Q: All the hollies I see have no berries this year. What event occurred to cause this phenomenon? — Laura Faulkner, Covington
A: I went out back and spoke to my holly friends Nellie, Savannah, Foster and Burford. They all reported copious berries this winter. Then I posted your question on my Georgia Gardener Facebook page and got widely varying observations. Folks in Woodstock, Commerce and Marietta had no berries. Gardeners in Jonesboro, Columbus and Chattanooga had plenty. My guess is that something interfered with pollination on your hollies. Maybe there was too much rain during flowering or there was no pollinator nearby. Enjoy the foliage and wait for next year!
Q: Are pecan leaves good to mulch a garden? The local Cub Scout pack will be raking leaves at church and I'm planning to put them on our community garden there. — Alan Reeves, Cave Spring
A: It's well-known that juglone, a chemical in walnut leaves and roots, can interfere with plants growing underneath. All members of the walnut family (hickory, pecan, etc.) exude varying amounts of juglone. But it's hard to predict how much juglone is in your pecan leaves. Amounts vary by variety, weather and time of year. My bet is that is there's not much bad stuff there, but I'm not sure I want to say the leaves are completely safe to use on the garden. The chemical would be degraded by composting the pecan leaves, but how long would it take to get it all out? I guess it's better to be safe and not use the leaves on your garden beds.
Q: We are moving to Bacon County in southeast Georgia, and I have five acres to play with. I have visions of a backyard fruit orchard dancing in my head! Where do I go for information on the what and where I should plant? Would gardeners in the area offer advice to a novice? — Lori Squires, email
A: You'll find South Georgia gardeners to be just as kind as those in Atlanta! Your first move is to call the local Extension office (1-800-ASKUGA1) and ask for their advice. The Georgia Master Gardener Association (georgiamastergardeners.org) has many members in South Georgia. To guide you further, I have a list of University of Georgia fruit culture publications at bit.ly/UGAfruit. Good luck!
Q: What is the timetable for starting paperwhites so that they will be at their peak before Christmas and during Christmas week? — Rita Yeazel, Sandy Springs
A: Paperwhite narcissus bulbs will bloom four to six weeks after they are planted. That puts the planting date around the first week of November. Initially place the planted container in a cool, dark place. A closet in an unused bedroom works well. Leave them there two weeks, until small shoots and white roots appear. Then move to a bright window with no cold drafts around. Flowers will follow in two to four weeks. For continuous bloom throughout the winter, plant bulbs every two weeks from late fall through February.
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