Q: A beautiful, large black-and-yellow spider fashioned its web just outside our front door. I call it a zipper spider because of the zipper thing in the center. What is it actually? — D. Helfen, email
A: It's an argiope, also known as a writing spider or zipper spider. They are harmless, except to small insects that are unlucky enough to fly into their web. If this one is in the way of going out your door, use a stick to wind up the web and put the critter in a less bothersome spot.
Q: While jogging, I came upon dozens of muscadines on the road. What do I need to do to get vines from the seed? — Eddie Ward, Locust Grove
A: Propagating muscadines from seed is a long, slow process. You can plant collected seed in loose soil in a sunny garden spot now, but germination will be spotty. A better bet is to "soil layer" the vine. Bend individual vines down to the ground and dig a shallow trench where each one touches the soil. Scrape the limb lightly with a dull knife, dust the wound with rooting hormone (Rootone, etc.) and cover the trench and limb section with an inch of soil. Put a brick on top to hold it in place. Approximately 6 inches of the branch tip and leaves should be exposed. Next February, clip the connection to the mother plant and leave the cutting in place to grow a nice root system in summer. You can transplant the new plants to other spots in the fall.
Q: I've put down crabgrass killer on my fescue lawn and the weeds are browning nicely. Should I pull the weed remnants out before I reseed this fall? — Nancy Malay, Alpharetta
A: Pulling up the remnants of crabgrass is pleasurable due to the "revenge" factor, but it won't help you control the weed. Each plant has already dropped hundreds of seeds, which will sprout next year unless you apply a weed preventer product in March. A vigorously growing lawn is also a weed preventer. Do your best to keep your fescue healthy by fertilizing now, plus in November, February and April. Additionally, mow the grass at 3½ inches high to keep weed seeds in shade.
Q: Do you have any information on how to preserve water lettuce from year to year? I started my pond with just three plants and they have multiplied beyond belief. — Dennis Smith, email
A: Water lettuce is an attractive outdoor pond plant, but it is very sensitive to cold water. The best way to keep it over winter is to float a few plants in an indoor aquarium equipped with a water heater. Plants need lots of light so put the aquarium right next to the glass of a south-facing window and consider adding above it a domed shop light with a 100 watt equivalent CFL bulb. But that's a lot of work to preserve a plant that reproduces so quickly. My honest advice is to buy new plants each spring.
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