Q: I'm trying to get creeping Charlie out of my lawn. I have read that applying dicamba in early fall will control it. I also want to do my normal fescue overseed and fertilize. Is there a recommended order to do these in? — Brent Holt, email
A: Creeping Charlie is most prominent in lawns that have compacted soil or where there is more shade than the grass can tolerate. If that's your case, fix the environmental problems before you reach for a herbicide. You have to wait four weeks to put down fescue seed after applying dicamba. Since it's prime fescue planting time now, I'd get the fescue overseeding and fertilizing done and wait to apply weed killer until you've mowed the lawn three times. You'll probably need another application in late spring. Be sure to follow label directions.
Q: I gave my fig tree a major pruning two years ago. This is the second season that I had no ripe figs but plenty of green ones that never matured. Can I do anything to encourage ripe figs next year? — Bill Barnes, email
A: Severe pruning causes a fig bush to revert to a juvenile growth phase in which it doesn't readily produce figs. Avoid pruning between now and next fall and you should have better results.
Q: I have a feeling that putting down pre-emergent on landscape beds every six weeks is not working. Should I step it up to once a month? — Mark Mauldin, email
A: Weed preventer products are very good at controlling weeds that come up from seeds (crabgrass, annual bluegrass, etc). But these chemicals have no effect on weeds that sprout from their own roots (wild violet, onion, Bermuda grass, etc.). If applied at the recommended rate and watered-in immediately, I don't think there is a need to apply pre-emergent more often than the label instructs. Also keep in mind that overapplication of a pre-emergent may harm your existing grass. Sometimes, the best solution is to simply hand-pull landscape weeds as they appear.
Q: I need guidance on repairing a railroad tie retaining wall. Some of the ties are disintegrating. The wall is around 20 years old. — Robert Smith, Snellville
A: I've heard landscapers say that repairing failing railroad tie walls was their main source of income during the Great Recession. Railroad tie walls have a limited life span, usually 20 years or so. Despite being infused with creosote, the wood slowly rots and the wall eventually fails. There is no way to prevent this or to repair a bowed and failing wall. You need a landscape architect to advise you on wall options. They are trained to supervise the building of a proper wall that won't fall down.
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