Q: I want to plant some flowering pears in my yard to provide cover from houses across the street. What do you recommend? -- Michael Preston, email
A: I'd look for 'Chanticleer' or 'Aristocrat' flowering pear. 'Bradford' pear is commonly sold, but it has a weak branch structure that causes limb breakage after a dozen years. The two I recommend differ somewhat in form, so do some research before planting. The best time to plant trees is in fall. There is a new dwarf flowering pear, Pyrus calleryana 'Jaczam,' that you might also consider.
Q: My crape myrtles suffered a little freeze damage to the foliage. About half the new shoots are wilted and brown while the bottoms are still green. Should I prune the dead stuff back? -- Brad Woodall, email
A: I'd leave the plant be for a few weeks. Even though the leaves may have turned brown, the buds underneath may have survived. They may leaf out once warm weather truly hits them. If you're unsure whether a branch is dead, scratch it with your thumbnail. If you see green underneath, the branch still has a chance.
Q: Do you know where between Atlanta and Lake Burton I can find sweet potato plants? -- M. Tolbert, email
A: My dad used to buy them from Travis Hardware in Fayetteville, but that emporium and its genial owner are no longer with us. I don't know of another source nearby, but you can get a list of sources at www.sweetpotatoblessings.com. If you start early enough, you can grow your own sweet potato slips each spring. I have details at xrl.us/potatoslips.
Q: My relatives in Alabama swear by something called "basic swag" for their gardens. They say it's a nutrient that comes in powdered form and you broadcast it over your green vegetables. Can you help me find some? -- Melanie Sapp, Decatur
A: I think they're talking about "basic slag," a byproduct of steel making. It's commonly sold near Birmingham as a liming material. The product is not typically found here because it's so heavy to ship and garden lime is so cheap. Tell them to have a soil test done (www.georgiasoiltest.com) and add lime as recommended.
Q: Can we water the sugar maples and bermudagrass around our condos with swimming pool water? -- Elaine Roberts, DeKalb County
A: Relatively speaking, pool water doesn't have much chlorine in it, typically 1-3 parts per million. This is approximately the same amount as tap water. You can use pool water to irrigate landscape plants just as you would use household water.
Q: I planted dianthus about a month ago and it had beautiful white blossoms. The blossoms have since died back, leaving an unsightly brown flower. Do I cut off the old flowers in order for new ones to appear? -- Rick French, Woodstock
A: Look at the base of each stem that bears a flower. If you see little green buds there, use scissors to clip above the buds. They will likely make blooms later this summer. If this is too tedious, clip off the flowers wholesale and let nature decide whether to send out sporadic summer flowers. Regular watering and fertilizing will help.
Listen to Walter Reeves on 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.
