confidence in rabbit repellent products. In my experience, trapping doesn't work in summer. As a kid I trapped rabbits, but it was always in a covered trap in winter. Exclusion from beds with a low chicken wire fence is effective but not very attractive. On the other hand, if your neighborhood coyote population expands, nature will take care of the excess rabbits for you.
Q: I have pawpaws for the first time. They are 5 inches long, much bigger around than bananas, green and hard. How do I know when they're ripe? — Vicki DeLoach, Woodstock
A: The fruit probably won't ripen until September but keep an eye on the skin color in the meantime. As the fruit ripens the skin will become progressively duller. Mash the skin with your thumb to check if it's soft, much as you'd judge a mango or avocado. When it begins to give, ripeness is imminent. Shake the tree occasionally to see if one will fall off. Look for black splotches. If you see them on the skin the fruit is usually at peak ripeness.
Q: We have a crepe myrtle with two colors of flowers. It surprised us when it matured and bloomed. Is there an explanation? — Patrick Burchins, Lilburn
A: My bet is that the nursery rooted several cuttings in a pot to get a multi-trunk plant. One of them wasn't like the others so you got two different colors on your tree. You can prune out the off-color trunk if you don't like the aberration.
Q: Why does my centipede grass love the concrete patio and driveway? It's so green and thick in these areas but not so much in other areas of the yard. — Carol Davis, Cumming
A: Good gardeners notice things like this! I think it's likely that the soil was disturbed alongside the patio and driveway when they were built, making a good growing area for the grass. In addition, the warmth of the concrete may protect roots from winter cold.
Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, or join his Facebook Fan Page at xrl.us/wrfacebook for more garden tips.
About the Author
