Q: I never knew fatsia would bloom in December! The plant is in a fairly protected area and gets high shade most of the day in the summer. I guess it likes it there. Katie Price, Marietta
A: Yes, I know of another fatsia, Fatsia japonica, that was blooming last year this time. It seems out of step with its English ivy, Hedera helix, cousin that typically blooms in early fall. I have become a fan of fatsia for its tremendous shade tolerance. The large, coarse, evergreen leaves are a great background for finer-textured plants like Autumn fern and variegated Solomon's seal.
Q: I have two store bought yellow onions that have began to grow green shoots. Can they be planted? David Yoda, Gwinnett County
A: Onions grow readily in Atlanta area gardens but the ones you buy from a grocery won't get any bigger, so there's no sense planting them now.
If you like the idea of harvesting fresh onions, choose a garden site in full sunshine. In a 10-square-foot area, thoroughly mix two cubic feet of soil conditioner and 120 pounds of gritty underlayment sand with the existing soil, all to a depth of 10 inches. Onions can be planted anytime between late November and late January, but the earlier you get them in, the bigger the bulbs will be. Plant small bulbs (onion sets) 4 inches apart in rows 10 inches apart. Water with half-strength houseplant fertilizer at planting and full-strength in March and April.
Harvest the pungent bulbs when the tops turn yellow and fall over, usually in early June.
Q: What are the steps to become a certified arborist? Syd Beddingfield, Cherokee County
A: A certified arborist is someone who has passed a test administered by the International Society of Arboriculture, www.isa-arbor.com. After passing the test, a member is required to take continuing education classes to keep up their certification. Studying for the initial test is done on your own, using ISA textbooks. The next test is in April in Cordele, Ga. Becoming an ISA certified arborist is a sign you follow the highest standards of tree health and safety. You can get more information from the Georgia Arborist Association, www.georgiaarborist.org, including details about their tree climbing competition on February 27th.
Q: A landscaper has told me we can safely plant new shrubs until the end of January in Atlanta. What say you? Bonnie Collings, e-mail
A: They're right. It would be better to plant shrubs and trees Oct. -- Dec., to take advantage of warmer soil, but there is little harm in extending the planting season to January. One bit of advice: No matter when they are planted in fall, evergreen shrubs like holly, juniper and arborvitae need occasional watering in winter. This is particularly important before windy, cold days in January and February.
For more information about shrubs, check this out: “Native Plants for Georgia Part I: Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines” -- http://tinyurl.com/nativeplants1
Listen to Walter Reeves on Saturday mornings on NewsTalk 750 WSB-AM from 6 to 10. Visit his Web site, www.walterreeves.com, for detailed advice on Georgia gardening.
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