Q: I think I heard you say to use a flush cut when pruning Japanese maple limbs. But I found an article by Alex Shigo, whoever he is, that said something about respecting the collar. Can you clarify before I cut? Becky Turpin, email
A: Dr. Alex Shigo is considered one of the greatest modern-day experts on tree care. His studies of tree decay resulted in great improvements to standard tree-care practices. He showed conclusively that the best place to make the cut when removing a limb is just outside the trunk collar. The collar is the raised ring of bark from which a limb emerges on a tree trunk. I have pictures and diagrams of how to prune tree limbs at bit.ly/GAprune.
Q: Is there any way to keep possums out of a horse barn and pasture? Their feces can carry a serious horse disease. Ann Genovese, Pine Lake
A: I had never heard of this possum problem! I am not a veterinarian but from my brief reading, it looks like contaminated feed and water are the main places where horses can become infected with the parasite in possum feces. When you are trying to manage a nuisance animal, the first step always is to remove sources of food, water, and shelter. Go through your barn and make sure there's no way for possums to get into the hay or into the feed-storage area. Never leave cat food out. Clean up spilled feed in the stalls. Wash feed buckets after every meal. Disinfect water buckets regularly. Although it is possible, I doubt there is much contamination of pasture grass from possum poop. If a possum defecates in the grass, sunshine, rain, and oxygen plus soil creatures will decompose the stuff in just a few days.
Q: I am developing a native plant hill in our backyard. Last fall I planted beautyberry, viburnum, fothergilla, St. Johns wort, bee balm and butterfly weed. I am diligently covering them with plastic whenever it is going to be below 30 degrees. Is this necessary? Joan Shorr, email
A: I have good news! Because these are native plants, there is no need to cover them in winter. They tolerate cold weather just fine. They will spend the time until spring growing new roots.
Q: I have a beautiful, fine textured, green grass in my centipede lawn. Annual bluegrass? Do people use it as their main lawn grass? Mike Childers, McDonough
A: The name "annual" bluegrass tells you all you need to know. It may look pretty now but it will die completely as soon as hot weather hits in May. People do use perennial bluegrass in other parts of the country. Georgia is simply too hot for this grass to thrive, though. Several years ago a major grass company introduced a heat-tolerant bluegrass. Most people who tried it locally said that it looks good for a while but heat eventually does it in.
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