Q: I have orange mushrooms in my mulched areas. How do I get rid of them? — David Cavan, email
A: The constant wet weather of the past couple of weeks has made conditions perfect for fungi to "bloom" as they decompose damp mulch. There are many species of fungi that break down mulch and produce mushrooms. You can't eliminate the mushroom production, but you can minimize it by stirring the mulch every few days to help it dry out. The mushrooms themselves aren't likely to be harmful. Pick them with a gloved hand and put them in the garbage.
Q: I have a pink lantana that came back healthy after the last cold winter. How do I propagate it? — Donna Wright, Dahlonega
A: You could try rooting 4-inch cuttings from the plant indoors. With winter fast approaching, you can't do the process outdoors. Your biggest obstacle will be giving the cuttings enough light as they root. A sunny window ledge might suffice, but check out my PVC light stand plans at bit.ly/GAlightstand. Dust the ends of your cuttings with rooting hormone powder and stick a few into a 6-inch pot filled with damp sand. Cover with a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity. If things go well, the cuttings will be rooted in six weeks. You can divide them then and give each one a small pot in which to grow until spring arrives.
Q: I planted asparagus crowns this year and the patch has glorious green 4-foot-high foliage. Should I remove it now or wait? — John S., Gwinnett County
A: The foliage eventually will turn yellow, but removing it now, while it's green, isn't likely to cause any problems. Be vigilant about weed control in winter. Weedy asparagus won't produce many spears. Also, be sure to fertilize your bed: a pound of 10-10-10 per 100 square feet in early March plus a cup of 46-0-0 per 100 square feet in May.
Q: I planted a 'Sunny Side Up' dwarf lantana. It is supposedly perennial. I would like to shape it and cut it back from lopping over the sidewalk. When is the latest I can prune it? — Ed Bonn, Fayette County
A: I haven't had experience with 'Sunny Side Up', but I know of a spreading clump of 'Chapel Hill Yellow' perennial lantana that has persisted in the Toco Hill shopping center without care for three years. Severe pruning in fall usually makes plants like lantana less tolerant of winter cold. I think you could do minor pruning on your lantana now, but not an overall shearing. Do the major work in early March next year.
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