Q: Recently I had many very tall pines removed from behind my house. I want to plant trees or large bushes back there so that the birds and squirrels will have a good habitat. -- Amy Koon, Snellville
A: Whether you are a squirrel, bird or human, three things determine your survival: food, water and shelter. Some of the best plants for wildlife include wax myrtle, serviceberry, holly, juniper, elderberry and viburnum. Crabapples such as 'Prairiefire,' 'Dolgo,' 'Molten Lava' and 'Donald Wyman' are excellent. Try to install a small water feature so the animals can find moisture when they need it. Buy some binoculars and you'll never lack for entertainment!
Q: When can I dig up, separate and replant my outdoor amaryllis? -- Barbara Barfield, email
A: I think the best time is in spring when the green shoots first appear. Hardy amaryllis, Hippeastrum x johnsonii, blooms in my landscape each year. Dig a clump and examine the sizes of bulbs in it. Carefully split out any bulbs that are tennis-ball-size or larger, but try to leave smaller bulbs attached to each other. Plant in a sunny, protected spot, fertilize, and you'll have amaryllis blooms in May.
Q: Last year I bought a small canna lily plant for 50 cents. I planted it near the edge of our lake. Now it's spread to 6 feet by 10 feet. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I am afraid it may take over my garden area! -- Barbara Leutz, email
A: When I was a child, we had a Maytag wringer washer on our wooden back porch. The drain ran through a buried pipe to a small garden plot tended by my grandmother. Close to the pipe end was the most glorious stand of red canna lilies you've ever seen. The soil was constantly watered by the rich clothes washer effluent from five children and three adults. This particular canna stand was controlled in size by our regular grubbing around the edges for earthworms, which also loved the spot. I think you'll find your cannas won't spread aggressively beyond the moist lakeside. If they do, just chop down the stems as needed.
Q: All of a sudden pine straw falling from my trees is as green as if it were still on the tree. Why is this? -- Doris Benson, email
A: Premature needle shedding is most likely caused by big temperature swings coupled with summer drought. Dry weather caused the abscission layer between numerous needle clusters and stems to grow weakly this past summer. Temperature data at the Dunwoody station of the Georgia Environmental Monitoring Network (www.georgiaweather.net) shows that Nov. 24 and Dec. 2 had swings of 30 degrees in 24 hours. Needles filled with water, tried to grow and subsequently fell from their unexpected weight. Look at the overall canopy of your trees. If you have lots of green needles still on the trees, there's nothing to worry about.
Q: I am looking for fruit-bearing cherry trees. What is your advice? -- Cecil Newman, Douglasville
A: I don't know of anyone who has successfully grown sweet cherry fruit in the Atlanta area. Temperature swings in winter cause freeze damage to the trunk, and late frosts usually prevent successful flowering. You might have success with sour cherry, like 'Montmorency,' 'Stella' or 'North Star.' Plant them in a sheltered spot, don't fertilize much, and buy lots of sugar for the pies you make.
Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, or join his Facebook fan page at xrl.us/wrfacebook for more garden tips.
