Q: All of my azaleas have lots of yellow leaves. Is it drought or something else? Tom Evans, email
A: We think of spring-blooming azaleas as being evergreen, but in truth they are sometimes semi-evergreen. They drop a certain percentage of leaves each winter. Large-leaved varieties like the Indica clan seem more likely to show marked yellowing than the Kurume group. I think what you're seeing is normal behavior for azaleas. The yellow leaves are those that were produced back in spring, when life looked good for the plant. They are more delicate than leaves produced in summer, so they are the first to drop when cold weather arrives. As long as the leaves on the tips of your azalea are green, the plant is healthy. It will fill in with more leaves next year.
Q: I'm doing some research for a Sunday sermon which has a short discussion of date palms in it. Can a date palm reroot after being blown over? Bob Trotter, email
A: Yes, like most palms, a date palm can be propped up for several months and it will re-establish a strong root system. Unlike hardwood trees, palms do not have large roots that divide and subdivide as they grow away from the base of the tree. Instead, massive numbers of roots grow from the base of the palm trunk, called the root-initiation zone. Visitors to Florida often notice the timbers used to support newly-planted palms. The timbers stay in place for a year and are then removed. More details about planting palms and problems with date palms at bit.ly/plantpalm
Q: Last year, when I pruned my Knockout roses I clipped the stems into short sections and used them as mulch under the plant. What would be the best method to incorporate rose waste back into the garden? Amy Flury, Marietta
A: Since roses (even Knock Out) are so susceptible to leaf diseases, I think it's better to remove leaves and branches from the area completely. Fewer fungi present when new growth begins results in less disease pressure. Use tree leaves, wood chips or pine needles for rose mulch instead. Compost the rose clippings in another part of your landscape.
Q: I frequently visit the free DeKalb county compost/mulch pile on Memorial Drive. After spreading two truckloads on my dormant vegetable garden, I'm worried that the compost might have high levels of herbicides or pesticides. Matt Miller, Avondale Estates
A: I took a very informative tour of the DeKalb County composting operation on your behalf recently and I came away very impressed! Charles Gill, superintendent of processing and disposal, estimates that it receives less than 1 percent of grass clippings (by volume) each year. He took me to the huge "incoming" pile, which was composed mostly of leaves, brush and logs. Even if some pesticides got into the debris, the material is piled in long windrows and turned regularly for several months. This accelerates the breakdown of lawn chemicals. I would feel comfortable using the county compost on a vegetable garden, but you can perform an easy test to make sure it is nontoxic. Simply mix the compost 1:1 with potting soil and plant bean seeds or a seedling tomato in it. If the plants seem to grow normally, I think you can conclude the compost is safe for general use.
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