Q: I've seen an online ad for crape myrtle seeds. What is the success rate when planting them? David McLeod, Grant Park
A: There's no problem with planting the crape myrtle seeds, but you won't be able to know what color you have until they bloom in a few years. Even seeds that are collected from a red-flowering plant may yield white-flowering progeny. It all depends on the genes of the two parent plants and how the pollen mingled. Try this for a crape myrtle you admire: Collect seed capsules when they turn brown. Let them completely dry on newspaper. When they are fully opened you'll be able to shake many seeds out. Save them in an envelope and plant outdoors, one half inch deep, in a sunny bed in early April. They should sprout in June.
Q: I want to plant 13 cryptomeria for privacy and a sound barrier. I was told this time of year is best for water usage. Scott Sailors, Powder Springs
A: This is a great time to plant all shrubs and trees! Just remember that extra watering will be needed this winter. It takes only one occurrence of a dried-out root system to kill a new tree. Winter winds can quickly desiccate cryptomeria needles. Make sure any water you apply is at the base of the tree, on top of the root ball. Roots won't grow out of the root ball until next spring. Continue to deeply water occasionally next summer.
Q:We have two large oak tree stumps in our front yard as a result of recent storms. We would like to plant ivy around them to cover. Can ivy be rooted from clippings? Beverly Roseberry, Stockbridge
A: It's a simple task to root English ivy cuttings, assuming you or a neighbor has a patch that needs thinning. Clip several foot-long sections of vine. Scissor off leaves from the bottom half of each section. Jab a shovel into the ground and wiggle it slightly to make a slit eight inches long. Remove the shovel and insert as much of the leafless end of an ivy cutting as will fit. Make sure the leafy part is pointing toward the stump. Fill the slit with dirt. Repeat until you are tired. Water the cuttings every few days until they begin to make a bit of growth at the tip. Fertilize a couple of times in summer and the stumps will be covered by next fall.
Q: A few months back I heard you say that no trees have root systems exceeding 18 inches in depth. I have heard opposing information that says that our big hardwoods have root systems measured in meters, not inches. Did I hear you incorrectly? Mike Walsh, email
A: There's no need for a hearing aid, you heard me right. Tree roots are comparatively shallow in our area. They are limited by the dense, undisturbed clay soil that lies under the top 18 to 24 inches of earth. Simply put, tree roots don't extend where they can't breathe. To provide anchoring, roots spread outward and occasionally form "sinker roots" that grow downward until they hit oxygen-free clay. Tree roots in sandy soil may be meters deep, but this is just a consequence of their extending where the oxygen levels allow them to grow.
Q: I am constructing a 20-foot walkway using 16-inch square stepping stones. How far apart should the stones be placed? Larry Savelkoul, email
A: A good spacing is 24 inches between centers. This will fit most folks' gait, but taller and shorter people may occasionally have to "skip a step" as they walk down the path.
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