Q: We have 10 mature blueberry bushes and have just gotten all the spring weeding done. Can we use newspapers as a mulch? — Bill and Jo Blankenship, Cobb County
A: Newspaper makes a fine mulch. Stack five to 10 sheets on top of one another and put them under your bushes so as to cover the ground at least 3 feet in all directions from the trunk. Poke a few holes in the newsprint with a stiff knife so water can penetrate. Cover the paper with pine chips or straw to help it look more attractive.
Q: You say on your website that St. Augustine grass seed can't be bought because the plant is finicky about producing viable seed. If that is the case, how do sod farmers grow it? — Don Burt, email
A: On a sod farm, St. Augustine grass is grown from sprigs. Professional grass breeders are able to cross-pollinate selected St. Augustine grass plants in the laboratory and collect the few fertile seeds produced. These are planted in a greenhouse and evaluated. If a superior form is found, they propagate it by sprigs for several years and then sell sprigs to sod farms for mass production.
Q: I am in the process of developing an iris bed, but I don't want to have a solid stand of green leaves after the iris blooms. What are some complementary flowering plants I can mix in that will give bright colors and extend the blooming season? — Phillip Landrum, Douglasville
A: My friend Mickey Gazaway at Pike Nursery suggests reblooming daylilies like 'Stella De Oro' or 'Happy Returns' be planted among the iris. You could get even more flowers by scattering cosmos or zinnia seeds in the bed each spring. Both of these flowers are annuals and won't compete much with your irises.
Q: I planted a weeping willow tree 12 years ago. It has no leaves this year. The branches are still flexible, but I really don't want to lose the tree. — Steve Pippin, email
A: If there are no leaves, I'm sad to say it is dead. In my experience, weeping willows in Atlanta look great for several years but eventually die due to insect and disease problems that affect willows in the South. If you really like how the tree looks, there's no reason you can't plant another one. Thoroughly loosen the soil 10 inches deep in a circle 10 feet in diameter. Plant the tree in the center and spread mulch over the whole area. Water as needed. The loose, cool soil will help the tree thrive for as long as it's able.
Q: Will mothballs hurt the soil in my pots if I use them as squirrel retardant? — Paul Clark, email
A: It is possible the mothballs could contaminate the soil if water flows over them and the chemicals are dissolved into the soil. As for being a squirrel repellent, I think the only way this could work is if you use the mothballs as ammunition in a slingshot. The smell of mothballs has not been proved effective for animal control.
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