Q: I have a small, 2-foot-deep plastic-lined pond that I want to convert into a bog garden. Any suggestions on how I should proceed? — Rachel Williamson
A: Bog gardens are fascinating to observe. Your first job is to fill the pool with a mixture of peat moss and gritty sand (not play sand). Get kids to help you by jumping up and down in the mixture as you slowly add water. Despite their efforts, it will take another month for the pond soil to settle and achieve the optimum pH for bog plants. You can leave it open for winter and plant in spring. Good plants include cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis, blazing star, Liatris elegans and pitcher plants. A good source is the Georgia Perimeter College Botanical Gardens, www.gpc.edu /~decbt. I have a guide to building a bog at xrl.us /buildbog.
Q: I have elephant ears growing in a container. The leaves are curling and appear to be burned around the edges. What is the cause of this? — Craig Schein
A: Browning around the leaf edges is usually a sign of water stress. My guess is that the leaves have grown so big that they can't get enough water from their root system in the container. Water daily or move the plants to a bigger pot. Before frost, clip the stems at the base and store the pot indoors so the elephant ear tubers are protected from freezing.
Q: I have climbing and shrub roses. Do I need to cut them back to short canes and mound mulch for the winter? — Ashley Serge
A: Unlike in the northern U.S., roses here don't need much more than "neatening up" for winter. Secure loose canes on your climbers so they don't flop in the winter wind. Remove straggly shoots on your shrub roses. There is no need to cover the whole plant with mulch. In fact, this will lead to problems because disease and rodents will attack your roses under the mulch during winter.
Q: I cut down the largest of several ailanthus tree saplings next to my fence. I ended up with 50 sprouts in its place. How do I kill these things without getting a hundred more saplings? — Brad Lawley
A: Cut each sapling as close to the ground as you can. Spray glyphosate (Roundup, etc.) onto the stump. No sprouts will occur near, on or adjacent to the stump. A few sprouts from nearby roots may occur, but you can easily treat them the same way.
Listen to Walter Reeves from 6 to 10 Saturday mornings on WSB-AM (750). Go to www.gardeningingeorgia .com for details on his TV show or visit his Web site, www.walterreeves.com.
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